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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What listeners say about The Answer Is No

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Annoying story, great message.

I have loved all the Fredrik Bachman novels, I think I read everyone. Though, my least favorite was Anxious People. Listening I felt it was like that other book. But worse, the narrator voice for purple shirt and head #3 was like nails on a blackboard! And the story was annoying and stupid, But, the very end, the message he gave made me like it. If not for the narrative, I would up my review to a 5

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Funny and tender

Highly recommend! For a short story the plot was worthwhile and Hackman developed the characters at just the right pace. Funny and tender in parts!

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  • Overall
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    5 out of 5 stars

Got me in the feels as usual.

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.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Fredrick is Backman

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.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Ever been a member of a committee!

This was such a great satire and hilarious. Should be read by all committee members and anyone that has neighbors!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Charming and quirky

Love the characters and the plot. Bachman is a gifted and entertaining author. Will definitely read more of his work

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Not up to author standards

I love this author and his quirky characters, however this didn’t sound like his clever curmudgeon character development. It didn’t sound like the author’s voice but more like a watered down wanna be. Disappointing.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Absurdly funny

I love Fredrik Backman's writing. This story was so bizarre, it was hilarious. The narrator was excellent.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Short and funny

I enjoyed this short, funny and witty story about an introvert who I related to so much! I loved the nuggets of wisdom in between the drama

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Narrator didn’t match the book

This author has a very specific voice and this narrator sadly didn’t quite grasp it.

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