Yes, this last week of the academic year is finally upon us, bringing with it sunshine and summer rains, the longest school vacation of the year, and all of the adventures (whether personal or via some serious TV series’, video game, or novel-reading marathons…) with which we will fill these long summer days. And, perhaps most excitingly of all, the end of term brings with it our dramatic, edge-of-your-seat-with-anticipation final reveal of, yes, the Most Borrowed Fiction Book of 2014/15 (at least at SGS College!)
And so, with the tension rising, and a drum roll please, our first place prize winner is… …
1: The Shock of the Fall, by Nathan Filer
It’s really quite fitting that the most borrowed fiction novel of this year comes from a local! Author Nathan Filer is a Bristol boy born and bred, who lived much of his life in Winterbourne, and studied at the University of the West of England, a short walk from the WISE Campus of SGS! Nathan now teaches Creative Writing at Bath Spa University.
The Shock of the Fall has been heralded by many as one of 2014’s best novels dealing with mental illness, tragedy and death. This book tells the story of two brothers, Matthew and Simon: The tragic childhood death of one, and the subsequent battles with mental illness faced by the other. Sincere and moving, whilst still holding on to the touches of humour and humanity which “real life” frequently dishes out alongside its tragedies, it is no wonder that this book has not only been lauded by critics and health care professionals alike, but also by SGS Students, who, by voting with their library cards, have chosen this novel as their Most Borrowed Fiction Novel of 2014/15.
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