Long Island Compromise

A Novel

By: Taffy Brodesser-Akner

Narrated by: Edoardo Ballerini, Taffy Brodesser-Akner

Length: 15 hrs and 23 mins

Publisher's summary

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • An exhilarating novel about one American family and the dark moment that shatters their suburban paradise, from the New York Times bestselling author of Fleishman Is in Trouble

New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice • New York Magazine’s Beach Read Book Club Pick • Belletrist Book Club Pick

“A big, juicy, wickedly funny social satire.”—Oprah Daily

“Were we gangsters? No. But did we know how to start a fire?”

In 1980, a wealthy businessman named Carl Fletcher is kidnapped from his driveway, brutalized, and held for ransom. He is returned to his wife and kids less than a week later, only slightly the worse, and the family moves on with their lives, resuming their prized places in the saga of the American dream, comforted in the realization that though their money may have been what endangered them, it is also what assured them their safety.

But now, nearly forty years later, it’s clear that perhaps nobody ever got over anything, after all. Carl has spent the ensuing years secretly seeking closure to the matter of his kidnapping, while his wife, Ruth, has spent her potential protecting her husband’s emotional health. Their three grown children aren’t doing much better: Nathan’s chronic fear won’t allow him to advance at his law firm; Beamer, a Hollywood screenwriter, will consume anything—substance, foodstuff, women—in order to numb his own perpetual terror; and Jenny has spent her life so bent on proving that she’s not a product of her family’s pathology that she has come to define it. As they hover at the delicate precipice of a different kind of survival, they learn that the family fortune has dwindled to just about nothing, and they must face desperate questions about how much their wealth has played a part in both their lives’ successes and failures.

Long Island Compromise spans the entirety of one family’s history, winding through decades and generations, all the way to the outrageous present, and confronting the mainstays of American Jewish life: tradition, the pursuit of success, the terror of history, fear of the future, old wives’ tales, evil eyes, ambition, achievement, boredom, dybbuks, inheritance, pyramid schemes, right-wing capitalists, beta-blockers, psychics, and the mostly unspoken love and shared experience that unite a family forever.

©2024 Taffy Brodesser-Akner (P)2024 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“Joins the pantheon of great American novels . . . Long Island Compromise is an exploration of intergenerational trauma and an unabashed critique of income inequality . . . Brodesser-Akner has written a humane, brazen, gorgeous novel whose words dance exuberantly on the page.”—Los Angeles Times

“Is this book as good [as Fleishman is in Trouble]? It’s better. Sprawling yet nimble, this is [Brodesser-Akner’s] Big American Reform Jewish Novel . . . Brodesser-Akner is empathetic to her characters’ pathological inability to know themselves, but she is also merciless when it comes to the idea that acknowledging confusion is not enough.”—The New York Times

“Comprising immersive, tragicomic deep dives into the Fletchers’ personal pathologies and inner demons . . . Long Island Compromise is ingeniously plotted, its various storylines building toward several extremely satisfying plot twists . . .The potentially corrosive nature of wealth has rarely been explored with such humanity.”—The Atlantic

Compelling story, wonderful narration

I could not stop listening to this book. Laugh out loud funny in places, emotional and complex in others - wild but touching story of 3 generations of a family with some of the best narration that I’ve heard. Loved it.

Great story and outstanding narration

Fantastic novel, loved the characters and narration. Looking forward to listening to her other books.

Great character development

Even through there were times when I didn’t care about a character, I thought the author did a terrific job in developing each. The story held my attention and I enjoyed the ups and downs. Also felt the author provided a fitting end for each family member.

I was laughing out loud

Thoughtful GenX hilarity. Loved it. Brought back memories of growing up in the 1970s. Thank you!

what to day about this one?

The author writes very well and there were times I laughed out loud. But it is so overly long - what ever happened to editors? Plus, for me, it was more than a little anti-semetic. There isn't a single good person in the whole book and lots of tropes like nose jobs and fixation on money. Mr. Ballerini is a terrific narrator

Meh

Well written but I’m either not East Coast enough or I’m not Jewish enough to get it. Found it predictable and boring.

Surprising

Long Island Compromise was surprisingly powerful. I was annoyed at times, most of the time, at the portrayal of stereotypical Jewish mothers as, disappointed, overbearing, emotionally distant, and controlling women. But, the characters were so well developed that by the end of the book I was a bit dazed. I will ponder my feelings and reaction before I start a new book.

Great writing, great story

Characters so fully developed! Loved the Long Island setting. Took me home. Loved that surprise at end!

Captivating Story, Superbly Narrated!

Well! Taffy Brodesser-Atkin is my new favorite novelist. I must also commend the narrator for a SUPERB job of bringing this story to life (I feel like I could SEE the words being lifted from the page and brought to life). Illuminating, darkly funny, sad. The characters are quite “awful” in a variety of ways, yet truthfully, sympathetically written. I will seek out Ms. Brodesser-Atkin’s other writing; she’s marvellous.

Thinking Person’s Beach Read

Best book I’ve read this summer. Relatable but heightened family drama. Hope this one gets made into a miniseries.