Praise for the heartwarming novel of 2017:
Jem Lester writes so beautifully, it feels as if you're eavesdropping on a conversation. Shtum is a book with true heart and soul, and I loved every word
-- Joanna Cannon, author of THE TROUBLE WITH GOATS AND SHEEP
A darker, sadder version of
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, but just as moving * OBSERVER *
Angry and fiercely funny . . . The ending tears the heart out; this is an unforgettable first novel * THE TIMES *
This is the literary territory of
Tony Parsons and
Nick Hornby, infused with the Jewish humour of
Howard Jacobson and
Shalom Auslander . . . an impressive novel that gives a very accurate portrayal of the struggles some families of autistic children endure, while taking the reader on an exhilarating roller coaster ride between pathos, comedy and anger * GUARDIAN *
Moving and, at times, painfully sad, Lester's account is also darkly funny. It is an important reminder of the complex spectrum of human emotion, and a profound insight into an often misunderstood disorder * STYLIST *
'SHTUM is a thought-provoking novel about the silent ties between generations, with a wonderful child character at its heart. I loved Jonah and ached for the impossible decisions his family had to face' -- Julie Cohen
Highly intelligent, warm-hearted and clearly based on experience * THE SUNDAY TIMES *
Powerful, unapologetic and deeply moving, Jem Lester mines a hard-hitting story to discover dark humour and surprising warmth. It's a book that breaks your heart but ultimately uplifts. A
simply stunning novel -- Miranda Dickinson
A tale of family, loss, self-discovery and forgiveness. Prepare to be moved by its beauty * HEAT MAGAZINE *
Warm, funny and sad * DAILY EXPRESS *
Funny yet heart-breaking, the book is likely to be enjoyed by fans of
The Rosie Project and
The Shock of the Fall * INDEPENDENT *
Jem Lester manages to capture a difficult and often heart-wrenching story of a family coping with an autistic son, writing with a fast pace and levity that somehow doesn't lessen any of the emotion of this wonderful novel. A must for your reading list * GRAZIA *
With shades of
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time this former journalist's debut is informed by his own experiences with his non-verbal autistic son * BIG ISSUE *
A book that has you laughing one minute and is breaking your heart the next. * WOMAN AND HOME *
An emotive, button-pushing read that should come with a packet of tissues * RED MAGAZINE *
'[Lester] tells a memorable story full of dark humour and heart twistingly sad insight, about the bond between fathers and sons' * SUNDAY MIRROR *
[Lester carries] off this challenging storyline with spectacular success. There are some very sad moments, but far more that are blackly funny. Lester is superb at comic cameo, and the local authority jobsworths with whom Ben must deal are hilariously drawn. But it is Georg, Ben's severe and loving father, who is the novel's towering achievement; a complex man whose tragic past illuminates the present * DAILY MAIL *
Bleak, candid, funny and touching, this impressively impassioned debut novel reveals how a lack of words does not signify a lack of love * SUNDAY EXPRESS MAGAZINE *
Drawing on his own experience of raising an autistic child, Jem Lester has made this a frank and warm portrait of three men bumbling through life * INDEPENDENT *
'At its heart are the things they need to say to each other but often keep "shtum" about - and the child who says nothing, but communicates his needs eloquently' * FINANCIAL TIMES *
Shtum is a novel of compassionate understanding, and it is absorbing from start to finish. -- Ian Thomson * TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT *
Gritty, heart-breaking and wonderful all at once. -- Natasha Harding * THE SUN *
Prepare for an unsweetened heart-shredder of a novel, as raw as it is real. -- Madeleine Kingsley * JEWISH CHRONICLE *
Heart-wrenching and thought-provoking story of a family coping with an autistic child. -- Fanny Blake * WOMAN & HOME *
This touching novel tells the story of Jonah, a 10-year old boy who can't speak. * NOW MAGAZINE *
Lester's unusual book conveys a profound message about the whole spectrum of humanity... a thought-provoking and moving read. -- Helena Gumley-Mason * THE LADY *
It's the territory of Tony Parsons and Nick Hornby, infused with the Jewish humour of Howard Jacobson and Shalom Auslander. This impressive novel leads the reader through pathos, comedy and anger. * GUARDIAN *
Whether you think
Shtum is a novel about autism or about marriage (it's both, by the way), you will agree that it is, in the end, a love story infused with wit, charm, and a deep appreciation for the complex beauty of damaged souls. * Jonathan Tropper, author of THIS IS WHERE I LEAVE YOU *
A dazzling debut. * DAILY MAIL *
