Nnnnn (Lib)(CD) [Audio CD]

Carl Reiner (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 2006

Carl Reiner intersperses plots of biblical heresy, adultery, mild schizophrenia, and quadruplets separated at birth. NNNNN is the title of the protagonist Nat's novel, which is a comic retelling of Cain and Abel's struggles to procreate in the Garden of Eden, parts of which Reiner includes in his story. As Nat reinvents the origin of man, he investigates his own origins, looking into his adoption and discovering that he is one of four quadruplets who have been separated at birth. As Reiner interweaves the stories of Nat's four siblings, he creates sidesplitting tales of adultery, new-wave psychiatry, lost childhood love, and mistaken identity. NNNNN is Reiner's most impressive work to date, sure to captivate Reiner's generations of fans and create many new ones.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Reiner is up to his usual witty tricks with his character Nat Noland, a California writer, deep into his fifth novel, an account of Genesis focusing on Cain and Abel. Nat's wife, Glennie, overhears his voice in conversations with himself and becomes alarmed. She contacts the Viennese psychiatrist Dr. Frucht, who wants to delve into Nat's past and investigate recurring dreams and the significance of his not knowing his birth parents. Nat also encounters Dr. Gertrude Trampleasure, who claims he looks like her childhood boyfriend Buddy Keebler. How can this be? Nat's struggle to learn about himself parallels his character's concerns. Reiner's voice assures listeners of a companionable journey—his pace is leisurely, grave when necessary, and each character comes vividly alive with subtle individual adjustments. The fun begins immediately when the first thing heard is lofty music indicating something serious to come. Reiner is extremely skilled at poking fun at Southern California creative and cultural life and the eternal quest for identity and self-verification.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

*Starred Review* Venerable comedic genius Reiner continues to amuse in a diverse variety of formats. For this novel within a novel, he tackles the age-old subjects of personal identity and sibling rivalry. As novelist Nat Noland struggles to eke out every page of his fictional retelling of Cain and Abel, he begins having a series of long conversations with himself. Overhearing her husband arguing with himself in different voices, Nat's wife, Glennie, subtly convinces him to see a therapist. During consultations with Dr. Frucht--frucht in German means fruit--Nat recalls a series of dreams about his childhood and adoption. Determined to resolve his questions about his murky past, he embarks upon a remarkable odyssey to discover the long-lost brother he may or may not actually have. This humorous romp through the psyche of an endearingly kooky author will find a ready-made audience in Reiner's legion of fans. Margaret Flanagan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Audio CD
• Publisher: Books on Tape (February 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1415927421
• ISBN-13: 978-1415927427
• Shipping Information: View shipping rates and policies
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,106,041 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hilarious and fun ;-), February 8, 2006

By 

Little Miss Cutey (Melbourne, Australia) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: NNNNN: A Novel (Hardcover)

This is a great book writen by one of the funniest entertainers around. Carl Reiner is a classic and his humour shines through here. The main character, Nat, is a successful novelist and is always talking to himself and having bizzare conversations with himself (calling himself a shmuck etc) whilst writing his latest book (so it's like a book within a book). I'm just on half way through this, but I've really really enjoyed every part so far and it's been totally entertaining and very hard to put down. This kind of book had to be writen by a great comedian and who better than Carl Reiner?

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Couldn't put it down!, March 15, 2006

By 

Blueberry mom (Middle of nothing and everything) - See all my reviews

This review is from: NNNNN: A Novel (Hardcover)

I'm so glad I found this. Great writing. Enjoyed this book very much. What a funny man Carl Reiner is! The names he came up with- hilarious!- and the TWIN thing- too much!
What a mind he has. I would like to read some more of his writing.

This is a quick read-you've been warned- I read twenty-two chapters in a couple of hours, with a few interruptions. It was the kind of book that "I couldn't put down". Finally I went to bed but couldn't sleep so I got back up and finished it. Started weird- didn't really care for his bible story- but I admire his thinking and coming up with it- interesting take- but the rest of it was good/better. Good story about Nat. Light, easy, fun reading. Good for a quick trip, for a plane ride.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars NNNNN, February 18, 2006

By 

Surfer Joe - See all my reviews

This review is from: NNNNN: A Novel (Hardcover)

Quick witted, quick read, funny and serious all at once. I enjoyed this novel very much