Though the bodies fall is a beautiful written book that sensitively tackles the subjects of suicide and mental health issues. Micheál Burns lives at the end of Kerry Head in Ireland and learns from an early age that the family tradition is to help the ‘visitors’ and distract them from their aim to jump from the cliff on their land. They are an absolute priority for his mother and he is destined to follow in her footsteps no matter what the consequences are for him personally. When his sisters suggest selling the property, he is reluctant and the novel reflects on his loses as a result of this vocation.
This is an original book that I found enthralling and heartbreaking. It will remain with you long after the final word and it was beautifully narrated which adds to the narrative.

A lyrical and gutsy book about the fears of not being able to save people, I thought this book was clever and thoughtful, allowing for subtle gestures and comments to be windows to much bigger worlds against a backdrop of sitcoms and failed relationships.

I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The early part of the book paints the picture, although you may not realise it fully until you are further in. Living on a desolate cliff top the family have a sense of duty to their religion, other people or themselves or maybe all three, that duty is to provide a service. Despite their own feelings and despair at times during their lives, the son of the family continues to provide this duty. Moving and thought provoking the book has been beautifully written to capture the feelings of the people involved and also the place. Thank you #NetGalley for the audiobook to review.

Proper enjoyed this one, recommended to family. Though the Bodies Fall is a novel by Noel O’Regan, published in 2023 by Granta Books. It is a powerful and poignant story about a man who lives on an Irish clifftop, where he tries to save the lives of people who come there to end their own. The novel explores themes of duty, despair, fate, and family

This is, at times, quite a dark and bleak tale as it centres very much on loss. But the writing is exquisite. There’s such a strong sense of place, for starters. The setting is the west coast of Ireland, right on the cliff top at a place favoured by those wanting to commit suicide. You know from the outset that it’s not going to be packed with joy and the premise is quite bleak. The central character, Michael, feels he has a legacy and obligation to remain in the former family home and talk to those intent upon ending their life.

It’s a story filled with compassion and tenderness. Although the subject matter is difficult, it’s tackled with honesty and it’s a compelling exploration of what it means to be human. Life affects everyone in a different way and our responses to situations are wildly different. Michael, despite trying to make a life of his own is tethered to the past and it comes at a price.

This is a truly astonishing debut. The writing throughout is accomplished and the themes explored are written about with eloquence. It’s difficult to say I enjoyed the story; I really liked the style and there’s much to reflect upon both whilst reading and afterwards. It’s a haunting tale which has lingered with me, in a positive way. .

A deceptively captivating novel that explores the murky swamps between depression and egocentrism, the comfort of place and routine when all else is lost, and the inescapability of the past. I say "deceptively" because O'Regan's straightforward style, focused on practicalities and the feelings of the moment, and littered with bathetic pop culture references, belies the depth of the impact of the events his characters are experiencing – just as the apparent simplicity of his protagonist belies the extent to which he is lost.

The 2023 Booker judges must have overlooked this novel because it's Irish and features a dead mother.

Seriously, it is a good book about a young man unable to leave his family home atop the cliffs of the Irish West Coast even after his parents have died and sisters long left. The reason he can't leave are the 'visitors' that tend to seek out these parts to commit suicide. Micheál regards it as his duty to offer help, try and talk them out of it. But it gradually becomes clear there are other reasons as well.

The narration is expertly done.

I don't know how Ireland has so many good novelists..

A dark, moving novel highlighting the impact on family systems when people become compelled to help others in extremely challenging situations.
The story centres around Michael whose parents lived in a cliff top home which was a renowned suicide spot. Michael felt compelled to continue trying to rescue the 'visitors' as his parents had done previously but this came at a huge personal cost to him and his wider family.
The book was beautifully narrated which added to the intensity of the reader experience.
Certainly not a light read but one that stirs up plenty of deep emotions and gives opportunity for deep reflection.
I am grateful to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced listener copy of this book and am leaving my honest review voluntarily.

4⭐️

I had the audiobook narrated by Aidan Kelly who is good.

Ok I’m shallow, I went for this book because I love Irish narrators. Literary fiction isn’t really my style I find it too wordy and way too drawn out for my taste. However the writing really gives the reader a great sense of place, you feel like you’re there. I was really drawn by the premise of the book. A remote area that is a magnet for the suicidal and a family who makes it their mission to save them.

The story is told in a dual time frame, which works very well to show the impact this lifestyle has had on the main character Micheál and his sisters from his childhood through to the present day.

It’s dark and at times quite bleak, and there’s an underlying sadness throughout. This doesn’t make for the easiest of reads. But it’s also quite compelling listening.

It’s well written and a good debut, one for you if you like literary fiction.

Though the Bodies Fall
by Noel O'Regan

It is a bit strange to say that one enjoys reading (or listening) to a story that has quite a bleak premise, but
the voice of Micheal, excellently narrated by Aidan Kelly, really spoke to me. Perhaps because he represents the type of person I am familiar with, the rugged country man, at home among the wilds of Ireland, desperate to escape the Sacred Heart adorned environment, lurching towards the big city, hurley under the arm.

In this dark but tender story of an edge of the world existence, we learn about the complexity of families, mental illness, suicide ideation and a life half lived, the lasting consequences of a mother's compulsion.

Micheal is locked into his mother's legacy and it sabotages every relationship he tries to form. The visitors to his clifftop location are drawn by dark powers, but as he questions his own motivations for interceding with their intentions, and grapples with saviour theory, will he allow his sisters' interventions in time to save himself?

This is not for everyone but it is a short, quietly reflective and powerful story about isolation, what draws us and what traps us.

Publication date: 14th September 2023
With thanks to #netgalley and #WFHowes for the ALC