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Narcissism for Beginners

Narcissism for Beginners

Longlisted for the 2017 Guardian Not the Booker Prize

Meet Sonny Anderson as he tips headlong into adulthood. Sonny doesn’t remember his mother’s face; he was kidnapped at age five by his father, Guru Bim, and taken to live in a commune in Brazil. Since the age of ten, Sonny has lived in Redondo Beach, California, with his guardian Thomas Hardiker. Brits think he’s an American, Americans think he’s a Brit.

When he turns 21, Sonny musters the courage to travel alone to the UK in an attempt to leave a troubled past behind, reunite with his mother and finally learn the truth about his childhood. With a list of people to visit, a whole lot of attitude and five mysterious letters from his guardian, Sonny sets out to learn the truth. But is it a truth he wants to hear?

Narcissism for Beginners is a fresh, witty and humane take on the struggle to make sense of growing up.

Reviews

  • "A classic coming-of-age story exploring themes of identity, addiction, narcissism and neuroticism."

    Big Issue

About the Author

Martine McDonagh

Martine McDonagh is the author of two acclaimed novels, I Have Waited, and You Have Come and After Phoenix. She wrote her first story at age 8 while growing up in the grounds of a psychiatric hospital, and carried on writing throughout her 30-year career in the music industry as an artist manager (to James, Fujiya & Miyagi, and others). She is currently programme Leader on a new MA Creative Writing & Publishing at West Dean College in West Sussex, and she is working on a sequel to Narcissism for Beginners.

Martine McDonagh

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