Literature & Fiction
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Less Is Lost (The Arthur Less Books, 2)
In the follow-up to the "bedazzling, bewitching, and be-wonderful" (New York Times) best-selling and Pulitzer Prize-winning Less: A Novel, the awkward and lovable Arthur Less returns in an unforgettable road trip across America.
"Go get lost somewhere, it always does you good."
For Arthur Less, life is going surprisingly well: he is a moderately accomplished novelist in a steady relationship with his partner, Freddy Pelu. But nothing lasts: the death of an old lover and a sudden financial crisis has Less running away from his problems yet again as he accepts a series of literary gigs that send him on a zigzagging adventure across the US.
Less roves across the "Mild Mild West," through the South and to his mid-Atlantic birthplace, with an ever-changing posse of writerly characters and his trusty duo – a human-like black pug, Dolly, and a rusty camper van nicknamed Rosina. He grows a handlebar mustache, ditches his signature gray suit, and disguises himself in the bolero-and-cowboy-hat costume of a true "Unitedstatesian"... with varying levels of success, as he continues to be mistaken for either a Dutchman, the wrong writer, or, worst of all, a "bad gay."
We cannot, however, escape ourselves-even across deserts, bayous, and coastlines. From his estranged father and strained relationship with Freddy, to the reckoning he experiences in confronting his privilege, Arthur Less must eventually face his personal demons. With all of the irrepressible wit and musicality that made Less a bestselling, Pulitzer Prize-winning, must-read breakout book, Less Is Lost is a profound and joyous novel about the enigma of life in America, the riddle of love, and the stories we tell along the way.
"Go get lost somewhere, it always does you good."
For Arthur Less, life is going surprisingly well: he is a moderately accomplished novelist in a steady relationship with his partner, Freddy Pelu. But nothing lasts: the death of an old lover and a sudden financial crisis has Less running away from his problems yet again as he accepts a series of literary gigs that send him on a zigzagging adventure across the US.
Less roves across the "Mild Mild West," through the South and to his mid-Atlantic birthplace, with an ever-changing posse of writerly characters and his trusty duo – a human-like black pug, Dolly, and a rusty camper van nicknamed Rosina. He grows a handlebar mustache, ditches his signature gray suit, and disguises himself in the bolero-and-cowboy-hat costume of a true "Unitedstatesian"... with varying levels of success, as he continues to be mistaken for either a Dutchman, the wrong writer, or, worst of all, a "bad gay."
We cannot, however, escape ourselves-even across deserts, bayous, and coastlines. From his estranged father and strained relationship with Freddy, to the reckoning he experiences in confronting his privilege, Arthur Less must eventually face his personal demons. With all of the irrepressible wit and musicality that made Less a bestselling, Pulitzer Prize-winning, must-read breakout book, Less Is Lost is a profound and joyous novel about the enigma of life in America, the riddle of love, and the stories we tell along the way.
Editorial Reviews
"Only Arthur Less could be both frustratingly stuck, yet on the move. Let loose, yet totally lost. Full of wit, but without a clue. And while he runs from himself, finds himself at the same time. Put all of that on a wild road trip through a wilder America, and you end up with something hilarious, affecting, and unforgettable."―Marlon James, winner of the 2015 Booker Prize
"Does Andrew Greer think of himself as a comic novelist? Does a giraffe think of itself as a giraffe? Probably it doesn't matter. This book, though, is wildly, painfully, funny. It sometimes hurts to read it."―David Sedaris, author of Happy-Go-Lucky
"It is a deep pleasure to return to the adventures of Arthur Less and his beloved Freddy. Greer is a brilliant storyteller as always, and the joyfulness of this book is a balm. I loved reading it."―Madeline Miller, bestselling author of CIRCE
"What a joy to be reunited with the beloved, hapless, utterly delightful Arthur Less. With tenderness, wit and his incomparably lovely prose, Greer probes that most profound and mysterious of subjects: love."―Katie Kitamura, author of Intimacies
"Now we have the utterly delightful sequel to "Less," "Less Is Lost" (Little, Brown), this time told from the perspective of Less' partner (and emergency contact), Freddy Pelu...A road-trip novel with everyone's favorite "Minor American Novelist" as its guinea pig, "Less Is Lost" tells a very contemporary story of security undone, the death of an old friend and lover, and a financial crisis that has Arthur Less accepting a variety of antic-packed literary invitations across the country. Of course, in the end, wherever you go, there you are. "Less Is Lost" is a novel that dares to ask the question, "How long can a gay man survive in a desert?" It is in the balance between hilarity and heart that this sequel proves itself as delightful as its predecessor."―Sloane Crosley, Departures
"Exquisite attention to rhythm, repetition, and timing, the bright sentences tossed up like juggling balls to be caught in dazzling rotation...We can't presume to know how the American story, that insane and unprecedented jumble of genres, will end, but Less and Freddy's story is another matter. No one's private world is shielded from national storms, but often enough the sun does shine there. We need some novels to remind us of that, and this is one."―Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker
""Tenderhearted sequel...all narrat...
"Does Andrew Greer think of himself as a comic novelist? Does a giraffe think of itself as a giraffe? Probably it doesn't matter. This book, though, is wildly, painfully, funny. It sometimes hurts to read it."―David Sedaris, author of Happy-Go-Lucky
"It is a deep pleasure to return to the adventures of Arthur Less and his beloved Freddy. Greer is a brilliant storyteller as always, and the joyfulness of this book is a balm. I loved reading it."―Madeline Miller, bestselling author of CIRCE
"What a joy to be reunited with the beloved, hapless, utterly delightful Arthur Less. With tenderness, wit and his incomparably lovely prose, Greer probes that most profound and mysterious of subjects: love."―Katie Kitamura, author of Intimacies
"Now we have the utterly delightful sequel to "Less," "Less Is Lost" (Little, Brown), this time told from the perspective of Less' partner (and emergency contact), Freddy Pelu...A road-trip novel with everyone's favorite "Minor American Novelist" as its guinea pig, "Less Is Lost" tells a very contemporary story of security undone, the death of an old friend and lover, and a financial crisis that has Arthur Less accepting a variety of antic-packed literary invitations across the country. Of course, in the end, wherever you go, there you are. "Less Is Lost" is a novel that dares to ask the question, "How long can a gay man survive in a desert?" It is in the balance between hilarity and heart that this sequel proves itself as delightful as its predecessor."―Sloane Crosley, Departures
"Exquisite attention to rhythm, repetition, and timing, the bright sentences tossed up like juggling balls to be caught in dazzling rotation...We can't presume to know how the American story, that insane and unprecedented jumble of genres, will end, but Less and Freddy's story is another matter. No one's private world is shielded from national storms, but often enough the sun does shine there. We need some novels to remind us of that, and this is one."―Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker
""Tenderhearted sequel...all narrat...
Readers Top Reviews
T. L. Borden
Honestly, I went into this wild and crazy journey across the U.S. with Arthur Less having only a vague memory of reading the first Less book though I recalled that I enjoyed it very much. That’s the problem with being a voracious reader. However, I found myself liking this second tale quite a lot, despite only hazily remembering what preceded it. I enjoyed the occasional narration by Arthur’s partner, Freddy Pelu, who is all the way across the country when Arthur sets out on his journey from San Francisco, with the goal of earning the money needed to keep from losing his (their) home. Thus ensue many crazy happenings among the wild and unexpected characters he meets during his journey across the desert southwest and eastward. During his journey, Arthur Less wrestles with his inner demons and tries to make sense of his life as he bumbles about, one misunderstanding following another, to hilarious effect. I enjoyed the trip quite a lot, smiling the entire way. Many thanks to NetGalley, Little, Brown and Co. and the author for allowing me to read the eARC before publication, which happens on September 20, 2022. I highly recommend this crazy and entertaining sequel to Less.
Louise K. Forman
If you enjoyed “Less,” you’re going to want to pick up this sequel, “Less Is Lost.” If you haven’t read “Less,” you’re still in for a treat. Less is a “moderately accomplished” white gay writer in his early 50s, who suddenly needs to come up with a sum of money to pay back rent that he didn’t know about - the reason for the long road trip detailed in this novel. There are a ton of funny moments in this book. Two of my favorite stops were the one in the California desert and one in Alabama. Other funny moments include Arthur’s attempts to speak German. As my husband and I have a long road trip planned for this fall, I also really enjoyed some of the commentary, like how long it takes to get across Texas! The novel is narrated, somehow, by Arthur Less’ partner, Freddy Pelu, which made no sense to me at all since Freddy wasn’t on this trip. Nevertheless, he’s the narrator. Late in the book is a delightful twist and the ending was heartwarming. Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the opportunity to listen to an advance copy of the audiobook version of this book. Robert Petkoff did a great job with the narration. All opinions are my own.
HalKid2
LESS IS LOST is an intelligent, perceptive, and lighthearted glimpse into the middle age years of a San Francisco based writer. (Not unlike the author himself.) And further proof as to why Andrew Sean Greer won a Pulitzer Prize for the prequel LESS (2017) in 2018. LESS IS LOST is continues the story of Arthur Less, a fiftyish, marginally successful writer, full of insecurities and angst but always contemplating the nature of true love. LESS IS LOST picks up the story several years after LESS ends, taking Arthur Less on a financially-motivated cross-country trip. But, this time, instead of Less as narrator, this book is written from the perspective of Less’s current partner, Freddy. At the start of this novel, Freddy is secluded in Maine, attempting to write his own novel, while Less remains at their home in San Francisco, learning about the death of his former lover. That event triggers Less’s trip and I won’t say more about the plot which follows Less on that trip. With Greer, it’s not the story or the action that holds my interest. As with the prequel LESS, it’s Greer’s distinctive voice. Here again is the quirky irreverence, self-deprecation, and clever humor that I associate with this author. I often find myself smiling as I read. Greer has a gift for assembling just the right words to point out the ridiculous, self-importance writers too often attach to themselves. Don’t miss this opportunity to delve into Less’s damaged but lovable psyche. He as human a character as you can find in any book, just as flawed as the rest of us.
tricalTerri C.
In the book, the author wrote “…the myriad of investment managers, managing editors…” I didn’t expect that kind of ignorance from a Pulitzer Prize winner. Maybe the editors were just as bad, and this from a reputable publishing house. For that reason alone, I abandoned the book. I liked “Less,” but there were no writing errors like this. “Myriad investment managers, managing editors…” Writing 101.
Dorothy Raymond
I purchased this book as a gift. They wanted this book.
