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Brodie
A 30-year journey of love, loss, and the perils of being an object in a human world.
Brodie is the irresistible story of six women whose lives intertwine over three decades, told by Brodie, the beloved object that connects them all.
On a spring day in 1988, Sandra Galbraith runs her long, curious fingers over a bookshelf tightly packed with the titles of her favourite writer, Muriel Spark. She’s on a quest to find the perfect birthday gift for her niece, Violet, and plucks Brodie, a pristine, new copy of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, from a neat cluster of identikit books.
Brodie adores Violet and, over the next two years, hidden in plain sight, learns family secrets of betrayal and a double life. When Violet leaves for university, her brother kidnaps Brodie to give to his disinterested love interest. On the thirty-year journey that follows, Brodie passes through hands and lives and is witness to death, sex, and a wicked stepmother.
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TESTIMONIES
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“Written in a razor-sharp voice that is both playful and beguiling, Gillian Shirreffs’ Brodie is a subtle exploration of the world through objects. The novel draws on Muriel Spark’s iconic text, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, but Brodie is more than a tribute or an entre into the world of Spark. This is an original novel which will draw readers who know what it is to fall deeply in love with a book. It is both a transcending read and a love letter to the power of literature. ”
Louise Welsh
Author of nine novels including the multiple award-winning, The Cutting Room
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“An intricate, stylish novel that illuminates the world of its unusual narrator through tender, flowing prose. I found Brodie a fascinating and moving read. Shirreffs is a bright Spark indeed!”
Zoë Strachan
Award winning author of Negative Space, Spin Cycle, and Ever Fallen in Love
Brodie is the irresistible story of six women whose lives intertwine over three decades, told by Brodie, the beloved object that connects them all.
On a spring day in 1988, Sandra Galbraith runs her long, curious fingers over a bookshelf tightly packed with the titles of her favourite writer, Muriel Spark. She’s on a quest to find the perfect birthday gift for her niece, Violet, and plucks Brodie, a pristine, new copy of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, from a neat cluster of identikit books.
Brodie adores Violet and, over the next two years, hidden in plain sight, learns family secrets of betrayal and a double life. When Violet leaves for university, her brother kidnaps Brodie to give to his disinterested love interest. On the thirty-year journey that follows, Brodie passes through hands and lives and is witness to death, sex, and a wicked stepmother.
………………………………………………………..
TESTIMONIES
………………………………………………………..
“Written in a razor-sharp voice that is both playful and beguiling, Gillian Shirreffs’ Brodie is a subtle exploration of the world through objects. The novel draws on Muriel Spark’s iconic text, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, but Brodie is more than a tribute or an entre into the world of Spark. This is an original novel which will draw readers who know what it is to fall deeply in love with a book. It is both a transcending read and a love letter to the power of literature. ”
Louise Welsh
Author of nine novels including the multiple award-winning, The Cutting Room
………………………………………………………..
“An intricate, stylish novel that illuminates the world of its unusual narrator through tender, flowing prose. I found Brodie a fascinating and moving read. Shirreffs is a bright Spark indeed!”
Zoë Strachan
Award winning author of Negative Space, Spin Cycle, and Ever Fallen in Love
- GenresFiction
300 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 18, 2023
10 people are currently reading
39 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
May 4, 2024
Brodie is a must-read novel for anyone who is a fan of Muriel Spark’s The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. It has a unique premise in that it is narrated by a copy of the book! I have read books which follow owners of certain objects (eg a house, a particular item of clothing, a sewing machine) but I’ve never read a book written from the point of view of the object itself.
Brodie, then, is the book and is rather intelligent. I got the impression that it thinks of itself as a similar to Jean Brodie and it certainly was aspirational. There were often rather disdainful comments about the inferior books it finds itself alongside or the conditions in which it was stored. Brodie is very perceptive about its owners and often quite critical. For example, one owner, Laurel, often propped the book up in front of her in cafes, perhaps to dissuade anyone from talking to her. Brodie remarks that Laurel was “creating the impression that I was being read. I was not. Let me assure you I can tell the difference.”. There is quite a lot of gentle humour like this in the book which made me smile.
To a certain extent I felt that the characters in Brodie reflected the characters in Muriel Sparks’ creation. Brodie was bought initially by a teacher and of course Miss Brodie was a teacher. There were certainly some stroppy teens in this book too just as there were in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. I was interested to note that all Brodie’s owners had flower names, Heather and Violet for example, and I would love to know if there was any significant to that. Brodie was often frustrated at being unable to see and hear everything which was going on around it and longed to be able to move independently. This perhaps mirrored the experiences of one of its owners who faced similar restrictions and frustrations.
It was so interesting finding out how each of the owners came to acquire the book and gradually discovering that there were connections between some of them. The original purchaser bought the book as a gift and had written a personal message for the recipient, her niece Violet. Violet was upset when the book went missing as it had meant a lot to her. This reminded me of an instance in our local community where someone was looking for a much loved copy of a book given to her by her late husband. There was a handwritten dedication from him in her copy and she feared it had gone to a charity shop. Everyone was checking each time they came across a copy of the book but I’m not sure if it ever turned up.
I thoroughly enjoyed spending time with Brodie and was eager to find out who each owner would be and what their story would be. The six owners over thirty years give us an insight into a changing society, but one where a classic novel still has much to teach us. It was such a clever idea having a book narrated by a book and was very well executed by the author. I very much enjoyed the style of the book and would certainly be happy to read any of her subsequent work.
Incidentally, the author has committed to giving any income received from this book to the Beatson Cancer Charity which aims to enhance the experience, treatment, outcomes and wellbeing of all current and former Beatson Cancer Centre patients and their families.
Brodie, then, is the book and is rather intelligent. I got the impression that it thinks of itself as a similar to Jean Brodie and it certainly was aspirational. There were often rather disdainful comments about the inferior books it finds itself alongside or the conditions in which it was stored. Brodie is very perceptive about its owners and often quite critical. For example, one owner, Laurel, often propped the book up in front of her in cafes, perhaps to dissuade anyone from talking to her. Brodie remarks that Laurel was “creating the impression that I was being read. I was not. Let me assure you I can tell the difference.”. There is quite a lot of gentle humour like this in the book which made me smile.
To a certain extent I felt that the characters in Brodie reflected the characters in Muriel Sparks’ creation. Brodie was bought initially by a teacher and of course Miss Brodie was a teacher. There were certainly some stroppy teens in this book too just as there were in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. I was interested to note that all Brodie’s owners had flower names, Heather and Violet for example, and I would love to know if there was any significant to that. Brodie was often frustrated at being unable to see and hear everything which was going on around it and longed to be able to move independently. This perhaps mirrored the experiences of one of its owners who faced similar restrictions and frustrations.
It was so interesting finding out how each of the owners came to acquire the book and gradually discovering that there were connections between some of them. The original purchaser bought the book as a gift and had written a personal message for the recipient, her niece Violet. Violet was upset when the book went missing as it had meant a lot to her. This reminded me of an instance in our local community where someone was looking for a much loved copy of a book given to her by her late husband. There was a handwritten dedication from him in her copy and she feared it had gone to a charity shop. Everyone was checking each time they came across a copy of the book but I’m not sure if it ever turned up.
I thoroughly enjoyed spending time with Brodie and was eager to find out who each owner would be and what their story would be. The six owners over thirty years give us an insight into a changing society, but one where a classic novel still has much to teach us. It was such a clever idea having a book narrated by a book and was very well executed by the author. I very much enjoyed the style of the book and would certainly be happy to read any of her subsequent work.
Incidentally, the author has committed to giving any income received from this book to the Beatson Cancer Charity which aims to enhance the experience, treatment, outcomes and wellbeing of all current and former Beatson Cancer Centre patients and their families.
September 27, 2023
Where do i even begin ? I loved this book which left me with a tear in my eye. It is a hugely original debut from a gifted author and has an intriguing premise. Get this - the narrator is a book! Despite being an inert object Brodie has very human traits and is a curious observer of the lives of those whose hands it passes through. The book deals with themes of life, mortality, relationships and so much more as Brodie journeys through the lives of six owners over 30 years.
I was fortunate enough to attend the book launch and learned the inspiration for the book came following the authors diagnosis and subsequent treatment for MS, where she sometimes felt like an object with life happening around her. In a cruel blow Gillian later learned that “it’s not always one and you’re done” as she was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. In appreciation for the treatment received, all profits are going to the Beatson Cancer Charity.
There’s a part of me wants to keep and treasure this book but keeping to the spirit of the story I will pass it on.
I was fortunate enough to attend the book launch and learned the inspiration for the book came following the authors diagnosis and subsequent treatment for MS, where she sometimes felt like an object with life happening around her. In a cruel blow Gillian later learned that “it’s not always one and you’re done” as she was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. In appreciation for the treatment received, all profits are going to the Beatson Cancer Charity.
There’s a part of me wants to keep and treasure this book but keeping to the spirit of the story I will pass it on.
January 3, 2024
Beautifully written and engrossing, Brodie explores the effect of one book on multiple women’s lives. It’s told from the PoV of a copy of Muriel Spark’s Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. I loved the concept and execution of it, and listened on Audible where the writer makes an excellent job of reading it. The way it mirrors the Spark novel/characters but is an entirely original new novel is really enjoyable.
August 9, 2024
This book was for my local book shop book club. I honestly went in thinking this isn’t my cup of tea. But it really was well written even from a books prospective. I have gave it 4 stars I really enjoyed it but there was something missing that I can’t pin point and that’s really annoyed me but o would recommend it for a feel good book as it’s made me feel like I am lifted which I can’t quite explain. But it really was a good book it really went into n a direction I didn’t think it would. But I really am glad I read it.
August 1, 2024
Ok but I feel the author missed a trick with this. An excellent concept to make the book the narrator but too many loose ends and too many implausible coincidences. I also felt the writing was ‘young’, ‘childish’ or just unsophisticated. Not recommended.
November 9, 2024
I adored this book! I've never read a book before that has been narrated by a book. We follow "The prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark" on her travels to her various readers and get insights into how a book views her surroundings and feels for each owner. Highly original
March 31, 2025
Some lovely images—a book enjoying her spine resting atop a purring cat, for example—and an interesting premise. Maybe I’d have liked it better if I’d really enjoyed the original book instead of reading it as a personal prerequisite.
March 5, 2024
An amazing book! So very cleverly written
April 21, 2024
What an innovative way to look at the world and people. This was a quick read and a complete delight.
June 3, 2025
Fantastic
Really fascinating read, waiting to see where Brodie would live and taking the journey with him was exciting, really didn't want the story to end.
Really fascinating read, waiting to see where Brodie would live and taking the journey with him was exciting, really didn't want the story to end.
February 17, 2026
I don’t normally write reviews but this book was just so different to anything I had read before. Such a lovely story and you get drawn in my Brodie.
October 3, 2023
The narrator of this story is a copy of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, passing through the hands of various readers/owners - a premise I could not resist!
The interconnected stories of the book’s various custodians form an enjoyable plot that is engaging and easy to read but that plot being observed and recounted by an inert object brings additional depth, offering a fascinating perspective on the otherwise lightly handled topics of illness, mortality, relationships, and freedom in all its guises. Aren’t we all constrained to some extent by our physicality and by our relations to other people/society? That’s why the narrator, despite being made of paper and ink, is ultimately very human.
If you love finding an inscription or ad-hoc bookmark in a second-hand book you will enjoy Brodie. Or, “For those who like that sort of thing, that is the sort of thing they like!”
The interconnected stories of the book’s various custodians form an enjoyable plot that is engaging and easy to read but that plot being observed and recounted by an inert object brings additional depth, offering a fascinating perspective on the otherwise lightly handled topics of illness, mortality, relationships, and freedom in all its guises. Aren’t we all constrained to some extent by our physicality and by our relations to other people/society? That’s why the narrator, despite being made of paper and ink, is ultimately very human.
If you love finding an inscription or ad-hoc bookmark in a second-hand book you will enjoy Brodie. Or, “For those who like that sort of thing, that is the sort of thing they like!”
January 27, 2026
This was quite an interesting book to read, as it is written from the perspective of the book. Unusual? Yes, but really enjoyable. I've never read or watched The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, but I didn't need to to be able to follow and appreciate the book. It makes me feel bad for my ever.groeing collection of books yet to read.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews