Reviews

Isaac and the Egg by Bobby Palmer

xiraetx's review against another edition

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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief and Mental illness

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Blood and Self harm

joannakarenina's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective 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? Yes

4.0

mollybrabham's review against another edition

4.0

“he blames guilt for his broken brain, and guilt blames him for everything else”

a beautiful book about what happens when the person you love most leaves you behind, and how silly little things can help you get back on your feet.

daja57's review against another edition

5.0

Isaac, grief-stricken after the death of his wife, stands on a bridge considering whether to jump, screaming, when he hears an answering scream in the forest. He finds an egg-shaped creature - is it an alien? He takes it home. Over the next few weeks, as he experiences the sharp pains of bereavement, he develops a relationship with the egg. But where does he go to some nights? And what is in the locked room at the top of the house?

On the one hand this a a bizarre story of an impossible creature (the principal film reference is ET; it was interesting that the author references films rather than books; I was thinking Kafka's Metamorphosis). But at the same time this is a gut-wrenching exploration of the emotions aroused by bereavement.

There are some predictable but hugely poignant twists. The ending is a tear-jerker.

Very strange but very readable.

lblundell_23's review against another edition

emotional funny mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

5.0

noapolet's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

scytmo's review against another edition

5.0

I cried. This tale of love, loss, and companionship will stay with me for a long time.

vickyfarbs's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-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

whatvreadnext's review against another edition

Brilliant book, bad timing... The story is desperate and hopeful, wonderfully human and painful, heartbreakingly beautiful. I dnf'd at 56% because I just couldn't take so much heartbreak, couldn't stand Bobby Palmer shattering my heart like that. Will be coming back to the book later to finish the story and have my heart put back together. 🥺

maria_silv_reads's review against another edition

3.0

Overall, it was an ok read. It was very emotional read which needed me to meander gently through it so it wasbt too much. Very slow at many points (understandably due to probably trying to capture realistic journey of grief