How to Leave the House

A Novel

By: Nathan Newman

Narrated by: Christian Coulson, Imogen Wilde

A New Yorker Best Book of the Year

“It may sound peculiar that a story featuring chapter-length text message exchanges and a hysterical egg fight during a gender reveal party could contain such potent, moving allusions to philosophy and James Joyce, let alone be filled with richly observed artistic references reminiscent of Ali Smith, but Newman weaves the analytical and the absurd with a raucous grace. . .Profound—and profoundly sidesplitting.” —Bobby Finger, The New York Times Book Review

It's Natwest's last day before he leaves for university, and there's only one thing on his mind: the deeply embarrassing package he ordered to his house—which still hasn't arrived. He won't leave town without it. Any alternative is too distressing to consider. . .

This is the story of twenty-four hours in the life of Natwest, and his small-town odyssey in pursuit of the missing package. And yet it's also the story of a middle-aged dentist who dreams of being a respected artist—but the only thing he can seem to paint is the human mouth. And it's the story of a tortured imam involved in a quasi-romantic entanglement with the local vicar; and an octogenerian mourning the death of her secretive husband; and a troubled teenager whose nudes have leaked on the internet. It's the story of Natwest's obnoxious ex-boyfriend, and his class-traitor mother and her childhood boyfriend, and the life-changing secrets he knows about Natwest's past.

Alternating between Natwest's idiosyncratic inner world and the perspectives of the other characters—and dazzling in its energy, imagination and originality—this is an outrageously funny and tenderly moving story about being connected to everyone and everything at all times; about love, friendship, and the lies we tell ourselves; about unhappy endings, happy endings—and whether anything really is as simple as one or the other.

Part Rashamon, part Patrick Dennis

This sharply told tale of a day in the life of a young man on the eve of heading off for college is by turns hilarious and poignant, with quiet surprises scattered along the way. The story is told from various points of view, skillfully interwoven. I came into this book cold, having no idea what to expect. I’m glad of that, as I feel Newman took me by the hand and led me through the charming (and maddening) protagonist’s event-filled 24 hours as he was on the brink of leaving his Chapter 1 of his young life behind him. Newman has a fresh voice, and no doubt encountered Patrick Dennis’ novels in his formative years. I’m eager to see what he does next.

Thoughtful and funny

The performance couldn’t have been better. His dry narration made the comedy stand out in a in a somehow inobvious way.
The story itself was a simple intertwining day in the lives of a few in a small town. Yet it still held meaning and thoughtfulness above its simplicity. And the humor was stellar.
Read it. Errr hear it.

Just strange

Not my favorite but I finished it. I didn’t care for the main character and it skipped around in ways I couldn’t follow. I enjoyed some of the other characters.

Content!!!

Horrible content. Not even sure how this landed in my library! So sorry if I ordered it by mistake

Not as described

The plot and themes are not as described in the summary. The book is all about this guy’s penis, being bisexual and other plenty of other sexual imagery. Not engaging, not interesting - sorry author, not for me.