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Big Brother: A Novel Paperback – Large Print, June 4, 2013
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Big Brother is a striking novel about siblings, marriage, and obesity from Lionel Shriver, the acclaimed author the international bestseller We Need to Talk About Kevin.
For Pandora, cooking is a form of love. Alas, her husband, Fletcher, a self-employed high-end cabinetmaker, now spurns the “toxic” dishes that he’d savored through their courtship, and spends hours each day to manic cycling. Then, when Pandora picks up her older brother Edison at the airport, she doesn’t recognize him. In the years since they’ve seen one another, the once slim, hip New York jazz pianist has gained hundreds of pounds. What happened? After Edison has more than overstayed his welcome, Fletcher delivers his wife an ultimatum: It’s him or me.
Rich with Shriver’s distinctive wit and ferocious energy, Big Brother is about fat: an issue both social and excruciatingly personal. It asks just how much sacrifice we'll make to save single members of our families, and whether it's ever possible to save loved ones from themselves.
- Print length512 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherHarper Large Print
- Publication dateJune 4, 2013
- Dimensions6 x 1.02 x 9 inches
- ISBN-100062253808
- ISBN-13978-0062253804
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Editorial Reviews
Review
“As a writer, Shriver’s talents are many: She’s especially skilled at playing with readers’s reflexes for sympathy and revulsion, never letting us get too comfortable with whatever firm understanding we think we have of a character.” — Washington Post
“The moving (and shocking) finale will have you thinking about the ‘byzantine emotional mathematics’ we all put ourselves through when overwhelmed with family responsibilities.” — Oprah.com
“(A) delicious, highly readable novel . . . (which) raises challenging questions about how much a loving person can give to another without sacrificing his or her own well-being.” — People, People Pick (4 Stars)
“Big Brother is vintage Shriver - observant, unsettling, funny, but also, as Pandora admits, ‘Very, very sad.’” — Miami Herald
“Lionel Shriver’s Big Brother has the muscle to overpower its readers. It is a conversation piece of impressive heft.” — New York Times
“The ever-caustic Shriver has great fun at the expense of crash diets and a host of other sacred pop-culture, er, cows. Politically correct it’s not, but Big Brother finds the funny - and the pathos - in fat.” — USA Today
“Her [Shriver’s] best work--Big Brother is her twelfth novel--presents characters so fully formed that they inhabit her ideas rather than trumpet them.” — New Republic
“Pandora is a masterly creation.” — New York Times Book Review
“The diet - the story of a heroically undertaken significant change - is pretty nearly irresistible. But what really powers this story, an outsize look at the most basic of human activities, eating, is a search for the definition, and appreciation, of ‘ordinary life.’” — Minneapolis Star Tribune
“The latest compelling, humane and bleakly comic novel from the author of We Need to Talk about Kevin.” — Evening Standard (London)
“A great plot setup that presents an array of targets for Shriver to obliterate with her knife-sharp prose.” — The Rumpus
“A surprising sledgehammer of a novel” — The Times (London)
“A gutsy, heartfelt novel” — Sunday Times (London)
“What would you do for love of a brother? For love of a husband? For love of food? In Big Brother, Shriver’s new and wonderfully timely novel, her heroine wrestles with these vexing questions. Only the scales don’t lie.” — Margot Livesey, author of The Flight of Gemma Hardy
“The fellowship of Lionel Shriver fanatics is about to grow larger, so to speak. Big Brother, a tragicomic meditation on family and food, may be her best book yet.” — Gary Shteyngart, author of Super Sad True Love Story
“A searing, addictive novel about the power and limitations of food, family, success, and desire. Shriver examines America’s weight obsession with both razor-sharp insight and compassion.” — J. Courtney Sullivan, author of Maine and Commencement
“Brilliantly imagined, beautifully written, and superbly entertaining, Shriver’s novel confronts readers with the decisive question: can we save our loved ones from themselves? A must-read for Shriver fans, this novel will win over new readers as well.” — Library Journal
“An intelligent meditation on food, guilt, and the real (and imagined) debts we owe the ones we love.” — Publishers Weekly
“Shriver brilliantly explores the strength of sibling bonds versus the often more fragile ties of marriage.” — Booklist
“[Shriver] has a knack for conveying subtle shifts in family dynamics. . . . Ms Shriver offers some sage observations. . . . Yet her main gift as a novelist is a talent for coolly nailing down uncomfortable realities.” — The Economist
“Shriver is brilliant on the novel shock that is hunger. . . . Most of all, though, there’s her glorious, fearless, almost fanatically hard-working prose.” — Guardian
“Shriver is wonderful at the things she is always wonderful at. Pace and plot. . . . Psychology.” — Independent
“Would I recommend Big Brother? Absolutely. It confronts the touchy subject of American lard exuberantly and intelligently; it makes you think about what you put in your mouth and why.” — Bloomberg
From the Back Cover
When Pandora picks up her older brother Edison at her local Iowa airport, she literally doesn't recognize him. In the four years since the siblings last saw one another, the once slim, hip New York jazz pianist has gained hundreds of pounds. What happened?
And it's not just the weight. After his brother-in-law has more than overstayed his welcome, Pandora's husband, Fletcher, delivers an ultimatum: it's him or me. Putting her marriage and her adopted family on the line, Pandora chooses her brother—who without her support in losing weight, will surely eat himself into an early grave.
About the Author
Although Lionel Shriver has published many novels, a collection of essays, and a column in the Spectator since 2017, and her journalism has been featured in publications including the Guardian, the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal, she in no way wishes for the inclusion of this information to imply that she is more “intelligent” or “accomplished” than anyone else. The outdated meritocracy of intellectual achievement has made her a bestselling author multiple times and accorded her awards, including the Orange Prize, but she accepts that all of these accidental accolades are basically meaningless. She lives in Portugal and Brooklyn, New York.
Product details
- Publisher : Harper Large Print; Large type / Large print edition (June 4, 2013)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 512 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0062253808
- ISBN-13 : 978-0062253804
- Item Weight : 1.15 pounds
- Dimensions : 6 x 1.02 x 9 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #12,545,796 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #53,787 in Fiction Satire
- #93,595 in Family Life Fiction (Books)
- #382,479 in Literary Fiction (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

Lionel Shriver is a novelist whose previous books include Orange Prize–winner We Need to Talk About Kevin, The Post-Birthday World, A Perfectly Good Family, Game Control, Double Fault, The Female of the Species, Checker and the Derailleurs, and Ordinary Decent Criminals.
She is widely published as a journalist, writing features, columns, op-eds, and book reviews for the Guardian, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Financial Times, the Economist, Marie Claire, and many other publications.
She is frequently interviewed on television, radio, and in print media. She lives in London and Brooklyn, NY.
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the book engaging and thought-provoking. They praise the writing quality, vocabulary, and prose as strong and skillfully crafted. Readers describe the writing style as witty and original, with a humorous yet serious tone. However, some feel the pacing is turgid at times and not as riveting as previous novels. Additionally, some readers feel the content is contrived and pretentious.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the book engaging and worth reading. They enjoy the first two parts, finding the premise fantastic and themes explored thought-provoking. The subject matter is wonderful and makes you stop and think about how far you would go. Overall, readers describe the book as satisfying, mind-expanding, and unique.
"...The primary plot is simple, but because the key elements are so universally experienced, it’s surprisingly alluring...." Read more
"...Wonderful subject matter, really makes you stop and think about how far you would go to help a family member and if they really want/need/appreciate..." Read more
"...She's one of the best authors around and I just loved Big Brother even though it's one of her saddest stories...." Read more
"...Delightful, ambitious, and a completely fulfilling read. My favourite book so far this year." Read more
Customers find the book insightful and topical. They appreciate its exploration of themes like success, failure, and self-indulgence. The author tackles difficult issues like body image and relationships with food in a personal way. Overall, readers find the book thoughtful and engaging.
"...drama, and because of the subjects it addresses ‒ overeating and extreme dieting, marital power balances, family dysfunction ‒ it will easily appeal..." Read more
"...She is very perceptive about the role of food in American society, and specifically about the complex relationship between women and food...." Read more
"...in the fact that they just seem so much like real, breathing, thinking people. Her writing is always a joy to read as her vocabulary is awesome..." Read more
"...the author's observation that complete abstinence is much easier to maintain than moderation...." Read more
Customers praise the writing quality. They find the vocabulary and prose strong, with a skillful composition. The author's love of language enhances every story. They appreciate her warmth and affection for Iowa.
"...She also writes with warmth and affection about Iowa, which most people never do (I lived in Iowa City for three years, so I know the challenges)...." Read more
"...Her writing is always a joy to read as her vocabulary is awesome and inspiring...." Read more
"...The book had some hilarious, infuriating, insightful and well written parts, ergo two stars." Read more
"...keep looking up words and re-reading sentences because the language was over the top and verbose to say the least...." Read more
Customers enjoy the book's witty and engaging writing style. They find it humorous yet serious, with an idiomatic tone.
"...novel in good faith, initially entranced by Shriver’s gleeful, idiomatic style and intrigued by her choosing to take on the important subject of..." Read more
"...Her writing is always a joy to read as her vocabulary is awesome and inspiring...." Read more
"...The book had some hilarious, infuriating, insightful and well written parts, ergo two stars." Read more
"...to: it can be sharp and judgmental, but this time there's a generous leavening of wit and compassion...." Read more
Customers have different views on the ending. Some find it believable and a great psychological drama with a twist. Others feel the storyline is predictable and disappointing.
"...the, ahem, ending, but I will say there is fiction, there is fiction within fiction, and then there there is slapping the reader in full face with a..." Read more
"...Nevertheless, "Big Brother" is a great psychological drama, and because of the subjects it addresses ‒ overeating and extreme dieting, marital power..." Read more
"...At this point the narrative takes a hard, even bizarre turn. But I think Shriver pulls it off. Any more would be spoiler...." Read more
"...The book had some hilarious, infuriating, insightful and well written parts, ergo two stars." Read more
Customers have different views on the character development. Some find the characters rich and interesting, with diverse relationships that expose biases. Others find the characters dull, with unusual names and lack of personality. They also mention too much whining from the characters, making them easy to read and not really likable at the end.
"...I will say that I appreciated her detail with the characters, though I didn't necessarily like them...." Read more
"...low-grade buzz of tension under the surface and none of these characters is particularly likable, with the exception of the step-daughter, Cody...." Read more
"...Fletcher, Pandora and Edison are unforgettable characters." Read more
"...I thought the characters were just too easy to read. The old-fashioned, out of the times jive talk, was really annoying, "man"...." Read more
Customers find the book's pacing awkward and turgid at times. They find it not as riveting as the author's previous novels, and it doesn't hold their attention. The writing style is also described as too wordy and complicated.
"...The problem here is that Pandora begins to lose too much weight and feel ill. This is corrected...." Read more
"...All 223 pounds of it. This is a sometimes uncomfortable read as Lionel Shriver confronts head-on the taboo that society has constructed..." Read more
"...Shriver’s prose, as in "Kevin," is rich with observation, analysis, and intent, as she addresses the base human drives of food, love, power, and ego...." Read more
"...didn't feel realistic to me and Pandora was just so self-centred and unpleasant...." Read more
Customers find the content contrived, pretentious, and unrealistic. They describe the author as a snob and exploitation of their brother. The plot is described as preposterous and unnecessary.
"...But the author cheated, because she didn't realize what diet and starvation really were, and she could not describe credibly the reason and the..." Read more
"...from the careless, self-absorbed, self-important, manipulative, gluttonous Edison..." Read more
"...My only criticism was the exploitation of the author's brother, that became apparent in the epilogue...." Read more
"...The only moderating feature is the 'twist' which is contrived and, perhaps, unnecessary." Read more
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on February 20, 2014"Big Brother" tells the story of a forty-something woman, Pandora, whose brother, Edison, has recently grown grotesquely obese. Pandora’s husband, Fletcher, on the other hand, is a fitness fiend and nutrition nazi. When Edison comes for an extended visit, Pandora is distraught by his dramatic upsizing, and she determines to help him lose weight. In the endeavor, her marriage is compromised, and therein lies the story.
I bought "Big Brother" after hearing an interview with Shriver (also the author of "We Need to Talk About Kevin") on NPR. Having read "Kevin," I already admired her work, and the concept of this new novel captured my acute attention. As expected, the actual reading was excellent. The story is intellectual and psychological. Shriver’s prose, as in "Kevin," is rich with observation, analysis, and intent, as she addresses the base human drives of food, love, power, and ego. The primary plot is simple, but because the key elements are so universally experienced, it’s surprisingly alluring.
The characters in "Big Brother" are multidimensional and believable. You’ll root for each of them and shake your head at them in turn. Pandora, who narrates the story, is the wallflower type. She rose to national notoriety somewhat accidentally with the surprise success of her custom doll business. Since she’s uncomfortable in the limelight, she takes deliberate steps to maintain her humility and normalcy. Conversely, her brother is a self-important, unctuous, jargon-spouting jazz pianist who left home straight out of high school and flourished on the New York music scene. In his middle age, his career deflated, but his ego ‒ and his body ‒ did not.
While the primary plot centers on Edison’s food issues, Pandora and Edison also reminisce about their unconventional upbringing, each from their own contrasting perspectives. Their mother’s tragic death was a suspected suicide, and their father, a Hollywood television actor, was more attached to his onscreen children than his biological progeny. Throughout the pages, Shriver deconstructs these complexities without the coldness of an overt psychoanalysis. Instead, it’s a show-and-tell of dysfunction, and Pandora is, mostly, the voice of reason.
The surprise ending isn’t ‒ obviously ‒ what you’ll be expecting. But it isn’t even what you’d expect for a surprise ending. It’s strangely settling and unsettling at once.
My only criticisms of "Big Brother" tie back to "We Need to Talk about Kevin." First, Pandora’s narrative style is identical to Eva’s (the protagonist in "Kevin"). Although Pandora’s characteristics and circumstances are effectively differentiated from Eva’s, both women are hyperanalytical intellectualizers with expansive vocabularies, which probably means that Shriver is too. Shriver’s mind and lexicon impress me, but if she can’t find unique voices for her first-person narrators, she might consider writing in third-person next time. Also, and mainly, "Kevin" is still Shriver’s masterpiece. The characters in "Big Brother" aren’t quite as gripping, the development not quite as driving, the climax not quite as spectacular.
Nevertheless, "Big Brother" is a great psychological drama, and because of the subjects it addresses ‒ overeating and extreme dieting, marital power balances, family dysfunction ‒ it will easily appeal to most thoughtful readers. It certainly held my attention, exercised my mind, and earned my heartfelt recommendation.
(Check out my other book reviews at [...].)
- Reviewed in the United States on October 27, 2013Every family has its own dramas and internal failures and this book makes you ask yourself how far you would go to help a family member - in this case a sibling...especially one that does not want to be helped and seemingly cannot help themselves.
Shriver looks at the obesity issue that has become part of all of our lives and she asks some hefty questions and makes some pretty hard hitting points.
Is a food addict the same as a drug or alcohol addict? Do they face the same struggles or is it harder because their addiction is something that they have to face every day? To really fight the addiction do you have to absolve yourself of food totally and survive on liquid only? Will the eventual show down with food unravel you and take you back to where you started?
Edison and Pandoras journey highlights some interesting discoveries about eating/food/dieting like - even when we know we are over weight, when we are the smallest person in a group of overweight people we feel like we are okay. How we revolve friendships, partnerships and most of our living around food - the preparation of, the presentation of, the discussion of, the daydreaming about and then the consuming. Food is wrapped up in so many moments and memories that is it so far fetched that we are all a little obsessed about it? Dieters will agree that socialising becomes very hard when you are abstaining and yet for those who have eating disorders it is the most lonely place to be. Shriver asks us if the way we live in this day and age, not wanting for much and having everything at our disposal - whether food has lost its core function. It is no longer about survival and for most people it no longer holds real satisfaction. Once we finish one meal we are already planning the next without really stopping to savor this one. Meals are eaten hastily in front of televisions, over conversations, at computers and while driving, we pay little homage to something that should be a sustenance. Has food changed from keeping our bellies full, to trying to make us feel full and content in general? Are we seeking comfort and chasing that ever elusive feeling of fullness that used to come from working hard for something and reaping the reward? Food is a quick and easy feel good tool that the general population are using to get their 'fix'.
Wonderful subject matter, really makes you stop and think about how far you would go to help a family member and if they really want/need/appreciate it. Looks at how hard it is sometimes to address the elephant in the room and what leads people to lose themselves in an addiction and not be able to come through it. Is the adage once an addict always an addict true? Can you abstain from food when you actually need it to survive? Is this why the diet industry is so massive and the solution to the problem not as easy as everyone thinks?
Shriver weaves magic with her writing but even I felt annoyed when I had to keep looking up words and re-reading sentences because the language was over the top and verbose to say the least. I dont think the novel needed it and if anything detracted from it for me personally.
The ending was not what I was expecting and I can see how it has upset many fellow readers. But for me it just concreted everything that the book was trying to get us to think about.
Top reviews from other countries
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i-tüpfelchenReviewed in Germany on September 10, 2017
5.0 out of 5 stars One of the most intense books of my reading "career"
I agree with my fellow reviewers on the need for trimming the excessive rambling, in particular in the beginning of the novel, for which I would have taken off one star if not for the fact that I emerged both deeply awed and humbled as well as multiple linguistic treasures richer after I had patiently plowed through.
After about one quarter of the book, the story became so intense that I put it down deliberately for a later reading, or it would have affected me so much that it would have affected my work performance. I kid you not. As for the ending: I can relate to the fact that many readers would yell in outrage because of the "twist" as several reviewers called it. However, if upon reading Shriver's autobiographical remarks at the end, her choice of such an ending not only made sense to me but broke my heart twice.
I definitely came out of this experience, and I am deliberately calling it this way - a lot more conscious of my own and our society's eating habits as well as our cruel beauty standards. I know I will read this novel again and again, but with long intervals in between.
- Gurnoor GrewalReviewed in India on August 6, 2017
5.0 out of 5 stars READ IT AT ONCE
Lionel Shrivel is the coldest writer ever.She gives you life ,as it is.This book tells us what we would like to do in a particular situation and what we actually do.
- XantheReviewed in Australia on January 19, 2017
4.0 out of 5 stars Worthwhile
Lionel Shriver is a genius. As with many of her books, I read Big Brother in one day. Tackling contemporary issues with a wit and an angle that are sharply unique, Shriver's command of her art form is astonishing. My only complaints are that her characters weren't as finely drawn as in "Kevin", and the plot resolution could have been more satisfying. Worth reading!
- Valentina AiresReviewed in Brazil on July 28, 2014
4.0 out of 5 stars Great
Catchy and disturbing.
Shriver shines a light to a pertinent subject that's been concealed in today's society.
Caught myself cheering till the end!
-
Miguel Angel FerrerReviewed in Spain on July 20, 2014
4.0 out of 5 stars Una novela familiar interesante
Un tema universal ambientado en el siglo XXI. un cóctel explosivo entre familia y sobrepeso. Shiriver nos tiene acostumbrado a este tipo de análisis críticos