The Unnamed by Joshua Ferris; read by the authorBack-of-the-box blurb: He was going to lose the house and everything in it.
The rare pleasure of a bath, the copper pots hanging above the kitchen island, his family-again he would lose his family. He stood inside the house and took stock. Everything in it had been taken for granted. How had that happened again? He had promised himself not to take anything for granted and now he couldn’t recall the moment that promise had given way to the everyday.
Tim Farnsworth is a handsome, healthy man, aging with the grace of a matinee idol. His wife Jane still loves him, and for all its quiet trials, their marriage is still stronger than most. Despite long hours at the office, he remains passionate about his work, and his partnership at a prestigious Manhattan law firm means that the work he does is important. And, even as his daughter Becka retreats behind her guitar, her dreadlocks and her puppy fat, he offers her every one of a father’s honest lies about her being the most beautiful girl in the world.
He loves his wife, his family, his work, his home. He loves his kitchen. And then one day he stands up and walks out. And keeps walking.
In The Unnamed, Joshua Ferris imagines the collision between one man’s free will and the forces of nature that are bigger than any of us.
She is Too Fond of Books’ review: You may know that I listen to audiobooks while walking on the treadmill; The Unnamed, by its very nature as a book about a man who walks, is a great incentive to keep moving.
Tim Farnsworth suffers from a disease which is not only unnamed, but also relatively undefined. Does the disease have a physical root, or is it the result of a psychological disorder? He and his wife, Jane, have travelled to many clinics in the US and abroad, trying to pinpoint the cause of his walking, and to affect a cure.
When the disease is active, Tim begins walking, unable to stop or choose a direction; without pause, he crosses roads and walks for 20-30 miles. Finally, he collapses from exhaustion and sleeps, calling Jane to collect him when he awakes. The cycle continues for several weeks or months, until the disease goes into remission.
In addition to consulting with clinicians, Tim and Jane have tried unorthodox methods of curing him, and have resorted to phyical restraints, handcuffing him to the bed. Nothing works. When the disease comes out of remission, Tim calls Jane with a two-word statements, “It’s back.”
During the good times, the Farnsworths have a more typical marriage. Tim is a successful attorney, Jane is a real estate agent, and they both struggle to understand their teenage daughter, Becka. Becka is, of course, affected by her father’s disease. She hazily remembers the first episodes, when she was a young girl. Now her father is walking again, and Becka rides along with Jane to pick him up, scanning the sides of the road to catch sight of him, and sacrificing (sometimes reluctantly, sometimes freely) her time and energy toward protecting him.
The book is not entirely fast-paced; like all lives, Tim’s has its peaks and valleys, his lows are lower than most. Even when Ferris writes about the more typical, ‘normal’, periods, the writing is strong, not dull or slow. Tim’s relationships with his wife, daughter, colleagues (and his career), and the illness itself are so interesting; Ferris explores strengths, weaknesses, and support (or lack of) in each.
I can’t say more about the depths and heights Tim (and listener) experience, but know that I was eager to return to the treadmill each day for the next installment. The author narrates this audiobook edition, which includes an interview with him (conducted by his editor, Regan Arthur) at the end of the novel.
FTC disclosure: review copy provided by the publisher
This sounds so interesting! If it makes anyone eager to return to a treadmill, it’s got to be good!
I will be listening to this one soon — so I just skimmed your review. I like it when the audio editions have extra material — like the interview.
I’ll start this one as soon as I finish listening to Venetia Kelly. I hope it will motivate me to walk more too!
rhapsody – when I was listening to passages about Tim walking (and walking, and walking) until he collapsed from exhaustion, it was an ironic twist that I was on the treadmill.
Beth F – and Ferris was such a great narrator. Some authors can narrate their own work and add to the experience (Malcolm Gladwell and Susan Jane Gilman come to mind), others … not so much.
Kathy – and I have a hardcover of VENETIA KELLY waiting for me; it’s interesting to compare the reading vs. listening experiences.
I love the idea of reading this one while on the treadmill! Talk about meta!
I really loved Ferris’s first book, but I haven’t managed to get a copy of this one yet. I’m really looking forward to it, though!
I enjoyed this one! It was one of those books that really made me think — and that’s a good thing.
I’ve seen this one around, but didn’t really pay much attention until your review. It actually sounds very interesting!
This book sounds incredibly fascinating and is on my to-read list. Thanks for the great review. I think I’d like the audio!
I wanted to pitch this to my book club when we were selecting books but I didn’t think there would be enough to discuss so I pulled it from the list. I still don’t think there would be enough to discuss but the story does intrigue me. You say it made you want to return to the treadmill but you like exercise so tell me, did you really like it?
Every time I read a review, I wonder if there’s enough here to keep my interest. But everyone seems to like it so I’ll have to assume if it made you want to be on a treadmill, there must be a good reason to read it.
Steph – I haven’t read AND THEN WE CAME TO THE END. The audiobook of THE UNNAMED was fantastic, but Ferris doesn’t narrate AND THEN … I’ll likely look for it in hardcopy (glad to know you enjoyed it so much!)
Julie – yes, it’s one of those books that doesn’t let you go!
Anna – there’s a lot to think about, I believe, especially in regard to Tim and Jane’s marriage and how ‘the unnamed’ affects it.
savvy – I imagine your to-read list looks a lot like mine – long and growing!
Ti – a fair question (and you give me too much credit. When I exercise, I’m glad I did it, but it’s sometimes so hard to motivate myself!). Yes, there’s a lot to discuss in this book. In fact, BookingMama and I were emailing this morning about our thoughts (I don’t know anyone IRL who has yet read it). THE UNNAMED stays with you, the word Julie used is “disturbing.” I was especially struck with how the marriage relationship was handled – none of us have any guarantee that our spouse will stay healthy (in mind or body … that old ‘sickness and in health’), but, none of us know how we’ll react when a spouse it taken ill. It also had me thinking on how we react to friends and strangers who are ill. Tim’s character changes greatly over the course of the novel, and it’s interesting to see where parts of the “old” Tim surface. Have I convinced you, without giving too much away?
Lisa – I know not everyone has liked it. I thought it might be the difference between audio and print (some reviews I’ve read indicate that the reader felt some scenes were repetitious … I think they illustrated what Tim and his family were dealing with). But, BookingMama read the print edition and felt as strongly as I do about the audio. Like every book, a variety of opinions!
I am a couple of discs into this one right now. I’m not finding Ferris to be the absolutely best narrator, but is good enough to keep me entertained. Right now, I’m feeling like their poor daughter is collateral damage.
This sounds like the perfect book to listen to while on the treadmill. I don’t do the best with audio books but plan to read this one soon!
I wasn’t crazy about the first 1/2 of the book, mainly because I was annoyed by most of the characters. But the second half really grabbed me. I’ll confess to sobbing during parts.
I got this book because it sounds so intersting … but I can’t imagine reading it while walking on a treadmill!! That much have freaked you out just a little bit!
I have heard really good things about this book, and it’s one I am looking forward to reading.Reading it on a treadmill is probably a really interesting experience, since it is about walking! I am glad that you liked it. I am pretty sure I will too! Great review
I listened to this one on audio on a road trip alone and really enjoyed it. There were times I wish I read it because there were lines I would have written down, but there were times I loved hearing the author use emphasis in ways I wouldn’t have expected from reading it.
Sandy – I think Ferris addresses this in the interview at the end; he admits that it took him a while to get into the groove. I love the author’s emphasis, and hearing his voice in dialogue.
Kathleen – I wouldn’t mind reading the print version at some point (I never re-listen to audiobooks, but do sometimes read a book I’ve listened to), and I definitely want read his AND THEN WE CAME TO THE END.
softdrink – yeah, it’s a good thing I WALK (not run) on the treadmill, or I think I would have fallen off at some jaw-dropping moments!
Jenners – when Tim was walking, I definitely experienced more of an urgency in my treadmill routine! The book isn’t all walking, though, there are peaks and valleys (and, oh, those valleys!)
zibilee – it’s tough to write a review of an audio (for me, anyway), since I can’t quote the book accurately. But, yes, this is an impactful book … it stays with you!
nomadreader – At times it was tough to be walking a treadmill while listening to this … I can’t imagine driving!
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