Rebecca Hardiman’s debut novel, Good Eggs, is a character driven tale featuring a multi-generational Irish family. This dysfunctional family is full of zany characters. Millie, an octogenarian with a proclivity for shoplifting, is stubbornly trying to live on her own. Sixteen-year-old Aideen is insecure and filled with anger and angst toward her adored twin, Nuala. The patriarch of the family, Kevin, is not much of a leader. He’s in the middle of a midlife crisis from a life that has hardly started. He is self-absorbed and focused on his self-pity that he blatantly ignores the true needs of his wife and family, and thus he creates much of the turmoil the Gogarty family experiences in this story.
In this book, Ms. Hardiman explores realistic family issues and difficulties with a humorous, lighthearted twist. The Gogartys’ story is a journey of sorts. Along the way, the characters are forced to reckon with their flaws and the consequences of their choices. In the end, that journey is somewhat redemptive. I suppose, this is the Gogartys’ journey to becoming “good eggs”.
The plot starts a bit slow, but picks up in the latter half of the book. One of the key plot points is too obvious early on, but that doesn’t deter from story. I thoroughly enjoyed the Irish lingo in the dialogue; it didn’t feel forced or trite. Most of all, I enjoyed Millie. She was quite the odd character and brought a lot of humor and light to the novel. A fun and humorous read from beginning to end.
In this book, Ms. Hardiman explores realistic family issues and difficulties with a humorous, lighthearted twist. The Gogartys’ story is a journey of sorts. Along the way, the characters are forced to reckon with their flaws and the consequences of their choices. In the end, that journey is somewhat redemptive. I suppose, this is the Gogartys’ journey to becoming “good eggs”.
The plot starts a bit slow, but picks up in the latter half of the book. One of the key plot points is too obvious early on, but that doesn’t deter from story. I thoroughly enjoyed the Irish lingo in the dialogue; it didn’t feel forced or trite. Most of all, I enjoyed Millie. She was quite the odd character and brought a lot of humor and light to the novel. A fun and humorous read from beginning to end.