Reviews tagging 'Self harm'

Isaac and the Egg by Bobby Palmer

7 reviews

xiraetx's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny hopeful reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

„He knows that it only takes a gentle tap to break its shell.“ 
•••••
this book broke me. I bawled my eyes out while reading some of the scenes. its depiction of loss and how Isaac dealt with it couldn‘t have been more realistic. I felt like I was right there with him, feeling everything he was feeling. I‘ll definitely need some time to get over this beautifully sad and cute book. 
p.s. everybody needs an Egg in their life. 
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sarahhhh_kay's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

An emotional heartwarming depiction of grief. Beautifully written, could not be improved 
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isobel_laura's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

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basil_touche's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I ended up being sold on this book after reading the first page. It's bizarre premise and absurd sense of humor really appeal to my own sensiblities when it comes to fiction, while also having an emotional core that holds no barred to it's subject. The style of the writing was clear and kept my attention and the fun quirks with the typography where words move or even form the shape of an egg really added to the experience. 

Egg was probably my favourite character, I kept imaginging him as being a puppet from the Jim Henson Company and the erratic wiggling of his absurdly long arms made for quite the humourous image. But, he's also essential to the darker subject matter in helping Issac acknowledge and remember the full extent of his wife's death. It's a fine balance that I think the book does with flying colours. Whether Egg was real or a memory of Mary's last book project is left for the reader to decide. I like to think it's a little of both.


I do think that the big reveal near the end of the book was obvious and that it felt a tad rushed at the end, but I still found the conclusion to be an emotional and satsifying one (I even got a little teary eyed). Really glad I read this one
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kim_lommaert's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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madamelacy's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

This story is variously heart wrenching and gently funny as it follows the main character’s journey through grief, helped by the presence of Egg. For much of the book it’s unclear what Egg is, but whatever he is he’s an endearing character. I thought Egg’s attempts at making baked beans on toast were hilarious. 

I really enjoyed the story overall, although I did find the plot predictable. 

I loved the playfulness of the formatting and font within the book, especially the word search with the stages of grief and the cascade of questions. 

I would suggest looking at trigger warnings though because it’s potentially more harrowing than it would first appear.
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tysuckz's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

SPOILERS THROUGHOUT!!!! 

Absolutely beautiful. In my top 5 of books I have ever read. 

I didn't think I was going to cry until the end, and I just lost it. So heartbreaking but wholesome?? I can't even explain all the emotions this book conjures up, honestly.

I love the different ways that Palmer explored rhe presentation, I mean integrating the wordsearch with the 5 stages of grief in it was an amazing addition, especially since I don't think many people would've taken the time to recognise that they are all in there. 

I love Egg. He's wonderfully funny, so sweet and so cute. I love the impact he had on Isaacs life, despite the reality of him, it didn't really matter. I'd say it's effectively a given than Egg didn't exist, and wasn't real but the idea of him being there like Nanny McPhee (lol) was wonderful. When you need me but do not want me I must stay, but when you want me but no longer need me, I must go!! That's Egg! Had me hysterical at the end. 

Devastating and uplifting and heartbreaking and every other emotion you could ever feel. 

Would like to read this from another perspective that isn't Isaac. Like how would it seem from the perspective of simply observing Isaac and his life? 
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