Spill Simmer Falter Wither
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By Sara Baume
avg rating
5 reviews
SHORTLISTED FOR THE COSTA FIRST NOVEL AWARD 2015
LONGLISTED FOR THE GUARDIAN FIRST BOOK AWARD 2015
LONGLISTED FOR THE DESMOND ELLIOTT PRIZE 2016
WINNER OF THE SUNDAY INDEPENDENT NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR, IRISH BOOK AWARDS 2015
WINNER OF THE GEOFFREY FABER MEMORIAL PRIZE FOR FICTION
You find me on a Tuesday, on my Tuesday trip to town. A note sellotaped to the inside of the jumble-shop window: COMPASSIONATE & TOLERANT OWNER. A PERSON WITHOUT OTHER PETS & WITHOUT CHILDREN UNDER FOUR.
A misfit man finds a misfit dog. Ray, aged fifty-seven, ‘too old for starting over, too young for giving up’, and One Eye, a vicious little bugger, smaller than expected, a good ratter. Both are accustomed to being alone, unloved, outcast – but they quickly find in each other a strange companionship of sorts. As spring turns to summer, their relationship grows and intensifies, until a savage act forces them to abandon the precarious life they’d established, and take to the road.
Spill Simmer Falter Wither is a wholly different kind of love story: a devastating portrait of loneliness, loss and friendship, and of the scars that are more than skin-deep. Written with tremendous empathy and insight, in lyrical language that surprises and delights, this is an extraordinary and heartbreaking debut by a major new talent
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A truly brilliant read!
Sara Baume writes so beautifully that I sometimes re-read certain passages of this book. The relationship between a lonely man who finds it hard to live in the world around him and a poor mistreated dog, is wonderful. I would have preferred a clearer and more upbeat ending though.
I would recommend this book and would read more books by the author.
The mixed reaction from our reading group produced adjectives that included brilliant, fantastic, clever and, conversely, depressing. In fact some of us felt that the book was so beautifully written that it might require a second reading to appreciate it fully although not a book for those who are more plot than character driven.
The themes of love, companionship and revenge are explored. Ray’s father is absent, but influential in this unusual book.
An ugly mutt (later re-named Oneeye) who has escaped from his keepers (and their badger hunting) is adopted by Ray, the recluse who lives in a cottage by the sea. Here secrets and horrors await discovery.
“I don’t do dogs in books, but somehow the descriptive language at the start of the book captured my attention and then I lost myself in the book” was the gist of one of our reader’s comments. In total contrast, another member of the group said the descriptive passages annoyed her from page one, the whole thing could have been said quicker and she skipped to the ending which she agreed was good.
Ray’s relationship with the dog, Oneeye develops. Together they discover that freedom for them means there are choices to be made and not all of them are easy ones. Neither character ever becomes particularly likeable, but their true natures and motivations are partly justified as the reader’s understanding of their background grows.
Altogether a very well written, interesting and thought provoking book that was thoroughly enjoyed by most of our readers.
Average score 7.5/10
St Regulus Reading Group
Unexpectedly enjoyed this book. Being a dog owner, I was quite sympathetic to the dog and the way the story unfolded was quite sad. The lonely boy and his life in the house of his father sounded horrendous. The way the story ended cause much conversation when reviewing the book, as there was a difference of opinion, which is what the book club is all about!
This unusual book was a good read. A misfit dog finds a loving home and begins the greatest adventure of his life. A heart-rending glimpse into a damaged life gives hope, for a time, yet the intrusion of the real world brings an inevitable conclusion.
