The Morels

Get in the xigxag app
Already purchased

Click to open directly in the xigxag app.

This book is not purchasable in your country. Please select another book. Pre-order Buy Now £{{ price }} Send as a gift
How does xigxag pricing work?

Listen to a sample

What to expect

The Morels—Arthur, Penny, and Will—are a happy family of three living in New York City. So why would Arthur choose to publish a book that brutally rips his tightly knit family unit apart at the seams? Arthur's old schoolmate Chris, who narrates the book, is fascinated with this very question as he becomes accidentally reacquainted with Arthur. A single, aspiring filmmaker who works in a movie theater, Chris envies everything Arthur has, from his beautiful wife to his charming son to his seemingly effortless creativity. But things are not always what they seem.

The Morels takes a unique look at the power of art, literature, music, and film in particular—and challenges us as readers to think about some fascinating questions to which there are no easy answers. Where is the line between art and obscenity, between truth and fiction, between revolutionary thinking and brainless shock value, between craftsmanship and commerce? Is it possible to escape the past? Can you save your family by destroying it?

Critics Review

“Captivating. The Morels does a lot of heavy lifting, asking big questions about
art, life, and family, transforming this ambitious debut into something really
special.”

Jami Attenberg, New York Times bestselling author

“The
Morels is always entertaining.”

Wall Street Journal

“The
Morels asks big questions. What is art? What risks must be taken to grab
our attention? Where is the line between truth and fiction? Hacker’s story kept
me up at night…to find out what would happen, and contemplating these questions…I
eagerly await his next book.”

Cleveland Plain Dealer

“Audacious, thought-provoking…One of the top
first novels of the year. The author spins out the story at a fast clip,
creating a believable and entertaining tale. Woven into the fabric of the work
are discussions of the function of art in society, the difficulty of arriving at
the truth, and a thoughtful, compassionate detailing of the social and personal
repercussions of individual actions and beliefs.”

Library Journal (starred review)

“An eloquent treatise on the rights of artists
to exploit their personal histories—and why they do so, and at what cost…A fine
debut.”

Publishers Weekly

“In Hacker’s engaging debut, eccentric author
Arthur Morel writes a novel that pushes the envelope of art-for-art’s-sake
beyond anyone’s capacity to understand, much less forgive…Whether a reader is
intrigued by the philosophical questions or not, this family’s plight makes for
a marvelous read.”

Booklist

More from the same

Narrator

About xigxag

Enjoy the best audiobooks on xigxag, an innovative, user-friendly audiobook platform that makes it easy to find, purchase, and enjoy your favorite books in audio format. xigxag’s flexible pricing model offers bestselling audiobooks for less – affordable prices and the best audiobook deals with no subscription required.  Give the perfect gift with our audiobook gift cards and in-app audiobook gifting options.

 

xigxag’s commitment to sustainability and ethical practices ensures a guilt-free listening experience from an exceptional digital book platform – an exciting alternative to big tech.  Enjoy audiobooks from the only B Corp certified UK audiobook service and a leader in audiobook innovation.

 

Search effortlessly, read honest audiobook reviews evaluating both the book and the narration, and discover hidden gems.  Download or stream top audiobook titles anytime, anywhere and get the best possible listening experience on the UK’s best independent audiobook app.  Experience the future of audiobooks today.

Subscribe to our newsletter

Sign up to get tailored content recommendations, product updates and info on new releases. Your data is your own: we commit to protect your data and respect your privacy.