Reviews

The Shock of the Fall by Nathan Filer

meganlee3001's review against another edition

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5.0

This book was truly amazing. I Can't pick fault with this book at all, each character was perfect and I felt we could connect with each one.
I adored the use of font size to make a point and placement of his words.
There was one point in the book where the ink fades, I thought this was a brilliant way to show the declining memory of Matt.
Also, the first few chapters have names, each of them very distinctly titled. However as we move into the book, the chapters blend into each other, losing their names. I felt this was an excellent way to show how Matt's past become indistinguishable in his own mind.
This was an amazing piece of work that will stay with me forever

macfarla's review against another edition

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4.0

A clever story about mental illness

nickymaund's review against another edition

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5.0

This is an utterly heartbreaking book. It’s all about a young boy (Matthew) who looks out for his big brother (Simon) who has Down Syndrome. And how Matthew and his family struggle to cope with the aftermath of Simon’s sudden death. Oh, and Matthew has schizophrenia (but he calls it The Slithery Snake). This book repeatedly had me in floods of tears; the insight into a young boy who grows into a young man dealing with this mental illness, the impact it has on his life and his family, and how they grieve for Simon. It really hits you hard. And the storyline is very close to home.

carolineroche's review against another edition

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4.0

I see this book has mixed reviews, but I liked it a lot. I like the way that we are travelling towards his brothers death from the opening sentences, and when we finally get there it is very sad. A good understanding of schozophrenia - recommended.

ohmycookies's review against another edition

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3.0

Ik vond dit boek echt moeilijk om te lezen en het verhaal trok mij niet echt mee. Jammer...

thetamari's review against another edition

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4.0

An excellent depiction of the reality of having a mental illness today, with true insight.

jayceecee0716's review against another edition

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2.0

While I understand the concept - from the prospective of someone suffering through/with mental illness and coming to terms with a terribly tradedy - I did not enjoy the format. The story looped around, sections were repeated and I found it difficult to follow without going back pages to catch the tiny thread. The final 1/3 of book was the most enlightening, but the journey there was unpleasant.

It would have been nice to have the voice of someone else, on the outside, explain the changes they saw in this deeply troubled young man. I wish I knew what they did to help him and themselves. I was seeking a better understanding, even if just a bit, of his illness and didn't get it.

fridawo's review against another edition

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dark emotional informative sad
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Loveable characters? Yes

freshasadaisy's review against another edition

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3.0

*3.5 stars.

dozylocal's review against another edition

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4.0

This book sucked me in from the first chapter. It was interesting to follow the ups and downs of the main character's mental state over the course of the narrative. Many things were used to contribute including the sequencing of events, the fonts used, and the word layout. At times I felt a little disconcerted or uncertain of what was fact or fiction, or a little confused - which I think contributed to having an insight into the mind of a mentally ill person. I didn't really like the ending - found it "unfinished" (a pet peeve of mine) - but overall this story has been masterfully done.