One More Thing
Stories and Other Stories
Published on 17. April 2014
Book
Paperback/Softback
272 pages
978-1-4087-0527-8 (ISBN)
Description
A boy wins $100,000 in a box of Frosted Flakes - only to discover that claiming the winnings may unravel his family. An acclaimed ambulance driver seeks the courage to follow his heart and throw it all away to be a singer-songwriter. A school principal unveils a bold plan to permanently abolish arithmetic. A new arrival in heaven, overwhelmed by infinite options, procrastinates over his long-ago promise to visit his grandmother. We meet a vengeance-minded hare. We learn why wearing a red T-shirt is the key to finding love; how February got its name; and why the stock market is sometimes just . . . down.
Finding inspiration in questions from the nature of perfection to the icing on carrot cake, from the deeply familiar to the intoxicatingly imaginative, One More Thing finds its heart in the most human of phenomena: love, fear, family, ambition, and the inner stirring for the one elusive element that might make a person complete. The stories in this collection are like nothing else, but they have one thing in common: they share the playful humour, deep heart, inquisitive mind, and altogether electrifying spirit of a writer with a fierce devotion to the entertainment of the reader.
Finding inspiration in questions from the nature of perfection to the icing on carrot cake, from the deeply familiar to the intoxicatingly imaginative, One More Thing finds its heart in the most human of phenomena: love, fear, family, ambition, and the inner stirring for the one elusive element that might make a person complete. The stories in this collection are like nothing else, but they have one thing in common: they share the playful humour, deep heart, inquisitive mind, and altogether electrifying spirit of a writer with a fierce devotion to the entertainment of the reader.
Reviews / Votes
Playful and inventive . . . One More Thing is a special read * Shortlist * A teller of funny, skew-whiff tales . . . Novak has, like, totally been compared to David Sedaris and Woody Allen, which is insane but also kinda true * New Statesman * Lively, sweet-natured . . . Novak is best when he reaches beyond a punchline.... My favourite piece, 'Dark Matter'. . . feels profound * Sunday Telegraph * One More Thing is very funny . . . Novak adds emotional depth to some well-crafted, often explosive pay-offs * Financial Times * Remarkably good. There's a wildly eclectic range on display, from personal meditations to flights of absurdist whimsy * Guardian * Brilliant surreal stories, full of unexpected twists and turns * The List * Everyone knew that B.J. Novak was smart and sexy, but funny, too!? Wow, screw that guy. I haven't laughed at words this hard since I read -- Joshua Ferris author of The Unnamed and Then We Came to the End ONE MORE THING is a funny and inventive debut collection, infused with a deadpan absurdist wit reminiscent of Woody Allen and Ian Frazier. B.J. Novak's stories are sly and playful, but they can pack a real emotional wallop -- Tom Perrotta, author of Nine Inches Dark and hilarious, like the fudge Grandma used to make during her 'special' period. Deliciously funny! -- Jack Handey, author of Deep Thoughts and The Stench of Honolulu A funny writer with a great ear, but also a genuine storyteller with an observant eye and finely tuned emotional radar -- Michiko Kakutani * New York Times *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Little, Brown Book Group
Product notice
Paperback (UK-trade)
Dimensions
Height: 236 mm
Width: 155 mm
Thickness: 26 mm
Weight
366 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-4087-0527-8 (9781408705278)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
04/2014
Little, Brown Book Group
€3.99
Available for download
Person
B. J. Novak is a writer and actor best known for his work on NBC's Emmy Award winning comedy series The Office as an actor, writer, director and executive producer. He is also recognized for his stand-up comedy performances and his roles in motion pictures such as Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds and Disney's upcoming Saving Mr Banks. He is a graduate of Harvard University with a degree in English and Spanish literature.