One Brother Shy

by Terry Fallis

From the two-time winner of the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour, and author of The Best Laid Plans, comes a new story about a man tormented by an event from his youth, and the journey he finds himself on to heal and to learn who he is.

Few people know the real Alex MacAskill. Most of the world sees a painfully and chronically shy software engineer in his mid-20s, soft-spoken, a bit of a loner, and someone easy to escape notice wherever possible—and that’s just the way Alex wants it. Because no matter how many years have passed, the incident known only as “Gabriel” in the MacAskill family is something that still haunts him.

But when his mother, one of the only people in the world who Alex felt comfortable as himself around, dies after a long illness, he suddenly has no choice but to face the very thing that he’s been avoiding since that night in high school. In an instant, Alex finds himself trying to piece together the mystery of his identity, and on a search for parts of his family he never knew existed—a search that takes him from Ottawa to London to Moscow, encountering along the way the KGB, painful memories from his past, and even the 1972 Russian hockey team—a search that ultimately helps Alex discover himself.

With his trademark wit and captivating storytelling, Terry Fallis has written a novel unlike any of his others. One Brother Shy is at once poignant and humorous, heartbreaking and heartwarming, and readers will not soon forget Alex MacAskill.

Genres: Fiction, Humor, Canada, Book Club, Contemporary, Comedy, Canadian Literature

432 pages, Paperback

First published May 30, 2017

About the author

Terry Fallis is the award-winning author of ten national bestsellers, including his latest, The Marionette, all published by McClelland & Stewart (Penguin Random House). His debut novel, The Best Laid Plans, won the 2008 Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour and was crowned the 2011 winner of CBC Canada Reads as the "essential Canadian novel of the decade." In January 2014, CBC aired a six-part television miniseries based on The Best Laid Plans earning very positive reviews. In September 2015, it debuted as a stage musical in Vancouver. The High Road was published in September 2010 and was a finalist for the 2011 Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour. Terry's third novel, Up and Down, was released in September 2012. It debuted on the Globe and Mail bestsellers list, was a finalist for the 2013 Leacock Medal, and won the 2013 Ontario Library Association Evergreen Award. In June 2013, the Canadian Booksellers Association presented Terry with the Libris Award for Author of the Year. Terry's fourth novel, No Relation, hit bookstores in May 2014, opened on the Globe and Mail bestsellers list, and won the 2015 Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour. Poles Apart was released in October 2015, immediately hit the Globe and Mail bestsellers list, and was a finalist for the 2016 Leacock Medal. One Brother Shy (2017), Albatross (2019), Operation Angus (2021), A New season (2023), an The Marionette were all instant bestsellers upon publication.

Terry Fallis earned a Bachelor of Engineering degree from McMaster University and then spent several years working in federal and Ontario politics. In 1995, he co-founded Thornley Fallis, a full service communications and digital agency with offices in Toronto and Ottawa. He blogs at www.terryfallis.com and his twitter handle is @TerryFallis. Subscribe to his Substack posts here: https://terryfallis.substack.com

Reviews

[Barth Siemens · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will admit that 5 stars was sort of a foregone conclusion, after this: 1) I listened to the first eight chapters by podcast, 2) found out that Terry Fallis was doing a pre-launch tour, travelled 7 hours to buy the book, and read the remainder on the way home.

It was worth every minute.

Funny, poignant, heart-mending story telling.

[Carolyn Walsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed The Best Laid Plans for which Terry Fallis was awarded the Stephen Leacock Medal of Humour, and was chosen by CBC as the essential read of the decade. I also liked The High Road.
Alex MacAskill is a 25 year old software developer who is perfecting a facial recognition app. He is extremely introverted, averts his eyes when it is necessary to speak to someone, and lacks friends. He avoids talking to people, and we are shown his thoughts, often quite different than his words when forced to reply. He disliked being touched. He lives alone with his very ill mother and helps care for her. He is very good at his job, but lacks people skills. He has an obnoxious boss.
When his mother dies he is shattered. He believed she had a small pension from her work, but discovers there was no pension. She was getting large sums of money from a mysterious source. He also finds half a photograph and an intact one. The author's books are firmly based in Canada but what he discovers sends him on a search to London, Moscow and New York in search of answers. His facial recognition app also plays an essential role in what he discovers.
We learn that Alex was a normal teenager until an incident referred to as Gabriel occurred. This caused him to become withdrawn, fearful and isolated. He is starting to open up to his psychologist, but is uncomfortable doing so.
There was a lot to admire in the book, but it had some drawbacks for me. I hope the Gabriel incident was not supposed to be humorous as I found it disturbing and grotesque. Discussions of a London high tech business were hard for me to understand and caused the story to lag. I thought Alex's horrible boss was funny and wanted more of her.
This book deals with themes of family connections and love, severe trauma caused by bullying, the good and bad of social media, and the ability to transform oneself with the help of family and friends. It also shows the power of forgiveness, but I didn't quite buy forgiving someone still so hostile, unrepentant and proud of the harm caused.
The characters were well done, and Alex especially so. There was a lot of depth in everyone concerned and I will not forget them. I won't give away anything about Alex's path after his mother's death, but it was a story I couldn't put down. Upgraded to 4.5 stars as found the characters so memorable!!

[Laurie • The Baking Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is filled with mystery, humour and heart. Canadian author, Terry Fallis, has written an enjoyable story about Alex MacAskill, a man who tries to piece together a mystery about his family and find himself in the process.

Fallis takes his readers on a journey to various cities (Ottawa, London, Moscow, New York) and touches on several deeper issues (bullying, loss, family bonds, long-lasting effects of humiliation ...). These issues are told with Fallis' signature humour, wit and his ability to write relatable, authentic characters.

You really feel for Alex as he struggles to find out who he is without the one person who was always there for him. He's a quirky, awkward and lost soul. He's the underdog and you can't help but root for him. There is a gaggle of characters that he meets along the way but it's Alex's boss, Simone (who lives at the far end of the humanity spectrum) who you'll love to hate. She has the sensitivity of Miranda Priestly (Devil Wear's Prada) and the people skills and warmth of Dolores Umbridge (Harry Potter). Ohhh, yes. She's a special kind of gal (and I kind of wish she was in the book more).

Central to the plot is the mysterious 'Gabriel' incident which added an interesting mystery aspect. I was eager to find out what could have happened in Alex's past to have affected him so deeply decades later. The big reveal brings Alex's struggle with his personal demons into perspective for the reader.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read that had a somewhat predictable, yet satisfying conclusion. I enjoy Fallis' writing, humour and his Canadian pride which is evident as he sprinkles various Canadianisms throughout. This is a light read that touches on sensitive issues with humour and heart. Recommended, eh!

Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to the publisher, McLelland and Stewart, for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Marnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. I began reading it within hours of its arrival, having trouble putting it aside when it was time to sleep. Mr. Fallis' extraordinary wit shines across the pages. The quirky but touching storyline continues to captivate my imagination. I highly recommend this novel, another winner for this wonderful author.

[Indydriven · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from Penguin Randomhouse Canada at my request in exchange for an honest review. I have read all of Terry Fallis’ previous books and my by-far the favorite is The Best Laid Plans so I was a little nervous about this book since I had specifically requested a copy for review purposes.

My fears were unfounded. My favorite book by the author remains The Best Laid Plans but this comes a very close second.

The book begins with the reader being introduced to Alex MacAskill and his mother, who is dying. Alex’s days consist of going to work (he is a computer coder working in Ottawa, Ontario), coming home and relieving the home care assistant and then spending the rest of the evening caring for his mother. He is fine with this existence as he has been “in hiding” since an incident in high school (posted on Youtube for the world to see) changed his life to the point where he is almost a hermit. He likes his job but the humiliating incident in high school continues to rule his life.
Within the first few pages of the novel, Alex’s mother passes away and he discovers evidence that he has a twin brother that he never knew about. The book can be summed up as Alex’s journey to find his brother, his father and himself.

Terry Fallis is very good at character development and this book shines with likeable characters. While the plot may at times be a bit predictable, I was happy to go along for the ride because I was invested in the characters and wanted to see how things all worked out for them at the end (which is tied up in a nice bow).

This is a fairly quick read and is definitely worth the time and effort.

[Patricia Filteau · Rating 5 out of 5]

One Brother Shy was a satisfying read, as has been my experience with all of Terry Fallis’ novels to date. I continue to marvel at how the author explores very serious subjects affecting primary relationships, social change, society and socio-political influences. I am glad he brought this novel home. Of course, that he continues to write about what he knows, gives the reader the sense of credence and authenticity, I for one enjoy. His writing is flawless – exacting, error free, perfection – making the reading experience gratifying. You will enjoy the twists and turns of the journey Fallis takes the reader on – not only geographically – Ottawa, to London to Moscow, New York and back again – but it challenges emotions, digs deep into the psychology of pain and humiliation, delights in engaging the reader in technological innovation that presents a story that is heartfelt, funny, easy to identify with and complete. Read it!

[Natasha · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think it might be time for me to stop reading Terry Fallis books. I enjoyed my first two reads of his... but haven’t really enjoyed one since. I want to because the setting is familiar, the humour is in it, the characters are likeable. But I get bored along the way.

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really have liked all of Terry Falllis' novels that I have read since I first saw The Best Laid Plans on CBC. And there are aspects of One Brother Shy that I liked too. However, I had three problems with this book that coloured my reaction to it. The major problem is the whole Gabriel plotline that hangs over the book like a huge mystery. However, I had figured out what it was very early on, even though I didn't know how it had happened. My second problem is less bothersome, but in the final third of the novel, the main character, Alex, refers to himself repeatedly as an actor. I understand why Fallis wants Alex to believe this fact, but I hardly think that someone who gave up Drama Club halfway through Grade 10 would have seen himself that way, nor would he have developed the skills to coach others in presentation skills. Finally a minor irritant was Alex's boss, Simone, who was intended to be a funny character. Now I have had bad bosses myself, but Simone's characterization was so over-the-top that it was just annoying right from the beginning. I know that Fallis has done better in the past, so I hope that the weaknesses in this novel are just an anomaly.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe more of a 2.5. This was the weakest of the 3 books I have read by this author. It was a really cute story idea and I enjoyed all the internal dialogue of the main character, especially in the beginning of the book. But it was all just too simple for my taste. The writing was simple, and it wrapped up all too simply. I also found parts of it implausible. Those who are already big fans of Terry Fallis or who are looking for a fun, easy and entertaining summer read will probably enjoy this very much.

[Kalyne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this ARC from Penguin Random House. This is the first book from Terry Fallis that I have read but it definitely will not be my last! His writing kept me interested in the main characters and the story moving at just the right pace. I loved the sentence above each chapter that referenced the main character Alex's previous past, it was a cleaver way of keeping you guessing. I would highly recommend this book to everyone!

[Rick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great one!

Reading this reminded me how much I always enjoy reading a Terry Fallis novel. Strongly recommended for those who enjoy the lighter side of life.

[Audrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story was fun and intriguing, but I wasn’t in to the writing style at all. It felt dry, and the dialogue seemed forced and fake. I found the main character’s internal dialogue a bit trying...
And I clearly don’t get Terry Fallis’s sense of humor. I think maybe it was supposed to be funny, but I’m still not sure.

[Elen Ghulam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun fast read.

[PJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I stayed up until 1:30 am to finish it. It was that good!

[Gus Vassiliou · Rating 4 out of 5]

Only the details regarding a traumatic incident from Alex’s past did not really work well for me. The rest of the story is very entertaining.

[Penelopeann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book as I have all Terry Fallis novels. His sense of humour, character development and writing style make for a memorable story and enjoyable read.

[Alexander Kosoris · Rating 2 out of 5]

One Brother Shy is narrated by Alex MacAskill, an Ottawa developer working on the latest and greatest face-recognition software. He takes care of his ailing mother and, because of a mysterious, traumatic event in his past, he suffers from an almost debilitating shyness, so bad he can barely look coworkers in the eye when he engages in bare-minimum social interaction with them. In settling his mother’s affairs and sorting through her possessions after her passing, Alex finds a photo of a man holding him as a baby, along with an identical child. With nothing but this photo to go on, he sets out on a journey to discover the family he never knew he had.

One Brother Shy confuses me, just because my experience with it was thoroughly negative, but, from the vast majority of ratings and reviews I’ve seen of the book, it’s hugely popular. This makes me think I missed something in my reading, but I struggle to understand what it could be. (I also understand that offering criticism without being cruel in such a situation will also be a struggle, but I’ll do the best I can.) Firstly, the prose is flat and repetitive throughout the story. This could potentially be explained as an author attempting to channel a socially inept and hesitant protagonist trying to tell this story, but, even if done with the best of intentions, it doesn’t make the prose any better at the end of the exercise. This also hurts the ability of the story to provoke an emotional response, because it has less to do with exactly what happens plot-wise, and more to do with how the reader experiences the characters leading up to the emotional moment and how the author handles description and imagery within the moment to guide the reader to the intended response. (Good examples in my more recent reading that initially come to mind showcasing how a writer can control this to great effect are Charles Bukowski’s Ham on Rye and Richard Wagamese’s Indian Horse.)

Another issue arises when Fallis attempts to build to his big reveal. Here, we learn right off the get-go that so many of Alex’s problems stem back to this single, traumatic experience, but we only don’t find out more about it because our narrator repeatedly refuses to talk about it when it’s brought up in conversation, opening up only when he feels ready. (We also get a short line related to the event in question at the beginning of each chapter, spoiler warning.) By overtly concealing the information, it’s not possible to either ramp up suspense by slowly handing out hints or to make the reveal arise in a way that feels organic, that makes the story feel more complete. This creates a dynamic between reader and narrator/author where it’s easy for the reader to feel cheated. (Contrast this to Kazuo Ishiguro’s An Artist of the Floating World, where we’re repeatedly given hints that something’s off with either the narrator’s recollections or the people around him, where the surprise feels significant partly because the narrator only realizes it when the reader does instead of knowing it all along and hiding it from us.)

As well, characterization is problematic in One Brother Shy. We frequently learn about a character trait right when it becomes important to the discussion at hand, instead of making it apparent earlier on and building upon it or using it as a tool to help readers better understand a character or the plot. The most immediate example from the text that comes to mind here is shortly after the death of Alex’s mother. A baseball game comes on, with the Toronto Blue Jays playing, and we’re told that, despite the fact that Alex really likes baseball and he’s a Jays fan, he doesn’t seem to care. This may seem like a minor point to many people, but think of how clean it could have been if his love of baseball was brought up earlier and mentioned periodically to establish the importance of the sport to him. Wouldn’t it set in how much more deeply he was affected by the passing when he suddenly doesn’t care about something the reader knows he always has, that priorities change at a time like this, signalling the start of a major change in the character? (A great book to read that showcases subtle but effective characterization is Omar El Akkad’s American War.)

That said, one aspect of One Brother Shy that I found effective–-very much related to the previous point–-was the interplay between Alex’s inner- and outer-monologue. Early on, Alex thinks about things much more than he says things out loud, with both rarely agreeing, our narrator thinking things he’d never dare say. As the story progresses, the thinking side often shortens significantly from earlier interactions (he isn’t over-thinking as much) and both sides more and more frequently come out the same (he starts to say what he thinks). I thought this was a great way to show how much he’s grown through the course of his journey.

Looking back on what I wrote here, it’s interesting to me that I’m comparing One Brother Shy to books that have absolutely no resemblance to it, which makes me think that most of my complaints have less to do with Fallis’ work and more to do with how much I enjoy this type of book, and my last review of one of his books seems to agree with this trend. So, while I wouldn’t necessarily recommend this one, you can probably better gauge how much you’ll like One Brother Shy based on your experience with other light, comedic pop fiction.

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

While I read a lot to my way of thinking, I am not really aware of the literary scene so I miss many good authors for sure. I first heard of Terry at a book reading with him and Linwood Barclay that my daughter took me too, knowing I am a huge Linwood fan. A great birthday gift that will be long remembered. At the signature desk I apologized to Terry for not having read his work. Well, I am starting to make up for it. I really enjoy Terry's easy narrative. To me, his style seems like a pleasant and meaningful conversation with a close friend, laced with insight and wry wit. He has a gift for making the extraordinary believable. Perhaps our lives are more extraordinary than we realize. This book brings that home on many levels.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Terry Fallis never fails to bring a smile to my face while reading one of his novels.

This one, too, delights with his original brand of Canadian humour, while it also takes on more serious issues.

Alex MacAskill keeps his head down and avoids eye contact. He tries to hide behind long hair and baseball caps. He has a reason, though. A good one. But when his mother leaves him a mystery, he must move out of his comfort zone and confront his new future.

I found the story started slowly, but built well and became a rollicking romp with a satisfying ending.

One of a kind.

[Tomiko Robson · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great read! It was fun, it was touching, it was hilarious and poignant and it pulled me along, reading far longer and later than I should have.

[Marilyn Silver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! Likeable believable characters and plot line; strong description of the protagonist's mind and lifestyle. Lovely humourous language.
Onto more Terry Fallis!

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very enjoyable read. Well written, funny with a bit of mystery and angst. You can’t help but love the well developed characters. Great Canadian author.

[Peter Moran · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn’t put the book down. Love the story. I met Terry Fallis at our local book store in Cobourg and have enjoyed each of his books that I have read. Looking forward to the next one.

[Bessie Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Terry Fallis delivers again.

[Caroline Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyable

[Lori Matheson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tough to rate this one. I really enjoyed it so in a way a 3 star rating feels unfair. But it was a bit too Canadian. Not that there is anything wrong with being Canadian but I can’t see it appealing to non-Canadians. I also currently work in a software development world so some of that humour was likely funnier to me than it would be otherwise. Anyway a fun read for me at least.

[Sue Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun read! Terry Fallis has great characters that you really get in step with quickly. I especially liked the insight into having an identical twin and all the quirks they have, even when they meet 25 years later

[Teresa Reid · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to follow, but I'll just say that I continue to love Fallis's work.

[Gita · Rating 5 out of 5]

This didn’t disappoint. A rather amusing story allowing an interesting glimpse into the world of identical twins, of which the author is himself.

[Despina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am loving it!