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Falling Animals
The disquieting story of an unidentified man as told by those who crossed paths with him on the last day of his life, Sheila Armstrong’s debut novel is haunting, lyrical and darkly suspenseful.
On an isolated beach set against a lonely, windswept coastline, a pale figure sits serenely against a sand dune staring out to sea. His hands are folded neatly in his lap, his ankles are crossed and there is a faint smile on his otherwise lifeless face.
Months later, after a fruitless investigation, the nameless stranger is buried in an unmarked grave. But the mystery of his life and death lingers on, drawing the nearby villagers into its wake. From strandings to shipwrecks, it is not the first time that strangeness has washed up on their shores.
Told through a chorus of voices, Falling Animals follows the crosshatching threads of lives both true and imagined, real and surreal, past and present. Slowly, over great time and distance, the story of one man, alone on a beach, begins to unravel. Elegiac and atmospheric, dark and disquieting, Sheila Armstrong’s debut novel marks her arrival as one of the most uniquely gifted writers at work in literary fiction today.
On an isolated beach set against a lonely, windswept coastline, a pale figure sits serenely against a sand dune staring out to sea. His hands are folded neatly in his lap, his ankles are crossed and there is a faint smile on his otherwise lifeless face.
Months later, after a fruitless investigation, the nameless stranger is buried in an unmarked grave. But the mystery of his life and death lingers on, drawing the nearby villagers into its wake. From strandings to shipwrecks, it is not the first time that strangeness has washed up on their shores.
Told through a chorus of voices, Falling Animals follows the crosshatching threads of lives both true and imagined, real and surreal, past and present. Slowly, over great time and distance, the story of one man, alone on a beach, begins to unravel. Elegiac and atmospheric, dark and disquieting, Sheila Armstrong’s debut novel marks her arrival as one of the most uniquely gifted writers at work in literary fiction today.
238 pages, Hardcover
First published May 25, 2023
95 people are currently reading
2709 people want to read
About the author
Sheila Armstrong
4 books54 followersSheila Armstrong is a writer from the north-west of Ireland. She is the author of two books: How To Gut A Fish, a collection of short stories, and Falling Animals, a novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 221 reviews
February 26, 2023
This novel is loosely based on a real-life case that happened in Sligo, Ireland back in 2009. The body of a man was found on a beach and despite an extensive police investigation, he was never identified. There were no signs of foul play or drowning, but a post-mortem revealed that he had an advanced stage of cancer. In this tale, Sheila Armstrong imagines all of the people that were linked to the discovery, from the elderly woman who found him, the bus driver that drove him to Sligo and the homeless man who ended up with his backpack. This is not the first time something unusual has washed up on shore. There is also the matter of a recent shipwreck, a local curiosity that no owner has ever claimed. The story delves into its history and the enigma of the dead man, peeling back the lives of everybody involved.
This is Sheila Armstrong's first novel after the widely acclaimed short story collection, How To Gut A Fish. It's quite a melancholy tale - the sadness of a sick man dying completely alone is what moved me most of all. And the mystery of his passing certainly kept me in suspense. However, the main reason I enjoyed the novel is the expert way in which Armstrong imagines the lives of various villagers, revealing the things that make them happy and the troubles that keep them awake at night. The story is written in such a lyrical, perceptive way that had me highlighting multiple lines on my Kindle edition. It's a haunting, intricately spun novel that marks this author out as a serious talent.
Favourite Quotes:
"There is an aching sadness, in the car, but it is untethered: the dead man is a stranger to them. But still, they feel a tenderness towards him, as if he were a bird caught in their kitchen curtains. she rolls down the windows to let the breeze in, to let the grief fly out."
"She is proud of him, fiercely, maddeningly proud; her love throbs beside him at night and he feels the heat of it every morning, even after all these years."
"She had fallen in love with this small place, where the sunsets smear themselves across the sky and drown themselves in the temperamental sea, where the clouds skate across her windows like a stopmotion film."
"People live in each other’s shadow; we must shelter each other rather than live alone and suffer in pride."
This is Sheila Armstrong's first novel after the widely acclaimed short story collection, How To Gut A Fish. It's quite a melancholy tale - the sadness of a sick man dying completely alone is what moved me most of all. And the mystery of his passing certainly kept me in suspense. However, the main reason I enjoyed the novel is the expert way in which Armstrong imagines the lives of various villagers, revealing the things that make them happy and the troubles that keep them awake at night. The story is written in such a lyrical, perceptive way that had me highlighting multiple lines on my Kindle edition. It's a haunting, intricately spun novel that marks this author out as a serious talent.
Favourite Quotes:
"There is an aching sadness, in the car, but it is untethered: the dead man is a stranger to them. But still, they feel a tenderness towards him, as if he were a bird caught in their kitchen curtains. she rolls down the windows to let the breeze in, to let the grief fly out."
"She is proud of him, fiercely, maddeningly proud; her love throbs beside him at night and he feels the heat of it every morning, even after all these years."
"She had fallen in love with this small place, where the sunsets smear themselves across the sky and drown themselves in the temperamental sea, where the clouds skate across her windows like a stopmotion film."
"People live in each other’s shadow; we must shelter each other rather than live alone and suffer in pride."
September 9, 2024
3.5 🌟
‘Mystery piling on top of mystery, clue against counter-clue. A thread of coincidences, or just each fact happening in a certain way, one after the other, and when you look at them expecting to see a pattern, you force them into unnatural, unreal shapes.’
🌟🌟🌟💫
After watching BBC ‘Between the Covers’, I had such high hopes for this book, so my disappointment is probably partially my own fault. It had such a promising premise, I was determined to like it and I did like the first few chapters (and yes, the cover also) yet after a few chapters it fell completely flat for me. However, it did pick back up in the latter half of the book…
I could literally write two completely different reviews for this book; one excellent 🤩, the other awful 🥴 however, that’s not what a book is about. It’s not judged by a single chapter alone, it is a whole, round, circular structure of art. And so I will judge it as that; as a whole - both positives and negatives included.
Interestingly this book is loosely based on a real-life case in County Sligo that occurred in 2009. The body of a man was found washed up on a beach and despite an intense police investigation, the man remained unidentified. In this story, Sheila Armstrong includes all of the people that were potentially linked to the discovery; from the elderly woman who found him, the bus driver that drove him to Sligo and the homeless man who ended up with his backpack. However she also recounts the people connected to another wash on the beach - this time a ship wreck!
One this I did enjoy about this book was the format in which the story was laid out. Each chapter had subdivisions for each character. There were many POV but it was always clear who they were even if I didn’t understand how they contributed to the overall storyline. However, this was mildly confusing at the beginning and I felt like some chapters and characters were pretty useless and unnecessary but by the end most of which slotted into place.
My main issue with this book was that it lacked real genuine characterisation for me. I feel like Sheila tried to include to many POV that we didn’t really get to know any of them. Maybe if the book was longer or if there was less jumping around between characters the connection could have been stronger. Despite it being set in Ireland I found it very hard to connect with which is unusual for me. Another issue I had with this book (yet again this is a me problem) was that there was almost no dialogue which does not bode well for me; I usually prefer the opposite!
I totally appreciated what Sheila was trying to do, it started to lose momentum after a great start which left me feeling very disappointed however, I have to applaud her for picking it up and finishing well. By the end, Sheila had created a vividly somber sense of loss and loneliness, she has also worked in some little witty gems that lift the atmosphere slightly. She has cleverly constructed this tale.
This book was however, beautifully written, in fact so beautiful I almost didn’t know it was telling me lol 😂 it sounded lyrical and almost poetic in nature and for that I will share some of my favourite quotes:
‘She herself has always believed that change will come, one way or another, but there is no need to leap headfirst into uncertainty.’
‘People live in each other's shadow; we must shelter each other rather than live alone and suffer in pride.’
‘The tortoiseshell cat wends its way between the two women’s legs, making the ship of infinity, gentle purring brings something like equilibrium.’
‘Sometimes that slate just stays dirty….
Let dead men rest.’
And finally, the last page might just be my favourite part of the whole book. It is so beautifully written, so insightful into the world and humanity. It is a chorus coming together to the horizon…where the world ends…’have you ever felt so alive?’…
🌟🌟🌟💫
‘Mystery piling on top of mystery, clue against counter-clue. A thread of coincidences, or just each fact happening in a certain way, one after the other, and when you look at them expecting to see a pattern, you force them into unnatural, unreal shapes.’
🌟🌟🌟💫
After watching BBC ‘Between the Covers’, I had such high hopes for this book, so my disappointment is probably partially my own fault. It had such a promising premise, I was determined to like it and I did like the first few chapters (and yes, the cover also) yet after a few chapters it fell completely flat for me. However, it did pick back up in the latter half of the book…
I could literally write two completely different reviews for this book; one excellent 🤩, the other awful 🥴 however, that’s not what a book is about. It’s not judged by a single chapter alone, it is a whole, round, circular structure of art. And so I will judge it as that; as a whole - both positives and negatives included.
Interestingly this book is loosely based on a real-life case in County Sligo that occurred in 2009. The body of a man was found washed up on a beach and despite an intense police investigation, the man remained unidentified. In this story, Sheila Armstrong includes all of the people that were potentially linked to the discovery; from the elderly woman who found him, the bus driver that drove him to Sligo and the homeless man who ended up with his backpack. However she also recounts the people connected to another wash on the beach - this time a ship wreck!
One this I did enjoy about this book was the format in which the story was laid out. Each chapter had subdivisions for each character. There were many POV but it was always clear who they were even if I didn’t understand how they contributed to the overall storyline. However, this was mildly confusing at the beginning and I felt like some chapters and characters were pretty useless and unnecessary but by the end most of which slotted into place.
My main issue with this book was that it lacked real genuine characterisation for me. I feel like Sheila tried to include to many POV that we didn’t really get to know any of them. Maybe if the book was longer or if there was less jumping around between characters the connection could have been stronger. Despite it being set in Ireland I found it very hard to connect with which is unusual for me. Another issue I had with this book (yet again this is a me problem) was that there was almost no dialogue which does not bode well for me; I usually prefer the opposite!
I totally appreciated what Sheila was trying to do, it started to lose momentum after a great start which left me feeling very disappointed however, I have to applaud her for picking it up and finishing well. By the end, Sheila had created a vividly somber sense of loss and loneliness, she has also worked in some little witty gems that lift the atmosphere slightly. She has cleverly constructed this tale.
This book was however, beautifully written, in fact so beautiful I almost didn’t know it was telling me lol 😂 it sounded lyrical and almost poetic in nature and for that I will share some of my favourite quotes:
‘She herself has always believed that change will come, one way or another, but there is no need to leap headfirst into uncertainty.’
‘People live in each other's shadow; we must shelter each other rather than live alone and suffer in pride.’
‘The tortoiseshell cat wends its way between the two women’s legs, making the ship of infinity, gentle purring brings something like equilibrium.’
‘Sometimes that slate just stays dirty….
Let dead men rest.’
And finally, the last page might just be my favourite part of the whole book. It is so beautifully written, so insightful into the world and humanity. It is a chorus coming together to the horizon…where the world ends…’have you ever felt so alive?’…
🌟🌟🌟💫
May 30, 2024
WOW.
Absolutely magnificent. I’m sorry but I cannot think straight - this is a perfect book.
5 ⭐️ - Brilliant. I loved it.
Absolutely magnificent. I’m sorry but I cannot think straight - this is a perfect book.
5 ⭐️ - Brilliant. I loved it.
July 28, 2023
In Falling Animals, a body is found on the beach in an Irish town and is never identified. Through vignettes, we get to know the people in the village, and around the world, that came into contact with whoever this man was.
This book took me by surprise. I was immediately captivated and was annoyed when I had to put this book down. I found the writing gorgeous and haunting. Each chapter is from a different pov and yet every character feels real and complete. Once I started seeing how everything connects, I would go back and read previous chapters. The story is mysterious and melancholic. A beautiful book on loss and community. I don't know how else to say that this has quickly become a new favorite.
This book took me by surprise. I was immediately captivated and was annoyed when I had to put this book down. I found the writing gorgeous and haunting. Each chapter is from a different pov and yet every character feels real and complete. Once I started seeing how everything connects, I would go back and read previous chapters. The story is mysterious and melancholic. A beautiful book on loss and community. I don't know how else to say that this has quickly become a new favorite.
February 21, 2024
This book opens with a worker removing a dead seal from an Irish beach, followed shortly by the discovery of a man's body on the same beach. The authorities perform an autopsy but find no signs of foul play. He has apparently died of natural causes, but they cannot figure out who he is or where he lived. Each chapter then relates separate but overlapping stories from the viewpoint of different characters living in an unnamed nearby town. Some of these people had seen the man during his stay, others tell the story of a ship that had foundered not far from shore.
It is lyrically written. Armstrong is clearly a talented author. The descriptions of the wildlife and natural settings are vivid and easy to picture. The main drawback is the fragmented nature of the overarching storyline. The stories are connected but leave perhaps too much up to the reading to figure out. I ended up with a plausible scenario that explained the death, but I am pretty sure others will see it differently. It will appeal to readers who do not require a plot, or who enjoy “experimental” writing, more than those who are looking for storytelling or a clear-cut resolution to a mystery. I debated between three and four stars, but finally rounded up due to the beautiful writing style. I look forward to reading more from this author.
It is lyrically written. Armstrong is clearly a talented author. The descriptions of the wildlife and natural settings are vivid and easy to picture. The main drawback is the fragmented nature of the overarching storyline. The stories are connected but leave perhaps too much up to the reading to figure out. I ended up with a plausible scenario that explained the death, but I am pretty sure others will see it differently. It will appeal to readers who do not require a plot, or who enjoy “experimental” writing, more than those who are looking for storytelling or a clear-cut resolution to a mystery. I debated between three and four stars, but finally rounded up due to the beautiful writing style. I look forward to reading more from this author.
April 22, 2023
This is the book that has finally persuaded me to annotate as I read. The number of times I had to pause reading to sit with a passage or even just a turn of phrase. Armstrong’s writing is magnificent. Profoundly beautiful and compelling. It kept me going when I felt I was losing my grip on the story, pulled me back in at the end, and then it would not let go. The following is one of a hundred passages I could have highlighted, but I think this is the one that cut deepest:
‘Your doctor says that the final name etched on the plaque is not one of us, that he was not lost at sea. That his heart simply decided to lay down its weight. But we claim him as one of our own, because, no matter the cause - a sad, wet end, a violent cut, a quiet slipping away - all our hearts have laid down their weights.’
The book is split into many accounts from people who knew of the dead man on the beach. I enjoyed some of their stories more than others. What I would give for a whole novel about Nessa. I could have read about her for hours. Her chapter then leads into the final one; an ending that has me in a chokehold. Utterly unsatisfying and yet, complete and resolute. I really enjoyed Falling Animals, and look forward to reading How to Gut a Fish, this author’s short story collection.
Thank you to Bloomsbury for the advanced copy. I will certainly be buying my own (the cover is to die for) and highlighting every inch of it. Falling Animals is out May 25th ♥️
‘Your doctor says that the final name etched on the plaque is not one of us, that he was not lost at sea. That his heart simply decided to lay down its weight. But we claim him as one of our own, because, no matter the cause - a sad, wet end, a violent cut, a quiet slipping away - all our hearts have laid down their weights.’
The book is split into many accounts from people who knew of the dead man on the beach. I enjoyed some of their stories more than others. What I would give for a whole novel about Nessa. I could have read about her for hours. Her chapter then leads into the final one; an ending that has me in a chokehold. Utterly unsatisfying and yet, complete and resolute. I really enjoyed Falling Animals, and look forward to reading How to Gut a Fish, this author’s short story collection.
Thank you to Bloomsbury for the advanced copy. I will certainly be buying my own (the cover is to die for) and highlighting every inch of it. Falling Animals is out May 25th ♥️
February 7, 2023
I was so excited for this book that I couldn't resist reading it four months early...!! Can we just take a second to appreciate how gorgeous this book cover is as well?! Stunning.
Anyway, sadly as much as I was so convinced I would love Falling Animals from the blurb (and yes, the cover), it didn't really work for me as a whole. It has such a stunning opening, and the first few chapters I thought were wonderful, absolutely gorgeous prose. Ireland really does produce the best writers doesn't it?
I totally appreciated what Sheila was trying to do here, but I really started to lose momentum half way through the book, right through to what I found to be an unsatisfying conclusion.
The story is set in a small Irish coastal town where a man is found dead on a beach, sitting upright and cross-legged, with not a shred of identity on him. Even the labels have been cut out of his clothes. He is also found sat in front of the remains of a shipwreck.
Each chapter of the novel then follows a different character that either lives in the town, or has some connection to the dead man or the shipwreck. The novel compels you forward as you're immediately desperate to discover who this man is and how he died. The only issue is that the book seems to lose focus from this and concentrate on the lives of these other characters, which I enjoyed aspects of, but ultimately found myself constantly thinking 'yes, but what about the man?!'
All in all, beautiful prose and huge potential, but not quite the book I wanted it to be.
Anyway, sadly as much as I was so convinced I would love Falling Animals from the blurb (and yes, the cover), it didn't really work for me as a whole. It has such a stunning opening, and the first few chapters I thought were wonderful, absolutely gorgeous prose. Ireland really does produce the best writers doesn't it?
I totally appreciated what Sheila was trying to do here, but I really started to lose momentum half way through the book, right through to what I found to be an unsatisfying conclusion.
The story is set in a small Irish coastal town where a man is found dead on a beach, sitting upright and cross-legged, with not a shred of identity on him. Even the labels have been cut out of his clothes. He is also found sat in front of the remains of a shipwreck.
Each chapter of the novel then follows a different character that either lives in the town, or has some connection to the dead man or the shipwreck. The novel compels you forward as you're immediately desperate to discover who this man is and how he died. The only issue is that the book seems to lose focus from this and concentrate on the lives of these other characters, which I enjoyed aspects of, but ultimately found myself constantly thinking 'yes, but what about the man?!'
All in all, beautiful prose and huge potential, but not quite the book I wanted it to be.
December 20, 2023
A confusing collection of tenuously connected chapters that left much unresolved.
April 3, 2024
Setting: Ireland; modern day.
On an windswept beach near a run-down village on the west coast of Ireland, an elderly man's body is found sitting in the dunes looking out to sea with his jacket folded neatly beside him. An autopsy to discover the cause of death is inconclusive and his identity is unknown. In a series of short chapters, several different characters who were involved in the man's journey to the village and his discovery on the beach reveal their stories; several tales revolve around the wreck of a cargo ship which has been stranded in the harbour for many years, how it got there and reveal possible links to the unidentified man....
This was a totally engrossing read - the prose is sinuous and spell-binding with each character coming fully to life in their brief 'pen-pics'. A wonderful achievement, particularly so for a debut novel. Will be looking out for more from this author in the future and already requested her previous book of short stories from the library! - 9/10.
On an windswept beach near a run-down village on the west coast of Ireland, an elderly man's body is found sitting in the dunes looking out to sea with his jacket folded neatly beside him. An autopsy to discover the cause of death is inconclusive and his identity is unknown. In a series of short chapters, several different characters who were involved in the man's journey to the village and his discovery on the beach reveal their stories; several tales revolve around the wreck of a cargo ship which has been stranded in the harbour for many years, how it got there and reveal possible links to the unidentified man....
This was a totally engrossing read - the prose is sinuous and spell-binding with each character coming fully to life in their brief 'pen-pics'. A wonderful achievement, particularly so for a debut novel. Will be looking out for more from this author in the future and already requested her previous book of short stories from the library! - 9/10.
October 30, 2024
"Maar bij deze man heeft hij het vreemde gevoel van een snel bewegend voorwerp dat abrupt tot stilstand was gekomen, en waarvan de rimpels zich nog naar buiten uitbreidden, terwijl het tot stilstand gekomen voorwerp natrilde van verplaatste energie." (p. 159)
In Er schuilt een vreemde in ons, neemt de Ierse auteur Sheila Armstrong de lezer mee naar het fictieve kustdorp Darragh, waar een dode man wordt aangetroffen onderaan de kliffen. Dit mysterieuze lichaam, rustig zittend met zicht op de zee en zonder enige identificeerbare bezittingen, zet een speurtocht in gang naar zijn verleden en de betekenis van zijn komst naar dit dorp. Rond deze ongrijpbare figuur ontvouwt zich een serie verhalen van de dorpsbewoners, van de eenzame dokter tot de priester en de kokkin. Ieder draagt zijn eigen verhaal en zijn eigen rugzak, die prachtig in beeld worden gebracht: soms door een korte ontmoeting met de onbekende man, soms door hun dagdagelijkse strijd in het afgelegen kustplaatsje.
Door deze verhalen verweeft Armstrong een breder, bijna poëtisch beeld van het dorpsleven, waar zee en zand een voortdurend decor vormen voor verhalen van verlies, hoop en geheimen die door de tijd langzaam worden uitgewist. De kracht van Armstrongs taal schuilt in haar vermogen om de ruige natuur en melancholie van het Ierse kustlandschap haast tastbaar te maken, wat de mystiek van het verhaal vergroot. Haar taal, of haar stem, is als - zoals ze het zelf beschrijft aan het einde van het verhaal - het laatste gonzen van een insectenvleugel tegen een spinnenweb. Doodstil en krachtig tegelijk.
Hoe ze het doet is een raadsel, maar de vraag naar de identiteit van de dode man vervaagt steeds meer, tot die helemaal naar de achtergrond verdwijnt. In plaats daarvan komt enerzijds de kracht van gemeenschap en anderzijds een overweldigend gevoel van eenzaamheid naar voren, verweven in de woeste natuur en de levens van de dorpelingen. Er schuilt een vreemde in ons is een fascinerend literair portret, dat tegelijkertijd klein en groot(s) voelt en de lezer zacht maar dwingend bij de hand neemt in een wondermooie mix van verwondering en mysterie.
In Er schuilt een vreemde in ons, neemt de Ierse auteur Sheila Armstrong de lezer mee naar het fictieve kustdorp Darragh, waar een dode man wordt aangetroffen onderaan de kliffen. Dit mysterieuze lichaam, rustig zittend met zicht op de zee en zonder enige identificeerbare bezittingen, zet een speurtocht in gang naar zijn verleden en de betekenis van zijn komst naar dit dorp. Rond deze ongrijpbare figuur ontvouwt zich een serie verhalen van de dorpsbewoners, van de eenzame dokter tot de priester en de kokkin. Ieder draagt zijn eigen verhaal en zijn eigen rugzak, die prachtig in beeld worden gebracht: soms door een korte ontmoeting met de onbekende man, soms door hun dagdagelijkse strijd in het afgelegen kustplaatsje.
Door deze verhalen verweeft Armstrong een breder, bijna poëtisch beeld van het dorpsleven, waar zee en zand een voortdurend decor vormen voor verhalen van verlies, hoop en geheimen die door de tijd langzaam worden uitgewist. De kracht van Armstrongs taal schuilt in haar vermogen om de ruige natuur en melancholie van het Ierse kustlandschap haast tastbaar te maken, wat de mystiek van het verhaal vergroot. Haar taal, of haar stem, is als - zoals ze het zelf beschrijft aan het einde van het verhaal - het laatste gonzen van een insectenvleugel tegen een spinnenweb. Doodstil en krachtig tegelijk.
Hoe ze het doet is een raadsel, maar de vraag naar de identiteit van de dode man vervaagt steeds meer, tot die helemaal naar de achtergrond verdwijnt. In plaats daarvan komt enerzijds de kracht van gemeenschap en anderzijds een overweldigend gevoel van eenzaamheid naar voren, verweven in de woeste natuur en de levens van de dorpelingen. Er schuilt een vreemde in ons is een fascinerend literair portret, dat tegelijkertijd klein en groot(s) voelt en de lezer zacht maar dwingend bij de hand neemt in een wondermooie mix van verwondering en mysterie.
October 9, 2023
Falling Animals is the first novel by Sheila Armstrong. Set in a fictional Irish village it starts with the discovery of a body. Sat cross legged staring out at sea, his identity is a mystery but while this may be the opening of the story it is not it’s beginning.
Every chapter in this book is from the viewpoint of a different person, and how they were affected by this man in real life, or by the discovery of his body. While it is about a death, it is not a murder mystery. While there is a backdrop of the guards (police) trying to find out what happened this is not where the heart of the book lies. This is a book that is very different to what I was expecting, and wildly different to anything I have read before. It is poetic, lyrical and mysterious. I absolutely loved it. I honestly can’t describe it and do it justice, so I’ll leave it there.
One of the best books I have read this year. Highly recommended
Every chapter in this book is from the viewpoint of a different person, and how they were affected by this man in real life, or by the discovery of his body. While it is about a death, it is not a murder mystery. While there is a backdrop of the guards (police) trying to find out what happened this is not where the heart of the book lies. This is a book that is very different to what I was expecting, and wildly different to anything I have read before. It is poetic, lyrical and mysterious. I absolutely loved it. I honestly can’t describe it and do it justice, so I’ll leave it there.
One of the best books I have read this year. Highly recommended
June 25, 2025
This and the idea of unnatural serenity is going to haunt me for a long time
February 21, 2023
however super pretty the writing was in this book i just don’t like books about boats and the sea
March 24, 2024
3,5 *
January 10, 2023
It’s so beautifully written that you find yourself wanting to highlight every sentence, every perfect turn of phrase. The prose is poetic but the narrative doesn’t suffer for it, the mystery is lurking in the background edging you forwards. Gorgeous wild setting and achingly recognisable characters with real problems.
May 27, 2024
After reading Armstrong's short story collection How to Gut a Fish, I was convinced that I'd never read anything from her again. I apologize. Today, I'm clearly being a bit too honest about short story collections that I think are poorly written, and Armstrong's is one of those. However, after hearing the premise of Falling Animals I thought that this just might be a winner for me, and indeed it was!
Told in a manner that structurally reminds me of Jon McGregor's Reservoir 13. However, where each chapter in McGregor's novel represents a calendar year after a girl goes missing, each chapter in Armstrong's novel is told from the perspective of a character who has interacted-even if briefly-with a man who is found dead on the beach. Although on the short side, each chapter gives the reader enough insight to the character that you feel connected to each person for one reason or another.
This story is less about how/why the man on the beach died and more about the people who are left with their memories of him-clear or not-and how they must continue on in their lives in spite of their loss. It's a collective story of loss, death, and fear. But it's also a story of love and hope in the face of adversity.
I think that Armstrong is a much better novel writer than short story writer, and I would happily reread this, recommend it, and read another novel she publishes!
And while work is eating up all of my reading time (Really, I'm not complaining, but just miss reading), this was such a great reading experience.
[Audiobook, Audible...They sucked me in with their 1 book for 99 cents/month x3 months!]
Told in a manner that structurally reminds me of Jon McGregor's Reservoir 13. However, where each chapter in McGregor's novel represents a calendar year after a girl goes missing, each chapter in Armstrong's novel is told from the perspective of a character who has interacted-even if briefly-with a man who is found dead on the beach. Although on the short side, each chapter gives the reader enough insight to the character that you feel connected to each person for one reason or another.
This story is less about how/why the man on the beach died and more about the people who are left with their memories of him-clear or not-and how they must continue on in their lives in spite of their loss. It's a collective story of loss, death, and fear. But it's also a story of love and hope in the face of adversity.
I think that Armstrong is a much better novel writer than short story writer, and I would happily reread this, recommend it, and read another novel she publishes!
And while work is eating up all of my reading time (Really, I'm not complaining, but just miss reading), this was such a great reading experience.
[Audiobook, Audible...They sucked me in with their 1 book for 99 cents/month x3 months!]
September 20, 2024
In this debut novel, the Irish short-story writer Sheila Armstrong presents the mystery of an unknown man whose body is found on a beach in Western Ireland. Each chapter takes the point of view of someone who interacted with the man or his belongings..an approach that reminded me strongly of Reservoir 13. The writing was lovely, and I enjoyed the way Armstrong built out the story, although it was annoying as heck not to be able to remember that the book I was being reminded of was Reservoir 13.
Read
February 21, 2024Any review of Falling Animals by Sheila Armstrong needs to start with some sort of caveat. If you read that it's about the body of an old man which is discovered on a windswept coastline in north-western Ireland, you might be forgiven for expecting a gripping police procedural with lots of action, a steadily rising body count, people tied up in cellars, gangland rivalry or at the very least a certain amount of county lines activity. And if those are pretty much essential ingredients for you to be able to appreciate a book, I can only advise you to look elsewhere because they are now, almost literally ten a penny. If, on the other hand, an adrenaline rush is not all you're looking for in a novel, if you welcome the opportunity to immerse yourself in the warm bath of a story and allow it to wash over you, if you feel emotional intelligence and an instinctive sympathy for the characters counts for something, please do give this a try.
Because it's not a crime novel and was surely never intended to be viewed as such. It's not even about the body on the beach when it comes down to it. The old man is not the central character or even a significant one, other than the role of catalyst which he plays. It's about communities, about real people, about the lives led by the inhabitants of this small coastal town who came into some limited form of contact with this total stranger on the last day of his life. It's told from multiple viewpoints, which any writer will tell you is not the easiest way to go about things as there is always the danger that narrators who appear, then are not heard from again until later, can be confusing and difficult to pin down. Who's this again? What was she doing before?
It's certainly a bold move on Sheila Armstrong's part to approach her debut novel in such an ambitious way, but maybe it's less surprising if you take into account the fact that she's already caused quite a stir as a writer of short stories. What she's done here is to introduce a number of characters and use the body on the beach to link them. They emerge from nowhere, disappear, then pop up again in a later account, becoming strands that intertwine and draw the reader into the heart of the novel.
I read elsewhere that the author feels very comfortable with the idea of viewing the story from a bird's eye perspective, dipping in and flitting away, and she does this so well. Not one of the narrators is purely incidental. They all tell us something about someone and the separate strands are woven together with consummate skill into a convincing whole.
This book is about love, loss, togetherness, a community's tragic yet compelling relationship with the sea which serves, sustains and snatches from them in equal measure. The writing has an almost hypnotic, meditative quality to it, drawing us in and then pushing us away like the ebb and flow of the tide. It is one of the most remarkable pieces of prose I've come across, almost certainly required reading for any Creative Writing course. If I ever produce something even in the same ballpark as this, it will all have been worthwhile.
Five stars? Hell . . . ten more like. It's just wonderful
Because it's not a crime novel and was surely never intended to be viewed as such. It's not even about the body on the beach when it comes down to it. The old man is not the central character or even a significant one, other than the role of catalyst which he plays. It's about communities, about real people, about the lives led by the inhabitants of this small coastal town who came into some limited form of contact with this total stranger on the last day of his life. It's told from multiple viewpoints, which any writer will tell you is not the easiest way to go about things as there is always the danger that narrators who appear, then are not heard from again until later, can be confusing and difficult to pin down. Who's this again? What was she doing before?
It's certainly a bold move on Sheila Armstrong's part to approach her debut novel in such an ambitious way, but maybe it's less surprising if you take into account the fact that she's already caused quite a stir as a writer of short stories. What she's done here is to introduce a number of characters and use the body on the beach to link them. They emerge from nowhere, disappear, then pop up again in a later account, becoming strands that intertwine and draw the reader into the heart of the novel.
I read elsewhere that the author feels very comfortable with the idea of viewing the story from a bird's eye perspective, dipping in and flitting away, and she does this so well. Not one of the narrators is purely incidental. They all tell us something about someone and the separate strands are woven together with consummate skill into a convincing whole.
This book is about love, loss, togetherness, a community's tragic yet compelling relationship with the sea which serves, sustains and snatches from them in equal measure. The writing has an almost hypnotic, meditative quality to it, drawing us in and then pushing us away like the ebb and flow of the tide. It is one of the most remarkable pieces of prose I've come across, almost certainly required reading for any Creative Writing course. If I ever produce something even in the same ballpark as this, it will all have been worthwhile.
Five stars? Hell . . . ten more like. It's just wonderful
May 25, 2023
Falling Animals by Sheila Armstrong publishes today May 25th with Bloomsbury. Described as ‘haunting, lyrical and darkly suspenseful’ this really is an exquisite reading experience. A debut novel already receiving great plaudits and all very much deserved, Falling Animals is quite unlike anything I have read before.
‘An immensely impressive debut from a major literary talent.’ JOSEPH O’CONNOR, author of Shadowplay
‘Lush, lyrical and cleverly-constructed. A beautiful book.’ Louise Kennedy, author of Trespasses
On June 16th, 2009, the body of a man was discovered on a beach in Sligo and, to this day, how he ended up there is shrouded in mystery. Sheila Armstrong was inspired by this event, using it as the stepping stone for her novel. But she is quick to point out that the back story she created is pure fiction and is in no way related to this man, who was named as Peter Bergmann.
“Falling Animals begins as a mystery: the who, how and why of one man’s death. But if somebody picks it and skips to the last page for the answer, they’ll probably be disappointed. My hope is that readers won’t be too concerned with the man’s identity by the end – the other characters will have become just as important, their stories just as gripping. But any book is a conversation, and you can only hope that you’ve created something compelling enough that that your reader wants to listen."– Sheila Armstrong
Sheila Armstrong published her first collection of short stories, How to Gut a Fish, in February 2022 and although Falling Animals is her debut novel, it’s extraordinarily constructed in the form it takes. Featuring a number of different characters, each chapter is from a different viewpoint as lives intersect like a spider’s web, crossing back and forth, with a staggering attention to detail and an astonishing structure.
Each character is given a dedicated chapter with unique titles like the collector, the witness, the firestarter, the diver and so forth. As you explore each chapter, the meaning becomes clear and it all ties expertly together.
Falling Animals is not a book to be rushed. There are numerous moments that require contemplation and silence, unfathomable moments when you need to just consider the sheer expertise and clarity of Sheila Armstrong’s words. I really cannot even begin to describe the quality of the writing as it haunts, provokes, evokes, and stimulates the mind.
Falling Animals is staggeringly beautiful, both inside and out, with a most striking cover, a work of art in its own right. It is a novel of rare artistry and elegance, a really unique and sublime experience, one not to be missed!
‘An immensely impressive debut from a major literary talent.’ JOSEPH O’CONNOR, author of Shadowplay
‘Lush, lyrical and cleverly-constructed. A beautiful book.’ Louise Kennedy, author of Trespasses
On June 16th, 2009, the body of a man was discovered on a beach in Sligo and, to this day, how he ended up there is shrouded in mystery. Sheila Armstrong was inspired by this event, using it as the stepping stone for her novel. But she is quick to point out that the back story she created is pure fiction and is in no way related to this man, who was named as Peter Bergmann.
“Falling Animals begins as a mystery: the who, how and why of one man’s death. But if somebody picks it and skips to the last page for the answer, they’ll probably be disappointed. My hope is that readers won’t be too concerned with the man’s identity by the end – the other characters will have become just as important, their stories just as gripping. But any book is a conversation, and you can only hope that you’ve created something compelling enough that that your reader wants to listen."– Sheila Armstrong
Sheila Armstrong published her first collection of short stories, How to Gut a Fish, in February 2022 and although Falling Animals is her debut novel, it’s extraordinarily constructed in the form it takes. Featuring a number of different characters, each chapter is from a different viewpoint as lives intersect like a spider’s web, crossing back and forth, with a staggering attention to detail and an astonishing structure.
Each character is given a dedicated chapter with unique titles like the collector, the witness, the firestarter, the diver and so forth. As you explore each chapter, the meaning becomes clear and it all ties expertly together.
Falling Animals is not a book to be rushed. There are numerous moments that require contemplation and silence, unfathomable moments when you need to just consider the sheer expertise and clarity of Sheila Armstrong’s words. I really cannot even begin to describe the quality of the writing as it haunts, provokes, evokes, and stimulates the mind.
Falling Animals is staggeringly beautiful, both inside and out, with a most striking cover, a work of art in its own right. It is a novel of rare artistry and elegance, a really unique and sublime experience, one not to be missed!
October 8, 2023
The stunning cover on Falling Animals will surely have readers picking this up off the shelves, but dive into this story, and you'll not be disappointed.
On an isolated beach, a pale figure sits serenely against a sand dune facing out to sea. His hands are folded neatly in his lap, his ankles are crossed, and a faint smile is on his otherwise lifeless face.
The local gardaí investigate but without success. There’s no apparent foul play. There’s no one come forward to identify the man. But the mystery of his life and death lingers long after he’s buried in an unmarked grave, drawing the nearby villagers into its wake.
Sure, these are people no stranger to strangeness washing up on their shores, from strandings to shipwrecks; they’ve seen it all over the years.
Falling Animals is Armstrong’s exceptional debut novel. The story is less concerned with the dead man than the other character’s lives. It is far from your typical mystery or crime novel.
Interestingly, though Armstrong uses a real life event to inspire her novel, on June 16th, 2009, the body of a man (later identified as Peter Bergmann) was discovered on a beach in Sligo and, to this day, how he ended up there is shrouded in mystery.
Each chapter is from a different character's viewpoint, and just as their lives intersect, crossing back and forth with a staggering attention to detail, we learn more of our mystery man. Human life is about connection; sometimes, these are barely perceptible; other times, they leave an indelible mark on all involved.
Armstrong doesn't just weave a story well; she gets right under the skin of our characters, drawing out their personality traits with such vitality that they feel known to us almost personally. That we, too, are part of this little community.
I could quickly inhale this gem in one sitting, but it's one not to rush; take your time and savour the haunting, evocative, pitch perfect prose and dialect. Every word counts in this relatively short read, with such attention to detail shown.
If you’ve enjoyed the quiet, introspective work in the style of Gráinne Murphy, Donal Ryan and Claire Keegan, you will adore Falling Animals. Don’t miss out! 5⭐
Many thanks to the publisher for an advance copy via NetGalley; as always, this is an honest review.
On an isolated beach, a pale figure sits serenely against a sand dune facing out to sea. His hands are folded neatly in his lap, his ankles are crossed, and a faint smile is on his otherwise lifeless face.
The local gardaí investigate but without success. There’s no apparent foul play. There’s no one come forward to identify the man. But the mystery of his life and death lingers long after he’s buried in an unmarked grave, drawing the nearby villagers into its wake.
Sure, these are people no stranger to strangeness washing up on their shores, from strandings to shipwrecks; they’ve seen it all over the years.
Falling Animals is Armstrong’s exceptional debut novel. The story is less concerned with the dead man than the other character’s lives. It is far from your typical mystery or crime novel.
Interestingly, though Armstrong uses a real life event to inspire her novel, on June 16th, 2009, the body of a man (later identified as Peter Bergmann) was discovered on a beach in Sligo and, to this day, how he ended up there is shrouded in mystery.
Each chapter is from a different character's viewpoint, and just as their lives intersect, crossing back and forth with a staggering attention to detail, we learn more of our mystery man. Human life is about connection; sometimes, these are barely perceptible; other times, they leave an indelible mark on all involved.
Armstrong doesn't just weave a story well; she gets right under the skin of our characters, drawing out their personality traits with such vitality that they feel known to us almost personally. That we, too, are part of this little community.
I could quickly inhale this gem in one sitting, but it's one not to rush; take your time and savour the haunting, evocative, pitch perfect prose and dialect. Every word counts in this relatively short read, with such attention to detail shown.
If you’ve enjoyed the quiet, introspective work in the style of Gráinne Murphy, Donal Ryan and Claire Keegan, you will adore Falling Animals. Don’t miss out! 5⭐
Many thanks to the publisher for an advance copy via NetGalley; as always, this is an honest review.
October 29, 2023
Bijzonder boek over een man die dood wordt aangetroffen aan de Ierse kust. Zijn overlijden heeft iets vreemds, zowel zijn identiteit als de doodsoorzaak zijn een mysterie.
Het boek focust zich echter niet veel op die man, maar vertelt verhalen van kustbewoners. Vaak zijn dit eenzame, stugge mensen waar slechts af en toe een glimpje menselijkheid aan af te lezen is.
Die korte beschrijvingen waren erg treffend, het leek alsof je even kort andere mensenlevens in keek. Toch verliest het boek uiteindelijk een beetje de focus op het achterliggende verhaal van de overleden man.
Het boek focust zich echter niet veel op die man, maar vertelt verhalen van kustbewoners. Vaak zijn dit eenzame, stugge mensen waar slechts af en toe een glimpje menselijkheid aan af te lezen is.
Die korte beschrijvingen waren erg treffend, het leek alsof je even kort andere mensenlevens in keek. Toch verliest het boek uiteindelijk een beetje de focus op het achterliggende verhaal van de overleden man.
July 24, 2023
"She rolls down the windows to let the breeze in, to let the grief fly out."
"Angelo has seen a hundred things, and so few of them beautiful. Perhaps the beautiful things are the memories he keeps for himself."
"... in this strange little country that is obsessed with dead men."
"Angelo has seen a hundred things, and so few of them beautiful. Perhaps the beautiful things are the memories he keeps for himself."
"... in this strange little country that is obsessed with dead men."
March 3, 2024
I feel like I’ve read a novel made up entirely of kind of connected short stories. Beautiful description and language, but the plot, what there is, moved far too slowly for me with an unsatisfying ending. My mum lent me this book so felt obliged to read for her.
June 8, 2023
Evocative, haunting, exquisite and gripping, this book and the rich tapestry Armstrong unfolds within its pages is fully deserving of five stars.
April 7, 2024
*4.5 stars* - borrowed from my local library!
A fine, fine novel, beautiful in many ways. I won't lie - it was the cover art that caught my attention at first. The intriguing blurb on the inside cover did the rest.
Each chapter is told from a different characters perspective, and each section covers a different period (out of order) of the narrative. This threw me at first; initially, I felt parts of the book were just a random, rambling collection of characters. This is not so. Several of the characters cross over from chapter to chapter so you, the reader, can assemble the narrative in your head as you go. It's beautiful and haunting; there is a loneliness to this novel, sadness but not the kind that makes you sad or lonely reading it. Armstrong's writing is so very tender; she deals with each character with great respect, letting them explain their lives. It's beautiful, really.
Would I recommend this book? Most definitely, it was a wonderful read.
*Don't forget to support your local library!*
A fine, fine novel, beautiful in many ways. I won't lie - it was the cover art that caught my attention at first. The intriguing blurb on the inside cover did the rest.
Each chapter is told from a different characters perspective, and each section covers a different period (out of order) of the narrative. This threw me at first; initially, I felt parts of the book were just a random, rambling collection of characters. This is not so. Several of the characters cross over from chapter to chapter so you, the reader, can assemble the narrative in your head as you go. It's beautiful and haunting; there is a loneliness to this novel, sadness but not the kind that makes you sad or lonely reading it. Armstrong's writing is so very tender; she deals with each character with great respect, letting them explain their lives. It's beautiful, really.
Would I recommend this book? Most definitely, it was a wonderful read.
*Don't forget to support your local library!*
February 14, 2024
Very, very beautifully written. The prose is majestic in many places. I think though, that maybe the story takes a back seat to the lovely writing.
The interconnected, but not interconnectedness, of this book is what had me hooked though. The tiny connections we have with people we know nothing of. Who all have their own rich and complex lives. It was well done. And whilst part of me ached for them to comes together more to piece together what was happening, I think it winds up being a story truer to reality. Because so infrequently do things work out neatly and succinctly.
I borrowed this audiobook using the Libby app from my local library. Support your local library!
The interconnected, but not interconnectedness, of this book is what had me hooked though. The tiny connections we have with people we know nothing of. Who all have their own rich and complex lives. It was well done. And whilst part of me ached for them to comes together more to piece together what was happening, I think it winds up being a story truer to reality. Because so infrequently do things work out neatly and succinctly.
I borrowed this audiobook using the Libby app from my local library. Support your local library!
April 9, 2025
There are a lot of good things in Sheila Armstong’s debut novel. The most striking thing is its structure. Armstrong follows an event (okay, two events, a death and a shipwreck) through a variety of different characters and of different ways in which the characters relate to it. This sounds too clever, but Armstrong handles her structure professionally and with good humor, without forcing things, without seeming too clever by a quarter. In addition, Armstrong uses the present tense most of the time, and she goes without more than a tiny bit of dialogue, which make the little bits of dialogue that much more important (even when very ordinary). This is top-flight storytelling from yet another great young Irish writer.
Last but not least, the text is designed perfectly, at least for my aging eyes. The perfect font size (in a nice classic Bembo) and leading and margins. I might turn in my e-readers if every book were designed like this one, but alas, this is a rare animal.
Last but not least, the text is designed perfectly, at least for my aging eyes. The perfect font size (in a nice classic Bembo) and leading and margins. I might turn in my e-readers if every book were designed like this one, but alas, this is a rare animal.
August 5, 2024
This book would benefit from another cover. The sentimental shoes left in the sand don’t do it justice.
Sheila Armstrong is one to watch for her lyrical writing and portraits of individuals. Some will not like the many seemingly disparate characters but I enjoyed the circles within circles.
3.8.
Sheila Armstrong is one to watch for her lyrical writing and portraits of individuals. Some will not like the many seemingly disparate characters but I enjoyed the circles within circles.
3.8.
November 27, 2024
Een schip vergaat voor de Ierse kust, alle personages die in het boek aan bod komen hebben iets met dat schip te maken. Mooie, warme en bittere verhalen van de mensen in Ierland die het schip kennen en van de opvarenden. En al die verhalen raken elkaar. Mooi
July 23, 2025
I'm rounding up to a low 7, but it didn't deserve a 6. Intriguing novelistic structure à la Jon McGregor (very unsurprising that he provided a review for the back too), subtly telling a story in a seaside town in piecemeal fashion through the people in that community so bit by bit the focus widens and the picture fills out to reveal a diverse panorama. Well worth a read.
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