The Nix

A Novel

By: Nathan Hill

Narrated by: Ari Fliakos

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER •

From the suburban Midwest to New York City to the 1968 riots that rocked Chicago and beyond, a novel that explores—with sharp humor and a fierce tenderness—the resilience of love and home, even in times of radical change.

“A mother-son psychodrama with ghosts and politics, but it’s also a tragicomedy about anger and sanctimony in America.... Nathan Hill is a maestro.” —John Irving

It’s 2011, and Samuel Andresen-Anderson—college professor, stalled writer—has a Nix of his own: his mother, Faye. He hasn’t seen her in decades, not since she abandoned the family when he was a boy. Now she’s re-appeared, having committed an absurd crime that electrifies the nightly news, beguiles the internet, and inflames a politically divided country. The media paints Faye as a radical hippie with a sordid past, but as far as Samuel knows, his mother was an ordinary girl who married her high-school sweetheart. Which version of his mother is true? Two facts are certain: she’s facing some serious charges, and she needs Samuel’s help.

To save her, Samuel will have to embark on his own journey, uncovering long-buried secrets about the woman he thought he knew, secrets that stretch across generations and have their origin all the way back in Norway, home of the mysterious Nix. As he does so, Samuel will confront not only Faye’s losses but also his own lost love, and will relearn everything he thought he knew about his mother, and himself.

©2016 Nathan Hill (P)2016 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

" The Nix is a mother-son psychodrama with ghosts and politics, but it's also a tragicomedy about anger and sanctimony in America.... Nathan Hill is a maestro." (John Irving)

"There is an accidental topicality in Hill's debut, about an estranged mother and son whose fates hinge on two mirror-image political events - the Democratic Convention of 1968 and the Republican Convention of 2004. But beyond that hook lies a high-risk, high-reward playfulness with structure and tone: comic set-pieces, digressions into myth, and formal larks that call to mind Jennifer Egan's A Visit from the Goon Squad." ( New York Magazine)

"Once in a while a novel arrives at the perfect moment to reflect, skewer, and provide context for the world as we know it. This - now - is that novel. A satirical, fast-paced romp through time and space, The Nix is ambitious, wide-ranging, and full of surprises. It gathers force and momentum as it speeds toward the end, where all of its pieces fit together as precisely as a puzzle." (Christina Baker Kline, author of Orphan Train)

Couldn"t get into it.

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

No, I felt like it was a waste of my time.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

I never found one.

What about Ari Fliakos’s performance did you like?

His inflections.

Do you think The Nix needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

To be honest I couldn't listen any longer after 4 hours, but I'd have to say no.

Any additional comments?

Maybe I wasn't in a place I could give this book a chance, but after trying a number of times trying to continue I won't be going back.

A drone that went on and on...

What did you like best about The Nix? What did you like least?

The writing style wasn't for me. The long, drawn-out descriptions just got old. And the narrator, especially at these times, sounded like the guy who was the voice on the old Outer Limits TV show. Just didn't care for it.

Well woven story superbly narrated.

Great protagonists with great character development, going through an intricate story that keeps you moving through the reality of different generations. A terrific book that left me sorry it was finished.

Five Stars to the 10th Power!

On September 15th, Audible Editor Laura emailed us and said "Stop what you're doing and listen to The Nix". So I did what she said...I bought it immediately and began to listen. I don't know how to articulate how wonderful this book is. I am in awe of the talent of the author...his creativity and imagination are amazing, combined with the incredibly hard challenge of putting his ideas into the perfect words. This is easily the best "first" novel I have ever experienced. And that experience was enhanced so much by the narration of Ari Fliakos. There are amazing narrators out there, but I have never listened to a book where I was absolutely certain that the way the characters sounded in the authors imagination were exactly the way they were recorded for the audiobook. I have never had so much fun listening to the characters of a novel. You really need to listen to the book, whether you buy it in print or not. I had a smile on my face for most of the 21 hours of this book, and when I looked and saw that I was down to only an hour left I was heartbroken. I did not want this story and these characters to leave my life. I could go on and on about The Nix, but I will just say, listen to me and Laura, and buy this book right now. I promise you it will be the best thing you hear all year.

Engrossing, transporting, intelligent

Novels which meander through the pasts and presents of multiple characters can be confusing in audiobook format. I find myself needing to rewind often and, in some cases, to draw diagrams of characters and timelines for reference. Not so with THE NIX.

This is a captivating story, so five stars for entertainment value alone.
Additional praise for the cultural relevance and brilliant but subtle social commentary on the author's part. It's a novel which stimulates the intellect as well as greatly entertains.

Initially I was put off by the premise, which seemed sprawling and with too many 'ingredients' (60's counterculture! Online gaming! Political injustice! Norwegian folktales! A failed author!) But surprise: these seemingly excessive plot points wove together harmonically. I was pleasantly satisfied to find myself engrossed from the start. And never once needed to compile a cheat sheet of characters' names and contexts.

Lastly, a round of applause for Ari Fliakos, a consistently excellent narrator who has become one of my absolute favorites. Narrators, like foods and wines, are subject to one's personal taste, so I can't guarantee that you will love him as much as I do. Suffice to say I appreciate his talent for conveying the subtleties of character with the appropriate tone. Never over-acts, never annoys me... and most importantly, never performs female voices in a fake, insulting falsetto like 95% of male narrators do.

A solid and exceptional listening experience. A+

The elephant:

The assumption is, that by starting the book with the allegory of the elephant and the blind man’s impression of it, that the author is posed to tell us about the whole of the elephant.

I think he did indeed see that elephant, but focused very much on its dirty ass.

—but in the end, maybe he looked it in the eye.

What a Lovely, Lovely Book

I've listened to hundreds of Audible books. I've never before heard the narrator's voice break at the end. Don't be afraid. This is a profoundly uplifting book. And true. So true.

A Masterpiece

I cried when the book ended because I was so sad it was over. It is an incredible story that follows many different intertwined stories. Such an interesting and refreshing look at the world.

A bravura performance of a sad yet authentic coming of age story

Fliakos brought characters to life as diverse as a self-absorbed college girl, a video game-addicted lost soul and a sex-crazed policeman. And these are not even the main players. I won't spoil the story with details but Hill's device of revealing only tantalizing bits of information about his characters continually forced me to re-evaluate my opinion of them and kept me engaged to the end. A complex, satisfying story made even better by the excellent reader.

I didn't want the story to end

What did you love best about The Nix?

I loved how well the author could put you inside the head of the various characters. And I loved how he was able to make you care about characters in spite of their flaws. It started a bit slow, but I found myself very sad when the story was over.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Nix?

The sections involving Faye in her youth still stick with me. And I am surprised at how many young women I run into who remind me of Sam's student. And now I can laugh even when I am annoyed.

Have you listened to any of Ari Fliakos’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have not. But I would love to hear more of his performances. I thought he was great.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

There were so many moments that moved me. I felt close to many of the characters, and I loved the insight into their pains and joys and what made each of them who they are.