The Reason You're Alive

A Novel

By: Matthew Quick

Narrated by: R.C. Bray

The New York Times best-selling author of The Silver Linings Playbook offers a timely novel featuring his most fascinating character yet, a Vietnam vet embarking on a quixotic crusade to track down his nemesis from the war.

After 68-year-old David Granger crashes his BMW, medical tests reveal a brain tumor that he readily attributes to his wartime Agent Orange exposure. He wakes up from surgery repeating a name no one in his civilian life has ever heard - that of a Native American soldier whom he was once ordered to discipline. David decides to return something precious he long ago stole from the man he now calls Clayton Fire Bear. It may be the only way to find closure in a world increasingly at odds with the one he served to protect. It may also help him to finally recover from his wife's untimely demise.

As David confronts his past to salvage his present, a poignant portrait emerges: that of an opinionated and good-hearted American patriot fighting like hell to stay true to his red, white, and blue heart, even as the country he loves rapidly changes in ways he doesn't always like or understand. Hanging in the balance are Granger's distant art-dealing son, Hank; his adoring seven-year-old granddaughter, Ella; and his best friend, Sue, a Vietnamese American who respects David's fearless sincerity.

Through the controversial, wrenching, and wildly honest David Granger, Matthew Quick offers a no-nonsense but ultimately hopeful view of America's polarized psyche. By turns irascible and hilarious, insightful and inconvenient, David is a complex, wounded, honorable, and loving man. The Reason You're Alive examines how the secrets and debts we carry from our pasts define us; it also challenges us to look beyond our own prejudices and search for the good in us all.

©2017 Matthew Quick (P)2017 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic reviews

"Narrator R.C. Bray brings the contentious, gruff yet thoughtful main character of this moving novel to life.... Bray understands this character, and his performance, which consistently hits the dramatic, shocking, and humorous notes expertly, is simply remarkable. This is one of the best matches of material to narrator this year." (AudioFile)

Great book as any other book from Matthew Quick!

Matthew never let me down with his books. Great story! I really connected with the character's relationship with his son and it moved me so much. I even "girly cried" at the end. It's really a great piece of art!

Started out so opinionated- ended up the opinions were more even

Helped me follow up in another Vietnam themed book I d just read- The Women.
Validated how atrocious the V war was . For so many reasons. And how this f- up veteran struggled everyday to survive the liberal wrong ideas around him.
However he grew and was helped by his friends and family that he could barely stand, and he struggled to change himself and right a lot of wrongs he had created over his life.
So people can work and accept many other diverse groups and ideals if there’s even a little opening afforded them.

Quick delivers!!

I love Matthew Quick and he has never disappointed me. He tells a great story with great narrators!

Lovely story, excellent narration, worth the time

This is my first Matthew Quick book and it certainly will not be the last. I think the narrator makes or breaks an audiobook, often times regardless of the material. R. C. Bray is top notch. He captures the mood brilliantly and really elevates an already fantastic novel to a whole new level. I couldn't stop listening and had tears in my eyes more than once.

Highly recommended.

yaaaaas

read this... amazing book. it makes you think before judging someone, puts you in the mind of an opposing views. renews your love for humanity. fantastic peice of writing.

Fabulous

This book is awesome in every category. I will surely listen to it over and over.

Story

LOVED this book. The story was amazing I would read it again and again. It’s funny, sad and opens your eyes.

Reasons Why You read

A solid story of A veteran adjusting to life 50 years after the Vietnam war. A story about tolerance and racial profiling. Matthew quick never fails to amaze me.

Loved This Book

Perfect narrator for this touching story. Cut to the quick. Deeply felt. Commands your attention. Give this book a shot.

Wow!

A few sentences in, I thought oh no and now, I loved it!! Cried/laughed!