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Inside the Bone Box
Top neurosurgeon Nicholas Anderton is morbidly obese. He doesn't mind the sweats, the sleep apnoea, or the fact that he can no longer see certain parts of his anatomy. Even the sniggers that come from his registrars, behind what they think are closed doors, won't make him change. But when mistakes are made and the clinical director starts asking questions, Nicholas knows that things are coming to a head...
- GenresFiction
177 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 11, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
June 26, 2018
‘He walked slowly; any kind of exercise seemed a form of expiation.’
Nicholas Anderton is a consultant neurosurgeon. He is morbidly obese and although he’s largely been able to ignore the impact of his obesity on his marriage, he can’t ignore the limitations it’s starting to impose on his professional life.
‘Operating was now the only thing, other than eating, that gave him a sense of purpose and identity, and if he continued to gain weight, he’d sooner or later be unable to continue.’
Nicholas is married to Alyson, a lawyer. Alyson, who despises him for his weight gain, has an alcohol addiction. Two unhappy people, each with addiction issues, each with security issues, each blaming each other (and others) for the problems they have. Both Nicholas and Alyson are aware that change is needed, and while they work towards the what and the how, they reflect on the past.
It’s cleverly done. Mr Ferner alternates chapters between Nicholas and Alyson. Nicholas’s chapters draw their titles from events or memories largely external to Nicholas but in which he participates, while Alyson’s chapters have only her name. Nicholas as observer, perhaps, while Alyson is kept focussed by her anger. Neither character is particularly likeable, but both are recognisable. Each addicted to self-destructive behaviour, each aware of the risks. Who knows what really goes on ‘inside the bone box?’ Nicholas can explain, from a neurological perspective, how the brain works. Alyson can explain how she feels but I doubt that either could explain their own behaviour. Each is imprisoned by a mixture of emotion and addictive response.
But just as I begin to think that neither Nicholas nor Alyson will be able to step back from their personal abysses, there is a glimmer of hope. A possibility that all is not lost.
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Fairlight Books for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes. Thanks also to The Idle Woman, whose review (https://theidlewoman.net/2018/06/13/i...) intrigued me and led me to request this title.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Nicholas Anderton is a consultant neurosurgeon. He is morbidly obese and although he’s largely been able to ignore the impact of his obesity on his marriage, he can’t ignore the limitations it’s starting to impose on his professional life.
‘Operating was now the only thing, other than eating, that gave him a sense of purpose and identity, and if he continued to gain weight, he’d sooner or later be unable to continue.’
Nicholas is married to Alyson, a lawyer. Alyson, who despises him for his weight gain, has an alcohol addiction. Two unhappy people, each with addiction issues, each with security issues, each blaming each other (and others) for the problems they have. Both Nicholas and Alyson are aware that change is needed, and while they work towards the what and the how, they reflect on the past.
It’s cleverly done. Mr Ferner alternates chapters between Nicholas and Alyson. Nicholas’s chapters draw their titles from events or memories largely external to Nicholas but in which he participates, while Alyson’s chapters have only her name. Nicholas as observer, perhaps, while Alyson is kept focussed by her anger. Neither character is particularly likeable, but both are recognisable. Each addicted to self-destructive behaviour, each aware of the risks. Who knows what really goes on ‘inside the bone box?’ Nicholas can explain, from a neurological perspective, how the brain works. Alyson can explain how she feels but I doubt that either could explain their own behaviour. Each is imprisoned by a mixture of emotion and addictive response.
But just as I begin to think that neither Nicholas nor Alyson will be able to step back from their personal abysses, there is a glimmer of hope. A possibility that all is not lost.
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Fairlight Books for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes. Thanks also to The Idle Woman, whose review (https://theidlewoman.net/2018/06/13/i...) intrigued me and led me to request this title.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
July 24, 2018
Went to the book launch of this and four other titles for a new imprint (Fairlight Moderns) in London. Anthony is a friend and fellow member of my writers' group, and I have read parts of this in meetings. Looking forward to reading the whole thing.
4.5 stars - the story of an obese neurosurgeon, Anderton, and his lawyer wife is told in meticulous detail and with a gourmet's relish. It starts with a strange incident of a kite surfer dressed as Captain America crashing through the windows of a conference centre in Northern Spain, and proceeds with the protagonist trying hard to not let his own life crash, professionally and personally. Unfortunately he has a tendency to self destruct as seen in his inability to stop binge eating: 'He could consume a gastronomic burger of buffalo or wild boar from a hip eatery.. only to top it up within the hour with a KFC Mighty Bucket, followed by a full bar of milk chocolate'. His wife too is addicted - to drink - and thin. They're like an 'incompatible role-reversed Mr and Mrs Spratt.' They engage in a war of attrition, throwing insults and remembered adulteries (on both sides) at each other. And yet they remain together.
Professionally too there are rivalries and slip-ups, which, of course, often means death. There is one incident that haunts him, and reaches through the bravado that's required to sustain brain surgeons through their careers. The details of operations and procedures are unsparing, and the methods of maintaining 'aequanimitas' - the required composure - through music and meditation (of a kind) are thoroughly explored.
Although often on the brink of despair, of giving up, there is a glimmer of hope always pulling Anderton and his family through.
Fascinating but not for the squeamish.
4.5 stars - the story of an obese neurosurgeon, Anderton, and his lawyer wife is told in meticulous detail and with a gourmet's relish. It starts with a strange incident of a kite surfer dressed as Captain America crashing through the windows of a conference centre in Northern Spain, and proceeds with the protagonist trying hard to not let his own life crash, professionally and personally. Unfortunately he has a tendency to self destruct as seen in his inability to stop binge eating: 'He could consume a gastronomic burger of buffalo or wild boar from a hip eatery.. only to top it up within the hour with a KFC Mighty Bucket, followed by a full bar of milk chocolate'. His wife too is addicted - to drink - and thin. They're like an 'incompatible role-reversed Mr and Mrs Spratt.' They engage in a war of attrition, throwing insults and remembered adulteries (on both sides) at each other. And yet they remain together.
Professionally too there are rivalries and slip-ups, which, of course, often means death. There is one incident that haunts him, and reaches through the bravado that's required to sustain brain surgeons through their careers. The details of operations and procedures are unsparing, and the methods of maintaining 'aequanimitas' - the required composure - through music and meditation (of a kind) are thoroughly explored.
Although often on the brink of despair, of giving up, there is a glimmer of hope always pulling Anderton and his family through.
Fascinating but not for the squeamish.
August 28, 2018
This was my third novella from Fairlight Moderns, who granted me a reader's copy.
At least one star for that title, right?? The primary protagonist, Nicholas Anderton, is a brain surgeon and likes to explain that "the skull is like a bone box, with the brain trapped inside."
He and his wife Alyson, however, are each trapped inside their own heads with stress and some amount of grief and terrible events in their family's lives. She turns to alcohol, he turns to food, and neither of them turn to one another.
Only a couple of minor quibbles with this one: sometimes the timeline was quite confusing, wherein it sometimes took me several pages (and in a couple of instances, never) to figure out whether the events described occurred in the current/"live" story or was a flashback. As well, I found the characters (primarily Nicholas and Alyson for a majority of the story) fairly intensely unlikeable and struggled for a while to keep reading.
However, I'm glad that I did. Ultimately, this fascinating (and gruesome, sometimes) story of a dissolving marriage seen through the lens of practicing brain surgeon was just as interesting and engaging as I thought it might be based on the synopsis. I plucked up a couple of mirrored collations that I thoroughly enjoyed; Nicholas/the author described, in opposing terms, food as either really quite disgusting and off putting as he did delicious and savory and compelling. Equally and oppositely described was the brain - either beautiful and mysterious or a chunk of meat easily dissected and discarded.
If you've the patience to suffer through a couple of insufferable characters for a bit, you'll be rewarded with an ultimately lovely story (especially once Sophie shows up).
At least one star for that title, right?? The primary protagonist, Nicholas Anderton, is a brain surgeon and likes to explain that "the skull is like a bone box, with the brain trapped inside."
He and his wife Alyson, however, are each trapped inside their own heads with stress and some amount of grief and terrible events in their family's lives. She turns to alcohol, he turns to food, and neither of them turn to one another.
Only a couple of minor quibbles with this one: sometimes the timeline was quite confusing, wherein it sometimes took me several pages (and in a couple of instances, never) to figure out whether the events described occurred in the current/"live" story or was a flashback. As well, I found the characters (primarily Nicholas and Alyson for a majority of the story) fairly intensely unlikeable and struggled for a while to keep reading.
However, I'm glad that I did. Ultimately, this fascinating (and gruesome, sometimes) story of a dissolving marriage seen through the lens of practicing brain surgeon was just as interesting and engaging as I thought it might be based on the synopsis. I plucked up a couple of mirrored collations that I thoroughly enjoyed; Nicholas/the author described, in opposing terms, food as either really quite disgusting and off putting as he did delicious and savory and compelling. Equally and oppositely described was the brain - either beautiful and mysterious or a chunk of meat easily dissected and discarded.
If you've the patience to suffer through a couple of insufferable characters for a bit, you'll be rewarded with an ultimately lovely story (especially once Sophie shows up).
July 27, 2018
3.5 stars - I enjoyed this book for the writing, especially the little medical bits, and for the characters. I was put off by what felt was some pretty serious exageration of what it is like to be as obese as the main character. While the main character and his wife's feelings about his obesity are fairly believable, I can't help wonder if the author is perpetuating some harmful ideas about obesity and whether he truly believes something like weight loss surgery would solve all a persons problems.
May 13, 2019
Damaged people who come to a tidy ending. A readable story but it lacked punch.
July 11, 2018
Nicholas Anderton is a successful neurosurgeon, married to a lawyer, with two adult children. But he is also grappling with obesity after a series of crises in his personal and professional life. Now, his weight is threatening his ability to do his job. His wife, Alyson, is not inclined to be supportive and is dealing with issues of her own.
Nicholas is a complex and contradictory character. He is an accomplished neurosurgeon but has little time for philosophical discussions on the nature of the mind, preferring to see himself as more like his butcher father – good with his hands, with an instinctive understanding of anatomy. He has succeeded in a profession that requires great discipline and stamina but he is unable to stop himself from eating.
The story is told in alternating chapters from Nicholas and Alyson, though we only see Alyson at home, and hear about her life as it relates to her husband. Perhaps this reflects how Nicholas sees her, his curiosity limited to how she affects him.
Nicholas spends his day looking deep into the brains of others but his own remains mysterious to him. How far are we shaped by our minds, and how far by the confines of our body?
This slim novel asks some big questions, with compassion, wry humour and elegant, understated prose.
*
I received a copy of Inside the Bone Box from the publisher via Netgalley.
Read more of my reviews on my blog katevane.com/blog
Nicholas is a complex and contradictory character. He is an accomplished neurosurgeon but has little time for philosophical discussions on the nature of the mind, preferring to see himself as more like his butcher father – good with his hands, with an instinctive understanding of anatomy. He has succeeded in a profession that requires great discipline and stamina but he is unable to stop himself from eating.
The story is told in alternating chapters from Nicholas and Alyson, though we only see Alyson at home, and hear about her life as it relates to her husband. Perhaps this reflects how Nicholas sees her, his curiosity limited to how she affects him.
Nicholas spends his day looking deep into the brains of others but his own remains mysterious to him. How far are we shaped by our minds, and how far by the confines of our body?
This slim novel asks some big questions, with compassion, wry humour and elegant, understated prose.
*
I received a copy of Inside the Bone Box from the publisher via Netgalley.
Read more of my reviews on my blog katevane.com/blog
June 20, 2018
I am really enjoying these thoughtfully curated, and rather unusual, Fairlight Books novellas. I did not remind myself of the synopsis of this one before I began to read, and was rather surprised at times by the multilayered story which awaited me. Here, Ferner presents an intimate portrait of a husband and wife, and the ways in which their relationship has shifted since the beginning of their marriage. I found Inside the Bone Box incredibly well written, and wholly absorbing.
August 12, 2018
This was a quick and well-written novella. It is the story of a neurosurgeon whose marriage is falling apart. His wife turns to alcohol, while he uses food to soothe his emotional pain. The changes these activities cause in their behavior in turn wreak more damage to their relationship, in a sad downward spiral. His continued weight gain eventually causes him to have trouble performing his job, and he has to stop.
Unfortunately this book was not one of my favorites. As mentioned earlier, I thought it was quite well-written, and I thought the author did a really good job of describing that emotional experience that comes when you realize that you have a certain vision of yourself, but that is no longer the way you are perceived by those around you...a situation that I think is probably endemic to reaching middle age.
However, I was surprised when I came to the end of this book (something that only really happens with ebooks), feeling as if the book itself is only be partially complete. It is a familiar experience for me...one that I feel after reading the majority of short stories in The New Yorker magazine, or in many literary (read non-genre) short story collections. I feel that there is a style of short story that focuses on describing an experience, or an emotional revelation, and that is the sole purpose of the story. I am never satisfied by this type of story...I always feel a bit as if I was having some sort of very vivid hallucination that is suddenly cut short, leaving me wondering what I just experienced.
That’s a bit how I felt reading this book, and so it was not among my favorites. But, if you like this type of literary storytelling, i think the quality of writing, and the carefully described breakdown of this marriage is well worth your time.
I received an advanced reading copy from Fairlight Books via NetGalley. Thanks!
Unfortunately this book was not one of my favorites. As mentioned earlier, I thought it was quite well-written, and I thought the author did a really good job of describing that emotional experience that comes when you realize that you have a certain vision of yourself, but that is no longer the way you are perceived by those around you...a situation that I think is probably endemic to reaching middle age.
However, I was surprised when I came to the end of this book (something that only really happens with ebooks), feeling as if the book itself is only be partially complete. It is a familiar experience for me...one that I feel after reading the majority of short stories in The New Yorker magazine, or in many literary (read non-genre) short story collections. I feel that there is a style of short story that focuses on describing an experience, or an emotional revelation, and that is the sole purpose of the story. I am never satisfied by this type of story...I always feel a bit as if I was having some sort of very vivid hallucination that is suddenly cut short, leaving me wondering what I just experienced.
That’s a bit how I felt reading this book, and so it was not among my favorites. But, if you like this type of literary storytelling, i think the quality of writing, and the carefully described breakdown of this marriage is well worth your time.
I received an advanced reading copy from Fairlight Books via NetGalley. Thanks!
June 13, 2018
In this day and age, with independent bookshops and small publishers closing in swathes, it’s a joy to hear of a newly-founded enterprise: Fairlight Books in Oxford. At one year old, they’re just about to release a series of five novellas in their Fairlight Moderns series and I was delighted to have a sneak peek. I decided to start with Inside the Bone Box, because it focused on a doctor and that appealed in the wake of Adam Kay’s diaries. It’s the story of consultant neurosurgeon Nicholas Anderton, whose burgeoning obesity has already threatened his marriage and now raises very serious questions about his professional capabilities. Meanwhile his wife, Alyson, has her own demons to fight. It soon becomes clear that the ‘bone box’ of the title isn’t just the skull, within which the brain-self resides, but also the prisons we build for ourselves, trapping ourselves within excess flesh or addictions...
For the full review, please see my blog:
https://theidlewoman.net/2018/06/13/i...
For the full review, please see my blog:
https://theidlewoman.net/2018/06/13/i...
July 14, 2018
Please visit my book blog at https://cavebookreviews.blogspot.com/
The Anderton's are two professionals that society tends to look up to, a doctor and a lawyer. However, in this story, the doctor is morbidly obese, and the lawyer is an alcoholic. INSIDE THE BONE BOX is a unique novella describing the most private and painful aspects of Nicholas and Alyson Anderton's lives.
The apparent issue is Nicholas's morbid obesity. He is a surgeon who needs to be clear-headed and physically active to perform the long, delicate brain surgeries he specializes in, but Nicholas has trouble walking from his car to the operating theater. Nicholas is still able to function with his team giving him their full support. At home, the support level is entirely different Alyson is disgusted with how Nicholas looks and the lack of attention he gives to anyone but himself and his food. Their two children are loving but barely hanging on with two dysfunctional parents.
A crisis takes the novel to its beautiful denouement, and I applaud this expertly told story of life in that part of society we think is perfect. There is no perfection, we all live with a struggle. The critical factor is how we handle those struggles.
Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this E-ARC.
The Anderton's are two professionals that society tends to look up to, a doctor and a lawyer. However, in this story, the doctor is morbidly obese, and the lawyer is an alcoholic. INSIDE THE BONE BOX is a unique novella describing the most private and painful aspects of Nicholas and Alyson Anderton's lives.
The apparent issue is Nicholas's morbid obesity. He is a surgeon who needs to be clear-headed and physically active to perform the long, delicate brain surgeries he specializes in, but Nicholas has trouble walking from his car to the operating theater. Nicholas is still able to function with his team giving him their full support. At home, the support level is entirely different Alyson is disgusted with how Nicholas looks and the lack of attention he gives to anyone but himself and his food. Their two children are loving but barely hanging on with two dysfunctional parents.
A crisis takes the novel to its beautiful denouement, and I applaud this expertly told story of life in that part of society we think is perfect. There is no perfection, we all live with a struggle. The critical factor is how we handle those struggles.
Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this E-ARC.
June 14, 2018
Nicholas Anderton is a neurosurgeon whose weight is becoming a threat to both his job and his marriage, this novella follows Nick as he reaches the pivotal moment of his professional capacity being questioned. Each chapter alternates between the perspectives of Nick and that of his wife Alyson; and are either a continuation of the present or a flashback to an earlier point in their career or marriage which gives you a great picture of how the couple have got to where they are; one of my favourite things was how realistic these two characters in particular were, they're both flawed and while they do identify those flaws in themselves they're doing what most people do which is pretend is a much smaller problem than it is. I think the book challenges a difficult topic to talk about, being set in the UK where obesity is continually becoming more of an issue the challenges Nick faces in the book must be a harsh reality for some and it's great that it's not shying away from things like this. I gave this three stars as I thought a couple of chapters were a bit disjointed from the overall plot and I didn't get that 'must keep reading' feeling.
December 8, 2018
I’d read bits of this before as Anthony’s in my writers’ group, but it was a genuine pleasure to see where it all fitted together.
Anthony writes with precision and clarity and made neurosurgery almost comprehensible to a mere layman like myself. The tale of Anderton’s bulging waistline, his loss of confidence in his ability, Alyson’s drinking and their inability to communicate with each other are neatly sewn up in 172 pages.
This book, like many of Nick’s meals, is a perfect feast of inner turmoil and external clashes. Buy it and devour it.
Anthony writes with precision and clarity and made neurosurgery almost comprehensible to a mere layman like myself. The tale of Anderton’s bulging waistline, his loss of confidence in his ability, Alyson’s drinking and their inability to communicate with each other are neatly sewn up in 172 pages.
This book, like many of Nick’s meals, is a perfect feast of inner turmoil and external clashes. Buy it and devour it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 18, 2018
A great little book just published by Fairlight moderns. A well observed, researched and written narrative of a brilliant but angst-ridden neurosurgeon who eats to blot out past failures resulting in destroying his marriage while endangering a hard-won professional reputation. The surgeon's relationship with his own children comes under close scrutiny revealing his arrogance, obsessional medical rivalries and a myopic lack of self-awareness on family matters.
July 19, 2018
The beautiful writing pulled me right into this book. I loved how the story unfolded, each thread carefully unraveled. The characters had true psychological depth, and the relationships between them so life-like. The medical bits were wonderfully researched and accurate, while the technical detail wasn't overbearing.
An excellent read, overall.
An excellent read, overall.
December 3, 2018
2.5 🌟 This is a great little debut novella. For me personally, I just found it a little dry and the characters were all vile. The story itself, although original felt forced and somewhat unreal at times. The last few scenes made up for some of the droll storyline and I loved the title ‘Inside the Bone Box’.
January 19, 2019
A beautiful book.. the reader is placed in a sublime space in relation to the main character, a neurosurgeon. Nicholas Anderson is (not) battling weight problems whilst his highly strung wife has turned to the drink. They move along mundanely enough and Ferner’s observation (and ours) is exquisite. Funny and with a nice level of the everyday surreal...
February 29, 2020
Not sure what to make of this one. I'd been enjoying the Fairlight Moderns so far but this was difficult to get through, despite moments of poignancy. Perhaps they were a little few and far between; or perhaps the subject matter was just not something I particularly was looking to read about.
Not a keeper.
Not a keeper.
July 21, 2019
This book is wonderful to read, especially for someone interested in matters of humanity, the brain or love. Love comes in innumerable forms: food, sex, family, etc. Ferner shows this well.
July 27, 2021
Original and compelling. Fascinating descriptions of neurosurgery, remarkable protagonist.
March 5, 2022
"contemporary fiction"... does nothing for me.
May 10, 2024
Very well written pair of character studies. The writing is particularly strong in the surgical and gastronomic passages which occupy so much of Anderton’s narrative.
October 13, 2019
Excellent short book exploring all the usual themes of humanity - self image, love, alcoholism... what sets this book apart is its ability to turn a deft hand of convention, and make familiar themes interesting again through both its wit, and powerful prose.
August 6, 2022
"Received an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for a fair review"
4.5 stars
This book is different from anything I’ve read recently and I loved it. I adored the whole world the author created around the hero being a neurosurgeon, how operating patients’ brains is so much part of himself and so much ingrained in himself that his actions and how he sees life and the world are completely contaminated by his craft.
Nicholas Anderton, an almost fifty-year-old British doctor, is not your typical hero. He could be handsome but he’s too fat, and and perhaps a bit to be appealing. Yet, the author’s candid and rational approach to the harsh realities of neurosurgery successes and failures and his passion about it make him a rather honest, matter-of-fact and attractive character, in spite of all his non-romantic features.
His relation with his obesity and with food is amazingly explored. I found this part a bit hard to read sometimes, because of its crude authenticity. The realities of the operating room are also realistically depicted here but somehow that didn’t shock me as much, perhaps because of some familiarity with it. And all these dimensions seem very well researched and put together, creating an engaging and well-written story.
I'm grateful to the publisher, Fairlight Books, and NetGalley for providing a free copy
4.5 stars
This book is different from anything I’ve read recently and I loved it. I adored the whole world the author created around the hero being a neurosurgeon, how operating patients’ brains is so much part of himself and so much ingrained in himself that his actions and how he sees life and the world are completely contaminated by his craft.
Nicholas Anderton, an almost fifty-year-old British doctor, is not your typical hero. He could be handsome but he’s too fat, and and perhaps a bit to be appealing. Yet, the author’s candid and rational approach to the harsh realities of neurosurgery successes and failures and his passion about it make him a rather honest, matter-of-fact and attractive character, in spite of all his non-romantic features.
His relation with his obesity and with food is amazingly explored. I found this part a bit hard to read sometimes, because of its crude authenticity. The realities of the operating room are also realistically depicted here but somehow that didn’t shock me as much, perhaps because of some familiarity with it. And all these dimensions seem very well researched and put together, creating an engaging and well-written story.
I'm grateful to the publisher, Fairlight Books, and NetGalley for providing a free copy
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews