The Answer Is No Audiobook By Fredrik Backman, Elizabeth DeNoma - translator cover art

The Answer Is No

A Short Story

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The Answer Is No

By: Fredrik Backman, Elizabeth DeNoma - translator
Narrated by: Stacy Gonzalez
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About this listen

In a hilarious short story from New York Times bestselling author Fredrik Backman, the absurdities of modern life cause one man’s solitary world to spin suddenly, and comically, out of control.

Lucas knows the perfect night entails just three things: video games, wine, and pad thai. Peanuts are a must! Other people? Not so much. Why complicate things when he’s happy alone?

Then one day the apartment board, a vexing trio of authority, rings his doorbell. And Lucas’s solitude takes a startling hike. They demand to see his frying pan. Someone left one next to the recycling room overnight, and instead of removing the errant object, as Lucas suggests, they insist on finding the guilty party. But their plan backfires. Colossally.

Told in Fredrik Backman’s singular witty style with sharply drawn characters and relatable antics, The Answer Is No is a laugh-out-loud portrait of a man struggling to keep to himself in a world that won’t leave him alone.

©2024 by Vecka 16 AB (P)2024 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved. Translation © 2024 by Elizabeth DeNoma.
City Life Editors Select Genre Fiction Literature & Fiction Satire Urban Funny Witty Feel-Good
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Insightful Human Observations • Witty Humor • Pitch Perfect Narration • Heartwarming Message • Clever Satire
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I love FB. His writing is quirky and his characters are endearingly curmudgeon. The narrator is right for many books, and I like her, but anything by Backman should probably be read by someone who gets his style and doesn’t make the characters sound so shrill and annoying. I blame the director/producer. Too bad but I’ll have to read this with eyes to capture his voice.

Love Backman, wrong narrator

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I enjoyed this short story way more than I expected.
The humor is great, and the story is really heartwarming. It doesn't need much to get us to understand the characters, and it doesn't feel rushed.

At some point, we've all probably been or wanted to be like Lucas—just minding our own business. We usually don't realize how our boundaries or lack thereof, can hurt or block the people who care about us, or invite inconveniences. It's all about finding that balance, plus a little reflection and self-love. Living is hard enough.

That's my take on the story. I totally recommend it, and the audiobook is awesome.

(P.S. The Board Animal is amazing—love Linda!)

Nice!

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A book written about a frying pan! lol moments! Cute story. Enjoyed listening to it. Thank you!

Cute

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the change in the each of the characters in the story was believable and endearing

perspective

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I really love the humor and the way the story says so much about people

This author has a very unique and humorous way of looking at people

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In a time where commonsense is missing and social media guides our lives. We would all do well to listen to the wise words of Lucas.

commonsense

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Just loved it all: story and the voice interpretations of all the characters. Never a dull moment.

Amazingly witty

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It is a book of chuckles, laughs, and out loud roaring laughter... Head nodding and thinking :
That's a great way to explain the world today.
It will go straight into my FAVOURITES

This workd

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It was nice to enjoy a short story. Love his long ones too of course but I hope to see more short stories as well. He’ll probably say no.

Got me in the feels as usual.

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If all you of heard or listen to of Backman was the Beartown, boy will you been in for a surprised. More farce than anything, so no dark 90 degree turn.

Fredrick is Backman

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