Atlanta - May 13, 2009

People Are Strange

“Strange Nervous Laughter,” by Bridget McNulty

Nothing like a South African grocery store robbery to bring people together.

There. Got your attention.

Bet it’ll take a lot more to keep it. Like, say, Bridget McNulty’s Durban-based debut novel, Strange Nervous Laughter.

The whackadoo characters go something like this: garbageman with funny smell, hopelessly levitating romantic, girl who lives in her daydreams, overmothered undertaker, and whale whispering introvert. Of course, there’s also an angry man-hater. (Yah. She’s socially awkward, too.)

The story unfolds as near death brings out the best (and quirkiest) in all of them. But in McNulty’s hands, their love affairs, tiny triumphs, and secret heartbreaks are shockingly normal, hilariously meta, and delightfully sweet.

Making this some seriously good loot.

Available online at amazon.com or at your local bookstore.

Feeling bookish? Take a peek at our shelves.