Less (Winner of the Pulitzer Prize)
By Andrew Sean Greer
- Release Date: 2017-07-18
- Genre: Fiction & Literature
Description
A struggling novelist travels the world to avoid an awkward wedding in this hilarious Pulitzer Prize-winning novel full of "arresting lyricism and beauty" (The New York Times Book Review).
WINNER OF THE PULITZER PRIZE
National Bestseller
A New York Times Notable Book of 2017
A Washington Post Top Ten Book of 2017
A San Francisco Chronicle Top Ten Book of 2017
Longlisted for the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence, the Lambda Award, and the California Book Award
Who says you can't run away from your problems? You are a failed novelist about to turn fifty. A wedding invitation arrives in the mail: your boyfriend of the past nine years is engaged to someone else. You can't say yes--it would be too awkward--and you can't say no--it would look like defeat. On your desk are a series of invitations to half-baked literary events around the world.
QUESTION: How do you arrange to skip town?
ANSWER: You accept them all.
What would possibly go wrong? Arthur Less will almost fall in love in Paris, almost fall to his death in Berlin, barely escape to a Moroccan ski chalet from a Saharan sandstorm, accidentally book himself as the (only) writer-in-residence at a Christian Retreat Center in Southern India, and encounter, on a desert island in the Arabian Sea, the last person on Earth he wants to face. Somewhere in there: he will turn fifty. Through it all, there is his first love. And there is his last.
Because, despite all these mishaps, missteps, misunderstandings and mistakes, Less is, above all, a love story.
A scintillating satire of the American abroad, a rumination on time and the human heart, a bittersweet romance of chances lost, by an author The New York Times has hailed as "inspired, lyrical," "elegiac," "ingenious," as well as "too sappy by half," Less shows a writer at the peak of his talents raising the curtain on our shared human comedy.
"I could not love LESS more."--Ron Charles, The Washington Post
"Andrew Sean Greer's Less is excellent company. It's no less than bedazzling, bewitching and be-wonderful."--Christopher Buckley, The New York Times Book Review
Reviews
Awkward Mirror
5By BigAppleGregI have packed exercise bands for more than a decade, never use them on my travels. I see myself in this guy, minus true love, for the time being… Just absolutely stunning, endearing, heart full. Loved this one, a favorite for sure. Love, a fellow bad gay.Amazing
5By Jl12o345laThis book is amazing. I didn’t know what it to expect but very easily became happily tethered to Less’ fate. This book provided enjoyment for many hours and I felt sorrow when it ended. Luckily, I see, there is a sequel.Less is more
5By LK 99Magical, funny, beautifulSnooze more while reading Less
1By johnb917This book is so boring and all the way to page 81 and still could care less about the main character. Awful!Couldn’t put it down
5By RhondasMapThe narrative pulled me in, and I didn’t want it to end. Then I discovered the next book with Mr. Less!Didn’t engage me
1By Joerum62Started “Less”, yet it just didn’t grab me. Goes to show you - the hype of critics and awards committees aren’t always indicative of a good book (or anything else , for that matter!).Just amazing
5By SarahetankImmediately started rereading. Beautifully written and witty prose. Highly recommend!This was a Pulitzer Prize winning novel??
1By PammyfaceI bought this book (and accidentally bought the audio version too) and lord was I disappointed. This was a Pulitzer Prize winner? I couldn’t get through it. The book was confusing, boring, and to use a phrase from the book: it was magniloquent spoony. For the life of me, I can’t understand how this book is a Pulitzer Prize winning novel. 🤷🏼♀️🤦🏼♀️Less
4By olddue1Interesting and thoughtful prose which is a bit obscure by intent. It made me feel differently after having read it.Less
1By Volunteer123456789Pulitzer means nothing. This was awful!