The Answer Is No: A Short Story
$0.99
In a hilarious short story from New York Times bestselling author Fredrik Backman, the absurdities of modern life cause one man’s solitary world to spin suddenly, and comically, out of control.
Lucas knows the perfect night entails just three things: video games, wine, and pad thai. Peanuts are a must! Other people? Not so much. Why complicate things when he’s happy alone?
Then one day the apartment board, a vexing trio of authority, rings his doorbell. And Lucas’s solitude takes a startling hike. They demand to see his frying pan. Someone left one next to the recycling room overnight, and instead of removing the errant object, as Lucas suggests, they insist on finding the guilty party. But their plan backfires. Colossally.
Told in Fredrik Backman’s singular witty style with sharply drawn characters and relatable antics, The Answer Is No is a laugh-out-loud portrait of a man struggling to keep to himself in a world that won’t leave him alone.
From the Publisher
ASIN : B0D5JLH3RJ
Publisher : Amazon Original Stories (December 1, 2024)
Publication date : December 1, 2024
Language : English
File size : 7877 KB
Text-to-Speech : Enabled
Screen Reader : Supported
Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
X-Ray : Enabled
Word Wise : Enabled
Print length : 68 pages
Price: $0.99
(as of Dec 21, 2024 00:21:04 UTC – Details)
#Answer #Short #Story
In a hilarious short story from New York Times bestselling author Fredrik Backman, the absurdities of modern life cause one man’s solitary world to spin suddenly, and comically, out of control.
Lucas knows the perfect night entails just three things: video games, wine, and pad thai. Peanuts are a must! Other people? Not so much. Why complicate things when he’s happy alone?
Then one day the apartment board, a vexing trio of authority, rings his doorbell. And Lucas’s solitude takes a startling hike. They demand to see his frying pan. Someone left one next to the recycling room overnight, and instead of removing the errant object, as Lucas suggests, they insist on finding the guilty party. But their plan backfires. Colossally.
Told in Fredrik Backman’s singular witty style with sharply drawn characters and relatable antics, The Answer Is No is a laugh-out-loud portrait of a man struggling to keep to himself in a world that won’t leave him alone.
From the Publisher
ASIN : B0D5JLH3RJ
Publisher : Amazon Original Stories (December 1, 2024)
Publication date : December 1, 2024
Language : English
File size : 7877 KB
Text-to-Speech : Enabled
Screen Reader : Supported
Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
X-Ray : Enabled
Word Wise : Enabled
Print length : 68 pages
Customers say
Customers find the book humorous and relatable. They describe it as a wonderful, quirky short story that is easy to read and heartwarming. Readers praise the clever, creative, and unique imagination of the author. They find the characters interesting, colorful, and perfectly drawn. The book provides an insightful and accurate perspective on human nature.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Here are a few options:
1. “The Word of No: A Fateful Response”
2. “No: The Simple, yet Life-Changing Answer”
3. “In the Shadows of No: A Brief Tale”
4. “The Power of a Single Word: No”
5. “When No Is the Only Answer”
Let me know if you have any specific preferences (e.g. tone, style, length, etc.) and I can help you come up with more options!
Here is a rewritten version of the content:
The Answer is No
A Hilarious Tale of Chaos and Solitude
Fredrik Backman, New York Times bestselling author, brings us a laugh-out-loud short story about the absurdities of modern life and the challenges of maintaining solitude.
Meet Lucas, a man who values his alone time above all else. His perfect evening consists of video games, wine, and pad thai – with peanuts, of course! Why complicate things when he’s happy on his own?
However, Lucas’s peaceful world is turned upside down when the apartment board, a trio of nosy authority figures, comes knocking on his door. They’re on a mission to identify the owner of a misplaced frying pan left next to the recycling room. Lucas is initially happy to shrug it off, but the board insists on taking action – with disastrous results.
Told with Backman’s signature wit and relatable humor
This charming story is a portrait of a man struggling to maintain his independence in a world that seems determined to intrude. With its sharply drawn characters and comedic antics, The Answer is No is a must-read for anyone who’s ever cherished their alone time.
Additional Details
- ASIN: B0D5JLH3RJ
- Publisher: Amazon Original Stories
- Publication date: December 1, 2024
- Language: English
- File size: 7877 KB
- Text-to-Speech: Enabled
- Screen Reader: Supported
- Enhanced typesetting: Enabled
- X-Ray: Enabled
- Word Wise: Enabled
- Print length: 68 pages
by Love to read
simply delightful
Iâve liked (almost) every book Iâve read by Fredrik Backman. He has great insight into human nature and especially into the ways of introverts. When I read his books I have to laugh at his exaggerated depictions of those who insist on being âjoinersâ and who are extreme extroverts. Likewise, I enjoy how his main characters are usually people who just want to be left alone and are unapologetic about not needed or wanting too much interaction with others. His narrative style keeps me engaged and amused throughout the entire book. This short story could have been extended into a novel, but I appreciated that it was short enough to read intermittently while I waited for an appointment and again when I was baking cookies. Itâs a quick, delightful read.
by Karissa Eckert
Fun, humorous, short story.
Series Info/Source: This is a stand alone story. I got this on ebook through Kindle First Reads.Thoughts: This is the first Backman story I have ever read, and I will definitely be reading more. This was an adorable little story. It is about a man Lucas who is happy because he avoids the most disruptive thing in the world, other people. When he mistakenly gets drawn into a conflict over a misplaced frying pan everything goes to crazy town.This was humorous and funny and heartfelt. I liked Lucas and his routines and his attitudes. I thought it was entertaining to watch all that get turned on its head.Yes, this was incredibly predictable and a little bit ridiculous as well. However, it was a small-time commitment, had me smiling, and was fun and easy to read.My Summary (4/5): Overall I liked this. It was entertaining, humorous, thought-provoking, and heart-felt. It is a bit predictable and goofy as well. I would recommend for those looking for a quick humorous, heartfelt read. This was my first Backman read, and I plan to read more after reading this!
by Lucy Ballard
Utterly charming
This short story is utterly charming, absurd in just the right amount, easily readable, relatable and moves at just the right pace. The characters in this piece are treated in a deeply empathetic manner. In finishing reading this tale, we, the readers, come away feeling that we have perhaps been seen and treated just as kindly by the author. What a delightful read!
by swendt52
A good short story
I enjoyed this short story written by Fredrick Backman very much. I was particularly drawn to Lucas throughout this wonderful short story. His character struck me the most throughout. I recommend this short story to anyone who is looking for a fast-paced and thoughtful and engaging read.
by Marija
Charming
This short story was a wonderful addition to my reading list, and I was able to finish it in about an hour. From the very first page, it had me laughing and smiling, as the humor and charm were woven seamlessly throughout the narrative. I particularly love how this author brings to life a diverse cast of quirky characters, each with their own unique traits and eccentricities. Their interactions added depth and real joy to the story. Overall, it was a delightful read that brightened my day!
by Laura S. Minor
funny and uncomfortable
Mr. Blackman has written a short story which painfully explores some of the frustrations of our life today from Facebook to silly rules to how Boards function to the stresses of family and work life, this short story has it all. I laughed out loud. I also took a break when the reality of what Board members of condo associations can be like made me nervous about the condo we are about to move into.Itâs clever and worth reading.
by shereadbookblog
Delightfully quirky
Lucas just wants to be left alone. His happy introverted world is upset when his apartment board appears at his door demanding to see his frying pan. Someone has discarded a frying pan in the recycling room and they are out to find out who did it. One thing leads to another, the frying pan sparks a debris pile and Lucas continues to be accosted by the board and other people.Backman is one of my favorite authors; he is beloved by many. In true Backman fashion, there is humor, keen observations of human nature, pathos in this delightfully quirky short story. Take a break this holiday season and sit down with this quick read. Anyone who has ever lived in a condo will really appreciate it!
by Kate Colbert
Hilarious, Quirky, Strange, and Not for Everyone
Fredrik Backman is my favorite novelist. As a book editor and former English professor, Iâve read a great many pieces of literature and I consider Backmanâs âBeartownâ to be perhaps the best book Iâve ever read. So my expectations for his work are high. I wasnât sure what to expect with this short story. It was often hilarious in a sardonic way and the main character reminded me a lot of my asocial, matter-of-fact autistic husband, so I felt âat homeâ reading âThe Answer Is No.â In the end, it felt a little too quirky for my tastes, and perhaps a bit too bleak. On the final page, I felt disappointed â not because it was over, but because it felt like it had never really begun. I still gave the story four stars because the writing was impeccable and the story is memorable. If you liked âA Man Called Ove,â you might also like this curmudgeon story.
by Charry Anne
âIâm . . . no expert. But I think most people who want to be happy try to add things to their lives. But really what maybe they should be doing is taking something away.âI just finished reading âThe Answer Is No,â and I absolutely loved it! Itâs a short story, but it really packs a punch. Itâs funny how many of us donât really know what happiness means to us. This book does a fantastic job of reminding us to discover what truly makes us happy. Highly recommend!
by Jessica
Could not stop reading this, brilliant story. Very clever, and funny. I love all the characters, and I feel connected with them.
by Sree
An utterly hilarious yet totally relatable book. A must read for anyone who gets exhausted by people. Fredrik is such a brilliant writer.
by Dodie
I don’t usually enjoy short stories, but this one was a true delight. An IT work from home man prefers his solitude. He says NO to all invitations or requests. However, he gradually gets involved in the local community (against his better judgment). Is he an angel? some people think so. Funny, gentle story.
by jenna
Super cute short read that really makes you stop and think! Sometimes we all just need to say no! Great book