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hillersg7's review against another edition
5.0
So many layers of understanding ripple out in this story, set initially in the terror of a sudden storm in Antarctica. A single event, a tragic act, that has all the characters reaching out for words, and so much more.
andrewspink's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This was a book that I would have never have chosen to read of my own accord. From the blurb, it looked depressing and sentimental, all about someone recovering from a stroke. But it was chosen by a book club that I am joining, so I thought I would give it a go. They must have had a reason for choosing it
To say that I was pleasantly surprised was an understatement. Its first act (as it were) was set at an Antarctic research station. That was nice, I used to have a friend who worked for the British Antarctic Survey, and I've worked at field stations, albeit not in such extreme circumstances. Then something went wrong (I'll avoid spoilers) and the protagonist got a stroke. That is when I expected it to go downhill, but actually, it was so well written that I read on with even more fascination than during the first part. It was gripping, interesting and moving - but with no sentimentality.
I read it in just a couple of days, which is always a good sign.
To say that I was pleasantly surprised was an understatement. Its first act (as it were) was set at an Antarctic research station. That was nice, I used to have a friend who worked for the British Antarctic Survey, and I've worked at field stations, albeit not in such extreme circumstances. Then something went wrong (I'll avoid spoilers) and the protagonist got a stroke. That is when I expected it to go downhill, but actually, it was so well written that I read on with even more fascination than during the first part. It was gripping, interesting and moving - but with no sentimentality.
I read it in just a couple of days, which is always a good sign.
bookish_arcadia's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
spittingyarn's review against another edition
4.0
McGregor’s books are always surprising, often starting out as one thing before morphing into something quite different. They stick with you, too. If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things has become part of my mental furniture, and I often imagine the events of Reservoir 13 continuing beyond the last page, accruing chapters as the years pass.
Lean Fall Stand continues the trend. A story of three parts, the first third follows Richard “Doc” Wright, the seasoned technical assistant offering sticklerish support to two young mapping nerds as they survey the inhospitable coastline of Antarctica around the evocatively named “Station K”. The book opens in the middle of a dramatic white-out storm and events unfold - Doc suffers a stroke and someone dies.
In the second part of the book, we follow Doc’s ambivalent wife, Anna as she becomes her husband’s semi-reluctant carer. The stroke has left him incapacitated and frustrated by aphasia, unable to speak with any fluency or even to say “no”. McGregor spends two full pages detailing the mundane minutiae of Anna’s days with almost too much verisimilitude. She finds respite in the silence of Quaker meetings and, as a carer myself, I was quite taken with the idea of silent meetings. If someone wants to set up a SEND support group where you are invited to sit in a chair in silence for 45 mins, I’d come.
The final part of the book charts Doc’s attempts to recover from aphasia and his attendance at a total communication group. There, fellow aphasic Peter speaks as if his words are being generated by predictive text. The result is oddly lyrical with meaning just out of reach. Sean is a compulsive swearer who provides accidentally apt punctuation and emphasis to the ebb and flow of moods in the room. Through the group - and the book - McGregor shows that the stories we tell about ourselves are important and when words fails us, we need to find other ways to tell them.
Lean Fall Stand continues the trend. A story of three parts, the first third follows Richard “Doc” Wright, the seasoned technical assistant offering sticklerish support to two young mapping nerds as they survey the inhospitable coastline of Antarctica around the evocatively named “Station K”. The book opens in the middle of a dramatic white-out storm and events unfold - Doc suffers a stroke and someone dies.
In the second part of the book, we follow Doc’s ambivalent wife, Anna as she becomes her husband’s semi-reluctant carer. The stroke has left him incapacitated and frustrated by aphasia, unable to speak with any fluency or even to say “no”. McGregor spends two full pages detailing the mundane minutiae of Anna’s days with almost too much verisimilitude. She finds respite in the silence of Quaker meetings and, as a carer myself, I was quite taken with the idea of silent meetings. If someone wants to set up a SEND support group where you are invited to sit in a chair in silence for 45 mins, I’d come.
The final part of the book charts Doc’s attempts to recover from aphasia and his attendance at a total communication group. There, fellow aphasic Peter speaks as if his words are being generated by predictive text. The result is oddly lyrical with meaning just out of reach. Sean is a compulsive swearer who provides accidentally apt punctuation and emphasis to the ebb and flow of moods in the room. Through the group - and the book - McGregor shows that the stories we tell about ourselves are important and when words fails us, we need to find other ways to tell them.
emiliewin3's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
ruthmoog's review against another edition
challenging
slow-paced
2.5
This book starts off as an exciting Antarctic adventure, but rapidly deteriorates into an frustrating account of rehabilitation.
I can imagine there are many people who will take comfort in the characters' journeys. I've not read an account like this before... but it wasn't the adventure I hoped for.
I can imagine there are many people who will take comfort in the characters' journeys. I've not read an account like this before... but it wasn't the adventure I hoped for.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Ableism, Abandonment, Medical content, and Death
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Emergency rescue, stroke, legal proceedings, job loss, rehabilitationcarlyalynnsia's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
andrew61's review against another edition
4.0
The opening part of this book describes a antarctic science expedition which goes badly wrong as the veteran explorer Doc and his two inexperienced colleagues are hit by a storm . The ensuing events lead to Doc suffering a medical event which completely changes the focus of the rest of the novel.
The subsequent parts , fall, and stand , describe Doc and his wife coping with his illness and recovery. This is a man who spent most of his married life away from home and his children. A physical man he is floored by loss of mobility and speech.
The book , like the author's other work, is so good at looking at an individuals response to events and life's adversities and the ensuing tale is remarkable in its exposure of the frailty of the body and the impact of illness on someone averse to such frailty as well as the nature of relationships. I put it down feeling that I has read something unique and knowing nothing about the book floored by the direction it took and the tale that is told.
The subsequent parts , fall, and stand , describe Doc and his wife coping with his illness and recovery. This is a man who spent most of his married life away from home and his children. A physical man he is floored by loss of mobility and speech.
The book , like the author's other work, is so good at looking at an individuals response to events and life's adversities and the ensuing tale is remarkable in its exposure of the frailty of the body and the impact of illness on someone averse to such frailty as well as the nature of relationships. I put it down feeling that I has read something unique and knowing nothing about the book floored by the direction it took and the tale that is told.
bundy23's review against another edition
3.0
Very good book ruined by a shitty ending that'd be more at home in a crappy Hallmark movie.
lucy_lg's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75