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.

'Martine McDonagh writes simply, sparingly, intelligently and unsentimentally about both big and small things.' - Stephen May, Costa Prize shortlisted author. 

Part of Unbound’s four-book original fiction promotion for Spring 2017 For fans of Joe Dunthorne, Karen Joy Fowler, Nathan Filer, Jonathan Safran Foe