Spoonbenders

A novel

By: Daryl Gregory

Narrated by: Ari Fliakos

Length: 14 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's summary

Teddy Telemachus is a charming con man with a gift for sleight of hand and some shady underground associates. In need of cash, he tricks his way into a classified government study about telekinesis and its possible role in intelligence gathering. There he meets Maureen McKinnon, and it's not just her piercing blue eyes that leave Teddy forever charmed but her mind - Maureen is a genuine psychic of immense and mysterious power. After a whirlwind courtship, they marry, have three gifted children, and become the Amazing Telemachus Family, performing astounding feats across the country. Irene is a human lie detector. Frankie can move objects with his mind. And Buddy, the youngest, can see the future. Then one night tragedy leaves the family shattered.

Decades later the Telemachuses are not so amazing. Irene is a single mom whose ear for truth makes it hard to hold down a job, much less hold together a relationship. Frankie's in serious debt to his dad's old mob associates. Buddy has completely withdrawn into himself and inexplicably begun digging a hole in the backyard. To make matters worse, the CIA has come knocking, looking to see if there's any magic left in the Telemachus clan. And there is: Irene's son Matty has just had his first out-of-body experience. But he hasn't told anyone, even though his newfound talent might just be what his family needs to save themselves - if it doesn't tear them apart in the process.

Harnessing the imaginative powers that have made him a master storyteller, Daryl Gregory delivers a stunning, laugh-out-loud new novel about a family of gifted dreamers and the invisible forces that bind us all.

©2017 Daryl Gregory (P)2017 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"Hilarious, heartfelt and brimming with humanity." (Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney, author of The Nest)

"Masterful...gracefully balances the outrageous melodrama of Chicago mobsters and shadowy government agencies with the ordinary mysteries of family dynamics.... Readers will emerge from the fray sure they know each Telemachus down to the smudges on their hearts. A skillfully written family drama that employs quirk and magic with grace." ( Kirkus Reviews)

" Spoonbenders is brilliant. With the Telemachus clan, Daryl Gregory has created a family that is part J.D. Salinger and part David Foster Wallace. But the most impressive trick in the novel isn't how they read minds. Gregory's real gift is how he uses them to show the depths of the human heart." (Christopher Farnsworth, author of Killfile and Blood Oath)

Hilarious!

Any additional comments?

What a crazy book! Each chapter of this book is told from the point of view of a different family member. Mattie, the grandson, starts it off with his first out-of-body experience. From Buddy, who can see the future, to Irene, who is a human lie detector, to the little granddaughters who have surprising gifts, too, we get to know each member of this quirky psychic family. I wish there hadn't been so much profanity from some of the characters. I couldn't listen to this book with any of my family members around. Ari Fliakos did a fabulous job of narrating. His tone of voice, sense of timing, and use of different voices was outstanding. I'll be looking for more books read by him.

Great story! Well told!

Kept me interested and laughing all the way through! All the characters are fully formed but human...and 3 dimensional...each one a superhero, each struggling with the remarkable and the ordinary world that makes the ride a fun obstacle course. The narrator completely nails the voices of the characters...so that all of them became fully formed in my minds eye. Somebody is going to make a movie....or a TV series out of this! It's a brilliant concept that could find lots of interesting plot points! I'm really happy I stumbled on to this character driven story!

Liked it a lot

I never take the time to review books after I'm done, but I will today. This book was great, in all ways. Enjoyed it muchly.

surprisingly great at the end

author was finally able to bring the pieces together at the end. I kept thinking to my self what in the world is going on! disjointed experiences for members of the family that seemed to have no relevance to each other was driving me crazy. but thinking back now that it's finished, I rather enjoyed it.

All signs say you will love this story

This is a great story of a very unique family. It was compelling & detailed. The story didn’t drag & really kept my attention throughout. I highly suggest this book.

A little gritty for my tastes

It’s a compelling story and a good performance! But the language and situations are sometimes too gritty for me personally. I don’t mind a few f-words but this has a LOT. And the violence of mob business is disturbing. But the writing is good and well-paced. Certainly suspenseful!

Tie for no 1

This book is noe tied for my most favorite audible book so far. The story the reading all of it. great

Is it real, or is it a con?

You will love meeting the Telemachus family. the story is engaging and the reader does a great job bringing the characters to life.

pure entertainment from start to finish

I loved this book. Living a highly intuitive life and coming from an intuitive, gifted family myself I felt right at home with the story. At some point I considered renting The Godfather. The characters are unique and memorable. I laughed out loud at several points, the narrator did a superb job and he draws you into the story in a way you feel your a fly on the wall. So very enjoyable.

Uniquely Wonderful

The best book I have listened to in months. Outstanding story, plot and most importantly, exceptional writing.