Benjamin Markovits's latest novel, 'The Rest of Our Lives', can be seen as a companion piece to Miranda July's celebrated 'All Fours' in its exploration of the dissatisfaction of middle age. The story revolves around Tom, a 55-year-old law professor from New York, who embarks on an American road trip with his daughter Miriam, just as she prepares to leave for college. This marks the beginning of a journey that will take him back in time and revisit old friends and places, in search of his youth.
The audiobook is brought to life by Eric Meyers, whose voice effectively conveys Tom's bubbling discontent. While Meyers excels at narrating male characters, there's a slight panto quality to his portrayal of female voices. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that Tom's unhappiness stems from various issues, including a simmering illness that he refuses to acknowledge and a forced sabbatical from his job following complaints from students.
Despite his perceived struggles, Tom sees himself as the victim, unwilling to take responsibility for his problems. However, much like Miranda July's protagonist in 'All Fours', Tom finds freedom and fresh perspective on the open road. The audiobook is an engaging exploration of middle age dissatisfaction, and Meyers's performance is a compelling addition.
'The Rest of Our Lives' is available via Faber, and its runtime clocks in at 6 hours and 56 minutes. With this gripping narrative and memorable protagonist, Markovits has once again proven himself to be a masterful storyteller.
The audiobook is brought to life by Eric Meyers, whose voice effectively conveys Tom's bubbling discontent. While Meyers excels at narrating male characters, there's a slight panto quality to his portrayal of female voices. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that Tom's unhappiness stems from various issues, including a simmering illness that he refuses to acknowledge and a forced sabbatical from his job following complaints from students.
Despite his perceived struggles, Tom sees himself as the victim, unwilling to take responsibility for his problems. However, much like Miranda July's protagonist in 'All Fours', Tom finds freedom and fresh perspective on the open road. The audiobook is an engaging exploration of middle age dissatisfaction, and Meyers's performance is a compelling addition.
'The Rest of Our Lives' is available via Faber, and its runtime clocks in at 6 hours and 56 minutes. With this gripping narrative and memorable protagonist, Markovits has once again proven himself to be a masterful storyteller.
I'm totally obsessed with this new novel by Benjamin Markovits!!! 
'The Rest of Our Lives' is like, the ultimate road trip story, you know? Tom's journey from NYC to wherever feels so relatable, especially as my parents are getting older and my friends are all leaving for college. It's crazy how Markovits explores this theme of middle age dissatisfaction, I feel like he got it spot on! 
Have you guys read this one yet? 
. It's amazing how much angst can come from feeling like you're losing your grip on life, but still having the means to travel and explore. Eric Meyers does an awesome job of bringing Tom to life, even if he is a bit cheesy with the female voices 
. But seriously, I think Markovits taps into something universal here – that sense of restlessness we all feel at times. It's not just about middle age, it's about feeling stuck and unsure what's next. 
Tom's got some serious issues going on and it's hard not to feel bad for him, but at the same time, you can't help but think he's being kinda selfish 
. The narration by Eric Meyers is top notch though, brings the whole thing to life 
. I loved how the story explores what happens when we hit middle age and have to confront our own mortality, it's like, whoa 
. Anyway, if you're looking for a thought-provoking listen, this one's definitely worth checking out 
and I'm totally blown away! Benjamin Markovits is like a genius or something 
. And I love how Markovits explores the complexities of middle age - it's so realistic and relatable! 
. It made me wanna take a road trip myself... or at least plan one 
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. still, i wish the female characters got a bit more depth, but overall, this audiobook is super engaging and will definitely make you think about your own middle age crisis 
. Eric Meyers' narration seems pretty good too - although I do agree with you about the female voices needing a bit more work 
. Anyway, 6 hours and 56 minutes might be a bit of an investment for some people, but if you're a fan of literary fiction like me, it's definitely worth checking out 
! I'm so down for that road trip vibes with Tom and Miriam. The audiobook sounds like it's gonna be a wild ride, especially with Eric Meyers bringing the heat as Tom. Can't wait to dive into this one and see how Markovits explores those midlife blues 
. Tom's struggles as he navigates middle age made me realize that we're not alone in our own mid-life crises 
. The audiobook was engaging, but I wish Eric Meyers had done more with female voices - it felt a bit like they were still in the background 
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. I mean, who doesn't feel like they're stuck in neutral around this age? The audiobook is so engaging, Eric Meyers does Tom justice (mostly), but those female voice impressions are a bit cringy 
. Still, it's refreshing to see Markovits tackle the whole middle-aged crisis thing – reminds me of that one time I had to take a break from adulting for a weekend...
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. Tom's not just some whiny guy, he's a complex character with his own strengths and weaknesses. It's like, we've all been there at some point or another, feeling lost and unsure about what to do next.
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. It's so easy to get caught up in feeling like the victim, but as Tom finds out on his journey, there's often more to our struggles than meets the eye 
. Overall, 'The Rest of Our Lives' is a must-listen!