Amazing book! When I was in London (summer 2006), it came out in paper back and posters were all over the Underground. Normally not a sucker for obvious advertising, I found it on sale and thought it would make an interesting read for the long flight back to SF.

And boy am I glad I did! This is a page turner, leaving you wanting to know more. An onion with many layers, Shriver pulls them back one by one through the book, climaxing with perfect timing.

Yes, I am one of those people who have thought about whether or not I should have children or what kind of parent I would be. It didn’t help me make up my mind, but gave me a different perspecitve.

One of my Top 10 Favorite Books (once I get around to making that list).

Scary but good. It hasn’t actually put me off having children but it did make me really think ‘Am I ready to have a child now?’ I absolutely recommend this book – it will give you a completely different perspective on parenthood

Definitely one of the best books I’ve read to date. Incredible. Wonderfully written, yet achingly uncomfortable to read, the storyline as it develops gets more and more disturbing and is unendingly thought provoking. I felt physically sick as I read the last few pages. It’s the winner of the Orange Prize for fiction for good reason. It’s kept me awake, it’s freaked me out, and most of all, it’s made me think.

If you happen to see if in the library, or if you have a tenner burning a hole in your pocket….give it a go. Unless you’re pregnant…or trying for a child….in which case, just don’t go near it…it’ll wreck your whole perspective on kids, possibly for good.