Domestic Violets

A Novel

By: Matthew Norman

Narrated by: Todd McLaren

Length: 11 hrs

Publisher's summary

Tom Violet always thought that by the time he turned 35, he’d have everything going for him. Fame. Fortune. A beautiful wife. A satisfying career as a successful novelist. A happy dog to greet him at the end of the day.

The reality, though, is far different. He’s got a wife, but their problems are bigger than he can even imagine. And he’s written a novel, but the manuscript he’s slaved over for years is currently hidden in his desk drawer while his father, an actual famous writer, just won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. His career, such that it is, involves mind-numbing corporate buzzwords, his pretentious archnemesis Gregory, and a hopeless, completely inappropriate crush on his favorite coworker. Oh... and his dog, according to the vet, is suffering from acute anxiety.

Tom’s life is crushing his soul, but he’s decided to do something about it. (Really.) Domestic Violets is the brilliant and beguiling story of a man finally taking control of his own happiness - even if it means making a complete idiot of himself along the way.

©2011 Matthew Norman (P)2011 HarperCollinsPublishers

Beautiful Little Book

I didn't know what to expect with this one. It's not the type of story I'm normally drawn to, but it really is a lovely book. The characters & situations are very real and the narration is pretty good. I was caught up in it. Give it a try.

a good summer read

fun and engaging. a well-written tale that kind of made me want to start writing again

Good book

This book was such an easy upbeat kind of read. It was enjoyable to listen to.

Wow

I don't get why people give this any lower then 4.5 .. it's a great story .. yea it's more of a guy book I guess but it's good

Great story !

This is funny and insightful, some laugh out loud scenes as well as lump in the throat moments. The narrator was great with male characters but AWFUL with female voices. Otherwise, great story and entertaining listen. ( better than anything by Jonathan Trooper, IMHO )

awesome

the best possible narrator, an entertainingly smooth, flowing story, just enough realistic drama...this book is as near perfect a fun novel as any novel could be. loved it!

Pretty good!

The story is a bit contrived at times and the main character can be glib but overall it was an enjoyable listen.

Debut Novel Presages Great Things to Come

The first of five Matthew Norman novels to date, Domestic Violets presages all the great things to come in his subsequent books (all of which I've read or listened to). Tom Violets is a husband and father and ordinary office worker, and the son of a widely celebrated literary figure, a drunken womanizer about to receive the one prize that has eluded him, the Pulitzer. And of course Tom has written a novel of his own that he wants to publish without banking on the name and reputation of his father.

Lots of fodder for comedy here for Norman, and he comes through consistently from start to finish. I've recognized from the first time I read him that he is a lot like Jonathan Tropper, one of my favorite authors who has sadly stopped writing in favor of violent action TV shows. He's also compared to Tom Perrotta, another of my favorites. So little wonder why I would like him. My only regret is that I have now read all of his books and expect to have to wait for a while for his next since his most recent came out just last year and he usually takes two years or so between publications.

The only downside here is that the narration is not great. It's all right, not a show stopper, but also not unexpected for a debut novel published over ten years ago.

What a rollicking ride!

I loved every dysfunctional minute of this. A bit of domestic "noir" mixed with some slightly irreverent angst makes this one a walk on the wilder side of the staid worlds of academia and publishing, as well as a productive and hilarious forage into the familial terrior commonly inhabited by chick fic. Not to be missed!

enjoyable

What did you like best about this story?

I wasn't sure if i would enjoy this book, but it grew on me and loved the story line. Very funny at times, well done.