Status
Checked out
Due 30-04-2023
Call number
Genres
Collection
Publication
The Borough Press (2014), Edition: 01, 320 pages
Description
While on vacation with their parents, Matthew Homes and his older brother snuck out in the middle of the night. Only Matthew came home safely. Ten years later, Matthew tells us, he has found a way to bring his brother back. What begins as the story of a lost boy turns into a story of a brave man yearning to understand what happened that night, in the years since, and to his very person.
Media reviews
It's an unsettling read but a perceptive and moving one. One image stayed with me. Matthew refers to his life as "watching my helium balloon slowly die".
User reviews
LibraryThing member jnwelch
In The Shock of the Fall by Nathan Filer, 19 year old Matt Holmes is a decent-seeming young man who is driven to aberrant behavior. "I have an illness, a disease with the shape and sound of a snake. Whenever I learn something new, it learns it too … My illness knows everything I know. This was a
Simon haunts him everywhere, but it is a haunting he welcomes and lives for:
"I stumbled into a new morning, blurred at its edges. The streets stirred to life under a cloudy sky. People were staring at me, pointing, or turning quickly away. Each of them had him inside; his many, many atoms, and each of them with his face, his beautiful smiling face.
It wasn't frightening. It wasn't like that.
It was glorious."
Mental health might mean losing that connection with Simon. Hmm.
The author is a registered health nurse and also a performance poet, and he's authored an unusual, genuine and engrossing book. Matt is good company, with all his problems, and the other characters are well-drawn - including his unstable mother and bonhomie father, and loyal grandma Nanny Noo. Matt manages to reach a surprisingly sweet but believable ending. This one won the Costa Book of the Year Award 2013 across the pond, and deserves to be better known in the U.S. and elsewhere. Four and a half stars.
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difficult thing to get my head around." He's schizophrenic, and a compulsive writer on an old typewriter his grandmother gave him. He also has artistic talent, and we get to see his drawings in the book, along with other visual elements (like hand-written letters and differing type fonts) that fit with his story. He's trying to deal with his deep sorrow and guilt over the death of his older, Down's Syndrome brother Simon, that happened on a family vacation when they were kids. He also struggles with the demands of the mental health system and the desirable/undesirable effects of his medication, while his family struggles with his swerve into strangeness.Simon haunts him everywhere, but it is a haunting he welcomes and lives for:
"I stumbled into a new morning, blurred at its edges. The streets stirred to life under a cloudy sky. People were staring at me, pointing, or turning quickly away. Each of them had him inside; his many, many atoms, and each of them with his face, his beautiful smiling face.
It wasn't frightening. It wasn't like that.
It was glorious."
Mental health might mean losing that connection with Simon. Hmm.
The author is a registered health nurse and also a performance poet, and he's authored an unusual, genuine and engrossing book. Matt is good company, with all his problems, and the other characters are well-drawn - including his unstable mother and bonhomie father, and loyal grandma Nanny Noo. Matt manages to reach a surprisingly sweet but believable ending. This one won the Costa Book of the Year Award 2013 across the pond, and deserves to be better known in the U.S. and elsewhere. Four and a half stars.
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LibraryThing member psutto
Brilliant
Matthew has a mental illness that “sounds like a snake” and this is his story. Filer is a mental health nurse and now a Costa book winner and what a book, a well-deserved win. Filer obviously understands Schizophrenia and this neither mythologises or demonises the illness but gives
I’ll tell you what happened because it will be a good way to introduce my brother. His name’s Simon. I think you’re going to like him. I really do. But in a couple of pages he’ll be dead. And he was never the same after that
I will say no more about the plot. This is a very affecting, thought-provoking, emotional, intelligent and brilliantly written book. Filer’s style grabs you and won’t let go. I read this in a single day. It is one of those books where you may find that there is something in your eye in parts so bring a hankie to your favourite reading chair, snuggle up and dive right in.
Overall – This very much deserves all the praise and hype, go and get a copy, now!
Matthew has a mental illness that “sounds like a snake” and this is his story. Filer is a mental health nurse and now a Costa book winner and what a book, a well-deserved win. Filer obviously understands Schizophrenia and this neither mythologises or demonises the illness but gives
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Matthew space to tell his own story, in his own way. At the end of the book there is a Q&A and Filer says that his vision for the book would be a pile of untidy, different sized, papers, held together with string, paperclips and staples. The book is in a variety of fonts, to represent computer, letters, and typewritten parts as Matthew tells his story, in his own time, with constant interruptions. This is also a story about grief and family.:I’ll tell you what happened because it will be a good way to introduce my brother. His name’s Simon. I think you’re going to like him. I really do. But in a couple of pages he’ll be dead. And he was never the same after that
I will say no more about the plot. This is a very affecting, thought-provoking, emotional, intelligent and brilliantly written book. Filer’s style grabs you and won’t let go. I read this in a single day. It is one of those books where you may find that there is something in your eye in parts so bring a hankie to your favourite reading chair, snuggle up and dive right in.
Overall – This very much deserves all the praise and hype, go and get a copy, now!
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LibraryThing member PennyAnne
The story of Matthew and his struggle to come to terms with both the loss of his brother and his own developing mental illness. The reader is drawn into Matthew's world, trying to make sense of it as he is. This is the author's first novel and the Costa Book of the Year for 2013. Engaging and
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thoughtful, the story draws you in and has you hoping that Matthew finds a way to get past his demons and begin to cope more effectively with his illness. Show Less
LibraryThing member brokenangelkisses
What would life be like if your brother communicated with you through the wind, the waves, the movement of a fox? What would life be like if he communicated with you despite being dead?
Meet 19 year old Matthew Homes. He’ll tell you he doesn’t hear voices. But he does hear his brother. ‘I’ll
‘The Shock of the Fall’ is an accomplished debut novel from Nathan Filer, creative writing MA holder, performance poet and former mental health nurse.
What’s it about?
A young boy growing up into a young man while dealing with the early death of his brother and struggling with mental illness that leads to him being institutionalised. It’s about grief and loss and coping and how life is often bitterly cyclical.
What’s it like?
Very interesting. My synopsis risks making the book sound grim, but it isn’t. Matthew Homes, the book’s narrator, is matter-of-fact and occasionally angry, but the story is constructed in such a way that the reader is perpetually interested and intrigued.
Filer aimed to create suspense throughout and he achieves this by revealing the fact of Simon’s death on page two but only gradually unveiling how he died and Matthew’s involvement. (Some reviewers have suggested readers are also meant to be ignorant of the name of Matthew’s illness until the end of the novel; I disagree as I think the symptoms – and therefore the nature of his disease – are clear throughout.)
‘The Shock of the Fall’ has been compared to Mark Haddon’s ‘The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time’ and I can see why: both approach difficult life events through a first person narrator with an unusual perspective. Both have an ‘offbeat’ narrative voice and make use of physical elements as well as verbal ones to tell their story. (‘The Shock of the Fall’ incorporates official letters and different fonts to help create a sense of time and place.) I think the comparison is well-justified and found both novels well worth reading.
It’s easy to read but powerful, too, offering an insight into living with schizophrenia, especially the cyclical nature of the disease. (Although it’s perhaps worth noting that, when interviewed, Filer has refused to label Matthew’s particular brand of mental ill-health.) Matthew’s account of his time in an institution – “there is nothing to do. nothing” – and the efforts of his mental health team to support him make for very sad reading but the kind of sad that makes you want to do something rather than the kind of sad that just depresses you.
Inevitably Matthew is not always the most easy to follow or reliable of narrators. The focus of the novel switches from past to present and back again repeatedly as Matthew types up the story of his life to date, interrupted by care workers reading over his shoulder and the requirements of his care plan. At one point he offers three versions of a key conversation and it is never clear which happened – though perhaps this is the point. No matter what stories we tell ourselves about the how or the why of things, the heart of certain happenings is unchangeable. It’s a testament to Filer’s skill that the reader never feels lost or confused, and it helps that there is a clear narrative movement towards a kind of resolution, even if it is, by necessity, an incomplete one. In fact, Matthew chooses where to stop his story, and it’s quite beautifully done.
Final thoughts
This novel has had a lot of hype and won the Costa Book Award’s ‘First Novel Award’ in 2013. I think having my expectations set so high actually meant I didn’t quite enjoy it as much as I could have done but I did find it genuinely interesting, especially the way Matthew frequently meditates on the fallible nature of his memories.
The honesty of Filer’s portrayal of Matthew – or Matthew’s portrayal of himself – means he is not always likeable, though the reader is likely to feel tremendous sympathy for him. In fact, his first words to the reader tell us that ‘I am not a nice person’, but the innocence of his first recollection highlights that his ‘not-niceness’ is that of a typical human being rather than a genuinely unpleasant individual.
I liked the way Filer avoids putting Matthew’s illness in a box; Matthew himself doesn’t speculate over the origins of his illness (though he refers in passing to what seems to be quite heavy cannabis use and a family history of vulnerable mental health). Instead, the narrative focus is on how Matthew experiences his illness and the effects this has on him and his family.
Similarly, I appreciated that, although one could criticise certain aspects of the mental health service as it is presented in the book, Matthew’s own experiences are presented as personal rather than political. I feel this makes him a realistic character.
I may reread this in future and I will keep an eye out for future offerings by Nathan Filer – if there are any. When interviewed he has been reluctant to commit himself to the idea of writing a second novel, suggesting that “there’s a degree of expectation [to write another novel]. But really, that expectation belongs to other people. I don’t actually have to.” If he feels he only has the one book in him, fair play – it was well worth writing.
Recommended.
Meet 19 year old Matthew Homes. He’ll tell you he doesn’t hear voices. But he does hear his brother. ‘I’ll
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tell you what happened because it’ll be a good way to introduce my brother. His name’s Simon. I think you’re going to like him. I really do. But in a couple of pages he’ll be dead. And he was never the same after that.’‘The Shock of the Fall’ is an accomplished debut novel from Nathan Filer, creative writing MA holder, performance poet and former mental health nurse.
What’s it about?
A young boy growing up into a young man while dealing with the early death of his brother and struggling with mental illness that leads to him being institutionalised. It’s about grief and loss and coping and how life is often bitterly cyclical.
What’s it like?
Very interesting. My synopsis risks making the book sound grim, but it isn’t. Matthew Homes, the book’s narrator, is matter-of-fact and occasionally angry, but the story is constructed in such a way that the reader is perpetually interested and intrigued.
Filer aimed to create suspense throughout and he achieves this by revealing the fact of Simon’s death on page two but only gradually unveiling how he died and Matthew’s involvement. (Some reviewers have suggested readers are also meant to be ignorant of the name of Matthew’s illness until the end of the novel; I disagree as I think the symptoms – and therefore the nature of his disease – are clear throughout.)
‘The Shock of the Fall’ has been compared to Mark Haddon’s ‘The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time’ and I can see why: both approach difficult life events through a first person narrator with an unusual perspective. Both have an ‘offbeat’ narrative voice and make use of physical elements as well as verbal ones to tell their story. (‘The Shock of the Fall’ incorporates official letters and different fonts to help create a sense of time and place.) I think the comparison is well-justified and found both novels well worth reading.
It’s easy to read but powerful, too, offering an insight into living with schizophrenia, especially the cyclical nature of the disease. (Although it’s perhaps worth noting that, when interviewed, Filer has refused to label Matthew’s particular brand of mental ill-health.) Matthew’s account of his time in an institution – “there is nothing to do. nothing” – and the efforts of his mental health team to support him make for very sad reading but the kind of sad that makes you want to do something rather than the kind of sad that just depresses you.
Inevitably Matthew is not always the most easy to follow or reliable of narrators. The focus of the novel switches from past to present and back again repeatedly as Matthew types up the story of his life to date, interrupted by care workers reading over his shoulder and the requirements of his care plan. At one point he offers three versions of a key conversation and it is never clear which happened – though perhaps this is the point. No matter what stories we tell ourselves about the how or the why of things, the heart of certain happenings is unchangeable. It’s a testament to Filer’s skill that the reader never feels lost or confused, and it helps that there is a clear narrative movement towards a kind of resolution, even if it is, by necessity, an incomplete one. In fact, Matthew chooses where to stop his story, and it’s quite beautifully done.
Final thoughts
This novel has had a lot of hype and won the Costa Book Award’s ‘First Novel Award’ in 2013. I think having my expectations set so high actually meant I didn’t quite enjoy it as much as I could have done but I did find it genuinely interesting, especially the way Matthew frequently meditates on the fallible nature of his memories.
The honesty of Filer’s portrayal of Matthew – or Matthew’s portrayal of himself – means he is not always likeable, though the reader is likely to feel tremendous sympathy for him. In fact, his first words to the reader tell us that ‘I am not a nice person’, but the innocence of his first recollection highlights that his ‘not-niceness’ is that of a typical human being rather than a genuinely unpleasant individual.
I liked the way Filer avoids putting Matthew’s illness in a box; Matthew himself doesn’t speculate over the origins of his illness (though he refers in passing to what seems to be quite heavy cannabis use and a family history of vulnerable mental health). Instead, the narrative focus is on how Matthew experiences his illness and the effects this has on him and his family.
Similarly, I appreciated that, although one could criticise certain aspects of the mental health service as it is presented in the book, Matthew’s own experiences are presented as personal rather than political. I feel this makes him a realistic character.
I may reread this in future and I will keep an eye out for future offerings by Nathan Filer – if there are any. When interviewed he has been reluctant to commit himself to the idea of writing a second novel, suggesting that “there’s a degree of expectation [to write another novel]. But really, that expectation belongs to other people. I don’t actually have to.” If he feels he only has the one book in him, fair play – it was well worth writing.
Recommended.
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LibraryThing member PIER50
An interesting read. The author writes from a position of knowledge as he worked as a mental health nurse, and you can tell by his insight into the thought processes of the main character and the attitude and methods of the people running the psychiatric ward that he knows his stuff. I didn't find
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it quite as moving as some people have suggested, but it does provide an interesting insight into mental illness Show Less
LibraryThing member Romonko
Your heart will break for little Matthew Homes as you read this startling debut novel written by Nathan Filer. Mr. Filer is a mental-health nurse, and I think that he must be an outstanding one with loads of empathy and unlimited understanding of his patients as this novel so clearly portrays. This
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book provides the reader with a clear and merciless image of the workings of the mind of someone who suffers from schizophrenia. This story is written totally and completely by Matthew, and it begins and ends with the tragic death of Matthew's older brother Simon when Matt was 8 and Simon was 13. Simon was a Down's Syndrome child whose little life lit up the lives of all the people in his family. He was loving and happy and he adored his little brother Matthew. When Simon dies, Matt and his family do not get over it, and Matthew especially carries around his childhood guilt into adulthood. It follows him throughout his brave struggle with his disease which materializes when he is about 17. It follows him throughout his stays in the mental health wing of the hospital and in his flat where he goes when he is released from hospital. It follows him in his dealings with his parents and with the rest of his family. It never leaves him, and while he is carrying this guilt, he cannot begin to really get a handle on dealing with his illness. Matthew decides to face his demons and he goes back to where the terrible accident happened, and then, once he is there, and begins to see things in a grown up way, he actually begins to move forward with his recovery. This is a heartbreaking and lovely book that is both hopeless and hopeful at the same time. The strength of Matthew and his determination to face his demons makes you believe in the resilience of the human race. This is one of those rare books that will stay with you for a very long time. Show Less
LibraryThing member riverwillow
An amazing debut novel. Beautifully written and peopled by compellingly flawed characters. Simon is a charming but unreliable narrator and, despite being about mental illness - Simon is a schizophrenic - and grief, this is not a depressing read, rather a beautifully haunting one. Jo Brand described
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this as 'one of the best books about mental illness', but it is so much more than that, as its about life, death, love and writing. Show Less
LibraryThing member Beamis12
I have never read anything quite like this book before, it is a unique experience traveling along in the mindset of a mentally ill young man. I remember going to the theaters and seeing the movie "Beautiful Minds", I loved this movie, was completely blown away. That is how I felt at the end of this
Matthew, our unreliable narrator, has a voice that is very real and very innocent. After a tragedy in his family, from which he never really recovers, the trigger for his illness is set. We follow him as he tries to live in a life that is difficult and strange, for him things are never simple. His stays in a psychiatric wards and how his days are spent there, repeatedly going over the same things again and again, doing the same things , again and again. His courage and determination to get well, to write it all down so it could maybe make sense. Wanting to have a life, live on his own, the right to live in his own head if he wants too. Little victories, large set backs all poignantly rendered. It was impossible for me not to embrace this character, by books end we know almost everything about him and want everything to work out for him.
In the beginning I wondered what was going on in this book but as the reader continues with the story , he is amply rewarded. More and more things are revealed as Matthews story goes back and forth. Wonderful first novel and look forward to many more.
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book. First time book for author Nathan Filer, and since he was a mental health nurse in previous years, he knew what he was writing about.Matthew, our unreliable narrator, has a voice that is very real and very innocent. After a tragedy in his family, from which he never really recovers, the trigger for his illness is set. We follow him as he tries to live in a life that is difficult and strange, for him things are never simple. His stays in a psychiatric wards and how his days are spent there, repeatedly going over the same things again and again, doing the same things , again and again. His courage and determination to get well, to write it all down so it could maybe make sense. Wanting to have a life, live on his own, the right to live in his own head if he wants too. Little victories, large set backs all poignantly rendered. It was impossible for me not to embrace this character, by books end we know almost everything about him and want everything to work out for him.
In the beginning I wondered what was going on in this book but as the reader continues with the story , he is amply rewarded. More and more things are revealed as Matthews story goes back and forth. Wonderful first novel and look forward to many more.
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LibraryThing member starbox
"an illness with the shape and sound of a snake. It slithers through the branches of our family tree", November 9, 2014
This review is from: The Shock of the Fall by Nathan Filer (2014) Paperback (Paperback)
I started reading this morning...and just read and read all day till I finished (300 pages
It's narrated by teenage Matt as he looks back on his childhood and the death of his Downs Syndrome brother (we're kept waiting till the end to find out the details on that one).
As Matt leaves school (and his grief stricken mother) and begins sharing a flat and using drugs, his brother starts to take over his thoughts...
"There is weather and there is climate.
If it rains outside, or if you stab a classmate's shoulder with a compass needle, over and over, until his white cotton school shirt looks like blotting paper, that is the weather.
But if you live in a place where it is often likely to rain, or your perception falters and dislocates so that you retreat, suspicious and afraid of those closest to you, that is the climate."
A compelling read and an insight on how it may feel to have schizophrenia...the side-effects of the medication, that cause sufferers not to take it and life in the mental health system.
I did fear it was about to have an unrealistic, 'happy ever after' ending, but Mr Filer keeps things realistic.
Recommended.
This review is from: The Shock of the Fall by Nathan Filer (2014) Paperback (Paperback)
I started reading this morning...and just read and read all day till I finished (300 pages
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but quite quick reading.)It's narrated by teenage Matt as he looks back on his childhood and the death of his Downs Syndrome brother (we're kept waiting till the end to find out the details on that one).
As Matt leaves school (and his grief stricken mother) and begins sharing a flat and using drugs, his brother starts to take over his thoughts...
"There is weather and there is climate.
If it rains outside, or if you stab a classmate's shoulder with a compass needle, over and over, until his white cotton school shirt looks like blotting paper, that is the weather.
But if you live in a place where it is often likely to rain, or your perception falters and dislocates so that you retreat, suspicious and afraid of those closest to you, that is the climate."
A compelling read and an insight on how it may feel to have schizophrenia...the side-effects of the medication, that cause sufferers not to take it and life in the mental health system.
I did fear it was about to have an unrealistic, 'happy ever after' ending, but Mr Filer keeps things realistic.
Recommended.
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LibraryThing member AlisonY
A fictional account of a young man’s struggle with grief, guilt and schizophrenia, this is an easy read in the style of [The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time].
Matt, the protagonist, blames himself for the death of his brother when they were young children, and as he grows into his
This is a very poignant tale, well written, and an enjoyable page-turner. Although there was an element of suspense, there was nothing too surprising about how the plot unfolded. In many ways this was fitting - this is a snapshot in time of one person's difficulties living day in, day out with mental illness, which is drama enough in itself, and the climax of the novel was largely a positive one.
All in all it was a nice read, and I devoured it fairly quickly, but it just lacked a bit of punch for me when compared with other books I've read this year.
3.5 stars.
Matt, the protagonist, blames himself for the death of his brother when they were young children, and as he grows into his
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teenage years and mental illness begins to take hold, this guilt and grief becomes interwound with his schizophrenia.This is a very poignant tale, well written, and an enjoyable page-turner. Although there was an element of suspense, there was nothing too surprising about how the plot unfolded. In many ways this was fitting - this is a snapshot in time of one person's difficulties living day in, day out with mental illness, which is drama enough in itself, and the climax of the novel was largely a positive one.
All in all it was a nice read, and I devoured it fairly quickly, but it just lacked a bit of punch for me when compared with other books I've read this year.
3.5 stars.
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LibraryThing member TheWasp
Matthew was very close to his older brother Simon, but Simon dies while they are holidaying and 9 year old Matt's life begins to shift. By the time Matt is 19, he is battling to live with his schizophrenia and the sadness he feels for his lost brother. He commences writing his story of what
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happened to Simon and how his life has progressed. His story is sad, funny, insightful and worth reading. A different, but very enjoyable book. Show Less
LibraryThing member jolerie
Writing about the past is a way of reliving it, a way of seeing it unfold all over again. We place memories on pieces of paper to know they will always exist. Page 306/7
Matthew Homes isn't your average boy and neither is his brother. One night, they set off from their vacation home. Only one of
Books that can offer a perspective on subjects that are either unknown or unfamiliar to me are always an invaluable experience. Where the Moon Isn't is no exception. Delving into the subject of mental illness and all the struggles that are inherent in such an existence is both eye opening and terrifying, all at once. Filer gives us a glimpse of the daily struggles, the constant battles, and the unending journey of coping through the story of Matthew. A very poignant and worthwhile read. Recommended.
Matthew Homes isn't your average boy and neither is his brother. One night, they set off from their vacation home. Only one of
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them returns. What unfolds is a life long journey of learning to deal with grief, of letting go, of forgiveness, all while battling an enemy that is often untouchable but no less insidious. Books that can offer a perspective on subjects that are either unknown or unfamiliar to me are always an invaluable experience. Where the Moon Isn't is no exception. Delving into the subject of mental illness and all the struggles that are inherent in such an existence is both eye opening and terrifying, all at once. Filer gives us a glimpse of the daily struggles, the constant battles, and the unending journey of coping through the story of Matthew. A very poignant and worthwhile read. Recommended.
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LibraryThing member libsue
it took a bit to find the flow of this book but once I did I couldn't put it down. I'm not in the mental health field, but was fascinated by this glimpse into the schizophrenic mind. We'll done.
LibraryThing member elliepotten
This is a beautifully written, effortlessly smooth and utterly compelling debut novel. Written by a registered mental health nurse, it's about a little boy called Matt whose brother Simon dies while they're on holiday; writing his story down ten years later, Matt chronicles his family's grief and
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recovery, and his own quiet descent into schizophrenia. It sounds really heavy when you put it like that, but it's not at all. The prose is gorgeous but easy to read, and as he slowly unfurls Matt's history, Filer drops the pieces into place with precise and perfect timing. I breezed through it in two or three days, thoroughly enjoyed every page, chuckled a few times, and had a little weep or two along the way as well. It's perfect. Show Less
LibraryThing member Holly_85
Well I let the everything this book gave me sink in, and I think it's about time to leave a review.
What can I say? Well first off if you like character driven books this is a prime example. Every character that was introduced to us was much more than simply two dimensional. Matt especially was a
Mental illness was tackled in a unique way here, and opened my eyes more fully to the inner struggles these people feel. There was a lot that is generaly described by such people, but also a lot that's not, giving the reader a unique insight.
As the book went on I became more and more invested in Matt emotionally, and came to love all the subsequent characters uniquely. I especially felt for Matt's mother. Her grief was handled in such a way that it felt as if it was with effortless ease that she was communicated on the page. What I mean is, grief is such a complex emotion that it is not easy to communicate, but it didn't feel like that here.
My only problem with this book is that it was far too short. After two months of only average reads, I just didn't want to give this book up! I actually think I'll read it again pretty soon!
What can I say? Well first off if you like character driven books this is a prime example. Every character that was introduced to us was much more than simply two dimensional. Matt especially was a
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complex character who evoked much emotion from myself. His insights alone were enough to endear me to him, but with every piece of prime fiction, there was of course much more. He characterised how I personally feel, as I unfortunately have Multiple Sclerosis and am frequently unwell. He talked about how illness makes you selfish and that's exactly how I feel at times. Every great book will have a part of it that feels as if it was written especially for them, and this was it for me. ,Mental illness was tackled in a unique way here, and opened my eyes more fully to the inner struggles these people feel. There was a lot that is generaly described by such people, but also a lot that's not, giving the reader a unique insight.
As the book went on I became more and more invested in Matt emotionally, and came to love all the subsequent characters uniquely. I especially felt for Matt's mother. Her grief was handled in such a way that it felt as if it was with effortless ease that she was communicated on the page. What I mean is, grief is such a complex emotion that it is not easy to communicate, but it didn't feel like that here.
My only problem with this book is that it was far too short. After two months of only average reads, I just didn't want to give this book up! I actually think I'll read it again pretty soon!
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LibraryThing member sianpr
Nathan Filer really sucks you into mental illness in a tragic tale with a hopeful ending. A promising debut.
LibraryThing member jayne_charles
I found this confusing, though I suspect that was the author's intention. Told from the point of view of a man with mental health issues, it reflects the confusion in his head between events now and events some time ago, so that it was sometimes difficult to tell when things actually happened and
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in what order. What I did find fascinating was the insight into life in a mental hospital (the author is a nurse working in mental health so I've no doubt he knows his stuff). Sometimes it was the simple, bald statements ('there is literally nothing to do') that had the most impact. Show Less
LibraryThing member campingmomma
This was a beautifully written book about Matthew whose brother Simon died when they were little boys and Matthew is now 19 and living with schizophrenia. Matthew "sees" his brother in the ocean tide, the wind, the birthday candle flames and when he tries to reach out for him he only succeeds in
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attempting to kill himself. The book is written in different fonts and writing styles with pictures and drawings all adding to the frame of mind Matthew is in while he is writing the book. I guess I didn't say that...that the book is written by Matthew, from his perspective. It takes you through his thought processes on any given day in the life of a person with mental illness. I couldn't put the book down. It just flowed so beautifully. Show Less
LibraryThing member kiwifortyniner
Matthew and Simon were brothers but Simon died when they were on holiday at a young age. Matthew somehow seems to feel responsible, and has not been able to deal with it . As he gets older his life takes a downward spiral and we find him living with schizoprenia, having to tale medication, and
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spending time in phsyciatric wards. He decides to write his and Simon's story, and we finally learn what happened to Simon. This was a book I could not put down, beautifully writen. I think that the author did a great job of helping us see inside the mind of someone suffering from schizoprenia. I found the end of the book very moving. Show Less
LibraryThing member lynetterl
Matt never recovers from the death of his brother Simon, following an accident that occurred when they snuck out one night while on a family trip. His brother had Downs Syndrome, and I love the way the two of them got along. Matt believes the accident was his fault, and it changes him. His parents
Matt's family has a history of schizophrenia, so perhaps he would have ended up with that anyway, but clearly the visions he sees of his brother are part of how he is trying to cope with his loss.
I liked that the ending gives some hope, while still making it clear that it's a cycle of improving and regressing.
All in all, I enjoyed this story and will look forward to future writings from this author.
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each deal with their own grief, but neither one talks much with Matt about anything that matters. Matt's family has a history of schizophrenia, so perhaps he would have ended up with that anyway, but clearly the visions he sees of his brother are part of how he is trying to cope with his loss.
I liked that the ending gives some hope, while still making it clear that it's a cycle of improving and regressing.
All in all, I enjoyed this story and will look forward to future writings from this author.
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LibraryThing member mnorfolk49
Very interesting read - threw a new light for me on the impact of grief and a very interesting experience with the main character suffering with their mental health. Really enjoyed it.
LibraryThing member infjsarah
I enjoyed this novel. It's a very quick read. Although the topic is not exactly a happy one, it's not a depressing read. And I too was glad that there was no magic cure at the end - that he will forever dance back and fore with mental illness. And his observations of the NHS were spot on!
LibraryThing member charlottejones952
'The Shock of the Fall' is the kind of book that will stay with you long after you read the final page. Some of the passages about grief and loss were particularly resonant and I found that the way the author tackled the issue of mental illness was extremely tactful, making the protagonist,
The plot and the way this was written took some time to get used to, because of the nature of the illness that Matthew has, but once I got into it, I couldn't put it down and managed to read it in a day, almost all in one sitting. The jumbled plot and the revelations that the protagonist made are as much of a mystery to the reader as the illness is to Matthew and I think that this is one of the main reasons it is such a compelling story; it drags you in, makes you understand a little more about how someone with mental illness thinks, and urges you to read on, even through the more disturbing bits.
This book is definitely character-driven rather than plot based, which I think, for this kind of story, is perfect. It allows the reader access to the characters lives and makes you connect with them more because the plot doesn't distract from what's going on. In that way, this book reminded me of Mark Haddon's 'The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime' and I think that anyone that liked that would fall in love with this latest offering from Nathan Filer.
I have to say, the cover was what really drew me to want to read this book. The contrast between the black tree and the white background makes it stand out compared to other books, and overall the cover definitely reflects the story without giving anything away.
I will definitely be looking to read more of Nathan Filer's works in the future as this is a strong 5 out of 5 stars and I think that the book, although it does contain some swearing, would be suitable for both teenagers and adult readers. I would recommend it to anyone who loves a more characters-driven and emotional story, that will make you think, and stay with you long after you have finished reading it.
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Matthew, both relatable and distant to the reader simultaneously.The plot and the way this was written took some time to get used to, because of the nature of the illness that Matthew has, but once I got into it, I couldn't put it down and managed to read it in a day, almost all in one sitting. The jumbled plot and the revelations that the protagonist made are as much of a mystery to the reader as the illness is to Matthew and I think that this is one of the main reasons it is such a compelling story; it drags you in, makes you understand a little more about how someone with mental illness thinks, and urges you to read on, even through the more disturbing bits.
This book is definitely character-driven rather than plot based, which I think, for this kind of story, is perfect. It allows the reader access to the characters lives and makes you connect with them more because the plot doesn't distract from what's going on. In that way, this book reminded me of Mark Haddon's 'The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime' and I think that anyone that liked that would fall in love with this latest offering from Nathan Filer.
I have to say, the cover was what really drew me to want to read this book. The contrast between the black tree and the white background makes it stand out compared to other books, and overall the cover definitely reflects the story without giving anything away.
I will definitely be looking to read more of Nathan Filer's works in the future as this is a strong 5 out of 5 stars and I think that the book, although it does contain some swearing, would be suitable for both teenagers and adult readers. I would recommend it to anyone who loves a more characters-driven and emotional story, that will make you think, and stay with you long after you have finished reading it.
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LibraryThing member ChrisWay
Stylistically, reminded me of a schizophrenic version of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night, but it lacked the charm of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night. While this was a ok book, it was also depressing and kind of bleak. I felt unsettled the whole time reading it. I think the
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unique format possibly got this book some extra attention and praise, but I feel somewhat deflated by the whole thing. The writing just wasn't able to carry the story for me and midway through I felt like I might need anti depressants after reading this. Show Less
LibraryThing member PilgrimJess
"Reading is a bit like hallucinating."
The book tells the story of Matthew Homes, whose entire life is turned upside down after the death of his older brother Simon whilst on holiday some 10 years previously. It is apparent from the outset that Matthew had some hand in Simon's death but what really
The story is told from Matthew's first-person perspective throughout and consists of both handwritten diary entries and entries typed on a typewriter, as well as letters. The narrative is stark and disjointed and the reader is given an in-depth insight in to Matthew’s thoughts, feelings and behaviours. The narrative isn't told in chronological order but features many time jumps, from the time before Simon's death and Mathew's present hospitalisation but despite it's complex structure it is relatively easy to follow.
Matthew feels responsible for Simon’s death and his schizophrenia stems from his grief. He is an intelligent, emotional and at times funny young man struggling to cope with a very cruel and debilitating illness . He is an well-written, three dimensional character who made me run the full gamut of emotions as did his other family members.
Matthew’s grandmother,“Nanny-Noo”, is the first to realise that Matthew’s illness is taking over his life, and that he needs urgent help. Matthew’s parents are both suffering from their own overwhelming grief and it’s clear that they also blame Matthew for his brother’s death, and they struggle to help Matthew with his mental health issues.
"Some memories refuse to be locked in time and place, they are always present."
Be warned: his novel explores schizophrenia in great detail, including episodes of psychosis, dissociation, hallucinations and self-destructive behaviours. Matthew is eventually admitted to a psychiatric hospital and we are given a fairly depressing view of such institutions. Ultimately Matthew decides to face his demons and we eventually find out just how Simon died.
As previously stated this book explores mental illness but it also shines a bright light on grief and how it can affect lives. Overall I found this a compelling read but I must admit that I preferred (if that is really the right word) reading the first two thirds or so of it which largely featured Matthew's younger years as the illness was developing rather than later section which I found rather repetitive despite realising that this was a deliberate ploy by the author to show Matthew's fractured mental state.
I was initially drawn to this book because my own son suffers from schizophrenia, although thankfully not yet as seriously, so I was interested in reading a little more about the illness. But you don't have to know someone who is suffering from mental illness to get something from it and as such I would heartily recommend it.
The book tells the story of Matthew Homes, whose entire life is turned upside down after the death of his older brother Simon whilst on holiday some 10 years previously. It is apparent from the outset that Matthew had some hand in Simon's death but what really
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happened that night? What is clear is that soon afterwards Matthew's own life begins to spiral downward, and it’s clear he will never recover from his brother's death.The story is told from Matthew's first-person perspective throughout and consists of both handwritten diary entries and entries typed on a typewriter, as well as letters. The narrative is stark and disjointed and the reader is given an in-depth insight in to Matthew’s thoughts, feelings and behaviours. The narrative isn't told in chronological order but features many time jumps, from the time before Simon's death and Mathew's present hospitalisation but despite it's complex structure it is relatively easy to follow.
Matthew feels responsible for Simon’s death and his schizophrenia stems from his grief. He is an intelligent, emotional and at times funny young man struggling to cope with a very cruel and debilitating illness . He is an well-written, three dimensional character who made me run the full gamut of emotions as did his other family members.
Matthew’s grandmother,“Nanny-Noo”, is the first to realise that Matthew’s illness is taking over his life, and that he needs urgent help. Matthew’s parents are both suffering from their own overwhelming grief and it’s clear that they also blame Matthew for his brother’s death, and they struggle to help Matthew with his mental health issues.
"Some memories refuse to be locked in time and place, they are always present."
Be warned: his novel explores schizophrenia in great detail, including episodes of psychosis, dissociation, hallucinations and self-destructive behaviours. Matthew is eventually admitted to a psychiatric hospital and we are given a fairly depressing view of such institutions. Ultimately Matthew decides to face his demons and we eventually find out just how Simon died.
As previously stated this book explores mental illness but it also shines a bright light on grief and how it can affect lives. Overall I found this a compelling read but I must admit that I preferred (if that is really the right word) reading the first two thirds or so of it which largely featured Matthew's younger years as the illness was developing rather than later section which I found rather repetitive despite realising that this was a deliberate ploy by the author to show Matthew's fractured mental state.
I was initially drawn to this book because my own son suffers from schizophrenia, although thankfully not yet as seriously, so I was interested in reading a little more about the illness. But you don't have to know someone who is suffering from mental illness to get something from it and as such I would heartily recommend it.
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Awards
Dublin Literary Award (Longlist — 2015)
Costa Book Awards (Shortlist — First Novel — 2013)
Betty Trask Prize and Awards (Prize Winner — Winner — 2014)
British Book Award (Shortlist — New Writer — 2013)
Waverton Good Read Award (Shortlist — 2013)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2013-05-09
Physical description
7.8 inches
ISBN
9780007491452