Isaac and the Egg: the unique, funny and heartbreaking Saturday Times bestseller

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The two are unlikely companions. But their chance encounter will transform Isaac’s life in ways he cannot yet imagine. In a series of scenes that intentionally bring to mind seminal moments from ET, Isaac takes the egg – is it an alien? Some sort of beast? – home, where it becomes a fluffy, yolk-faced lodger, and Isaac’s salvation, as he considers, eventually, how to help it return home. A modern-day fairy tale full of charm, innocence, pain and humour that is deeply satisfying and wonderfully surprising Isaac Addy is a man bereft, not just of his wife Mary, who has died, but of his selfhood. A scatty children’s book illustrator who had “always thought his biggest fear was people not liking him”, he is now aimless, bedraggled and literally about to jump off a bridge into the abyss when he hears a scream that leads him to a creature that looks startlingly like an egg and, “for the first time in weeks, feels an emotion that isn’t despair”.

This is an out-and-out character-oriented novel. Such stories are tougher to carry out successfully, but the author does a splendid job. Maybe he will finally understand why he went there that morning. Maybe he will find a way to tell the truth. One of the reasons I like reading debuts is the marvel of the discovery of a new author who makes magic with words. The characterisation is superb, Isaac is grieving, his pain is raw and acute and he doesn’t know which way is up. He’s lonely, suffering, full of anger and his misery is palpable. As for the egg, you’ll have to encounter the wonder and sheer pleasure of that for yourself! If that sounds like a lot, it is, and for all its magicality and whimsy and sheer endearing funniness at times, Isaac and the Egg doesn’t attempt, not once, to sugarcoat how utterly hard that whole journey is, and how even if something happens to you to begin reshaping things, which it most certainly does to Isaac Addy, that it’s not some overnight fix. It was a light and joyous read. The story gives you hope, that even when you are at your lowest point there is always hope and people/things that are there to lend you a helping hand. Jen, NSW, 4 StarsI wanted to sit and talk about this wonderful creation while I was absorbing it, because that's what it does, Bobby Palmers narrative will seep into your very pores. You will want to share every last paragraph of this multilayered triumph, while at the same time wanting to stay quiet, to understand what others make of it, wonder whether you share the same thoughts. My advice is to read it with people, many people, experience it with company. Isaac and the Egg by Bobby Palmer is not a book I would normally read. It is different but it was entertaining. It has moments of sadness where you can feel the pain that Isaac is feeling. The struggle is so real, in dealing with loss, of trying to survive. You are taken on a journey of grief, from denial to anger and finally acceptance. The story is well-written, poignant, and a little quirky. Lisa, QLD, 4 Stars A grieving Isaac and his curious new friend are unlikely companions. They don't even speak the same language. But their chance encounter will transform Isaac's life in ways he cannot yet imagine. An arresting debut novel about grief, but in the most wonderfully oblique way’ Reverend Richard Coles For the first half of this book I was unsure if this was fantasy or reality, or if I even liked it. By the second half of the book I was captivated and couldn’t put it down. Never before have I read a book quite like it – beautifully lyrical, warm and yet sad, leaving question upon question. In parts I laughed. In other parts I thought “what on earth is this about?” and as the story unravelled and we learned more about Isaac Addy, I sobbed and sobbed. If you are looking for a book that pulls on the heartstrings in a touching and uniquely creative way – this is it. Nicole, NSW, 4 Stars

An arresting debut novel about grief, but in the most wonderfully oblique way’ REVEREND RICHARD COLES This is a book that demands to be read in one sitting. Giving yourself wholeheartedly to the story and where it takes you is the best way to feel the real magic Isaac and the Egg has to offer. When we first meet Palmer’s protagonist Isaac Addy he has already reached critical mass, staring into the abyss from a bridge after the death of his beloved wife, Mary. When a chance echo of Isaac’s own scream - similarly feral in its desperation - is heard in the nearby forest, Isaac is compelled to investigate. Whether what follows is real or simply a manifestation of his fractured psyche is a moot point. As readers we are already on board, equally compelled to discover whether even in the darkest of circumstances hope can be found.The two are unlikely companions. But their chance encounter will transform Isaac's life in ways he cannot yet imagine.

I was worried that the ending would shatter me. But it is heartwarming and hopeful, and more importantly, proceeds logically from the story. First things first. This book won’t work for those who take the written word literally. There is a fair amount of suspension of disbelief, and a plot that veers between the fantastical and the outrageous. If you want a straightforward storyline that calls a spade a spade, better avoid this book. It’s for those who would enjoy allegorical takes on pragmatic conundrums. Sometimes, to get out of the woods, you have to go into them. Isaac and the Egg is one of the most hopeful, honest and wildly imaginative novels you will ever listen to. From the bright yellow cover to the creative use of fonts, this book is something out of the ordinary. It is one of those books where it’s better not to know anything about it and just go along for the ride, and what a ride it is. Suspend disbelief and rational thought and embrace incredulity, madness, and mayhem, and you will “find hope in the unexpected”. Little by little the story of how Isaac has arrived in this particularly murky pit of despair is imparted to the reader with aha moments coming as a relief. The story revolves around a tragic incident and the arrival of an unexpected guest who is an absolute delight, incredibly quirky, but showing great compassion and sensitivity. Knowing that this kindly presence cannot stay forever adds a bittersweet element which makes you want to proceed slowly and at times hold your breath. Film buffs will also find much to enjoy and will nod and smile at the mention of family favourites and well-known quotes. Isaac and the Egg is a story of love and loss and heart-wrenching grief, but it simultaneously shines with a mesmerising mash-up of hope, fun, humour and wonder. Michelle, VIC, 4 Stars Measured, comic and moving… A sad, funny and original novel about grief, loss and embracing change’ DAILY MAILThis is the story of Isaac and the Egg, a grieving young man and his unforgettable new friend, who meet at exactly the right time. Is it an alien or is it a figment of Isaac’s broken mind? Whatever it is Isaac decides to take it home where it behaves like an unruly toddler. And something magical begins to happen….