The Post-Birthday world

This is the new novel from the Orange Prize winning author of "We Need to Talk About Kevin". It all hinges on one kiss. Whether Irena McGove rn does or does not lean in to a specific pair of lips in London will determine whether she stays with her disciplined, intellectual partner Lawrence or runs off with Ramsey, a hard-living snooker player. Using a parallel universe structure, we follow Irena's life as it unfolds u nder the influence of two drastically different men. Lawrence is Irena 's partner of nearly ten years. Ramsey is the ex-husband of a sometime friend, a once-a-year acquaintance to whom Irena has never paid a gre at deal of attention. Where Lawrence is supportive and devoted; Ramsey is flighty and spontaneous. Lawrence is emotionally withdrawn to the point of repression; Ramsey is fiery and passionate, but volatile. The contrasts between the two men have ramifications for Irena's relation ships with friends and family, for her career as an illustrator, and m ore importantly, for the texture of her daily life. This love is about trade-offs. Both men in Irena's dual future are worthy of her affecti on but deeply flawed.The answer is that there is no perfect answer: on e of the things that draws us to our mates is what is wrong with them. "The Post-Birthday World" is written with all the subtlety, perceptiv eness and drama that made "We Need to Talk About Kevin" an internation al best-seller.