Lionel Shriver Books

The story centers on Pandora's shocking reunion with her brother Edison at an Iowa airport, where she struggles to recognize him due to his dramatic weight gain. Over the past four years, Edison has transformed from a slim, fashionable jazz pianist into someone unrecognizable, prompting Pandora to uncover the circumstances behind his drastic change. This exploration delves into themes of family dynamics, personal struggles, and the impact of life's challenges on identity.

WINNER OF THE ORANGE PRIZE FOR FICTION 2005 Two years ago, Eva Khatchadourian?s son, Kevin, murdered seven of his fellow high-school students, a cafeteria worker, and a popular algebra teacher. Because he was only fifteen at the time of the killings, he received a lenient sentence and is now in a prison for young offenders in upstate New York. Telling the story of Kevin's upbringing, Eva addresses herself to her estranged husband through a series of letters. Fearing that her own shortcomings may have shaped what her son has become, she confesses to a deep, long-standing ambivalence about both motherhood in general and Kevin in particular. How much is her fault? Lionel Shriver tells a compelling, absorbing, and resonant story while framing these horrifying tableaux of teenage carnage as metaphors for the larger tragedy - the tragedy of a country where everything works, nobody starves, and anything can be bought but a sense of purpose.

Edgar Kellogg, a discontented corporate lawyer, seeks a thrilling change by becoming a foreign correspondent in a small Portuguese town grappling with a burgeoning terrorist movement. He sees the opportunity to step into the shoes of Barrington Saddler, a missing reporter whose larger-than-life persona inspires Edgar. As he navigates this new world, he confronts the complexities of journalism and the dangers of his new environment, all while striving to embody the adventurous spirit he admires.

This striking collection of essays from a prize-winning, New York Times bestselling author showcases the sharp talent of Lionel Shriver, known for her willingness to embrace “under-expressed, unpopular or downright dangerous” viewpoints. The anthology features thirty-five curated pieces drawn from her columns, essays, and op-eds in prominent publications like the Spectator, the Guardian, and the New York Times, alongside unpublished works. In this collection, Shriver’s iconoclastic and personal voice shines as she offers her skeptical and contrarian opinions on a diverse array of topics, including religion, politics, illness, family, gender, immigration, and consumerism. She critiques the concept of language “crimes” and challenges arbitrary limitations on speech that threaten artistic expression and intellectual freedom. Each essay reflects sentiments that have drawn controversy and even threats of “cancellation.” Shriver also provides insights into her novels and the complexities of artistic success. By revisiting and expanding upon earlier pieces, she invites readers—especially those with “enlightened” progressive views—to engage with challenging ideas, often leading to unexpected agreements. This collection is a timely synthesis of Shriver's expansive work, revealing her as a provocative and assured writer.

Set in 2029, the narrative unfolds during a bloodless world war that devastates American savings as the dollar's value collapses, giving way to the bancor, a new global currency. In a drastic response, the president announces a default on loans, leading to rampant money printing and soaring inflation that erodes the remaining wealth of savers. The story explores the economic turmoil and its impact on families, highlighting themes of financial instability and the consequences of government decisions.

This collection features thought-provoking essays from a bestselling author known for their insightful exploration of complex themes. With a blend of personal reflection and broader societal commentary, the work delves into various aspects of life, relationships, and human experiences. The author's distinctive voice and keen observations offer readers a compelling and engaging perspective on contemporary issues, making this collection a notable addition to their literary repertoire.

What do you pack for the rest of your life? The explosive new novel from the Orange Prize-winning author of We Need to Talk About Kevin

From the Orange Prize-winning author of We Need to Talk About Kevin 'Enjoyably abrasive... a compelling read... sardonic and elegant' Evening Standard 'Scabrously funny... few authors can be as entertainingly problematic as Shriver' Guardian

When Pandora picks up her older brother Edison at her local Iowa airport, she literally doesn't recognise him. Edison's slovenly habits, appalling diet and know-it-all monologues drive her health-and-fitness freak husband Fletcher insane. Fletcher eventually delivers his wife an ultimatum - it's him or me. Putting her marriage and two adoptive children on the line, Pandora chooses her brother - who, without her support in losing weight, will surely eat himself into an early grave.

When her father dies, Kay Wilkinson can't cry. Over ten years, Alzheimer's had steadily eroded this erudite man. Surely one's own father passing should never come as such a relief? Both healthy and vital medical professionals in their early fifties, Kay and her husband Cyril have seen too many of their elderly NHS patients in similar states of decay. Determined to die with dignity, Cyril makes a modest proposal: they should agree to commit suicide together once they've both turned eighty. When their deal is sealed in 1991, the spouses are blithely looking forward to another three decades together. But then they turn eighty. By turns hilarious and touching, playful and grave, Should We Stay or Should We Go portrays twelve parallel universes, each exploring a possible future for Kay and Cyril, from a purgatorial Cuckoo's-Nest-style retirement home to the discovery of a cure for ageing, from cryogenic preservation to the unexpected pleasures of dementia. Weaving in a host of contemporary issues - Brexit, mass migration, the coronavirus - Lionel Shriver has pulled off a rollicking page-turner in which we never have to mourn deceased characters, because they'll be alive and kicking in the very next chapter.