From the suburban disorder of 1980s southern England, 13-year-old Jake watches his world unravel as his father and older brother leave the family home and his mother increasingly finds solace in drink. Even as Jake outwardly shrugs off doubts about his paternity, the question hangs over him like an invisible spectre. A brilliantly structured novel, Glasshopper recreates the time and place of two childhoods and two marriages, evoking a poignant sense of home and family. A masterful debut, it celebrates the enduring optimism of youth, even in the face of tragedy.
Observer Tender and subtle, it explores difficult issues in deceptively easy prose... Across the decades, Ashdown tiptoes carefully through explosive family secrets. This is a wonderful debut intelligent, understated and sensitive.
Mail on Sunday An intelligent, beautifully observed coming-of-age story, packed with vivid characters and inch-perfect dialogue. Isabel Ashdown's storytelling skills are formidable; her human insights highly perceptive.
Juliet Nicolson, Evening Standard Isabel Ashdown s first novel is a disturbing, thought-provoking tale of family dysfunction, spanning the second half of the 20th century, that guarantees laughter at the uncomfortable familiarity of it all.
David Vann, author of Legend of a Suicide I love it. It s a book that s very fast and really rewarding for the reader. There s a wrenching end to the first chapter that switches the mood and absolutely hooked me for the rest of the book.
Waterstone's Books Quarterly An immaculately written novel with plenty of dark family secrets and gentle wit within. Recommended for book groups.
Sainsbury's Magazine A brilliant début.
Joel Morris on Simon Mayo's BBC Radio 5 Live It s an incredibly convincing boy s voice; an incredibly convincing woman s voice. It s very subtle, and subtlety is the key to this. The tragedy is happening behind the words and behind what people are saying, and you could be forgiven for wanting to read it again to catch all the nuances. It reminded me of Iain Banks. If you enjoyed The Crow Road, you ll get lots out of this book.
Glamour This stirring coming-of-age novel evokes the strictures of the '50s and the tacky flamboyance of the '80s brilliantly. Narrated through 13-year-old Jake's eyes, it's a heartbreaking redemptive tale of family secrets that will take you on an emotional rollercoaster. Arm yourselves with a box of Kleenex as you'll be weeping into your pillow by the end.
Easy Living Carefully observed, unexpected and mesmerisingly beautiful.
Argus In Jake, Ashdown has created a beautifully realised character, totally believable as a 20th-century boy but imbued with qualities which should resonate with any reader and will surely stand the test of time...The prose is succinct and smooth, the dialogue crisp and convincing. An intriguing, atmospheric read with a healthy dollop of realism.
Observer Tender and subtle, it explores difficult issues in deceptively easy prose... Across the decades, Ashdown tiptoes carefully through explosive family secrets. This is a wonderful debut intelligent, understated and sensitive.
Mail on Sunday An intelligent, beautifully observed coming-of-age story, packed with vivid characters and inch-perfect dialogue. Isabel Ashdown's storytelling skills are formidable; her human insights highly perceptive.
Juliet Nicolson, Evening Standard Isabel Ashdown s first novel is a disturbing, thought-provoking tale of family dysfunction, spanning the second half of the 20th century, that guarantees laughter at the uncomfortable familiarity of it all.
David Vann, author of Legend of a Suicide I love it. It s a book that s very fast and really rewarding for the reader. There s a wrenching end to the first chapter that switches the mood and absolutely hooked me for the rest of the book.
Waterstone's Books Quarterly An immaculately written novel with plenty of dark family secrets and gentle wit within. Recommended for book groups.
Sainsbury's Magazine A brilliant début.
Joel Morris on Simon Mayo's BBC Radio 5 Live It s an incredibly convincing boy s voice; an incredibly convincing woman s voice. It s very subtle, and subtlety is the key to this. The tragedy is happening behind the words and behind what people are saying, and you could be forgiven for wanting to read it again to catch all the nuances. It reminded me of Iain Banks. If you enjoyed The Crow Road, you ll get lots out of this book.
Glamour This stirring coming-of-age novel evokes the strictures of the '50s and the tacky flamboyance of the '80s brilliantly. Narrated through 13-year-old Jake's eyes, it's a heartbreaking redemptive tale of family secrets that will take you on an emotional rollercoaster. Arm yourselves with a box of Kleenex as you'll be weeping into your pillow by the end.
Easy Living Carefully observed, unexpected and mesmerisingly beautiful.
Argus In Jake, Ashdown has created a beautifully realised character, totally believable as a 20th-century boy but imbued with qualities which should resonate with any reader and will surely stand the test of time...The prose is succinct and smooth, the dialogue crisp and convincing. An intriguing, atmospheric read with a healthy dollop of realism.
