AUDIO

The Prophet and the Idiot

HarperAudio. Apr. 2024. tr. from Swedish by Rachel Willson-Broyles. 10:07 hrs. ISBN 9780063371729. $26.99. F
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Petra, a self-taught astrophysicist, has calculated the day the world will end: September 21, 2011, at approximately 9:20 pm. Burdened with that knowledge, Petra meets an unlikely duo: Johan, a chef belittled for his intellectual deficits and at loose ends after being swindled by his brother, and Agnes, a 75-year-old woman posing as an influencer on Instagram. The three set out on a road trip from Sweden through Europe to Rome, planning to take revenge on those who have harmed them. But, of course, nothing ever goes as planned. Jonasson (The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared) is back with his sixth novel, a satirical look at modern culture told in his signature humorous style. Peter Kenny narrates this unlikely trio as they begin an epic trip that goes increasingly wrong. Though the narrative begins to drag toward the end, fans of incisive, socially aware humor will be captivated.
VERDICT Jonasson’s absurdist novel will appeal to those seeking a grimly witty story of misadventures and unlikely friendships. Share with fans of Marianne Cronin’s The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot.
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