When Megan becomes curious about adulthood, her friendship with Sal becomes strained. The world they must navigate has a different life cycle. A society where people can remain at the larval stage or submit themselves to a precarious transformation and become adult.
Inspector Augustine, charged with monitoring the wanton destruction of eggs, decides to mentor Sal and Megan. Yet it is his maturity that will be put to the test.
J. O. Morgan applies his exquisite crafting of sentences to evoke a beguilingly simple tale of loss. An altopian world in which everything he changes about humanity makes us more recognisable.
Arvustused
Entering adulthood is something done furtively, in darkened, humid rooms, and not talked about. But, for all the books unsettling physicality, the innocent and well-meaning Sal, with all his doubts and fears, makes an even more lasting impression. Alastair Mabbott, The Herald -- Alastair Mabbott * The Herald * "This is a remarkable tale of courage and limitations that demands to be re-read."
Caroline Clark, Literary Review -- Caroline Clark * Literary Review * "In essence, this is a novel about wanting to find the contours within which it is possible to find ease and acceptance. A place of welcome and retreat even if there is nobody else there It doesnt need adornments. Its sufficient that we see the dilemmas that Sal and Megan must negotiate and find enough in their unfamiliar lives for us as readers to empathise with their exceptional, ordinary lives."
Declan ODriscoll, The Unfortunates -- Declan O'Driscoll * The Unfortunates * There are times when I hanker for a well crafted sentence, where every carefully chosen word gives pleasure to the reader. Sometimes Ill even forget about the plot because the writing stands out. Fortunately poet J.O. Morgans novel, Pupa, succeeds on both points Like Ishiguro, the writing is elegant, delicate and a joy to read.
Robert Pisani, The Bobsphere -- Robert Pisani * The Bobsphere *
J.O. Morgan is the author of seven poetry volumes. His fifth book Interference Pattern was shortlisted for the T. S. Eliot Prize. His first book, Natural Mechanical won the Aldeburgh Poetry Prize in 2009. Morgan's sixth publication, Assurances (2018) was shortlisted for the Forward Prize and went on to win the Costa Poetry Award, the judges praising it as 'original, compelling, ambitious, highly accomplished and marvellously sustained'. Johnathan Cape publish his next novel in 2022. David Henningham is an artist, author and bookbinder. He is co-founder, with Ping, of Henningham Family Press. As publishers, their novels have been shortlisted for The Goldsmiths Prize, Republic of Consciousness Prize, British Book Awards and longlisted for The Walter Scott Prize. Their artists books have been acquired by National Galleries Scotland, V&A, Tate, National Poetry Library and Stanford University. Their performance publishing shows have taken place in the British Library, BBC Radio Theatre, Christies, Dundee Contemporary Arts, Moscow (with the British Council), Bergen, Oslo, Ghent and Charlottesville VA. His writing has appeared in 3:AM Magazine, Exacting Clam, Époque and The Developer. Foulness is Davids first novel
