If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things

WINNER OF THE BETTY TRASK AWARD WINNER OF THE SOMERSET MAUGHAM AWARD LONGLISTED FOR THE MAN BOOKER PRIZE On a street in a town in the North of England, ordinary people are going through the motions of their everyday existence – street cricket, barbecues, painting windows… A young man is in love with a neighbour who does not even know his name. An old couple make their way up to the nearby bus stop. But then a terrible event shatters the quiet of the early summer evening. That this remarkable and horrific event is only poignant to those who saw it, not even meriting a mention on the local news, means that those who witness it will be altered for ever. Jon McGregor's first novel brilliantly evokes the histories and lives of the people in the street to build up an unforgettable human panorama. Breathtakingly original, humane and moving, If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things is an astonishing debut. Brimming with the essence of everyday life, this literary fiction by Jon McGregor is a testament to the extraordinary within the ordinary. It's a narrative that speaks volumes about the human condition, making it one of the best in its genre. For fans of Barbara Kingsolver (Demon Copperhead), Ian Mcewan (Lessons), Ali Smith (Companion piece), Maggie O'Farrell (Hamnet), and Paul Lynch (Grace).