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The Fell
His hand was a gigantic bear claw and swallowed mine and half my forearm too. He had a big man's grip and a real deep voice.
'Welcome to Feallan House. We call it Fell. The sign says Fell, so it's Fell.
Actually, we're Fell... If you're solid you get to be Fell... that's us.'
In an unspecified time and location, an unnamed boy is living what seems like an idyllic life. He idolises his father who is a lifeguard at the local faded and peeling Lido, never more so than when he saves the life of a suicidal man. The boy comes to believe that heroism is all.
Later that summer, the arrest of his sister brings the halcyon days to an abrupt end and his family is torn apart. With Lilly sent to jail, the boy is sent to a boarding house for dysfunctional youths far away from home The Fell. The boys band together against their enemies, both real and imagined, they become family.
The boy sees the world and his place in it through a unique lens. He meets ghosts, hears voices and battles his fears. What he never does, however, is question his own version of reality.
When the boy's fear and hatred of authority comes to a head, everything is thrown into disarray and his actions lead him to run from The Fell. And run, and run...
'Welcome to Feallan House. We call it Fell. The sign says Fell, so it's Fell.
Actually, we're Fell... If you're solid you get to be Fell... that's us.'
In an unspecified time and location, an unnamed boy is living what seems like an idyllic life. He idolises his father who is a lifeguard at the local faded and peeling Lido, never more so than when he saves the life of a suicidal man. The boy comes to believe that heroism is all.
Later that summer, the arrest of his sister brings the halcyon days to an abrupt end and his family is torn apart. With Lilly sent to jail, the boy is sent to a boarding house for dysfunctional youths far away from home The Fell. The boys band together against their enemies, both real and imagined, they become family.
The boy sees the world and his place in it through a unique lens. He meets ghosts, hears voices and battles his fears. What he never does, however, is question his own version of reality.
When the boy's fear and hatred of authority comes to a head, everything is thrown into disarray and his actions lead him to run from The Fell. And run, and run...
- GenresFictionContemporary
334 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 25, 2019
10 people are currently reading
169 people want to read
About the author
Robert Jenkins
1 book7 followersRobert Jenkins was born and raised in Walthamstow, East London.
Works with marginalized people.
Writes fiction.
Author of The Fell.
Winner of Sunday Star Times short story award for: The Skinny Man
New novel coming soon: Coppermill Lane.
Works with marginalized people.
Writes fiction.
Author of The Fell.
Winner of Sunday Star Times short story award for: The Skinny Man
New novel coming soon: Coppermill Lane.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
February 23, 2020
4 for most of the read, with moments of absolute brilliance:
"His own words seemed to make him angry and he stiffened and I knew I was looking straight at madness and madness isn’t a monster and it isn’t a stranger and it’s right there in the room and just a twitch away from all of us always and it can have high cheekbones and almond eyes and a strong jaw and sometimes it just comes from the corner of the room like a coil of soft smoke and you can’t stop it or fight it or waft it away..."
How to explain or categorize this book? It's like a buffet of poignant, hysterical, mystical, heretical, mysterious, and heartbreaking, told in a stream of consciousness style that rushes along with little punctuation. It took me a while to adapt to the narrative style, but once I did, I felt transported into the mind of the main protagonist; a teenage boy sent to a boarding school due to life circumstances. This style of writing won't suit everyone, but I enjoyed and appreciated it. At times I imagined listening to the young people I've known and the rush of words that spill out, riding the adrenaline rush wave, words tripping over each other as if competing for first place.
I imagine this novel might be most appreciated by males, as they have the cultural experiences to relate more closely to the teenage angst and shenanigans of this hodgepodge of boys...but I found much to appreciate even as a woman who qualifies for senior discounts. I found myself remembering stories my husband's told me about his experiences growing up, and escapades he had with buddies. My background working with challenged and challenging boys allowed me to recognize the tentative camaraderie, friendships formed of necessity, and "us" against "them" divisions found in group living. Interesting characters and even more interesting writing elevated what could have been a more ordinary tale.
There were times I laughed out loud, times I cringed, times I said a little prayer, and times I wanted to join in a group hug. It was an interesting ride, and well worth the time to read it.
"I knew one day loneliness would eat me up and I would be lost in it like Jonah and it seemed like all my life I was made of sand and took the shape of everyone I got blown up against but I had no shape of my own and however hard I clung to that shape it always went away and the winds came and I was nothing again."
It does contain some language and "raw" content at times, which may not be for everyone.
"His own words seemed to make him angry and he stiffened and I knew I was looking straight at madness and madness isn’t a monster and it isn’t a stranger and it’s right there in the room and just a twitch away from all of us always and it can have high cheekbones and almond eyes and a strong jaw and sometimes it just comes from the corner of the room like a coil of soft smoke and you can’t stop it or fight it or waft it away..."
How to explain or categorize this book? It's like a buffet of poignant, hysterical, mystical, heretical, mysterious, and heartbreaking, told in a stream of consciousness style that rushes along with little punctuation. It took me a while to adapt to the narrative style, but once I did, I felt transported into the mind of the main protagonist; a teenage boy sent to a boarding school due to life circumstances. This style of writing won't suit everyone, but I enjoyed and appreciated it. At times I imagined listening to the young people I've known and the rush of words that spill out, riding the adrenaline rush wave, words tripping over each other as if competing for first place.
I imagine this novel might be most appreciated by males, as they have the cultural experiences to relate more closely to the teenage angst and shenanigans of this hodgepodge of boys...but I found much to appreciate even as a woman who qualifies for senior discounts. I found myself remembering stories my husband's told me about his experiences growing up, and escapades he had with buddies. My background working with challenged and challenging boys allowed me to recognize the tentative camaraderie, friendships formed of necessity, and "us" against "them" divisions found in group living. Interesting characters and even more interesting writing elevated what could have been a more ordinary tale.
There were times I laughed out loud, times I cringed, times I said a little prayer, and times I wanted to join in a group hug. It was an interesting ride, and well worth the time to read it.
"I knew one day loneliness would eat me up and I would be lost in it like Jonah and it seemed like all my life I was made of sand and took the shape of everyone I got blown up against but I had no shape of my own and however hard I clung to that shape it always went away and the winds came and I was nothing again."
It does contain some language and "raw" content at times, which may not be for everyone.
July 28, 2019
What an unexpected and excellent read; enjoyable, fast paced and gripping, sometimes brutal and sometimes gentle, always darkly humorous.
This is a book about teenagers written for an adult audience. It is narrated in the first person and we never learn the name of the central character, nor the time or place in which the novel is set. There are some clues, but I don’t think they are important because the story is brought alive by your own experiences and you will have places that you recall that can fit this picture of a city called Cutter. You will supply your own times and locations.
The story begins when our narrator is a young boy. In the long summer holiday he goes with his father to a Lido, where the father is a lifeguard and a hero to the young boy. Family life at home, where there is an older sister who inhabits her copy of Anne of Green Gables, and days at the Lido are beautifully painted and have the quality of childhood memories. You feel the closeness of the characters and begin to understand them. All this is blown apart when the sister is arrested, falsely accused of shoplifting, but lashes out with a nail file and wounds a policeman. When she is sent to prison, family life implodes and we follow the journey of the narrator who is sent to a remote, spartan boys’ school where difficult cases are gathered up to learn the harshness of discipline.
What follows are years of growing up without the love of parents, where boys learn to take anything they need from the people around them. Learning to survive, and in the narrator’s case thrive, in these hostile surroundings. A fellowship and camaraderie grows between a small group of boys. They have each other’s backs and this allows them to gain new skills and develop friendships.
This life is wonderfully drawn, with moments of fun and humour, but also sadness. People leave, people die and tricks are played. It is all realistic, narrated in the voice of a teenager, with all the emotions and reasoning of that teenager, and that makes it authentic. Staff at the school hardly figure in the narrative, and are mainly objects of hate or ridicule. One teacher stands out, Mister Solomon Sesay, who has also had a rough life in which he too has suffered and been picked on. The narrator describes the impact he has:
“I actually learned things from him without even realising it, which is a rare thing in any school day, and sometimes I wasn’t quite sure exactly what I had learned but I could feel a kind of waking up in my head like little electric pulses firing off and bits of my brain lighting up and trying to make sense of his lesson because some part of my mind kind of grasped it and the rest was flopping around trying to get a handle on it.”
One of the boys at The Fell has marionettes which are dressed in dinner suits or silk pyjamas. When one comes to sleep in the narrator’s room, their owner talks about them:
“ ‘They don’t sleep, not softly like us, not peacefully. There is no calm repose. See… their faces are tense, screwed up, frowning like they’re holding back a scream… a long terrible scream… But they don’t scream… they take our screams and swallow them up.’ I wished straight off he hadn’t said a word because now I had a shiver and he smiled and the marionette turned its head to look at me, white faced with a red spot on each cheek, and nodded. ‘Don’t be afraid. They are our friends.’ “
Towards the end of the book our narrator turns a corner, and there is a sense that some schoolwork actually gets done. I loved the way this paragraph sums this up:
“I even started to walk more softly and smile at adults more often and some days I even did school work and said thank you to teachers so they were shocked and told me I was welcome. I tried to use more words from my dictionary and I surprised them teachers with the vocabulary I used in my schoolbooks and my use of correct grammar and punctuation too, and punctuation has nothing to do with being on time. If you don’t believe me you can look it up.”
The story has been compared to Lord of the Flies and I would agree that there are parallels with the wild behavior of the boys from The Fell. There is violence, death and even attempted murder. Boys make and drink alcohol and grow drugs. Things don’t go well for a number of the characters. They don’t get away with crimes where it might be possible to see mitigating circumstances. But some of this darkness is offset by more tender and humane moments, where there is friendship and warmth. There is a love story too, where the narrator falls for Melody Grace. She has a dark past, but also a warm heart and it is hard not to enjoy the role she plays as siren and teacher to the young man. She is a shining light, a hope for a better future.
I can’t say enough about how much I enjoyed this book for its wonderful mix of hard and brutal, soft and humorous. It feels modern yet it is set in an indeterminate time and location. A brilliant book which deserves a wide audience
This is a book about teenagers written for an adult audience. It is narrated in the first person and we never learn the name of the central character, nor the time or place in which the novel is set. There are some clues, but I don’t think they are important because the story is brought alive by your own experiences and you will have places that you recall that can fit this picture of a city called Cutter. You will supply your own times and locations.
The story begins when our narrator is a young boy. In the long summer holiday he goes with his father to a Lido, where the father is a lifeguard and a hero to the young boy. Family life at home, where there is an older sister who inhabits her copy of Anne of Green Gables, and days at the Lido are beautifully painted and have the quality of childhood memories. You feel the closeness of the characters and begin to understand them. All this is blown apart when the sister is arrested, falsely accused of shoplifting, but lashes out with a nail file and wounds a policeman. When she is sent to prison, family life implodes and we follow the journey of the narrator who is sent to a remote, spartan boys’ school where difficult cases are gathered up to learn the harshness of discipline.
What follows are years of growing up without the love of parents, where boys learn to take anything they need from the people around them. Learning to survive, and in the narrator’s case thrive, in these hostile surroundings. A fellowship and camaraderie grows between a small group of boys. They have each other’s backs and this allows them to gain new skills and develop friendships.
This life is wonderfully drawn, with moments of fun and humour, but also sadness. People leave, people die and tricks are played. It is all realistic, narrated in the voice of a teenager, with all the emotions and reasoning of that teenager, and that makes it authentic. Staff at the school hardly figure in the narrative, and are mainly objects of hate or ridicule. One teacher stands out, Mister Solomon Sesay, who has also had a rough life in which he too has suffered and been picked on. The narrator describes the impact he has:
“I actually learned things from him without even realising it, which is a rare thing in any school day, and sometimes I wasn’t quite sure exactly what I had learned but I could feel a kind of waking up in my head like little electric pulses firing off and bits of my brain lighting up and trying to make sense of his lesson because some part of my mind kind of grasped it and the rest was flopping around trying to get a handle on it.”
One of the boys at The Fell has marionettes which are dressed in dinner suits or silk pyjamas. When one comes to sleep in the narrator’s room, their owner talks about them:
“ ‘They don’t sleep, not softly like us, not peacefully. There is no calm repose. See… their faces are tense, screwed up, frowning like they’re holding back a scream… a long terrible scream… But they don’t scream… they take our screams and swallow them up.’ I wished straight off he hadn’t said a word because now I had a shiver and he smiled and the marionette turned its head to look at me, white faced with a red spot on each cheek, and nodded. ‘Don’t be afraid. They are our friends.’ “
Towards the end of the book our narrator turns a corner, and there is a sense that some schoolwork actually gets done. I loved the way this paragraph sums this up:
“I even started to walk more softly and smile at adults more often and some days I even did school work and said thank you to teachers so they were shocked and told me I was welcome. I tried to use more words from my dictionary and I surprised them teachers with the vocabulary I used in my schoolbooks and my use of correct grammar and punctuation too, and punctuation has nothing to do with being on time. If you don’t believe me you can look it up.”
The story has been compared to Lord of the Flies and I would agree that there are parallels with the wild behavior of the boys from The Fell. There is violence, death and even attempted murder. Boys make and drink alcohol and grow drugs. Things don’t go well for a number of the characters. They don’t get away with crimes where it might be possible to see mitigating circumstances. But some of this darkness is offset by more tender and humane moments, where there is friendship and warmth. There is a love story too, where the narrator falls for Melody Grace. She has a dark past, but also a warm heart and it is hard not to enjoy the role she plays as siren and teacher to the young man. She is a shining light, a hope for a better future.
I can’t say enough about how much I enjoyed this book for its wonderful mix of hard and brutal, soft and humorous. It feels modern yet it is set in an indeterminate time and location. A brilliant book which deserves a wide audience
July 21, 2019
non illegitimus carborundum - don't let the bastards get you down
Not long after, our protagonist is sent to Fellan House, a boarding school for trouble makers with teachers horrendous enough to make your skin shake. This is where the story really kicks off, as the protagonist quickly makes friends, and starts to find his way around the new world being set out for him. This is the point where an important question is posed, who are the villains? Is it the kid who got shoved into Fellan house for a misdemeanour, or the teacher who shows a little too much interest in a child? What about the Cuban who owns the shop down the road that the cops just love to drive by? or the cops themselves? It bends your ideas of what is right and wrong until you no longer know who the real villains are.
An interesting part of this novel is the fact that the protagonist does not always have the best role models. Leon, a boy he looks up to, doesn't always care for the rules, or 'Cuban Jesus' who might just toe the line of the law. But he sees both the good and the bad in everyone, and more often than not, tucks the bad away and in a childlike manner, only sees the good in those who he loves.
But the real 'villains' in this novel were interesting, teachers and cops that felt like they had been drawn into the story from the real world. The issues they put forth were real ones we see in the world, and the way that the main character and his friends reacted, fit teenage boys to a T.
Previously I mentioned that this reminded me of Catcher in the Rye, and it really does. Perhaps not in the text, characters or events. But in the undertone, deep in the stories bones, it feels like it's made of the same kind of metal. It's a gritty coming of age story that you don't really understand on your first read, and the more you think about it, the more you come to love it.
A really intriguing parallel between the two novels is how they both look at the fakeness of adulthood. They show a young character seeing the truth hidden in the adult world, exposing how adults don't always know everything, and more often than not, can be the monsters of the world.
I walked out of this intrigued beyond belief. I had found a character that I wanted to despise in the main character for the things he thought and the violence he sought, but he felt far too human, and relatable in ways that made you sympathise with him.
I would definitely recommend this as a book to get boys interested in reading, or for any one who is after a story that will sit with you for a long time. If you're a fan of CATCHER IN THE RYE, LORD OF THE FLIES or THE OUTSIDERS, then pick this up.
This was a book that took me back to feelings of my teenage years (which yes, okay, were not that long ago) but specifically, it gave me a reminiscent feel of a more relatable version of catcher in the rye (with a main character you don't want to throttle!)
The Fell, by Robert Jenkins is a coming of age novel set in an undisclosed location with a nameless main character. We follow him from his young years, where he spent his time worshipping his father and the lido, to his teenage years, where rebellion and something firey settled deep in his chest. This story shows the main character grow and form friendships and relationships that alter the way he sees the world.
We start off with our protagonist around probably ten or eleven (though we never learn his age) as he follows his father to the lido, a community swimming pool where he is a lifeguard. We see the tranquil life he leads, a starry-eyed youth who wants to live up to his fathers' prestige. But darkness quickly settles into this novel like it does in real life when someone hangs themselves, and his family starts to break down.
They said the devil was on the whole neighbourhood that summer.
Not long after, our protagonist is sent to Fellan House, a boarding school for trouble makers with teachers horrendous enough to make your skin shake. This is where the story really kicks off, as the protagonist quickly makes friends, and starts to find his way around the new world being set out for him. This is the point where an important question is posed, who are the villains? Is it the kid who got shoved into Fellan house for a misdemeanour, or the teacher who shows a little too much interest in a child? What about the Cuban who owns the shop down the road that the cops just love to drive by? or the cops themselves? It bends your ideas of what is right and wrong until you no longer know who the real villains are.
An interesting part of this novel is the fact that the protagonist does not always have the best role models. Leon, a boy he looks up to, doesn't always care for the rules, or 'Cuban Jesus' who might just toe the line of the law. But he sees both the good and the bad in everyone, and more often than not, tucks the bad away and in a childlike manner, only sees the good in those who he loves.
But the real 'villains' in this novel were interesting, teachers and cops that felt like they had been drawn into the story from the real world. The issues they put forth were real ones we see in the world, and the way that the main character and his friends reacted, fit teenage boys to a T.
Death close up is a cold and heartless hard bastard.
Previously I mentioned that this reminded me of Catcher in the Rye, and it really does. Perhaps not in the text, characters or events. But in the undertone, deep in the stories bones, it feels like it's made of the same kind of metal. It's a gritty coming of age story that you don't really understand on your first read, and the more you think about it, the more you come to love it.
A really intriguing parallel between the two novels is how they both look at the fakeness of adulthood. They show a young character seeing the truth hidden in the adult world, exposing how adults don't always know everything, and more often than not, can be the monsters of the world.
I walked out of this intrigued beyond belief. I had found a character that I wanted to despise in the main character for the things he thought and the violence he sought, but he felt far too human, and relatable in ways that made you sympathise with him.
I would definitely recommend this as a book to get boys interested in reading, or for any one who is after a story that will sit with you for a long time. If you're a fan of CATCHER IN THE RYE, LORD OF THE FLIES or THE OUTSIDERS, then pick this up.
May 21, 2019
The Fell is the real deal. It caught me from page one, and as soon as I picked up the beat of the voice I was hooked. This a very clever piece of story telling.
I am 22 years old, male, studying literature at university and when I was at school, I used to board. More relevant than that, I was young (!) and faced the challenges of youth and I still do. The Fell resonates, it moves and entertains. It is entirely, perfectly authentic.
The Fell will shock, disturb, inspire, inform, entertain depending on where you’re coming from and if you’re facing the challenges young people face, especially young males, The Fell might just save your life.
A stream of consciousness, deeply affecting, lewd at times, tragic at times, offensive maybe, and so funny. The language, fumbling sex, friendship, crime, violence, fear, alcohol, drugs, the need to belong, heroic pursuit of greater meaning and triumph of spirit are all grasped in innocent hands and it’s just perfectly realized and beautiful. This should be read.
I loved this book. You will love this book, or maybe you’ll hate it, but you’ll never forget reading it. The voice, the humour, the limbo of time and place makes it a story for all people everywhere. If Catcher in the Rye was something in the sixties, The Fell is the something now. Far more powerful and challenging, far more real and funny, far more rounded and realized. More accessible, more relevant, more classic than any rite of passage I have read and I have many.
I want more o this. Actually, I can’t stop thinking about it.
Read it., gift it, read it again, gift it again. Talk about it and don’t stop. We might just be at the start of something huge here. For the first time since I was about 13 years old, I’m excited about a novel, and for all the darkness The Fell makes us face, I can’t stop laughing. Read it with your mates, then get drunk and talk about it… seriously… This kid!!!!
I am 22 years old, male, studying literature at university and when I was at school, I used to board. More relevant than that, I was young (!) and faced the challenges of youth and I still do. The Fell resonates, it moves and entertains. It is entirely, perfectly authentic.
The Fell will shock, disturb, inspire, inform, entertain depending on where you’re coming from and if you’re facing the challenges young people face, especially young males, The Fell might just save your life.
A stream of consciousness, deeply affecting, lewd at times, tragic at times, offensive maybe, and so funny. The language, fumbling sex, friendship, crime, violence, fear, alcohol, drugs, the need to belong, heroic pursuit of greater meaning and triumph of spirit are all grasped in innocent hands and it’s just perfectly realized and beautiful. This should be read.
I loved this book. You will love this book, or maybe you’ll hate it, but you’ll never forget reading it. The voice, the humour, the limbo of time and place makes it a story for all people everywhere. If Catcher in the Rye was something in the sixties, The Fell is the something now. Far more powerful and challenging, far more real and funny, far more rounded and realized. More accessible, more relevant, more classic than any rite of passage I have read and I have many.
I want more o this. Actually, I can’t stop thinking about it.
Read it., gift it, read it again, gift it again. Talk about it and don’t stop. We might just be at the start of something huge here. For the first time since I was about 13 years old, I’m excited about a novel, and for all the darkness The Fell makes us face, I can’t stop laughing. Read it with your mates, then get drunk and talk about it… seriously… This kid!!!!
April 24, 2019
I hope this book finds its audience. It's such an oddball mix of elements, perhaps Ulysses meets Lord of the Flies. At base, it is commentary on the world as seen by an unnamed boy of an indeterminate age in an unspecified time and place.
British spellings on some words and the author's nationality are the only hints offered for those readers who positively must know what it is they are reading.
"The Fell" is Feallan House, a residential school for boys with troubled backgrounds. In our boy's case, his colorful family had suddenly fallen apart and he was whisked by social services to this isolated outpost where the inmates do indeed seem to be running the asylum.
But don't expect linear narration. There are intense bondings with the people who cross his path, most of them other boys; there is virtuosic wordplay; there are some paragraphs -- filled with verbal trickery -- that run for several screens on my Kindle; but at least these latter do contain punctuation. (Speaking of punctuation, the author points out that it has nothing to do with being on time.)
The Fell came to me as an advance reader's copy through NetGalley and Red Door Publishing. It's like no other ARC I've read so far. I recommend that you read this book, and I urge you to open your mind up as wide as possible -- or, maybe if you're a very destination-oriented reader, give it a pass. But know that you'll be missing out.
British spellings on some words and the author's nationality are the only hints offered for those readers who positively must know what it is they are reading.
"The Fell" is Feallan House, a residential school for boys with troubled backgrounds. In our boy's case, his colorful family had suddenly fallen apart and he was whisked by social services to this isolated outpost where the inmates do indeed seem to be running the asylum.
But don't expect linear narration. There are intense bondings with the people who cross his path, most of them other boys; there is virtuosic wordplay; there are some paragraphs -- filled with verbal trickery -- that run for several screens on my Kindle; but at least these latter do contain punctuation. (Speaking of punctuation, the author points out that it has nothing to do with being on time.)
The Fell came to me as an advance reader's copy through NetGalley and Red Door Publishing. It's like no other ARC I've read so far. I recommend that you read this book, and I urge you to open your mind up as wide as possible -- or, maybe if you're a very destination-oriented reader, give it a pass. But know that you'll be missing out.
April 27, 2019
The Fell was a fantastic journey into the unique literary mind of Robert Jenkins. With a style that is certainly not the norm, the book does require the reader to have a certain level of creativity and intellect to be able to break their pre conceived notions on how they expect a novel to be formulated.
Once you allow yourself to be absorbed by the pages however it is a riveting and intoxicating ride. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with The Fell and Jenkins’ storytelling and I can not wait for his next novel!
I encourage everyone to read this book, I loved it!
Once you allow yourself to be absorbed by the pages however it is a riveting and intoxicating ride. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with The Fell and Jenkins’ storytelling and I can not wait for his next novel!
I encourage everyone to read this book, I loved it!
April 30, 2019
Gosh, I’m quite surprised to see folk couldn’t enjoy this book because there was no name place or date given. Seems a strange thing to get caught up about when the writing, word play and characters are all so excellent. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with The Fell, there was a lot I could relate too having once been a boarder too, it’s a truly unique experience for a young person, where the relationships you forge are everything. I look forward to hearing more from this author.
November 3, 2019
an outstanding, clever, subtle, thrilling and confronting novel.
The teenage protagonist slides towards the dark side and takes us with him in something far superior to anything I have read in a very long time.
Quite possibly this will be a classic on a par with any rite of passage novel ever written. Being published by a small press and by an author with no 'name' The Fell risks being overlooked but I believe one day the world will find it and wonder how they missed it first time around.
Read this book, gift it, borrow it.
It's really that good.
The teenage protagonist slides towards the dark side and takes us with him in something far superior to anything I have read in a very long time.
Quite possibly this will be a classic on a par with any rite of passage novel ever written. Being published by a small press and by an author with no 'name' The Fell risks being overlooked but I believe one day the world will find it and wonder how they missed it first time around.
Read this book, gift it, borrow it.
It's really that good.
July 10, 2019
This book should be on every creative writing curriculum
This is a fabulous book and should be on every creative writing curriculum. Jenkins takes the reader deep inside the troubled head of the narrator and creates an entirely absorbing world. The writing itself is incredibly clever, funny, sad, disturbing and uplifting. Highly recommended to anyone who enjoys immersive reading.
This is a fabulous book and should be on every creative writing curriculum. Jenkins takes the reader deep inside the troubled head of the narrator and creates an entirely absorbing world. The writing itself is incredibly clever, funny, sad, disturbing and uplifting. Highly recommended to anyone who enjoys immersive reading.
July 9, 2020
When I finished this book I was at a loss as to what I would say about it so I had to leave my review for a day or two so that I could gather my thoughts. When I started reading I must admit that I struggled with the writing style, it took some getting used to. My advice is to stick with it, it’s worth it.
The main character of this story is an unnamed boy whose life is changed following an incident involving his sister. Events that take place after this shatter his world into pieces and he tells the story in his own way, explaining his thoughts, feelings and experiences whilst introducing the reader to some incredible characters throughout the book. Each character in this story is flawed, some more than others, but you can feel that they are still hopeful of what life holds for them regardless of their past actions.
The Fell is a story that feels like it could be set anywhere in the world, at any time within the last eighty years and any time in the future. It’s definitely a ‘Marmite’ book, you’ll either like it or hate it. Personally once I became accustomed to the writing style, I loved it. I found it to be haunting, absorbing and absolutely beautiful. I think this one will be with me for a while. Exceptional Mr Jenkins.
Huge thanks to RedDoor Publishing and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book.
April 12, 2019
Robert Jenkins potent story of love, loss and power told through the lens of an unnamed teenage boy encourages the reader to think critically about the power relationships between adults and young people.
On the boys journey to manhood Robert invites the reader to observe the protagonists widening experience of love as the story shifts from family to friends to early romantic love.
At times graphic and brutal, but also full of love, warmth, humour and hope this gripping story engages every emotion.
Given that the story is told from a teenage boys perspective it is likely to resonate particularly with men, but as a woman reader I was opened to experiences that are beyond my reach and I appreciate that.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story and can't wait for Robert's next book. I hope it becomes part of a series.
This book is a rare gem.
On the boys journey to manhood Robert invites the reader to observe the protagonists widening experience of love as the story shifts from family to friends to early romantic love.
At times graphic and brutal, but also full of love, warmth, humour and hope this gripping story engages every emotion.
Given that the story is told from a teenage boys perspective it is likely to resonate particularly with men, but as a woman reader I was opened to experiences that are beyond my reach and I appreciate that.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story and can't wait for Robert's next book. I hope it becomes part of a series.
This book is a rare gem.
July 1, 2019
From the first line of this book I was drawn into a world and a voice that I could not walk away from. This novel is a masterpiece to be discovered. What would seem to be a story about a boy, torn from his world and those he loves, is so much more. I have read many novels in my years, and this author is one of those rare gems that you look at in awe once discovered. It was akin to picking up a modern day Steinbeck, filled with characters and beauty and horror that you find yourself loving. This is by no means an easy read, as far as it will make you question all your socially acceptable beliefs and morals. What is right and wrong? Who are the bullies and the righteous? How important is the bonding for young men and all of us? It is filled with narrative comedy that made me smile when maybe I should not be, as society would prefer me horrified! And within it we have an unreliable narrator, battling to get through. What is astonishing is that it is so beautiful. Line after line I had to go back and re-read again, just for the perfection of the authors descriptions and use of language. I found myself going from laughing out loud to tears, and then to shock, and still I loved the characters more and more. It is written like a vast, colorful canvas, a totally cinematic experience, as though you are watching a film....yet you are reading. This book is a journey , but there are so many levels to it, that it will one day be discussed in universities and schools, unpicked piece by piece. I am so grateful that the author has had the courage to write a book of such depth and controversy and beauty. That he has mastered his craft, so rare in these days of the instant fix. Every descriptive word and line is beautifully placed. His dialogue is real and natural. I am left hanging for what comes next, and what else he may offer over the years. I understand it is not for everyone, just as many classics have never been read by so many, but everyone should pick this up. It may offend some, but what work of meaning does not? And then the question of what offends? This is not just another novel, to fill time and then to be forgotten, but one that haunts you after you finish. You find you are still carrying the characters with you in your head weeks later, as though they have become real. This is rare, not just an outstanding book but a novelist to stand the test of time.
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August 19, 2020This is one of those books that the blurb will give you a very good feel for the style (and there is a lot of style here) of story-telling deployed. THE FELL I can best describe as a stream of conscious coming of age novel that's light on punctuation, and big on the angst, challenge and nail-biting heightened reality of being a teenage boy.
The blurb will also give you a clear picture of the plot of the book, but not what happens after his sister's arrest - starting out for shoplifting but getting dramatically worse when she lashes out and wounds a policeman. When his family implodes, this young boy is sent to a remote, spartan boys' school normally reserved for kids classed as difficult, where discipline is harsh and confrontational.
From there the story shifts to one of survival, and I wouldn't be at all surprised to see comparisons drawn with Lord of the Flies, there's something in the way these boys behave that had real echoes there, although there are also touches of humour and some softness, even redemption. There's some criminal aspects as well to many of the individual boys behaviour and stories, although this is not crime fiction as you would normally expect it.
The thing with this sort of style of narrative though is personal preference. Stream of conscious is right up some reader's alleys, and way too rocky a road for others.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/revi...
The blurb will also give you a clear picture of the plot of the book, but not what happens after his sister's arrest - starting out for shoplifting but getting dramatically worse when she lashes out and wounds a policeman. When his family implodes, this young boy is sent to a remote, spartan boys' school normally reserved for kids classed as difficult, where discipline is harsh and confrontational.
From there the story shifts to one of survival, and I wouldn't be at all surprised to see comparisons drawn with Lord of the Flies, there's something in the way these boys behave that had real echoes there, although there are also touches of humour and some softness, even redemption. There's some criminal aspects as well to many of the individual boys behaviour and stories, although this is not crime fiction as you would normally expect it.
The thing with this sort of style of narrative though is personal preference. Stream of conscious is right up some reader's alleys, and way too rocky a road for others.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/revi...
June 22, 2019
I didn't just like this book I really loved it.! It captured the bond between young men born into adversity so well. What I liked about the story was that neither the sex nor the emotion were overstated and you were left with a sense of authenticity and rawness. The peripheral activities which were not mentioned in the story were not necessary because the story was about enduring love and acceptance amongst boys who found themselves on the outside of life without the normal supports of family.
The basic need to be held physically ,emotionally and metaphorically underpins this story and it begins with the boy's relationship with his Father. A father he idolises and loves. When that is taken way and he is sent to Fealan house he very soon develops supportive relationships with other older boys who care for and ' hold' him. This happens with all the boys..they recognise in each other the common need and drop usual judgements of one another and rather to embrace each other in all senses of the word.
The style of writing has a narrow focal point which leaves many details blurred and undefined, like the name and age of the boy. In this case it works well and keeps the reader's focus where it should be. It gives insight into why trouble often seeds and takes root in these boys. I think this story should be studied at high school. For me this book is more profound than "Catcher in the Rye". The author has effectively brought common themes into todays world and this relevance holds well for our understanding of dysfunctional behaviour in the youth of today.
The basic need to be held physically ,emotionally and metaphorically underpins this story and it begins with the boy's relationship with his Father. A father he idolises and loves. When that is taken way and he is sent to Fealan house he very soon develops supportive relationships with other older boys who care for and ' hold' him. This happens with all the boys..they recognise in each other the common need and drop usual judgements of one another and rather to embrace each other in all senses of the word.
The style of writing has a narrow focal point which leaves many details blurred and undefined, like the name and age of the boy. In this case it works well and keeps the reader's focus where it should be. It gives insight into why trouble often seeds and takes root in these boys. I think this story should be studied at high school. For me this book is more profound than "Catcher in the Rye". The author has effectively brought common themes into todays world and this relevance holds well for our understanding of dysfunctional behaviour in the youth of today.
July 9, 2020
When I finished this book I was at a loss as to what I would say about it so I had to leave my review for a day or two so that I could gather my thoughts. When I started reading I must admit that I struggled with the writing style, it took some getting used to. My advice is to stick with it, it’s worth it.
The main character of this story is an unnamed boy whose life is changed following an incident involving his sister. Events that take place after this shatter his world into pieces and he tells the story in his own way, explaining his thoughts, feelings and experiences whilst introducing the reader to some incredible characters throughout the book. Each character in this story is flawed, some more than others, but you can feel that they are still hopeful of what life holds for them regardless of their past actions.
The Fell is a story that feels like it could be set anywhere in the world, at any time within the last eighty years and any time in the future. It’s definitely a ‘Marmite’ book, you’ll either like it or hate it. Personally once I became accustomed to the writing style, I loved it. I found it to be haunting, absorbing and absolutely beautiful. I think this one will be with me for a while. Exceptional Mr Jenkins.
Huge thanks to RedDoor Publishing and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book.
The main character of this story is an unnamed boy whose life is changed following an incident involving his sister. Events that take place after this shatter his world into pieces and he tells the story in his own way, explaining his thoughts, feelings and experiences whilst introducing the reader to some incredible characters throughout the book. Each character in this story is flawed, some more than others, but you can feel that they are still hopeful of what life holds for them regardless of their past actions.
The Fell is a story that feels like it could be set anywhere in the world, at any time within the last eighty years and any time in the future. It’s definitely a ‘Marmite’ book, you’ll either like it or hate it. Personally once I became accustomed to the writing style, I loved it. I found it to be haunting, absorbing and absolutely beautiful. I think this one will be with me for a while. Exceptional Mr Jenkins.
Huge thanks to RedDoor Publishing and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book.
January 14, 2020
The Fell is a magnificent & inspiring piece Rob! I savour your style upon life’s easel.
I do not want it to end.
A truly beautiful offering, ones mind begins slowly but surely to consume the narrative with an ever increasing cockney accent, our secret!
I do not want it to end.
A truly beautiful offering, ones mind begins slowly but surely to consume the narrative with an ever increasing cockney accent, our secret!
April 24, 2019
I tried several times to start and to read this book, but I found that it was just too disjointed in the plot and the characterization for me to follow. It was like trying to find your way out of a maze and I just didn’t have the patience or time to try to figure out what the author was trying to do. This may have been fantasy, sci-if or regular fiction. I just don’t know because I could not figure it out. I cannot recommend this book to any reader until it is edited and re-written, hopefully giving it a plot and a reason for readers to want to read it.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Red Door Publishing. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Red Door Publishing. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”
June 2, 2019
‘Sunset was a final kiss of a day lived right through and a reminder before the dark came that the dreaded sorrow of night would pass and these colours would come again and again if you only looked for them and looked up.’
Robert Jenkins’ new novel tells the story of a boy, unnamed, who is torn away from his family when his sister is imprisoned for attacking a police officer. What we learn later, in a letter he sends to his sister Lilly, is what happened to the family afterwards that resulted in him being taken to a boarding school, the like of which you have never seen! As he settles in to the school – we never learn his age, but the evidence suggests he is in his early teens – he makes friends and learns to put the past behind him.
I’ll be honest, this was an oddity. I felt like I was treading water for the first quarter, and felt like I just wanted to skim ahead. The events that unfold are utterly fanciful: the ‘school’ seems to be undisciplined, with barely even a mention of classes or anything. Instead, the boys pretty much run riot, doing whatever they like – hunting with a rifle, keeping pigeons on the roof, getting absolutely wasted on alcohol, coming and going at all hours. Furthermore, a perennial issue with novels that try to capture a first-person narrative in a child’s voice, no teenager talks or writes like our unnamed narrator. We have to assume that this is being written down much later, a retrospective look back on this period, but something about the narrative voice was just too literary, too wordy. That’s not to say it’s not well written – clearly Jenkins is a gifted writer, and some of his sentences are glittering wonders of imagery and lyricism. And that, ultimately, is what kept me compelled, and as the story does progress the reader gets drawn into this slightly crazy world. Our narrator and his gang of friends, some older boys and some his own age, find strength and companionship and, yes, love and sex. It is a picture of damaged, fragile lives and of learning the harshest lessons life will throw at you. The teachers are mostly caricatures, but the Yoda-like Mister Solomon Sesay is a hoot, dishing out existential mantras and life lessons to the boys. As each of the friends around our narrator leave the school, for one reason or another, the book ends with a sudden act of violence and an uncertain future.
It’s hard to call this one: at times it is a Lord of the Flies type descent into social breakdown, at others it’s a buddy story, a coming of age tale of a gang of mismatched friends in the vein of Stand By Me. So, best not to categorise it, just go with the flow. There are ghosts, a boy meets girl then loses girl story, violence and abuse, friendship and bravery. The writing is what makes this, ultimately, a compelling read. Jenkins writes with a lightness of touch, a poetic sensibility that, although unlikely coming from a teenager, still moves and captures you. This might not be everyone’s cup of tea, and I still remain on the fence about the book as a whole, but for its sheer brilliance of writing it deserves to be read. 3.5 stars.
(With thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this title.)
Robert Jenkins’ new novel tells the story of a boy, unnamed, who is torn away from his family when his sister is imprisoned for attacking a police officer. What we learn later, in a letter he sends to his sister Lilly, is what happened to the family afterwards that resulted in him being taken to a boarding school, the like of which you have never seen! As he settles in to the school – we never learn his age, but the evidence suggests he is in his early teens – he makes friends and learns to put the past behind him.
I’ll be honest, this was an oddity. I felt like I was treading water for the first quarter, and felt like I just wanted to skim ahead. The events that unfold are utterly fanciful: the ‘school’ seems to be undisciplined, with barely even a mention of classes or anything. Instead, the boys pretty much run riot, doing whatever they like – hunting with a rifle, keeping pigeons on the roof, getting absolutely wasted on alcohol, coming and going at all hours. Furthermore, a perennial issue with novels that try to capture a first-person narrative in a child’s voice, no teenager talks or writes like our unnamed narrator. We have to assume that this is being written down much later, a retrospective look back on this period, but something about the narrative voice was just too literary, too wordy. That’s not to say it’s not well written – clearly Jenkins is a gifted writer, and some of his sentences are glittering wonders of imagery and lyricism. And that, ultimately, is what kept me compelled, and as the story does progress the reader gets drawn into this slightly crazy world. Our narrator and his gang of friends, some older boys and some his own age, find strength and companionship and, yes, love and sex. It is a picture of damaged, fragile lives and of learning the harshest lessons life will throw at you. The teachers are mostly caricatures, but the Yoda-like Mister Solomon Sesay is a hoot, dishing out existential mantras and life lessons to the boys. As each of the friends around our narrator leave the school, for one reason or another, the book ends with a sudden act of violence and an uncertain future.
It’s hard to call this one: at times it is a Lord of the Flies type descent into social breakdown, at others it’s a buddy story, a coming of age tale of a gang of mismatched friends in the vein of Stand By Me. So, best not to categorise it, just go with the flow. There are ghosts, a boy meets girl then loses girl story, violence and abuse, friendship and bravery. The writing is what makes this, ultimately, a compelling read. Jenkins writes with a lightness of touch, a poetic sensibility that, although unlikely coming from a teenager, still moves and captures you. This might not be everyone’s cup of tea, and I still remain on the fence about the book as a whole, but for its sheer brilliance of writing it deserves to be read. 3.5 stars.
(With thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this title.)
June 26, 2019
The fell was a very captivating read with a unique writing style. From the beginning there was a slight sinister undertone seeming to follow the young male lead character. The book followed his difficult and trying development through adolescence and showed his ability to find beauty in a world where the odds were stacked against him. Although the writing style was not my usual preference I felt this book opened the door for discussion and it truly felt like being in the mind of the young boy. I cannot recommend this book enough and can’t wait for the authors next read
September 4, 2025
⭐ A raw, unforgettable masterpiece ⭐
The Fell is one of those rare novels that captures innocence, pain, and resilience all at once. Through the boy’s eyes, we’re taken on a haunting journey that is equal parts heartbreaking and beautiful. The writing pulls you in so deeply that you can almost feel the ghosts, the fear, and the fragile hope. This isn’t just a story, it’s an experience that stays with you long after the last page.
The Fell is one of those rare novels that captures innocence, pain, and resilience all at once. Through the boy’s eyes, we’re taken on a haunting journey that is equal parts heartbreaking and beautiful. The writing pulls you in so deeply that you can almost feel the ghosts, the fear, and the fragile hope. This isn’t just a story, it’s an experience that stays with you long after the last page.
October 28, 2025
This book completely undid me. The writing is raw and hauntingly beautiful, it feels like reading a dream that slowly turns into a nightmare. The boy’s voice is so fragile and pure, yet full of pain he doesn’t understand. I loved how the author blurs the line between what’s real and what’s imagined. The ending left me staring at the wall in silence. Truly unforgettable.
May 31, 2020
I went into to this with high hopes but i could not connect with writing style at all. What i managed to read was okay but it never gave me the drive to continue with the book.
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
January 11, 2020
Ambitious and successful, by and large. Not easy to read. Very moving.
July 14, 2022
Don't let the bastards grind you down. Ever!!
August 22, 2022
Such a beautiful book. It’s transcends time and place and reaches everyone. Would highly recommend
September 4, 2023
This book is a fabulous story - brilliantly written - a modern classic. If you only read one book this year - make it this - it is, simply put, sublime. A true work of brilliance!
November 16, 2025
Disturbing, dark, glorious with a startlingly fresh writing style, this is a novel well worth savouring.
September 22, 2022
STRONG 5/5!
Favourite book ever?
Favourite book ever?
May 14, 2019
The opening chapter is outstanding, a powerful stream-of-consciousness which sets the characters and place. I love it.
I did initially struggle with the following chapters as the tale darkened and became more fragmented, but it cleverly follows the fractured psyche of the unnamed narrator.
Damaged, hearttwarming and challenging - these characters will haunt you.
I did initially struggle with the following chapters as the tale darkened and became more fragmented, but it cleverly follows the fractured psyche of the unnamed narrator.
Damaged, hearttwarming and challenging - these characters will haunt you.
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March 17, 2019I personally did not have the patience to finish this book.
The whole not giving location,date,name thing bugged me more than I thought it would.
I felt I spent a lot of time waiting for things to be explained. I'm still not sure what's going on in the school,how it's run or if there are even lessons.
Just not for me unfortunately.
The whole not giving location,date,name thing bugged me more than I thought it would.
I felt I spent a lot of time waiting for things to be explained. I'm still not sure what's going on in the school,how it's run or if there are even lessons.
Just not for me unfortunately.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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