Isaac and the Egg

I have been lucky enough to listen to the debut novel Isaac and the egg by Bobby Palmers on audiobook and I have to say it is such a beautiful novel which is perfectly narrated by Johnny Flynn with his lilting tones that suited it so well, in fact and I rarely think this but I’m not sure I would of resonated with me so much if I had read it. When Issac comes across Egg in the woods he really doesn’t know what Egg is but he takes him home and it seems that he has arrived just when Isaac needs him. The novel deals with grief in such a touching way that you can not help rejoice at Isaac & Egg and their burgeoning relationship and the heart warming ending. This story will stay with me for a long time.

Thank you so much to Headline Audio and NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Isaac and the Egg is one of, if not the most stunning book I've read so far this year. Bobby Palmer is an incredible writer, he has a very true talent that radiates throughout this book.
The story is intense, it had me speechless upon finishing, with tears escaping my eyes. This is a book that will stay with me forever.

Many thanks for giving me the chance to listen to this wonderful book read by Johnny Flynn. Just brilliant.

Isaac’s wife has died and he is standing on a bridge above freezing water thinking he cannot go on. Then he hears a scream and discovers Egg. Who or what is Egg and why is he here?

A book well worth listening to as Isaac tries to find a way forward. Quite moving and relatable at times. Read or listen and enjoy.

Now, this is a book. It takes big themes of love, loss, existence etc. and folds them so intricately and so neatly into this little story. Beautifully and gently written, and it was a pleasure to just go along with the tale without knowing where I'd end up.

It's funny and poignant and uplifting. I listened to the audio (thank you to Netgallery for an advanced copy), and it is perfectly narrated

Stunning story about the depth of grief with an unexpected twist that pulls at the heartstrings. It was gripping, it felt like a grown up ET with adult struggles at the core. Thank you so much to the publisher for the chance to review this ARC. I am now a massive fan of Bobby Palmer, and cannot wait to read the next book.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this strange but lovely audio ARC… I loved it

This delightfully strange book is the story Iscca who is grieving the loss of his wife, in among this he finds a strange ET like egg there starts a story about how we grieve, live after such a loss and story with all the feels. The story is told in the first POV with Iscca telling his present day story and the background story, we also have a few chapters from Eggs POV. Without giving much away there are some truly heartbreaking moments, funny moments, heartwarming moments, beautiful moments and all the rest. The concept is very clever and beautifully illustrates the human condition in experiencing loss. Footnote I loved all the 80/90’s movie references.

This review is for the audio version of the novel, I found the audio version made a great bedtime story, the narrators tone, pitch and pace matched the story perfect. I found the 30-40mins chapters just the right amount for a chapter before bed, with the excellent voices done by the narrator I felt I got a sense of how Iscca as feeling and I loved the sarcasm at times and the way the narrator conveyed this. This story made a great audiobook and I suspect it would be equally as great in print.

It’s a uplifting four stars for me.

This book is so lovely! You can actually feel Isaac’s grief while you’re listening. Beautiful, devastating but leaves you smiling.

Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Firstly, the narrator of this audiobook is perfect and really added to the experience for me.

Secondly, and most importantly, this was absolutely wonderful. It made me laugh and cry in equal measure. It was really beautifully written and immersive - I looked forward to being able to switch on and carry on. Would recommend to anyone!

As this was the audio book I listened to, I’ll cover the audio aspect first. It was the narrators wonderful voice that captured both my interest in listening to a book for a change, and capturing my interest in the story itself. I listened to a sample first, and by the time the sample had finished I had to know more of what happened next and what this story was about. It sounded so sad and of course by now I was hooked into the brilliant story telling by Johnny Flynn.

I imagine the portrayal of the characters by the narrator is exactly how the author intended. Johnny Flynn has a soothing, but engaging voice – absolutely perfect for such a touching, tender story. I even wonder would I have enjoyed the book quite so much had I read it myself. I will never know because I can’t unhear it, I’ve been spoilt and if all narrators were this good, I’d maybe never read a book myself again.

So to the story itself. Welll….I’m not going to say too much about the actual plot. Most of the reviews I’ve seen have been shy with detail on the book’s content. Why? Because this is one you just have to experience fully yourself. It’s sad, it’s funny by turn, it’s touching and leaves you with a warm glow. Told in the third person, there are few characters other than the central ones, Isaac and Egg. The writing draws you right in, you can feel Isaac’s pain and completely identify with his feelings. It touches on grief, loss, loneliness, friendship, mental health, with a bit of what I suppose you might call fantasy thrown in. It will make you smile and laugh and will definitely cause a tear or two to be shed.

Unique and very special is how I’d describe it, and a book you will probably always remember with great fondness and a lasting impression – I know I will.

**To be added to my blog close to or on publication date**

I loved this book, once I got into it! I couldn’t sworn out initially whether this was a YA book or not (I do read both). However, the more I read I realised that this book could help people of all ages and it doesn’t matter what genre it has been classed as!! The book starts with Isaac seemingly finding Egg in the forest and taking him home. What follows is Isaac bonding with Egg and dealing with his own emotions along the way. This is quite a difficult book to review without giving any spoilers but to explain it all would take away the beauty of the book.

Suffice to say that I loved the book and it taught even me, a jaded 53 year old a lot about life and what is happening in other people’s lives!

Issac and the egg Wow!! Wow what a rollercoaster of a ride… jaw-dropping and edge-of-the-seat… Instantly hooked… I literally couldn't put it down… I can't recommend this book enough!!!! Fabulous novel.

“Reality is fragile, all it takes is a gentle tap to break its shell.” (I can’t take credit for that - it’s all Bobby Palmer and exquisitely encapsulates the book, Isaac and the Egg.)

Isaac is a widower and he’s struggling. On a visit to the woods, he happens across a very large egg and without a second thought he takes it home and settles into a bizarre domesticity with the egg.

No-one escapes grief and heartbreak and everyones journey through it will be different. Despite this story dealing with grief, it is wonderfully hopeful, charming and even funny at times.

I love Bobby Palmer’s writing style and turn of phrase. Being a cinephile, I particularly loved all the film references - they are films that have shaped my life, too. I loved Isaac recounting his relationship with his wife, the films they’d watched and now how he’d watch the same films with the Egg.

I don’t think anyone other than Johnny Flynn could have read this book. His dulcet tones made the book even more magical and I’ll certainly listen to it again in the future.

This is a very special book, one that will stay with me for a long time. Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Headline Audio, for making this audiobook book version of Isaac and the Egg available to me for a fair and honest review.