WINNER OF THE ROONEY PRIZE 2018

A modern Irish literary gem for anyone who has felt like the odd one out.

'Inventive, funny and, ultimately, moving' GUARDIAN

'Wildly funny' THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW

'Beguiling' THE IRISH TIMES

'Delightfully quirky' THE IRISH INDEPENDENT

Vivian is an oddball.
An unemployed orphan living in the house of her recently deceased great aunt in North Dublin, Vivian boldly goes through life doing things in her own peculiar way, whether that be eating blue food, cultivating 'her smell', wishing people happy Christmas in April, or putting an ad up for a friend called Penelope to check why it doesn't rhyme with antelope. But behind her heroic charm and undeniable logic, something isn't right. With each attempt to connect with a stranger or her estranged sister doomed to misunderstanding, someone should ask: is Vivian OK?

A poignant and delightful story of belonging that plays with the myth of the Changeling and takes us by the hand through Dublin. A poetic call for us all to accept each other and find the Vivian within.

About the Author

CAITRIONA LALLY studied English Literature in Trinity College Dublin. She has had a colorful employment history, working as an abstract writer and a copywriter, as well as a home helper in New York and an English teacher in Japan. She has traveled extensively around Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and South America. Caitriona was shortlisted for "Newcomer of the Year" in the Irish Book Awards in 2015.

Reviews

'Inventive, funny and, ultimately, moving' Guardian

'Full of action and humour as its beguiling narrator takes her surreal jaunts around the capital in search of a portal to another world.... The black comedy gives the book a jaunty quality that complements the dazzling trip around Dublin' The Irish Times

'Delightfully quirky... Vivian's voice alone is enough to keep us reading, charmed by her unique brand of manic, word-hoarding wit' The Irish Independent

'The book's style calls to mind The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon. Engaging and humorous' The Dublin Inquirer

'This urban fairy tale delivers something that is both subtle and profound in its examination of the human soul. Magically delicious' Kirkus

'A whimsical jaunt through Dublin and a modern take on many old Irish folktakes...Humorous, charming, and original' Booklist

'A strange, lyrical, fantastical, and slightly disturbing book...Vivian is a sympathetic, and utterly unforgettable, character' Jennifer Ohzourk, St. Louis Public Library

Book Information
ISBN 9780008324407
Author Caitriona Lally
Format Paperback
Page Count 272
Imprint The Borough Press
Publisher HarperCollins Publishers
Weight(grams) 200g
Dimensions(mm) 198mm * 129mm * 18mm