The Unfolding

A Novel

By: A.M. Homes

Narrated by: Will Damron

“[A] much-anticipated, wickedly funny and sharply observed political satire…This novel of politics and family brings readers to the fault line of American politics.” —The New York Times Book Review

“Beyond being good or bad, the characters in this impressive book are, above all things, unpredictable.”—Wall Street Journal

One family will remake America. Even if they fall apart trying. A.M. Homes delivers us back to ourselves in this stunning alternative history that is both terrifyingly prescient, deeply tender and devastatingly funny.

The Big Guy loves his family, money and country. Undone by the results of the 2008 presidential election, he taps a group of like-minded men to reclaim their version of the American Dream. As they build a scheme to disturb and disrupt, the Big Guy also faces turbulence within his family. His wife, Charlotte, grieves a life not lived, while his 18-year-old daughter, Meghan, begins to realize that her favorite subject—history—is not exactly what her father taught her.

In a story that is as much about the dynamics within a family as it is about the desire for those in power to remain in power, Homes presciently unpacks a dangerous rift in American identity, prompting a reconsideration of the definition of truth, freedom and democracy—and exploring the explosive consequences of what happens when the same words mean such different things to people living together under one roof.

From the writer who is always “razor sharp and furiously good” (Zadie Smith), a darkly comic political parable braided with a Bildungsroman that takes us inside the heart of a divided country.

©2022 A. M. Homes (P)2022 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“A sharply observed, wickedly funny political satire by the reliably brilliant A.M. Homes.”—The New York Times

“A strange, scary, often very funny mashup of political thriller and family melodrama…Homes, a fluid writer and brilliant thinker utterly besotted with American politics and history, deftly weaves actual historical facts and personalities into the fictional fabric of the novel.”—Associated Press

"A sharp new satire… Homes captures the flora and fauna of America’s aristocracy with exquisite precision… The dialogue in these cringingly hilarious scenes sparks off the page with such vibrancy that I felt as if I were in the room where it happened… [The Unfolding] offers irresistible reflection on how the audacity of hope got pushed off the rails and fell into the slough of despond.”—Washington Post

Harbinger?

Fascinating look inside the minds of fat cat Republicans bemoaning the election of Obama and the loss of the country as they know it. And a clear nod to mindset today. The rest - the ridiculously immature daughter whom the author tries to make the moral center, the silly typecast mother, and the horse symbolizing who knows what took this story far astray.

An oddly interesting tale

And you were the personal story of the big guy and his family plus the crazy group of desperate Republicans planning an insurrection in 2026, which fits of their plan reasonable today

Disappointing

Got about 40% through and stopped. Story is just not that interesting or compelling. Thought it would have more meat on the bones.

Unnecessarily long and not a satire

I suppose if satire hits too close to the truth then it’s not really satire and that’s what I feel happened here. Additionally, the book takes a long and largely futile time to get to the point. One character/storyline was wholly unnecessary, the dialogue was awkwardly stilted in some places, and in the end there are to many players involved in the central plot. I would not have read to the end. This should have been a short story or novella.

Captures life as we know it

Really dumb. Not worth the read. In a way scary. Can’t even think of 5 more

Why did I listen to this book?

I started asking myself this question about halfway through. I have no idea why the author wrote this book. I kind of expected him to dive a little deeper into the actual conspiracy that has been unfolding beneath our attention for the last 20 years, regarding the effort to “take back the country”. This fictional version, though? Who cares. I didn’t care about any of the characters. And the narrator kind of sucked. No range at all.

Worst book I have ever listened to…

The book went no where…an odd mix of stories and unrealistic characters…DO NOT waste your time…upset with WSJ for reviewing it as an interesting read…

So disappointed

The story had potential to be so much more. It was decent at times but overall dull, and an absolutely terrible ending.