The Imperfectionists

By: Tom Rachman

Narrated by: Christopher Welch

Set against the gorgeous backdrop of Rome, Tom Rachman’s wry, vibrant debut follows the topsy-turvy private lives of the reporters, editors, and executives of an international English-language newspaper as they struggle to keep it - and themselves - afloat. This hilarious and poignant look at the struggles of print news will establish Rachman as one of the 21st century’s most perceptive talents.

©2010 Tom Rachman (P)2010 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

"It would be hard to come up with a better narrator than Christopher Evan Welch for Tom Rachman's saga of the birth, life and death of a newspaper. By turns bitter, sweet, icily callous and very funny, the novel covers half a century and a large number of characters. Welch distinguishes between the characters mostly by mood and register, but so adeptly that he conveys personality and predicament as well as any thespian." ( Washington Post Book World)

“So good I had to read it twice simply to figure out how he pulled it off. I still haven’t answered that question, nor do I know how someone so young . . . could have acquired such a precocious grasp of human foibles. The novel is alternately hilarious and heart-wrenching.” (Christopher Buckley, The New York Times Book Review)

“Deftly written and sharply observed . . . Even if you’ve never set foot in a newsroom, The Imperfectionists proves a delight . . . It’s impossible not to like—this is masterful stuff.” ( The Philadelphia Inquirer)

Excellent Novel

I work at a newspaper and this book hits the nail on the head. I loved this book.

Stunning

This is a wonderful novel. So well made you wonder how he did it. Excellent.

Episodic narrative

If you could sum up The Imperfectionists in three words, what would they be?

Timely, interesting, episodic

What did you like best about this story?

Great characters whose stories connect in small and major ways. Also, an interesting look at the great changes in journalism.

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

I enjoyed his performance and would listen to him again.

A wondeful narrative puzzle

I am not usually a big fan of interconnected short stories, but I thorughly enjoyed this one. THE IMPERFECTIONISTS clearly illustrates how "the whole is more than the sum of its parts". Beautiful writing that worked extremely well on audio. Christopher Welch did an outstanding job with the narration.

Surprisingly rich

Would you consider the audio edition of The Imperfectionists to be better than the print version?

These beautifully crafted stories engage the reader with their witty and ironic take on a group of expats persisting at the margins of respectability in a professional world marching toward its demise. While each chapter ends with a satisfying ironic twist, what is most surprising of all is the author's remarkable empathy for each of his characters and his ability to paint them as full human beings who deserve and invite our acknowledgement.

What about Christopher Welch’s performance did you like?

The narration is superb. I read the book a few years back and enjoyed listening to it even more.