Book cover of Eggshells

Book description

WINNER OF THE ROONEY PRIZE 2018

A modern Irish literary gem for anyone who has felt like the odd one out.

'Inventive, funny and, ultimately, moving' GUARDIAN

'Wildly funny' THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW

'Beguiling' THE IRISH TIMES

'Delightfully quirky' THE IRISH INDEPENDENT

Vivian is…

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Why read it?

1 author picked Eggshells as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

I’ve read this twice so far. It’s an odd, lonely book whose protagonist walks the knife-edge of sanity but is harmless and likable, though she is so timid that she has no friends. Her immediate family has also passed on. She finally advertises for a friend who must answer to the name ”Penelope” and develops a confusing friendship with the woman who responds to the ad.

I loved the book’s compassionate exploration of the varieties of oddity afflicting modern souls, as well as the story’s steady but subtle progression to a horrifying revelation. The resulting catharsis helps move the protagonist…

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Magical realism meets the magic of Christmas in this mix of Jewish, New Testament, and Santa stories–all reenacted in an urban psychiatric hospital!

On locked ward 5C4, Josh, a patient with many similarities to Jesus, is hospitalized concurrently with Nick, a patient with many similarities to Santa. The two argue…

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