*A BBC 2 BETWEEN THE COVERS BOOK CLUB PICK *
'Vivid, sensuous and impressionistic ... A subtle tale of loss, loneliness and disconnection'
PAUL LYNCH, IRISH INDEPENDENT
'An immensely impressive debut from a major literary talent'
JOSEPH O'CONNOR
'Lush, lyrical and cleverly-constructed. A beautiful book'
LOUISE KENNEDY
The disquieting story of an unidentified man as told by those who crossed paths with him on the last day of his life, Sheila Armstrong's debut novel is haunting, lyrical and darkly suspenseful
On an isolated beach set against a lonely, windswept coastline, a pale figure sits serenely against a sand dune staring out to sea. His hands are folded neatly in his lap, his ankles are crossed and there is a faint smile on his otherwise lifeless face.
Months later, after a fruitless investigation, the nameless stranger is buried in an unmarked grave. But the mystery of his life and death lingers on, drawing the nearby villagers into its wake. From strandings to shipwrecks, it is not the first time that strangeness has washed up on their shores.
Told through a chorus of voices, Falling Animals follows the crosshatching threads of lives both true and imagined, real and surreal, past and present. Slowly, over great time and distance, the story of one man, alone on a beach, begins to unravel. Elegiac and atmospheric, dark and disquieting, Sheila Armstrong's debut novel marks her arrival as one of the most uniquely gifted writers at work in literary fiction today.
Reader Reviews
'Beautifully written and gently catches the reader with its meditative prose and deep humanity'
'Such a beautiful book'
'Gorgeous wild setting and achingly recognisable characters'
Genre: Literary Fiction
'Vivid, sensuous and impressionistic ... A subtle tale of loss, loneliness and disconnection'
PAUL LYNCH, IRISH INDEPENDENT
'An immensely impressive debut from a major literary talent'
JOSEPH O'CONNOR
'Lush, lyrical and cleverly-constructed. A beautiful book'
LOUISE KENNEDY
The disquieting story of an unidentified man as told by those who crossed paths with him on the last day of his life, Sheila Armstrong's debut novel is haunting, lyrical and darkly suspenseful
On an isolated beach set against a lonely, windswept coastline, a pale figure sits serenely against a sand dune staring out to sea. His hands are folded neatly in his lap, his ankles are crossed and there is a faint smile on his otherwise lifeless face.
Months later, after a fruitless investigation, the nameless stranger is buried in an unmarked grave. But the mystery of his life and death lingers on, drawing the nearby villagers into its wake. From strandings to shipwrecks, it is not the first time that strangeness has washed up on their shores.
Told through a chorus of voices, Falling Animals follows the crosshatching threads of lives both true and imagined, real and surreal, past and present. Slowly, over great time and distance, the story of one man, alone on a beach, begins to unravel. Elegiac and atmospheric, dark and disquieting, Sheila Armstrong's debut novel marks her arrival as one of the most uniquely gifted writers at work in literary fiction today.
Reader Reviews
'Beautifully written and gently catches the reader with its meditative prose and deep humanity'
'Such a beautiful book'
'Gorgeous wild setting and achingly recognisable characters'
Genre: Literary Fiction
Praise for this book
"I loved How to Gut a Fish, and I love [Falling Animals] too. Armstrong's curiosity in the 'small' moments of people's lives is immersive and hypnotic. I found the novel to be tender and dark, alive with the sense that all destinies are intertwined. She is such a fabulous writer." - Megan Bradbury
"A poignant and immersive read, Falling Animals so deftly pitches you into the head of each character you'll lose yourself in this book. Armstrong writes complex and troubling stories with such unflinching graciousness her characters are desperately humane and easy to empathise with. A stunning first novel from one of Ireland's most intriguing new voices." - Jan Carson
"An exceptional debut novel. Profoundly moving, her ability to write community is utterly singular. Her voice sings, using perfect sentences to create unforgettable characters and landscapes, with a structure so deft it is breath taking. I could not put it down and I will encourage everyone I meet to pick it up. Her short stories are incredible and this novel confirms her as one of the most interesting and stellar voices in the Irish literary scene. Falling Animals is a masterpiece." - Olivia Fitzsimons
"Sheila Armstrong's prose is meticulous and startlingly visual. Falling Animals salvages something altogether human from Life's most sorrowful mysteries." - Rónán Hession
"What a wondrous commingling of characters - variously lost, broken, misplaced, striving, reaching - seamlessly bound together by a singular event. Here, then, is a work that sings triumphantly to the interconnectedness of everything. This is vivid, evocative, lyrical, openhearted prose and Falling Animals is a beautiful collage of a novel." - Alan McMonagle
"An immensively impressive debut from a major literary talent." - Joseph O'Connor
"A poignant and immersive read, Falling Animals so deftly pitches you into the head of each character you'll lose yourself in this book. Armstrong writes complex and troubling stories with such unflinching graciousness her characters are desperately humane and easy to empathise with. A stunning first novel from one of Ireland's most intriguing new voices." - Jan Carson
"An exceptional debut novel. Profoundly moving, her ability to write community is utterly singular. Her voice sings, using perfect sentences to create unforgettable characters and landscapes, with a structure so deft it is breath taking. I could not put it down and I will encourage everyone I meet to pick it up. Her short stories are incredible and this novel confirms her as one of the most interesting and stellar voices in the Irish literary scene. Falling Animals is a masterpiece." - Olivia Fitzsimons
"Sheila Armstrong's prose is meticulous and startlingly visual. Falling Animals salvages something altogether human from Life's most sorrowful mysteries." - Rónán Hession
"What a wondrous commingling of characters - variously lost, broken, misplaced, striving, reaching - seamlessly bound together by a singular event. Here, then, is a work that sings triumphantly to the interconnectedness of everything. This is vivid, evocative, lyrical, openhearted prose and Falling Animals is a beautiful collage of a novel." - Alan McMonagle
"An immensively impressive debut from a major literary talent." - Joseph O'Connor
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