Reviews

Eggshells by Caitriona Lally

tonythep's review

2.0

I feel like this might have made a good short story. The premise is interesting. Vivian is under the delusion that she's a changeling, a child of fairies who was swapped with a human child. She wanders the streets of Dublin searching for a portal back to the fairy world. And then she traces her route on a piece of paper and describes the shape she's made. "A pony with a corn cob pipe up its ass." (Ok, I made that one up.) She does this over and over and over again. She writes down whimsical names in her notebook over and over. Street names, birds, insects, biscuits. She interacts with people who don't understand her- again and again and again. "Are you taking the piss?!" It could be sad. It could be heartbreaking - if it weren't so annoying! I wanted to stop reading this after 50 pages or so. But I had to see if this could possibly continue for the whole book without any real action or character development. It did. I know this author is talented, and many people liked the book. I'll just have to file it under "just didn't get it."

calmcelebration9888's review against another edition

1.0

The main character definitely lives in her own world. Not the book for me unfortunately.

pinotconnoir's review

hopeful reflective sad fast-paced

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

4.5

Wildly original, very unique storytelling.  I’m just so happy Viv found Penelope, there is a certain joy in seeing someone find a friend.  I really enjoyed this book, though I did find some bits challenging (mostly because of the discomfort of reading social scenarios involving Vivian and anyone who wasn’t Penelope).  The voice of the book is very original, and I found myself charmed by riding along with Viv for a while.  I do hope she learns how to take a shower though. 

leannep's review

mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.0

Vivian is lonely, she doesn't belong, and she sees the world differently.  She lives in her dead Great Aunt's house and wanders the streets of Dublin. Believing she is a changeling, she is constantly on the lookout for a portal to take her to another world. Up a tree looking for the land at the top of the faraway tree. Leprechauns, fairies, chasing rainbows. She advertises for, and finds a friend called Penelope; who is almost as unusual as Vivian is. I liked the lists, and playing with words, though I would not want to be stuck in Vivian's world.  Unusual.

silver_valkyrie_reads's review against another edition

In theory I'm liking this, as I usually like books with neurodivergent narrating characters. But there are just a few elements around the edges that are making me not feel like picking it up. (Should I be grossed out enough by a character picking corn out of her teeth that I don't want to keep reading? No. But I kind of am anyway...)

I might give this one another shot sometime. We'll see. 

octoberdream's review

adventurous dark emotional funny informative sad slow-paced

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

3.5

amina2116's review

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

kllyholt's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted reflective medium-paced

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

4.75

this book hurt deeply. i mean that in a good way. it felt like someone unraveled my brain and put it on paper. to people reading this saying the narrator seems too contrived, she isn’t. i think just like her. we exist. 

snoakes7001's review against another edition

5.0

Eggshells is the story of Vivian, a young woman convinced she is not of this world, who spends her time scouring the streets of Dublin looking for a way back home.

In Vivian, Catriona Lally has created a totally unique voice. She clearly enjoys playing with language and she's having a party here. Vulnerable, otherworldly and with a decidedly different take on things most of us wouldn't even look at twice, how you feel about the book will depend on how you take to her. I for one loved her sideways view of life:

'I used to have soup, but I didn't know what to do with my jaws, and I didn't know which verb to use: was I eating or drinking? I could call it "dreating", but that sounds like a weary farmer giving a dose of medicine to a sick sheep. I avoid jelly for the same reason - it's a semi-solid frustration of verblessness.'

How she came to be so adrift is revealed slowly and obliquely. She never speaks outright about any abuse - in fact when she finally makes a friend, Vivian can't even bring herself to listen to Penelope's own sad story. This gives the book a dark undercurrent and what starts off as sweet and charming becomes heart-breaking without ever really saying why. It's very cleverly and subtly done.

Thanks to LoveReading for the review copy.

laneyj6's review against another edition

3.0

This is a very odd book, much like Vivian herself. I enjoyed her thinking and wondering about the world as she walked around Dublin looking for mythical creatures and passages to other worlds...but the entire book feels like the middle of a character introduction that doesn’t ever lead anywhere. Vivian likes to make lists, note down observations and then Penelope turns up and ... nothing much changes. I would have loved a background to Vivian (we only learn that she has scars on her chest due to her father trying to make her “normal”) but we know nothing else of her upbringing other than a very strained relationship with her sister in the present day. I would love to know if her great aunt was the one who cared for her? And I would also have loved this story to have a pivotal changing point for Vivian, is her life going to get any better, she is a lady that needs some help to physically care for herself but seems to have been somewhat abandoned by society. An enjoyable read as I sit in a 14 day quarantine, I’m not going anywhere similar to this book not moving the life of Vivian anywhere.