Lionel Shriver - Should we Stay or should we Go?

[MaMaLa321]

I've just started this on audible, and I'm not enjoying it at all. Perhaps it's the narrator, but it seems very flat and uninvolving, like an extended essay. This is the first novel I've tried by her. Has anyone else read it?

I have and I thought it was fab, but I read it rather than listened to it. I definitely don’t agree that it’s flat and uninvolving but you do need to stick with it a bit.

yes, having now read the reviews, I realise that I need to get beyond the 1st chapter.

I love Lionel Shriver - her books are always very well written with a razor sharp wit and intelligence
This one jumped from being really disturbing and disconcertingly funny, depending on which alternate reality you were reading. Quite a unique book; definitely worth persevering with!

I didn't enjoy the first chapter much either but it definitely gets better as you get used to it. I don't think it's her best work though. Kevin, the Post Birthday World and Big Brother are much better, I think, in that order.

My favourite Lionel Shriver novels are The New Republic (very funny, subversive and clever), The Mandibles (superb and uncomfortably plausible dystopia) and So much for That (the bleakest subject matter but compelling, often hilarious writing made it unputdownable)

I hope she returns to her old style of big, character driven novels. Her last 2 novels were great and highly entertaining but felt a bit lightweight by comparison.

I loved this book - it's one of my "keep forevers". I also really enjoyed the first chapter as it so poignantly set the scene for the rest of the tale. Keep with it.

The Mandibles is brilliant and I found it funny