The News Where You Are

By Catherine O'Flynn

A heartbreaking, yet hilarious, novel from the author of the best-selling, prize-winning What Was Lost.

The News Where You Are tells the funny, touching story of Frank, a local TV news presenter in England. Beneath his awkwardly corny screen persona, Frank is haunted by disappearances: the mysterious hit-and-run that killed his predecessor Phil Smethway; the demolition of his father's post-war brutalist architecture; and the unmarked passing of those who die alone in the city. Frank struggles to make sense of these absences whilst having to report endless local news stories and trying to cope with his resolutely miserable mother. The result is that rare thing: a page-turning novel that asks the big questions in an accessible way, and is laugh-out-loud funny, genuinely moving and ultimately uplifting.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
• Release date: Jul 6, 2010
• ISBN: 9780385668958

Catherine O'Flynn

Catherine O’Flynn is the author of the bestselling debut novel, What Was Lost, which won the Costa First Novel Award in 2007, was short-listed for The Guardian First Book Award, and was long-listed for the Booker Prize and the Orange Prize. Her second novel, The News Where You Are was an Indie Next List selection and was shortlisted for the 2011 Edgar Award for Best Paperback Original. She lives in Birmingham, England.

Reviews for The News Where You Are

[froxgirl · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This novel unpeels like an onion and each layer can bring tears. Frank, a local newscaster, is devastated by having to report on the anonymous deaths of the Eleanor Rigbys and makes it a point of attending their funerals. He's surrounded by his aging broadcast mentor, a miserable mother, an astute young daughter, a washed up joke writer and his architect father, deceased and just as distant when he was alive. Quite a collection and Frank himself is a lovely man. The majority of characters are quite admirable, a rarity in today's fiction. This is like the anti-Gone Girl, quiet and thoughtful and well constructed.

[mahallett · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

i didn't want this to end. the story is sort of all over the place but that is life. good reader. coincidently tom is reading what was lost by o'flynn and is whipping through it.

[thebentley · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Truly beautiful work about aging and personal history. The main character's fascination with the solitary deaths of strangers, including the deaths of more abstract things like styles, beauty, and professional aspirations, ties the whole book together. In many ways, this is a book about what time takes from us, both individually and as a society. As such, it is a very sad book, but thanks to O'Flynn's artistry, it is never depressing. In the unlikeliest of places, O'Flynn finds an affectionate humor that never sinks to the gallows level, and in the unlikeliest situations, she finds hope. So that, in the end, "The News Where You Are" is not only about what time takes from us, but also about the subtle gifts it bestows.

[amusedbybooks · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I had been putting off reading this one for a while because I hadn't heard a lot of strong things about it. I wish I hadn't put off reading it because I absolutely loved it. Or maybe it's one of those cases of going into it with low expectations and then it can really blow you away. Basically, if you like subtle British humor (or should I say humour), the likes of which Mark Haddon's 'A Curious Incident of A Dog in the Night Time' also excelled at then you will probably love this one too. If you don't then, you will just think it's your average story. Our hero is a bumbling middle aged man named Frank who lives in Birmingham, England and is a newscaster for a local evening news show. He will never make it big time and for the most part he is ok with that. He has a wife and daughter who love him and he loves them but he is having a bit of a mid life crisis. It all probably starts with the death of one of his closest friends and mentors Phil. The death is a bit mysterious and Frank becomes, maybe a little unhealthily, obsessed with solving it.However, that isn't necessarily the main focus of the book. I think, perhaps, the main focus of the book is just Frank's average life. All of the characters that come in and out of it and finding the humor in the everyday. His daughter Mo, who I think is around age 8 is an absolute delight and is probably his greatest joy. He needs to learn to appreciate her more. His mother is in a senior living center and is a mean old lady but Frank and his family try to cheer her up. They can't seem to but it is entertaining watching them try. Frank's father has passed away and was an architect whose buildings are being torn down. Frank is trying to save them. Andrea, Frank's wife, often says that their life is very involved with Frank's past and is important that he learns to move into the future. I think that is what the story is trying to deal with more than solving the mystery of Phil.However, we do solve the mystery and it is an interesting ride. We meet the people Phil was dealing with up until his death. Phil was a newscaster who had made it to the big time but didn't want to grow old, however old he may have been at the time of his death. Was it an accident or not? The book is all very subtle but I was hooked from the get go and I have O'Flynn's first book 'What Was Lost' on my shelf and I am looking forward to digging that back out now too.

[twink_2 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed Catherine O'Flynn's debut novel What Was Lost (my review) and was looking forward to her second - The News Where You Are.Frank is a television news presenter. Viewers enjoy him, but it is the bad puns and jokes (penned by odd duck Cyril - inherited from former presenter and star Phil) that are the appeal for many of the viewers. He lives in a house that he's having trouble selling as it's removed from everything. He loves his wife Andrea who loves him just as much. They have a young daughter Mo who is a breath of fresh air with her sunny view and outlook. Frank's mother Maureen lives in a Seniors development and can only seem to see the worst in everything. Frank questions the verdict of accidental death in Phil's case and does some investigating on his own.Back cover blurbs include the phrases 'brilliantly funny and heartbreakingly sad and spirited literary mystery". I must say I really didn't find the book funny at all. I did find sadness though. Frank is a multi leveled character. By turns he seems lost, but he's a fantastic father, devoted son and faithful friend. Yet is all seems to be done with a sense of obligation. Frank's father was an architect and the demolition of many of his buildings seems to be an allegory for the breaking down of many barriers in Frank's life, past and present. O'Flynn uses architecture and descriptions of same to mirror many characters' moods and feelings.The character of Mo stole the show for this reader. Her determined attempts to cheer up her grandmother, her vibrant imagination and her love of life and everything in it were a high point for me.The 'spirited mystery' wasn't there for this reader. The mystery surrounding Phil's death certainly is an impetus in Frank rediscovering his life but did not fit the 'mystery' tag for me.O'Flynn has a way with words and many of her scenarios and descriptions are quite eloquent in their simplicity. But the novel moved along quite slowly in the first half for me - the second half was less meandering. I wanted to love this book as much as I did her first one, but for me it was just an okay read.

[lkernagh · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

While the writing style is crisp, clean and easy to follow, I found the story telling to meander for the first half of the book. Okay, it actually meandered through most of the book, but as it was deliberately writtne in this manner I won't dwell on that. The story is about an aging local TV newscaster Frank, his mentor Phil and Frank's reminisces regarding his childhood and relationships with his parents. Frank's father Douglas was a well known local architect of repute and the void between father and son is brought to light over time. While there is a mystery in this story - Phil was killed while out jogging on a country road by a hit and run - the story is really about relationships, aging and Frank's examination of the complexities of life. Overall, the story started out as a cluster of seemingly unrelated ramblings with focused direction, but the last 50 pages of the story managed to bring closure on some of the topics raised in this story. It is an easy story to read - I read it over the course of one day - but I do admit I was tempted halfway through to abandon the book as not exactly my cup of tea. I am glad I stuck it out to the end, but it is not a favorite that I would re-read in the future.

[coolmama_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Well written novel about a newsreader who delves into the death of his friend and peer, Phil.It was just 2 chapters too long, as by the time I got to the "ah-ha" reveal, it should have been wrapped up.

[blodeuedd_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Catherine O'Flynn is a great writer, she transforms small things into a good piece of fiction. Nothing major happened, but there was great writing, and I do like great writing.This is the story about Frank, a news anchor who has been in the business for 20 years. He likes where he is and never wanted to be bigger. He is also a joke, a man famous for bad one-liners. Something that he inherited from his mentor and friend, but he never did get them right. Now Phil is dead, in a strange accident. And Frank is left with his strange hobby as his wife calls is, going to funerals of people who had no one else coming.Frank is a good guy, he likes his job (ok not the crap jokes), but he is a solid guy. He loves his wife and cute little daughter. And he searches for lost relatives for those people who have died without any family showing up. His mum seems constantly depressed, but he visits her. But there is something sad over him, perhaps cos if his search through out the book. But that will change too.The book uses flashbacks to show some clues, Michaels past (the guy whose relatives he is trying to find), some moments from Phil's past, before his death and earlier, and lastly Frank's past. His dad who was always working and his mum who had good and bad days.Life in general, and a search for that which is lost is what this book is about. From people gone, to his dad's buildings being torn down to make new for new ones. And the last sentence of the book tells you everything:"Our absence is what remains of us."It's beautiful and sad at the same time.She has a way of telling is straight, but there is also a subtle humour in this book. A strange book, and a completely normal book at the same time. What I am left with is that she writes great fiction, easy fiction, and fiction that should be noticed.Final thoughts: I do like my genres, and sometimes I need an author who can write beautiful prose, saying a lot, or saying nothing, and she is good. I sometimes like books cos of the story, sometimes for the written word, and this time it was the latter.

[mrstreme · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Frank, the main character of Catherine O’Flynn’s latest book, The News Where You Are, is a 40-something newscaster who is facing numerous crises. For example, the buildings created by his father, a renowned post-war architect, were being demolished because they didn’t adequately meet the needs of the residents (though Frank’s father meticulously designed each one with “the future” in mind). As Frank mourns the loss of his father’s architecture, he also mourns the lost relationship between them.Frank is also dealing with the death of his friend and mentor, Phil – a popular national newscaster who had a Dick Clarkian way of non-aging. Phil was killed in a hit-and-run accident one evening, and his sudden death left a big void in Frank’s life.While mourning the loss of his friend, Frank became interested (borderline obsessed) with news stories about people who died alone. For Frank, this is the worst way to go, and he begins to investigate one death in particular – that of Michael Church. Frank soon discovers that Michael was Phil’s childhood friend, and he begins to piece together an incredible story of friendship and secrets.The News Where You Are is a small book but packed with many complex themes – the young and the old; the popular and the lonely; the past and the future. Each character, from Frank and his cranky mother to Frank’s spirited daughter and his practical wife, are developed with the precision of an artist. As Frank uncovers the past life of Phil and Michael, he explores his own childhood and begins to rectify the relationship with his parents. Ultimately, it’s his daughter Mo who offers Frank the best counseling, reminding him that it’s not the past or future that’s important – but the present with the people you love. In essence, the news is – quite simply – exactly where you are.

[catien_3 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Frank Allcroft is a news anchor in England on a show I imagine to be similar to Regis & Kelly here in the U.S. He is happily married with a lovely child. Frank is haunted by the past, his mother's moods and his architect father's unavailability and cold demeanor. His father passed away years ago, but Frank visits his mother in her rest home, and she is still all doom & gloom. Phil was the previous news anchor of the show and has remained friends with Frank even after moving on to national fame. The book opens with Phil's death and the mystery surrounding that death. This was a slow-starter and, at first, somewhat confusing. I loved O'Flynn's previous book, "What Was Lost," and so I stayed with this one, and things eventually started to flow. O'Flynn is an amazing writer, and her characters jump off the pages. Look forward to reading more of her books.

[cariola_6 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

O'Flynn's latest novel, set in her native Birmingham, revolves around the themes of aging, memories, regrets, and forgiveness, particularly in the life of her main character, Frank Allcroft, co-anchor of a popular local TV chat/news show. Frank is questioning his decision to move his wife and daughter to a home in a small country town that has turned out to be rather bleak; and he is haunted by the hit-and-run death of his predecessor and mentor, Phil Smethway. Distressed by the planned demolition of the last of his architect father's buildings, Frank reminisces about their rather distant relationship. Even though he visits his mother three times weekly in her senior citizen residence, he can't shake the memories of her emotional withdrawal--a withdrawal she still maintains. And why is it that he feels such a responsibility to lonely people like Mike Church who end up in the news solely because they died alone and without being missed by anyone? Frank, in his late 40s, seems to be reassessing his own life as he hears the clock ticking behind his ear.It's a little hard to pin this novel down. In part, it's a mystery about learning the truth of Phil's death (and the mystery of Mike Church as well). In part, it's a family drama. And in part, it's a book about a midlife crisis and a man coming to terms with his past. O'Flynn has structured the novel into short chapters, most of them about Frank but others focused on the other characters, and the chapters also shift in terms of their time frames. Overall, it's a solid but not outstanding book. I almost gave it four stars but cut back to 3.5, mainly because I felt that O'Flynn may have been trying to cover too much territory and as result sometimes lost focus.

[curvymommy · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I was excited to read this, as I really enjoyed Catherine O'Flynn's debut novel, What Was Lost. This book did not disappoint. Overriding themes of loss, what we remember, and who remembers us. Wrap that up with a little mystery, and a surprising twist, and you've got a page-turner that makes you think. I enjoyed the author's technique of moving forward and back through time, to give us snippets from other characters' points-of-view -- in some books this can be really annoying, but here it moved the story along nicely. A very good book - I'm looking forward to the author's next novel!

[myckyee_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is the story of a newscaster and how he deals with life (and death). Frank is taking to heart too much of his news stories. As much as he feels connected to them (and especially with people who die lonely deaths), he ironically seems to have trouble connecting with his elderly mother.I liked this book for its characters and story. It was well-written and held my interest. I found it a bit sad in parts - not anything specific - but just the sense of time passing and faded memories for things and people once enjoyed and still longed for. All in all a very good book.

[lazybee_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The News Where You Are begins with Phil, an aging news anchor, being killed in a hit and run accident. The story then moves on to Frank, a local news presenter who worked with Phil for years, and who becomes interested in the story of a local man who died recently who turns out to be connected to Phil. I wouldn't call this a mystery, because even though Phil's death is the catalyst for the story, the story isn't really about investigating who done it, it's about getting to know the characters and understanding what has happened in their lives. It was really interesting, and I think the story and characters will stick with me.

[raidergirl3 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Poor Frank Allcroft! He's a news show anchor with little social awareness and not much of a sense of humour. He's still mourning the death of the anchor he has replaced. Phil was a legend, and Frank's mentor. He's also 43 and verging on a midlife crisis. He begins to look into Phil's hit and run death a little more closely. Frank actually 'deals' with the news stories he covers belatedly. Deaths of people with no next of kin particularly bother Frank. Frank was a great character, never wanting to hurt anyone's feelings, but ends up being put upon. It makes him seem like a pushover, but he really isn't.The story moves along nicely, with a slight mystery. I wouldn't call this book a mystery from the genre, but there is an overarching mystery to be solved, along with Frank settling issues in his life. O'Flynn writes wonderfully rich characters like Frank and his wife and daughter, who are also very real. The overlying themes in this book are about appearances. Frank's father was an architect involved in the rebuilding after the war. His buildings are now being torn down after valuing function over appearance. His town planning idea shows that you can't always plan for things to turn out the way you want them to. Frank does a lot of reminiscing about his childhood and his parents, and how they led him to be the way he is. The book isn't long, but as I try to write about it, there are so many ideas and layers that it is hard to describe. So, O'Flynn - terrific writing, lots of humour, rich characters, a mystery or two that keep you turning the page, great surprising ending, along with some social commentary. I think I've found a new author to watch.

[polfies63 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

After reading What Was Lost I was eagerly anticipating O'Flynn's new novel. But after reading it I have been thinking about how to review it. Did I love it as much as the first one - probably not. It is quite a slow moving exploration of Frank Allcroft's life as a TV presenter and his midlife crisis in Birmingham England. Almost every character in the book is dealing with a loss of some kind whether it is a death, loss of youth or loss of a dream. My favorite character was not one of the main ones - it was Julia the disillusioned co-anchor and I wished she had been a larger part of the book. The death of Frank's predecessor provides a mystery theme that is neatly and surprisingly solved at the end of the book. Do you get a better mental picture of Frank's surroundings if you have lived in England as I have - yes I think you do. But does it lessen your reading experience - probably not. Although I did have to wonder how many non-Britons would get the Jimmy Savile reference on the first page and the mental picture it created. But all in all it was pleasant way to spend a couple of nights and there was never any danger that I wasn't going to finish book.

[sringle1202 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

When I read the description of this book on ER, I thought it sounded like a perfect summer read for me. But, sadly, I just couldn't get into the book. I really wanted to, and I tried several times, but the book just did not grip me. I don't think the writing was bad, and it seemed like it would be easy to read...I guess it just wasn't my cup of tea after all. I am so sorry. However, I will be passing this book along in the hopes that someone else will be able to appreciate it, and give you a wonderful review.

[deesirings · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was a very well-written novel, that I would term "slice of life". It centres on Frank, a news presenter in Birminghan, England. It's written in numerous, short chapters, usually from Frank's perspective but occasionally from the perspective of a few of the other characters. It's about Frank at work, Frank with his family, and Frank in the past. There is a bit of a mystery that serves as the main plot and it is interesting to see it unwinding. While much of the content isn't directly related to the mystery, for me, this didn't serve as an annoying diversion from the mystery plot. Instead, the mystery plot added an element to keep things together.The author, Catherine O'Flynn, did such a good job of convincing me she was in Frank's head that I forgot she was a woman, assumed the author was male, and was surprised at the end to look at the cover of the book and be reminded that she is a woman. To me, it is quite rare for authors to present opposite-sexed lead characters in such a convincing way, in this type of intimate fiction that involves delving into characters' minds and hearts.

[meggo_2 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

The story of a newsreader, his friends, and his obsessions. This was a difficult book for me to read, in part because it kept jumping around in time - and not in a good way. At one point, when the author was discussing the death of a character, I had to go back to see if this had been mentioned before, or if the proof I was reading simply had a glaring error. Not an error - simply a disconnected narrative. Well written from a story point of view, I think this book would have been much more engaging if it had been written in a slightly more linear manner. It did get more compelling as it went on, so if you can make it past the first 40 pages or so, you may enjoy it.

[karen_o_23 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A thoroughly enjoyable story of a regional TV newscaster, the people in his life, and his search for more information about two people who've died -- one a friend and colleague, the other a childhood friend of the friend.What Catherine O'Flynn really excels at is characterization. Every character here sparks with personality and I came away surprised at some of the 'people' I wanted to know better and spend more time with. It's not a dark and heavy read; recommended for summer reading or anytime you want something a bit in between the light and the heavy.

[lynnb_64 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Catherine O'Flynn is a wonderful writer. The language in this book just flows, and invokes strong, lasting images of people and places.This is the story of Frank Allcroft, a local TV news reporter. Frank's character is deeply and richly drawn. He is struggling with finding meaning in his life as he works with an incompatible colleague; visits his elderly, chronically sad mother in a nursing home; and remains a loving husband and father. He begins honouring the people he covers on the news who pass away unnoticed and alone by attending their funerals or visiting their graves. He also visits buildings his deceased father designed as they are being demolished. This is a story of Frank's struggle with society's ability to lose people and things with seemingly little notice.The main story line has to do with Frank's former colleague, Phil, who was run over under mysterious circumstances. It's a good story, and the author ties it together with scenes from Frank's life as he ponders Phil's death. It's very well done.Definitely worth reading.

[scrabblenut · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed The News Where You Are very much. It is a book to be read slowly and savoured for the wonderful language and the ideas and human truths that shine through the story. O'Flynn creates very memorable characters, especially Frank Allcroft, a local television newsreader, and his family. This is a book about change, as illustrated by the fact that the buildings that Frank's architect father built are being torn down to make way for newer styles, and some old buildings have strange new purposes, such as a children's hospital that is now a casino. It is also a book about aging and outward appearances - Frank's predecessor, Phil, was obsessed with his appearance and his need to appear young, with tragic consequences. The contrast between Phil's first wife and the young wife who succeeds her is telling.The book is also a mystery of sorts, as Frank seeks to find out about the life of a man who died on a park bench where no one noticed him for several days. Frank is drawn to these stories he reads on the news of people who die alone and no one seems to notice or care. He honours them in his own way by leaving flowers or attending their funerals, even though they are strangers to him. The man on the bench turns out to be a childhood friend of Phil's, and the mystery around Phil's untimely death deepens. Frank visits his pessimistic and depressed mother in a nursing home once a week, and observes that even people you thought you knew well can have their secrets and can make changes.The characters in this book are all very interesting. Their humanity, and the author's sympathy for all her characters, no matter what their circumstances, shines through. In it's own way, the book is also optimistic, despite the subject matter, and contains much humour. Highly recommended.

[heikem_13 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Don't really know what to say - after What Was Lost I expected something similarly thrilling and fast. But for me this novel was a bit too long, too rambling, too slow to get anywhere. It is an ok story, but I liked her first book a lot and am a bit disappointed with this one. The writing, the language is as good as before, Catherine O'Flynn definitely can write, it reads well. So don't be put off by my review - it might be just me.

[knittingmomof3 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

From My Blog...Appearances can be deceiving as evidenced in Catherine O’Flynn’s novel, The News Where You Are. On the surface, the novel is about local news reporter Frank Allcroft and how his life has changed since the death of his predecessor, Phil Smethway, and to a degree it is, but that is only the surface. Frank is rethinking much of his life and his future while going through the day-to-day motions of being a good husband, father and son as well as being the best local news reporter he can muster.Six months after Phil’s death, Frank is noticing the void left by loss. The demolition of the buildings his deceased father was the architect for, his visits to see his perpetually melancholy mother, and most concerning to his wife, Frank’s newest obsession of attending the funerals of those who have passed away, whether broadcasted or merely overlooked. To add to Frank’s firm belief that there must be something left behind after one ceases to exist, is the question of Phil’s death and how could it have been possible for it to have been an accident when the road is wide and flat? Frank is not the only one wondering about the past and leaving a mark on the world. Michael, a chum of Phil’s has found himself wandering to places that are no longer and reminiscing about the past.O’Flynn writes several stories interwoven into one, which on the surface seem akin to midlife crises, workaday observances, and the dichotomy of the optimism of youth in Frank’s daughter Mo verses the pure melancholy of the elderly as seen in Frank’s mother Maureen. And yet, O’Flynn takes the reader far deeper into the story, beyond the everyday, even beyond the mysterious death of Phil, to a philosophical discussion, and at times, debate about life. The News Where You Are is a deeply moving, heartwarming and often witty look at life and how what matters is often the things we leave out. The characters are exceedingly realistic and one is easily drawn into the novel, fully absorbed and thinking about life and death and what is truly important in life. I would not hesitate to recommend The News Where You Are to anyone looking for a brilliantly written novel that will entertain, enlighten and make one give pause. The News Where You Are would make for an excellent discussion book.

[blacksheepdances · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The News Where You Are, by Catherine O'Flynn, begins as a gentle character study of an aging news anchor, popular to viewers but something of a joke to his colleagues. Off the air, Frank Allcroft spends his time obsessively analyzing parts of his life: the legacy of his deceased father, his depressed mother, and his unfulfilling job. After the death of a close friend, he suddenly feels untethered and lost. To ease his conscience about the superficial nature of his job, Frank makes a habit of taking a personal interest in news stories that feature abandoned people. He explores parts of his town, old and new, and watches the march of time and its effects on the inhabitants and their attitudes. He visits the graves of those who die nameless or unloved, and in this he becomes involved in a mystery that actually wraps around his own obsessions with the past. It’s at this point that the novel, set in small town England, becomes far less simple or gentle. By searching the themes of abandonment, the race of time, and the nature of friendship, the author creates a suspenseful, if untraditional, thriller that leaves you pondering how much of what we know-whether about friends or family-is actually real. A main theme in Frank’s life is his late father, an architect, who was usually absent; Frank had consoled himself as a child by imagining that his father sacrificed his family for a greater good. His belief system is reevaluated when the buildings end up demolished. “As his buildings were bulldozed, one by one, Frank began to suspect that often what vanished revealed more than what remained.” His mother finds the demolition far easier to bear, and in most ways she is able to move forward despite her age and depression. She chides Frank: “Everything was a memento for you. Everything reminded you of something. Nothing was allowed to be forgotten. I can’t imagine anything worse”Catherine O’Flynn writes in a beautiful prose that alternates between bitter and sweet, comical and tragic. At times she illustrates the pain involved in the most personal of disappointments without overwrought emotion. I appreciated that while Frank, the protagonist, is pensive, he never descends into the maudlin or pathetic. He still manages to go through his life with responsibility and acuity. Modern fiction is populated with plenty of self-absorbed and despondent characters, lost in messes of their own design. This novel is refreshing because Frank doesn’t fit that cliché; he keeps functioning and proactive, despite his inclinations to dwell in the past.The denouement of the novel is complicated, and I won’t spoil it here. Much must be said, though, about O’Flynn’s fascinating voice and style of description as embodied in Frank. When Frank visits a dead man’s house, one who died alone and unknown, he imagines him “…diligently cleaning a house that would only be visited by strangers after his death. He thought squalor would have been less sad.” Or when observing a mental hospital converted into condos, he muses “who would choose to live in a place of former suffering? What level of hubris was required to feel so utterly undaunted by the past?” Lines like those stopped me in my tracks, wondering how a mystery novel could be so deep and relevant and still retain its suspense.The mystery is a introspective read, and it left me pondering more about the people I know who are alone, who appear to be lost, and in comparison those who seem to have it all. This novel reveals that nothing is so simple as appearances. In all, I'd say this in the top five of books I've read in the last several years...it's that good.

[jayne_charles_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed Catherine O’Flynn’s first novel ‘What Was Lost’ so much I bought this one without so much as reading the synopsis. I didn’t think it was quite up to the standards of that first novel, but I enjoyed it all the same. It had a similar feel – as though a novel had been constructed around a series of comic set-pieces. A gentle sort of story, it will be bubbling along in a nondescript sort of way and suddenly out of the blue will come an acutely observed detail or a really really good joke.The protagonist Frank is an engaging character. He goes against the literary grain – not having any problems with his marriage or home life in general, not disliked by anyone, not having any kind of personal crisis worth speaking of. He’s an all round good egg, if a bit uncool. Various people try to tell him he is uncool in ways varying from kind to cruel, but he already knows and genuinely doesn’t care. For this reason I liked him. On the other hand I kept forgetting he was supposed to be famous on a local level (he is a regional news presenter). Not to say that such people can’t be likeable, but I’m sure that reaching even the B-list of TV presenting requires fire in the belly and sharpened elbows. In short, he was too nice.It’s not clear as the novel progresses what in essence it’s about, or what sort of conclusion we are heading for. There is a mystery of sorts, but I guessed the answer correctly without much difficulty; it’s not the sort with clever twists and that element of it might disappoint. On the other hand, fans of character-based fiction will find much to appreciate here.

[jgoto_4 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I like reading Catherine O'Flynn's writing. She has a knack of taking ordinary, flawed, and unassuming people and turning them into endearing, meaningful characters. The plot in The News Where You Are doesn't have any major action, but it has a nice flow and is an pleasurable read.

[bodachliath · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

An enjoyable elegiac comedy on ageing, media culture, transience and memory.

[jackieblem · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a little book, seemingly simple on its surface but deeply rich when you turn a closer eye to it. The surface is about Frank, a local British newscaster for a regional news show, and his reactions to the death of his famous predecessor, the demolition of some buildings his father spent his life designing, the reality of his depressed mother in a nursing home, and moving his family from the country to the city. But the undercurrent of it all deals with, essentially, what we do with old things: old people, old buildings, old jobs, old mementos piled in the attic. This is a book about reinvention and demolition and what is involved in choosing one or the other. To borrow a term from across the pond, it's BRILLIANT.

[hairball_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The beauty of this book lies not in the overarching story line--the bit of background mystery which drives the book--but in the back and forth that takes place underneath the umbrella of that story, which is just an excuse, really, for everything going on between the book's covers. For some reason this book, this unprepossessing book, made me think about structure and narrative in a way I haven't since I was in school: the use of vignettes versus the use of a single, driving narrative, for example. While this is a novel, I like thinking of it as a series of connected sketches, I suppose because each one has this moment in it, and there are too many such moments for one novel. Also, I didn't care about the story, but I enjoyed the writing so much, and the smaller moments of the book, that I wanted to spend my time in its pages regardless--and I think that's a wonderful thing to say about a piece of writing.