A Home at the End of the World

By: Michael Cunningham

Narrated by: Colin Farrell, Dallas Roberts, Blair Brown, Jennifer Van Dyck

From Michael Cunningham, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Hours, comes the acclaimed novel of two boyhood friends A Home at the End of the World, now a feature film starring Colin Farrell and Dallas Roberts Jonathan.

There's Jonathan, lonely, introspective, and unsure of himself; and Bobby, hip, dark, and inarticulate. In New York after college, Bobby moves in with Jonathan and his roommate, Clare, a veteran of the city's erotic wars. Bobby and Clare fall in love, scuttling the plans of Jonathan, who is gay, to father Clare's child. Then, when Clare and Bobby have a baby, the three move to a small house upstate to raise "their" child together and, with an odd friend, Alice, create a new kind of family.

A Home at the End of the World masterfully depicts the charged, fragile relationships of urban life today.

©1990 Michael Cunningham (P)2004 Audio Renaissance, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishers, LLC

Critic reviews

“Lyrical . . . Memorable and accomplished.” —The New York Times Book Review

“Novels don't come more deeply felt than Cunningham's extraordinary four-character study . . . The writing [is] a constant pleasure, flowing and yet dense with incisive images and psychological nuance.” —Matthew Gilbert, The Boston Globe

“Cunningham writes with power and delicacy . . . We come to feel that we know Jonathan, Bobby, and Clare as if we lived with them; yet each one retains the mystery that in people is called soul, and in fiction is called art.” —Richard Eder, The Los Angeles Times

ended too soon

I loved these characters. They draw the listener in and they become real. Cunningham received raves for The Hours, but this story and these characters are much more accessible and endearing.

Pathetic lives

What did you like best about A Home at the End of the World? What did you like least?

The narrators were great. Although I couldn't bring myself to like Clair or Jonathan I could picture them well in my mind. The best thing I can say about the story is, if you ever think your life is screwed up listen to the lives of these losers and you'll feel much better. These people make suicide seem like a viable option.

What was one of the most memorable moments of A Home at the End of the World?

The ending when I felt so much better about my life.

Which scene was your favorite?

Alice getting high and enjoying her life for a brief moment.

Was A Home at the End of the World worth the listening time?

It held my interest in the hope that Jonathan woud dump the hag, get a real man and have a life.

This book did stuff to my heart.

There are books you don’t like, books you like, books you love & then there are the books you fall completely in love with. The latter is where I’d place this book for me. Never have I come across a book so realistic yet captivating. I can see these characters so clearly in my mind. I can believe everything that’s happening. Jonathan, Bobby, & Claire present an unconventional way of living that just felt so real to me. This book will not be for everyone but, you know, I kind of love that about it. The story stays strong from it’s beginning to it’s beautiful ending.
The audiobook itself is amazing. Read so perfectly by the four narrators.

Deep and emotional

Such a beautiful book about life-long love and friendship! Enjoyed it immensely. Both the story and the actors” performance.

Beautifully written

A little slow starting but you become very invested in the characters. The story is really well written.