May 24, 2014 kindly lent to me by my older sister, the shock of the fall won the costa book of the year prize in 20. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Reading guide for the shock of the fall by nathan filer. I was shocked, yet delighted, when i heard that the costa book of the year award went to a debut novel and so had to check out nathan filer s the shock of the fall for myself especially when i found out its set in bristol, england, which is where i was born. Set in contemporary england, 19yearold matt homes tells his own story dating back a decade, during which. The shock of the fall is nathan s first novel and the recipient of the 20 costa book. The shock of the fall by nathan filer words are my craft. Filer s organizing strategy captures matthews frenetic mind while creating a highly readable, engaging air of. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the shock of the fall. Buy the shock of the fall by filer, nathan from amazons fiction books store. This won several major literary awards, including the costa book of the year and the betty trask prize. The book is about the descent of a young man, called matt, into mental illness.
The shock of the fall is the 20 debut novel by british author nathan filer, which tells the story of matthew homes, a 19yearold boy from bristol, dealing with the death of his older brother. Some madness doesnt act mad to begin with, sometimes it will knock politely at the door, and when you let it in, itll simply sit in the corner without a fuss and grow. It was a sunday times bestseller, and has been translated into thirty languages. Nathan filer s debut novel the shock of the fall is haunting and very real insight to death and mental illness. Read the shock of the fall a novel by nathan filer available from rakuten kobo. Nathan filers debut novel recently won the costa first novel award. Trigger warning this novel explores the theme of mental illness, particularly schizophrenia, in great detail.
Costa book award won by nathan filer for debut novel, the shock of the fall this article is more than 6 years old mental health nurses moving account of schizophrenia and grief described as. Find out more a compelling story of grief, madness and loss. The shock of the fall by nathan filer reading passport. This debut novel is a jigsaw puzzle that catches your attention at the beginning and proceeds to put the pieces in place as the pages are turned. The shock of the fall is the 20 debut youngadult novel by british author nathan filer. The novel is written as the memoir of 19 year old matthew homes who experiences. Being a registered mental health nurse, nathan filer writes from a position of knowingness and brings a realism to the book that satisfied my desire to be reading about actually existing life.
Jan 07, 2014 buy the shock of the fall by filer, nathan from amazons fiction books store. It was a sunday times book of the year and longlisted for the rathbones folio prize. The subject of grief and loss is also explored throughout the book. Nathan filer is a writer and lecturer in creative writing. It is a brave and groundbreaking novel from one of the most exciting new. Why what we think we know about schizophrenia is wrong. The shock of the fall, by nathan filer costa book award winner 20 i should say that i am not a nice person.
This book has also been published as where the moon isnt. Debut novel about one mans descent into mental illness, following the death of his brother in. I must say that i now place it among my favorite books of all time, and i cannot wait to see what nathan filer brings to the table with his next work. The shock of the fall is the debut novel of nathan filer, winner of the costa book of the year, the betty trask prize, the national book award for popular fiction and the writers guild award for best first novel. Unknown author nathan filer scoops costa book of the year award. Reading guide for the shock of the fall by nathan filer discussion guide for book clubs. Set in contemporary england, 19yearold matt homes tells his own story dating back a decade, during which he begins to suffer from severe mental. This is definitely a tough read, but an eyeopening one too. Its not the control that it has over me, or even the control its allowed other people to take. The shock of the fall this book has also been published as where the moon isnt. The shock of the fall, which has just won the costa prize for best first novel, is beautifully packaged, with drawings, varying typefaces and typographical tricks representing matts swelling.
The shock of the fall was written by nathan filer, a registered mental health nurse. The shock of the fall tells the story of matthew, whose entire life is turned upside down after the death of his brother simon. Written by a psychiatric nurse, it is a tragicomic look at a mans descent. Everyday low prices on a huge range of new releases and classic fiction.
I was recommended this novel and was assured it was a good audio book as i struggle with audio as opposed to reading and i have to say the narrator is excellent and he totally draws you into the character of matthew to such an extinct. Nathan won the 20 costa award for the shock of the fall. Filer has an incisive eye for detail authentic, funny and hauntingly sad the sunday times nathan filer is following in the footsteps of mark haddons genresetting the curious incident of the dog in the nighttime. The shock of the fall is the 20 debut novel by british author nathan filer, which tells the. Its not the control that it has over me, or even the control. He is also a performance poet, contributing regularly to literary events across the uk. The costa first novel awardwinner, about a young schizophrenic man struggling with guilt, is a gripping and exhilarating read, says suzi feay. Written by nathan filer, a former mental health nurse, the novel tackles some big issues, including grief, mental illness and guilt.
Written by nathan filer, audiobook narrated by oiiver hembrough. Shock of the fall by nathan filer winner of the costa book of the year 20 ill tell you what happened because it will be a good way to introduce my brother. Nathan filer, quote from the shock of the fall the worst thing about this illness isnt the things it makes me believe, or what it makes me do. I was recommended this novel and was assured it was a good audio book as i struggle with. Moved by the dark humour in a poignant debut nathan filers debut novel recently won the costa first novel award. Nathan filers debut novel, the shock of the fall, won best first novel at the 2014 costa book awards credit. Unafraid to look at the shadows of our hearts, nathan filer s rare and brilliant debut the shock of the fall shows us the strength that is rooted in resilience and love. It is a brave and groundbreaking novel from one of the most exciting new voices in fiction. Nathan filer is the costa prizewinning author of the shock of the fall.
The shock of the fall ebook by nathan filer rakuten kobo. The theme is a very ambitious one for a debut novel, any book writing about mental illness is going to be a challenge, but the author pulls it off. A registered mental health nurse, he has worked as a researcher in the academic unit of psychiatry at the university. The shock of the fall by nathan filer booksamillion. What begins as the story of a lost boy turns into a story. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of the shock of the fall by nathan filer. Nathan filer is a british writer best known for his debut novel, the shock of the fall. Jan 06, 2015 i was shocked, yet delighted, when i heard that the costa book of the year award went to a debut novel and so had to check out nathan filers the shock of the fall for myself especially when i found out its set in bristol, england, which is where i was born. Mar 31, 2014 the shock of the fall is a book about a young man who becomes mentally ill and the circumstances around his illness. Mar 19, 2017 the shock of the fall follows matthew before and after the death of his brother simon, as he becomes more schizophrenic. Nathan filer wins costa firstnovel award with the shock. The shock of the fall by nathan filer fantastic fiction.
It explores the central themes of loss, guilt, and mental illness. The book jumps between formats letters, typewritten pages, normal text which is quite cool, but also flips between memory and forwards and backwards in time. Nathan filers the shock of the fall scoops costa book of. The shock of the fall is a beautiful evocation of swirling ideas. Jan 07, 2014 t he aftershock of a sickeningly cruel accident is the core of nathan filer s debut novel, the shock of the fall we see the incident, at a dorset cove, through the eyes of 19yearold matthew. I was interested to see how having that experience of taking care of mentally ill patients day in, day out would help facilitate writing a book.
Exploring themes of loss, grief and mental illness, the novel. I was shocked, yet delighted, when i heard that the costa book of the year award went to a debut novel and so had to check out nathan filer s the shock of the fall for myself especially when. The shock of the fall is nathan filers debut novel, and was published in january 2014. Winner of the 20 costa first novel award a stunning novel. It is the tale of a young psychiatric patient and his relationship with mental illness.
The shock of the fall kindle edition by filer, nathan. When the shock of the fall won the first novel category, back in early january, they said. Supplied by publisher martin chilton 7 january 2014 10. Mental health nurse wrote the shock of the fall about a young mans descent into madness. Nathan filer s book demonstrates a powerful writing style with a lot of nuances in the chapter titles, drawings and typeface. 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. The shock of the fall ebook written by nathan filer. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the shock of the fall. Nathan filer s debut novel recently won the costa first novel award. Literature portal nathan filer is a british writer best known for his debut novel, the shock of the fall.
My new book is all about the strange and contested concepts of mental health and illness. Filers organizing strategy captures matthews frenetic mind while creating a highly readable, engaging air of suspense. Nathan filer is a writer and lecturer in creative writing at bath spa university. So when it was my turn to cover my eyes and count to a hundred i cheated. Unafraid to look at the shadows of our hearts, nathan filer s rare and brilliant debut, the shock of the fall. I was recommended this novel and was assured it was a good audio book as i struggle with audio as opposed to reading and i have to say the narrator is excellent and he totally draws you into the character of matthew to such an extinct that you feel it is actually matthew narrating the story. The shock of the fall by nathan filer, paperback barnes. I decided each name on each spine was the person who the book had been written for, rather than who had written it. The shock of the fall by nathan filer, tells the story of matthew and simon, two brothers who are separated yet united by a tragic accident. Written by a psychiatric nurse, it is a tragicomic look at a mans descent into schizophrenia. This book always caught my eye in bookstores and ive picked it up and put it down numerous times. The shock of the fall is the debut novel of nathan filer, which also won last months prestigious costa book award. May 09, 20 the shock of the fall ebook written by nathan filer. The shock of the fall is an extraordinary portrait of one mans descent into mental illness.
His standup poetry has been a regular fixture at festivals and spokenword events across the uk and has been broadcast on bbc 3 television and radio. Finding and losing schizophrenia june 2019, was born of his years working as a mental. Nov 17, 2019 the shock of the fall is all of these books. While matthews story is a very specific one circumstantially, it is also highly relatable in regards to overcoming loss and learning to stand again after the shock of the fall. Jun 07, 2019 nathan filer is the costa prizewinning author of the shock of the fall. Nathan filers debut novel the shock of the fall is haunting and very real insight to death and mental illness. I was shocked, yet delighted, when i heard that the costa book of the year award went to a debut novel and so had to check out nathan filers the shock of the fall for myself especially when i found out its set in bristol, england, which is where i was born. The shock of the fall by nathan filer a complicated and intricate novel about mental illness, that touches on difficult subject matters, as well as being written in a style that takes some getting used to. The shock of the fall loved this book where does the shock of the fall. Filer has an incisive eye for detail authentic, funny and hauntingly sad the sunday times nathan filer is following in the footsteps of mark haddons genresetting the curious incident of the dog in the.
Filer graduated from the prestigious bath spa university creative writing program with an ma in 2011, and the shock of the fall is his first novel. His work has been broadcast on television and radio. Nathan filer s debut novel, the shock of the fall, won best first novel at the 2014 costa book awards credit. Finding and losing schizophrenia june 2019, was born of his years working as a mental health. Nathan filer wins costa firstnovel award with the shock of the fall this article is more than 6 years old novel, described as one of the best books about mental health, goes on to compete. Nathan filer quotes author of the shock of the fall. Jan 21, 2014 nathan filer s debut novel recently won the costa first novel award. The first problem is that i didnt really follow the timeline.