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    Junket
    Junket
    Junket
    Audiobook47 minutes

    Junket

    Written by Lauren Groff

    Narrated by Suehyla El-Attar

    3.5/5

    ()

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    About this audiobook

    In these over-busy, stress-rich days, what sounds better than a stay at a high-end spa, complete with a much-needed change of scenery, in a warmer, gentler spot? The heroine of this latest story from beloved bestselling author Lauren Groff is offered just that: a few all-expenses-paid days of pampering at an Arizona retreat, far from the colorless cold of late winter in her hometown of Boston. Soon she’s squinting into desert sunlight, a kind of all-encompassing brightness she’s not known in years.

    But relaxing is harder than it seems for Groff’s narrator, who, like so many of her unforgettable characters, is thrillingly complex and conflicted. A novelist, she’s been invited to the retreat to bring an air of intellectual sophistication—but only because a “far more famous writer” canceled at the last minute. She hasn’t had a full night’s sleep or written with any enthusiasm in months and is fresh from a breakup. Arriving with her guard up, she quickly becomes ill at ease with the wastefulness-in-the-name-of-luxury she sees around her, the complacency of the other guests—so wealthy she can barely relate to them or them to her—and the New Age spirituality on the overpriced spa menu. And yet something starts working on her. Maybe it’s the jarring beauty of the desert, the response to the reading she gives from her latest book, or even those New Age treatments she’s so suspicious of. Despite herself, her cynicism begins to soften.

    And as it does so, she becomes overwhelmed by what she feels—and we are drawn into the existential and psychological terrain that Groff maps with such uncanny skill, providing piercing insight after insight into what it means to live among the twenty-first century’s environmental and socioeconomic crises. In Junket, as with her recent internationally celebrated novel Matrix, she conjures a woman at a crossroads who, rather than surrender to desolation, finds renewed courage and strength via her art, a path to a creative vision all her own, confirming once again that this three-time National Book Award finalist is a master of both the sublime and the subversive.

    Editor's Note

    Relax and rejuvenate…

    Can healing crystals cure climate change? Of course not. But a last-minute New Age retreat does start to cut through one writer’s cynicism in this rejuvenating short story for anyone weary of the 21st century’s excesses and ills, from three-time National Book Award finalist Groff.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherEverand Originals
    Release dateApr 5, 2022
    ISBN9781094441665
    Author

    Lauren Groff

    Lauren Groff is the author of five novels: the instant New York Times bestseller The Vaster Wilds, and two National Book Award Finalists, Matrix and Fates and Furies; as well as Aradia and The Monsters of Templeton. Her story collections include Florida, winner of The Story Prize and a finalist for the National Book Award, and Delicate Edible Birds. She has twice been a finalist for the Kirkus Prize, as well as for the National Book Critics Circle Award, the LA Times Book Prize, and the Orange Prize for New Writers. She was a Guggenheim Fellow, a Radcliffe Fellow, a Fellow at the American Academy in Berlin, and was named one of Granta’s 2017 Best Young American Novelists. She lives in Gainesville, Florida, with her husband and sons.

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    Reviews for Junket

    3.5/5

    358 ratings25 reviews

    What our readers think

    Readers find this title to be a compelling and emotional exploration of the toll taken by memories of combat. The book delves into the experiences of citizen-soldiers and their journey to become good spouses and parents. While some reviewers found the writing self-indulgent and pointless, others appreciated the author's honest appraisal and relatable character. Overall, the book offers a unique insight into the impact of war and the resilience of those affected. Despite mixed reviews, readers find this title to be a must-read for its emotional depth and compelling storytelling.

    What did you think?

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    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 3/5

      Jan 14, 2025

      It's a good story, the characters felt real and oddly fun.

      The part with the "mother" was definitely weird (no spoilers) and unnecessary but otherwise it was a decent story.
    • 2/5

      Oct 19, 2024

      DNF
      to pretentious for me. Also weird to refer to the protagonist only as „the writer“
    • 5/5

      Feb 1, 2024

      The writer's use of words to weave magic is astounding, such beautiful prose! She tells a touching tale of how a cynic is energized and hope reignited while on a "WELLNESS" weekend at a spa frequented by wealthy women. Who knows where inspiration is to be found? Who would have guessed?
    • 5/5

      Jan 24, 2024

      Absolutely stunning gem of a novella - it's rare that a work has me experience, fully, the same emotions as the character and this one did, from a healing sort of weeping to the sudden whiplash of remembering the real world, Junket is a marvel. The narration is taut and friendly in all of the right places, scornful in the others. Bravo.
    • 1/5

      Dec 8, 2023

      Uhh. Did not enjoy/like this in the slightest. Save your time.
    • 5/5

      Nov 1, 2023

      Tangail -kalihati boga Market Road.Isp Dhaka divisional internet license service provider -md:hadaed ullah(hitlo), list of the license number-14.32.0000.007.59.654.17.226-zarotech online md:hadaed ullah(hitlo)/kalihati map:-AVI JEET COMPOUTER./MDINNA Electronics.(MDINNA ISP WIFI wireless network),
    • 4/5

      Oct 18, 2023

      I can always trust Groff to leave me thinking and this was another win!
    • 1/5

      Oct 11, 2023

      Waste is a theme throughout this pretentious, self-righteous... short story? vignette?... which is ironic, since listening to this (even at 1.5x speed) was a waste of my time.
    • 3/5

      Apr 8, 2022

      An interesting short story to add to my goodreads challenge.
    • 4/5

      May 22, 2022

      I appreciated the author floating back and forth between imposter syndrome and honest appraisal. Will read more by this author

      1 person found this helpful

    • 1/5

      Apr 7, 2022

      Anger. That's the only word I can use to describe this book. Everything in the book is about anger and jealousy.

      3 people found this helpful

    • 4/5

      Dec 31, 2022

      Excellent narration and interesting insight into a particular life changing event and how it affects a writer. Their is relatable self deprecation, humor and hope.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 3/5

      Apr 8, 2022

      In the age of cancel culture and political correctness the last realm left to attack seems to be older women! I’m not sure if it was the narrator or the story but it sounded like a long complaint!

      4 people found this helpful

    • 5/5

      Apr 13, 2022

      Compelling, honest and full of emotion.

      A must-read to learn about every aspect of brutal house-to-house and man-to-man combat, then the moral/spiritual toll taken by their memories.

      These citizen-soldiers become good husbands/wives, fathers/mothers - loyal patriots who (on the outside) show no scars.

      Along with the fallen MY heroes all.

      Thank you!
    • 1/5

      Sep 29, 2022

      I have written many reviews in the years I have been doing this. This is the ook I have read that is awful I can't believe it actually got printed. All the nonsense, yelling, idiocy. My ears bleed from this horrid book. I am so sorry maybe I'll read some of hers that is quiter.. polite and makes sense.

      2 people found this helpful

    • 5/5

      Dec 31, 2022

      I feel for the writer. Such a fine head on her shoulders.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 1/5

      Jun 6, 2022

      No!!!











      3 people found this helpful

    • 2/5

      Oct 15, 2022

      Self indulgent semi autobiographical nonsense that was extremely pointless. We get it, you're a writer.

      2 people found this helpful

    • 3/5

      Apr 6, 2022

      I anticipated something exciting ...more of a climax? It reads more like a memoir I suppose.

      4 people found this helpful

    • 3/5

      Apr 7, 2022

      The character is both relatable and annoying. Rather bland slice of life writing.

      6 people found this helpful

    • 4/5

      Apr 11, 2022

      Surprisingly nice and emotionally fulfilling . Interesting for both believer and synics

      2 people found this helpful

    • 2/5

      Jul 12, 2022

      The story went nowhere. There really was no story lol.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5

      Apr 12, 2022


      The ability to experience and express emotions is a very important aspect in our life. Emotions often play a key role in our decision-making, relationship success, self-care, and day to day interactions. But being too emotional can also take a toll and can affect our emotional health. There are too many stresses

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5

      Apr 25, 2022

      https://ariataraz.com/
      see my website please
      this is for sepidarsystem site
    • 5/5

      Apr 7, 2022

      Excellent job, good experience of reading here. Really enjoyed reading.