Joshua Ferris
Joshua Ferris is an American author known for his novels, including 'Then We Came to the End' and 'To Rise Again at a Decent Hour'. His work often explores themes of modern life and the human condition.
Books
This list of books are ONLY the books that have been ranked on the lists that are aggregated on this site. This is not a comprehensive list of all books by this author.
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1. Then We Came To The End
"Then We Came To The End" is a satirical novel that follows the lives of a group of advertising agency employees during a time of layoffs and uncertainty in the early 2000s. The story is told from the perspective of an unnamed narrator and explores the dynamics of office politics, relationships, and the struggle to maintain a sense of purpose and identity in the face of corporate downsizing. The novel is a witty and insightful commentary on modern work culture and the human condition.
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2. The Unnamed
This novel explores the life of a successful lawyer who is afflicted with a mysterious condition that compels him to walk without any control over when or where. His uncontrollable walks disrupt his professional life and strain his family relationships, leading to a profound examination of identity, mental illness, and the impermanence of life. As he grapples with his condition, the narrative delves into themes of love, the essence of self, and the search for meaning in a seemingly indifferent universe. Through his journey, the protagonist confronts the fundamental question of what it means to truly live when one's basic autonomy is stripped away.
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3. A Calling For Charlie Barnes
In this poignant and darkly humorous novel, the protagonist is a man in his sixties grappling with the realization that his life has been a series of near-misses and unfulfilled dreams. As he faces a terminal cancer diagnosis, he is forced to confront his past failures, strained family relationships, and the elusive nature of success. Through a narrative that shifts between perspectives, the story delves into themes of identity, redemption, and the search for meaning in the face of mortality, ultimately painting a vivid portrait of a flawed yet deeply human character seeking closure and understanding.
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4. To Rise Again At A Decent Hour
In this thought-provoking novel, a successful yet disillusioned dentist finds his life unraveling when an online impersonator begins posting personal details and philosophical musings under his name. As he grapples with the implications of this digital identity theft, he is forced to confront his own existential doubts and the meaning of faith, community, and connection in the modern world. The story delves into the complexities of human relationships, the search for authenticity, and the struggle to find one's place in an increasingly disconnected society.
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5. The Dinner Party And Other Stories
A collection of sharp, often darkly comic short stories that probe the oddities of contemporary life, portraying ordinary people struggling with loneliness, work pressures, domestic strain, mortality and the unexpected turns that expose their vulnerabilities. The prose is spare and observant, mixing empathy with wry humor as characters navigate surreal or quietly unsettling moments that reveal deeper emotional truths about connection, identity and modern American existence.
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