The Morels, Christopher Hacker
The Morels, Christopher Hacker
List: $25.95 | Sale: $18.16
Club: $12.97

The Morels

Author: Christopher Hacker

Narrator: Charlie Thurston

Unabridged: 13 hr 29 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 04/30/2013

Synopsis

The Morels—Arthur, Penny, and Will—are a happy family of three living in New York City. So why would Arthur choose to publish a book that brutally rips his tightly knit family unit apart at the seams? Arthur's old schoolmate Chris, who narrates the book, is fascinated with this very question as he becomes accidentally reacquainted with Arthur. A single, aspiring filmmaker who works in a movie theater, Chris envies everything Arthur has, from his beautiful wife to his charming son to his seemingly effortless creativity. But things are not always what they seem. The Morels takes a unique look at the power of art, literature, music, and film in particular—and challenges us as readers to think about some fascinating questions to which there are no easy answers. Where is the line between art and obscenity, between truth and fiction, between revolutionary thinking and brainless shock value, between craftsmanship and commerce? Is it possible to escape the past? Can you save your family by destroying it?

About Christopher Hacker

Christopher Hacker received a BA in music composition from the University of Michigan and an MFA from Columbia University. His stories have appeared in Quarterly West and the Rake, and he was a finalist for a Pushcart Prize in 2009. He currently lives in Washington, DC, with his wife.

About Charlie Thurston

Charlie Thurston is an experienced audiobook narrator, actor, and playwright who has received numerous Earphones Awards for his work. He has appeared on Law and Order: SVU, and his voice can be heard in audiobooks such as The Oracle Year, Southernmost, The Terranauts, and The Unfinished Life of Addison Stone.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Lisa on May 09, 2013

Many years ago, I bought a house while I was living with my then-boyfriend. Things weren't going well between us, to the extent that I felt more comfortable getting into a 30-year commitment with Chase Mortgage than with him. Still, we stayed together, in no small part because at one point he told m......more

Goodreads review by Kara on February 13, 2013

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest, unbiased review. This is a hard book to review. There's a lot wrong with it, but at the same time it's utterly fascinating. I'm not sure what exactly I feel about it, which makes for a successfully provocative novel I s......more

Goodreads review by Mike on August 11, 2013

This book demonstrates why you should read blurbs on the cover with great care. One critic, supposedly helping the author, said of it: “It also does a lot of heavy lifting, asking big questions about art, life and family...” The lifting is not particularly heavy—this is a very accessible novel that......more

Goodreads review by Jaime on March 18, 2013

I wanted to like this. I could barely finish it. I skimmed most of the middle, to be honest. I found it way too self-aware, almost like it was trying too hard to be clever. I didn't find any of it humorous or compelling, and the characters felt tired and pretentious. I seem to be in the minority wit......more

Goodreads review by Lyn on June 12, 2013

Unforgettable.......more

Quotes

“Captivating. The Morels does a lot of heavy lifting, asking big questions about art, life, and family, transforming this ambitious debut into something really special.” Jami Attenberg, New York Times bestselling author

“The Morels is always entertaining.” Wall Street Journal

“The Morels asks big questions. What is art? What risks must be taken to grab our attention? Where is the line between truth and fiction? Hacker’s story kept me up at night…to find out what would happen, and contemplating these questions…I eagerly await his next book.” Cleveland Plain Dealer

“Audacious, thought-provoking…One of the top first novels of the year. The author spins out the story at a fast clip, creating a believable and entertaining tale. Woven into the fabric of the work are discussions of the function of art in society, the difficulty of arriving at the truth, and a thoughtful, compassionate detailing of the social and personal repercussions of individual actions and beliefs.” Library Journal (starred review)

“An eloquent treatise on the rights of artists to exploit their personal histories—and why they do so, and at what cost…A fine debut.” Publishers Weekly

“In Hacker’s engaging debut, eccentric author Arthur Morel writes a novel that pushes the envelope of art-for-art’s-sake beyond anyone’s capacity to understand, much less forgive…Whether a reader is intrigued by the philosophical questions or not, this family’s plight makes for a marvelous read.” Booklist

Awards

  • Flaherty-Dunnan First Novel Prize
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