The fictional journal of a brooding hamster might sound like a tough (and ridiculous) sell, but hear me out: inspired by their own hamster, sibling duo Miriam and Ezra Elia set out to imagine the daily musings of Edward. As it turns out the caged pet had quite the rich inner life!
The Diary of Edward the Hamster, 1990-1990 is so compelling, it almost prompted me to follow its cue and review it as if it had, indeed, been the diary of a brooding, existentially challenged hamster, found and translated by the Elia siblings. There was just something about it that grabbed me from the beginning.
Perhaps it’s the sober black and silver of the hardback cover, somehow bestowing gravitas upon this tiny book. Perhaps it’s the amazing, slightly unsettling, black and white illustrations. Most likely, it’s how the mix of these elements spawned a hilarious yet surprisingly thought-provoking reading experience.
Darkly humorous and a little bleak, this is a quick but fun read to match the chilly London days.
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