From the acclaimed author of the National Book Award finalist So Much for That and the international bestseller We Need to Talk About Kevin comes a striking new novel about siblings, marriage, and obesity.
When Pandora picks up her older brother Edison at her local Iowa airport, she literally doesn't recognize him. In the four years since the siblings last saw each other, the once slim, hip New York jazz pianist has gained hundreds of pounds. What happened?
And it's not just the weight. Imposing himself on Pandora's world, Edison breaks her husband Fletcher's handcrafted furniture, makes overkill breakfasts for the family, and entices her stepson not only to forgo college but to drop out of high school.
After the brother-in-law has more than overstayed his welcome, Fletcher delivers his wife an ultimatum: It's him or me. Putting her marriage and adopted family on the line, Pandora chooses her brother—who, without her support in losing weight, will surely eat himself into an early grave.
Rich with Shriver's distinctive wit and ferocious energy, Big Brother is about fat—an issue both social and excruciatingly personal. It asks just how much we'll sacrifice to rescue single members of our families, and whether it's ever possible to save loved ones from themselves.
BIG BROTHER by Lionel Shiver is a brilliant book that grabs readers from the start and doesn't let go. Personally the fact that my own relationship with food is an issue, made me find BIG BROTHER even more heartfelt and utterly fascinating. Shiver certainly gives readers a different view of being "fat", or overweight, than perhaps they had thought of before. She doesn't shy away from the issue now at our nation's forefront, but rather adds humanity and a face to it. The wonderful narrative draws you in and then the ending comes and oh, my! It was quite a shock to me as it wasn't what I expected. BIG BROTHER's Edison is such a unique and well developed protagonist, that one easily takes him to heart and roots for him, despite his faults. Weight issues or not, the mere fact of how we look at overweight people is reason enough to read BIG BROTHER. But the narrative that Shriver has woven around the topic and characters is what really shines through.
I have dealt with weight issues my whole life, and I am the only person in my family to really do so. I would really like to read this book, and see how the author deals with it.
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Bingo - Fantastic Post~I too am interested in Shriver's book. I have dealt with weight problems as well, but 6 more pounds and I will be at the weight I was when I graduated from high school ... I've finally found a way to make it happen so this book I'm sure will have special meaning for me. Thanks for the opportunity.
This book sounds heartbreakingly real. Can a sister help her brother?
She has certainly taken on an interesting topic. Food issues are so common.
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I want to read this book because I have always had a problem with food just like my Dad did and now my son.
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Family members sacrificing to help one another is an interesting concept for a novel. I would love to read this.
This sounds like a very fascinating family drama, very relevant today. Thanks for the giveaway.
This sounds like a very good book on a difficult subject. As an aside, I am proud of my sister to have lost at least 140lbs on her own by changing her eating habits. Pretty terrific.
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I've had food issues since before I was a little girl of 6, wrapping my veggies up in a paper napkin and throwing them under the stove. Yes I'd like to see how this author delves into this BIG topic.
Courtney Sullivan's blurb really interested me in this book --- I love her writing.
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