Isaac and the Egg by Bobby Palmer BLOG TOUR #IsaacandtheEgg @thebobpalmer @headlinepg @HeadlineBooks @RandomTTours #ThatEggBook #BookReview

 

Heartbreaking and heart-stealing, this modern-day fable is an unforgettable novel about sorrow, joy, friendship and love.

It is early. A young man stands on a bridge and lets out a heart-wrenching scream. From deep in the woods, something screams back.

It sounds improbable. But this is how Isaac meets the egg.

The two are unlikely companions. But their chance encounter will transform Isaac's life in ways he cannot yet imagine.

Maybe he will finally understand why he went there that morning. Maybe he will find a way to tell the truth.

Sometimes, to get out of the woods, you have to go into them.

Isaac and the Egg by Bobby Palmer was published by Orion in hardback on 18 August 2022, the paperback edition was published on 13 April 2023. My thanks to the publisher who sent my copy for review as part of this #RandomThingsTours Blog Tour. 

There has been A LOT of talk about Isaac and the Egg ever since it was published last year in hardback. It's taken me a while to pluck up the courage to read this as I knew that the central theme is grief, and I've done a whole lot of grieving over the past couple of years. 

There is no doubt that this is a quirky, unusual novel, and it can take a while to get used to the style of writing. However, once you are in, and you learn more about Isaac, you cannot help but become totally invested in him, and in the egg. 

Usually, I'd talk a little about what happens in a novel when I'm reviewing, but in this case, that's pretty difficult, and to try to explain how Isaac, who is in the darkest of places in his life, happens upon a screaming egg in a woodland, takes it home and learns from it is almost impossible. And, to be fair, this very talented author has done just that in the book, so I'd recommend that people just dive in and find out for themselves. 

This is a story that looks at grief and how the loss of the most important person in your world can affect you. It's a story that allows the reader, especially those who may have experienced a similar situation, to become aware that there is no right, or wrong way to grieve. Some of us may have felt the same way as Isaac does, some of us may not. None of us did it the right way, but we did it our way and this beautifully written novel is both comforting and enlightening. 

The gradual journey through the process of learning to cope without a loved one is superbly done and the addition of the egg adds a touch of lightness and humour, something that should always be welcomed during the most difficult of days. 

Isaac and the Egg is a story of loss, and of hope. There's a surprising, but totally welcome twist that I did not expect, but I thought it added a depth and clarity to both the story, and to Isaac's behaviours. 

This is a book that would probably benefit from reading more than once, I think there are parts to savour and study and think about for a long time.  A recommended read from me. 

BOBBY PALMER is an author and journalist whose writing has appeared in GQ, Esquire, Men's Health, Cosmopolitan and more. 

He is co-host of the acclaimed podcast Book Chat with Pandora Sykes. 

Isaac and the Egg is his debut novel.

Visit www.bobbypalmer.co.uk for more news about Bobby and his writing or follow him on Twitter and Instagram @thebobpalmer.