July saw the Tyneside Book Club tackle Nathan Filer's award-winning debut novel The Shock of the Fall.
There was general agreement that this was an impressive first novel and that there was plenty to admire in the ambition and the quality of writing.
Many members found it emotionally affecting and a convincing insight into how it must feel to cope with mental illness. In addition, those with insight, said it was an accurate reflection of the tedium and frustration of the psychiatric unit that central character Matt spends time in. The sense of grief and loss in Matt and his family was also poignantly expressed.
While most appreciated the slow suspenseful reveal of what happened to Matt's brother Simon, some did think that the reveal didn't quite pay off, and that the book might have been better without that element of mystery. While some liked the stylistic device of different fonts to reflect the different occasions and ways Matt wrote his account, others found that gimmicky and wondered whether a straightforward internal monologue might have been better. Some questioned Matt's apparent constant awareness of his condition even when he was delusional.
All appreciated though that Nathan Filer builds a convincing character in Matt alongside his family, and delivers an emotional - but hopeful - punch in the final sections.
We were all intrigued by what Filer might choose to write next given the book was heavily informed by his experience as a psychiatric nurse. Could he marry his ability as a writer to a subject he was less familiar with?
August will see the Club tackle a controversial classic in the shape of Lawrence's Lady Chatterley's Lover. Notorious, but is it any good?
There was general agreement that this was an impressive first novel and that there was plenty to admire in the ambition and the quality of writing.
Many members found it emotionally affecting and a convincing insight into how it must feel to cope with mental illness. In addition, those with insight, said it was an accurate reflection of the tedium and frustration of the psychiatric unit that central character Matt spends time in. The sense of grief and loss in Matt and his family was also poignantly expressed.
While most appreciated the slow suspenseful reveal of what happened to Matt's brother Simon, some did think that the reveal didn't quite pay off, and that the book might have been better without that element of mystery. While some liked the stylistic device of different fonts to reflect the different occasions and ways Matt wrote his account, others found that gimmicky and wondered whether a straightforward internal monologue might have been better. Some questioned Matt's apparent constant awareness of his condition even when he was delusional.
All appreciated though that Nathan Filer builds a convincing character in Matt alongside his family, and delivers an emotional - but hopeful - punch in the final sections.
We were all intrigued by what Filer might choose to write next given the book was heavily informed by his experience as a psychiatric nurse. Could he marry his ability as a writer to a subject he was less familiar with?
August will see the Club tackle a controversial classic in the shape of Lawrence's Lady Chatterley's Lover. Notorious, but is it any good?
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