Reviews with content warning for Grief - Isaac and the Egg

I love this book. Not loved. Love. I'm not quite ready to let go of it yet. This lovely and wonderful book is like a warm hug and a punch in the throat. I laughed a bunch and cried a bunch. The treatment of grief is so tender and accurate, and (slight spoiler ahead!!) Egg is such a lovable and funny character that despite being completely unfounded in reality is the manifestation of grief, life and grounding to the world. This was an absolute pleasure to read and should a) be studied in school, and b) be adapted to animated movie because the story and characters would suit the medium so well. The descriptions were so vivid and every emotion was conveyed effortlessly.
Highly HIGHLY recommend. Please read this book.

Content Warnings

eds123'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
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

My mum recommended me this book, genuinely one of the most beautiful things I've read. Through most of it I found myself laughing or absolutely sobbing, it was one of the most honest depictions of depression and dissociation I've read, and was a really easy book to read and get absorbed in.

Content Warnings

lucyatoz's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I cannot write a review to this debut novel by a talent storyteller apart from to say that it is a unique, quirky, funny and tender story and like nothing I have ever read before. It made me laugh and cry and is quite wonderful.

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imacocoageek's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny lighthearted reflective slow-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

3.5

This is a beautiful book about grief, love, and an egg-shaped alien. It follows a man who has lost everything, and we follow his depressing journey with a lost egg-shaped alien... and how they saved each other. Still consider this book even if aliens aren't your thing. This isn't fantasy; he's a cute alien anyways. It is beautifully written and made me laugh, tear up, and smile. As well, the cover is gorgeous. Great debut novel!

Content Warnings

what_heather_loves's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

A new, young widow (the titular Isaac) grieving the sudden death of his wife Mary, is provided help and support when he needs it most. I can't expand upon that without giving away spoilers, but there comes a point, a couple of points more accurately, when realisation hits and the premise becomes apparent.

I listened to this on Audible, enjoyed Johnny Flynn's narration, which worked with both the slow and sombre and the fast and humourous, elements of the plot. I do think actors often make the best audio book narrators.

I found the early part, perhaps a third, slow and confusing, but the implausible elements are worth sticking with, because they follow Isaac's raw and heartbreaking grief. Once I became aware of how and why the Egg creature became Isaac's sidekick, this lifted the tale immeasurably. From then onwards I was invested in Isaac's journey.

This is a quirky, intimate and poignant debut novel, that creatively examines grief, love and hope.

Content Warnings

hatwills's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Content Warnings

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.

Content Warnings

teigancollins's review against another edition

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emotional 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

5.0

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