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Falling Through the World - A Journey Through ME/CFS
Behind the tightly drawn curtains of an ordinary house, something strange is happening to Sarah – something she knows simply cannot be. Her body is turning against her, the world she knows falling apart. It seems nobody can help. The doctor’s confused, her parents argue constantly and her boyfriend, Dan looks on bewildered. Even outspoken Ali, her closest friend, seems powerless against the force of events.
Buffeted by ignorance and conflicting advice from the very people who should be helping her, Sarah trawls through her unravelling life, searching for the moment where it all went wrong.
But can she put the pieces of her world back together again, before it’s too late?
Buffeted by ignorance and conflicting advice from the very people who should be helping her, Sarah trawls through her unravelling life, searching for the moment where it all went wrong.
But can she put the pieces of her world back together again, before it’s too late?
- GenresFictionHealthYoung Adult
193 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 7, 2012
14 people are currently reading
468 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
May 15, 2013
Full review also posted here on TotalTeenFiction
I came across this book whilst researching books on M.E. This is a novel tells the story of Sarah, a teenager who is struck down with a mystery illness. We see her battle her symptoms, whilst also struggling to keep up with friends, relationship and school, and follow her journey as she is eventually diagnosed with M.E.
This is a book that's extremely difficult for me to review because the story is basically my life. I fell ill at fourteen and was diagnosed with M.E at fifteen, so this is all very close to home for me, even more so as I share the main character's name! What I can say is that although at times this was a difficult read for me because of how close the subject matter is to my heart, it was also a highly accurate portrayal of life as a teenage M.E sufferer and I was completely blown away by the phenomenal job the author has done.
Readers who aren't familiar with M.E as an illness will hopefully have their eyes opened by Sarah's story, but aside from that, they'll also find a gripping, emotional story with fantastic characters and a great plot. I hope people won't be put off by the subject matter, because whilst this book carries an underlying message, Clarke has also managed to keep in some great humour and most importantly the feeling of hope which completely lifts this novel up and stops it being too bleak.
The first person POV worked really well and Sarah was a completely engaging character. I fell in love with her voice and laughed along with her as well as feeling the anger and frustration of what she has to endure alongside her. I really loved her friendship with her best friend Ali, which doesn't always run smoothly. Ali herself is a fantastic addition to the story with her sharp tongue and brutal honesty. That sarcastic nature really reminded me of friends of mine and I think she's exactly the kind of friend you need when you have a chronic illness! It was great seeing the strong bond between Sarah and her mum as well, something which really pulled at the heartstrings whilst I was reading and a bond I could identify with.
Sarah's story, as I mentioned, is one I recognised completely. From the terrifying feeling of falling ill and not knowing what's wrong with you and the even scarier prospect of discovering there is no cure. The struggles she faced at school were all too familiar, from her battle to keep in touch with friends, missing school and not gaining qualifications and the rumours that fly around school when you're not there. Her experience of using a wheelchair really hit home - I too felt the embarrassment the first time I used mine. In fact even some of the lines spoken by characters in this book were lines that people in my life have spoken themselves. It really is quite freaky just how accurate it is and I was so relieved it was done so well.
As a YA novel, Falling Through the World has everything - emotion, friendship, heartbreak and romance, as well as family and school related drama! It also tackles the issues that M.E sufferers face every day - the lack of understanding and poor treatment by medical professionals, as well as the crippling symptoms the illness entails.
Reading this book (and writing this review!) had me close to tears, but in the most complimentary way possible. Falling Through the World has managed to balance an addictive story with an important message, and it is a book I will be recommending for years to come.
Find more books like this at TotalTeenFiction!
I came across this book whilst researching books on M.E. This is a novel tells the story of Sarah, a teenager who is struck down with a mystery illness. We see her battle her symptoms, whilst also struggling to keep up with friends, relationship and school, and follow her journey as she is eventually diagnosed with M.E.
This is a book that's extremely difficult for me to review because the story is basically my life. I fell ill at fourteen and was diagnosed with M.E at fifteen, so this is all very close to home for me, even more so as I share the main character's name! What I can say is that although at times this was a difficult read for me because of how close the subject matter is to my heart, it was also a highly accurate portrayal of life as a teenage M.E sufferer and I was completely blown away by the phenomenal job the author has done.
Readers who aren't familiar with M.E as an illness will hopefully have their eyes opened by Sarah's story, but aside from that, they'll also find a gripping, emotional story with fantastic characters and a great plot. I hope people won't be put off by the subject matter, because whilst this book carries an underlying message, Clarke has also managed to keep in some great humour and most importantly the feeling of hope which completely lifts this novel up and stops it being too bleak.
The first person POV worked really well and Sarah was a completely engaging character. I fell in love with her voice and laughed along with her as well as feeling the anger and frustration of what she has to endure alongside her. I really loved her friendship with her best friend Ali, which doesn't always run smoothly. Ali herself is a fantastic addition to the story with her sharp tongue and brutal honesty. That sarcastic nature really reminded me of friends of mine and I think she's exactly the kind of friend you need when you have a chronic illness! It was great seeing the strong bond between Sarah and her mum as well, something which really pulled at the heartstrings whilst I was reading and a bond I could identify with.
Sarah's story, as I mentioned, is one I recognised completely. From the terrifying feeling of falling ill and not knowing what's wrong with you and the even scarier prospect of discovering there is no cure. The struggles she faced at school were all too familiar, from her battle to keep in touch with friends, missing school and not gaining qualifications and the rumours that fly around school when you're not there. Her experience of using a wheelchair really hit home - I too felt the embarrassment the first time I used mine. In fact even some of the lines spoken by characters in this book were lines that people in my life have spoken themselves. It really is quite freaky just how accurate it is and I was so relieved it was done so well.
As a YA novel, Falling Through the World has everything - emotion, friendship, heartbreak and romance, as well as family and school related drama! It also tackles the issues that M.E sufferers face every day - the lack of understanding and poor treatment by medical professionals, as well as the crippling symptoms the illness entails.
Reading this book (and writing this review!) had me close to tears, but in the most complimentary way possible. Falling Through the World has managed to balance an addictive story with an important message, and it is a book I will be recommending for years to come.
Find more books like this at TotalTeenFiction!
September 30, 2013
For disclosure purposes: I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads, and while I do love free books, that didn't influence my review.
This was a quick read; I finished in in a couple of hours today. The author tells the story in first person, in a very convincing teenage voice. We learn right along with Sarah, her friends and her family what it is like to be struck down by a confusing, debilitating disease, and to have little to no support from the medical field, either because it doesn't exist or it isn't very accessible. Sarah shows us her day to day life, how her world has collapsed around her, and in the end, how she manages to cope with her new reality.
My only complaint is that ME is not defined by its full name even once, and as an American reader I didn't know what it referred to. There is one reference to "Mya... Encep...", and I believe chronic fatigue syndrome is mentioned at least once, which did help me understand what condition Sarah was dealing with.
I did not know much at all about ME/CFS before reading this book, and gained some understanding of it through the story. So I'd say the author has attained her goal for every person who reads this book. I think it's worth the time to read it, in particular I'd recommend it for those suffering from a similar chronic illness or their friends or family.
This was a quick read; I finished in in a couple of hours today. The author tells the story in first person, in a very convincing teenage voice. We learn right along with Sarah, her friends and her family what it is like to be struck down by a confusing, debilitating disease, and to have little to no support from the medical field, either because it doesn't exist or it isn't very accessible. Sarah shows us her day to day life, how her world has collapsed around her, and in the end, how she manages to cope with her new reality.
My only complaint is that ME is not defined by its full name even once, and as an American reader I didn't know what it referred to. There is one reference to "Mya... Encep...", and I believe chronic fatigue syndrome is mentioned at least once, which did help me understand what condition Sarah was dealing with.
I did not know much at all about ME/CFS before reading this book, and gained some understanding of it through the story. So I'd say the author has attained her goal for every person who reads this book. I think it's worth the time to read it, in particular I'd recommend it for those suffering from a similar chronic illness or their friends or family.
April 9, 2013
Falling through the World is a story all about a teenager named Sarah. Sarah becomes really ill and is no longer able to continue living a normal teenage life. Her family finds out that the illness that is the best match to Sarah's symptoms is a condition called ME (Mya Encepho) a condition that does not seem to be recognized in the medical world.
In the authors notes in this book Rachel Clarke says that she hopes this novel can do a small amount to raise awareness of ME and she really does achieve this, I did not know anything at all about ME, I had heard about it, but now after reading this book, it does give the reader a better understanding of the condition and with its emotional storyline, it makes you feel more compassionate towards people who suffer from ME, than the detachment of if you had read up on the condition in a text book. By using characters emotions and experiences, this book is a great idea of how to get information across about a condition that is often not understood.
In the authors notes in this book Rachel Clarke says that she hopes this novel can do a small amount to raise awareness of ME and she really does achieve this, I did not know anything at all about ME, I had heard about it, but now after reading this book, it does give the reader a better understanding of the condition and with its emotional storyline, it makes you feel more compassionate towards people who suffer from ME, than the detachment of if you had read up on the condition in a text book. By using characters emotions and experiences, this book is a great idea of how to get information across about a condition that is often not understood.
August 18, 2013
I loved this book. It tells the story of Sarah who suddenly gets struck down with a mystery illness, even her doctor cannot diagnose what is wrong with her. She misses her last few years at school and even her exams because of the illness. She has great support from her mother and her best friend Ali and is finally diagnosed with ME. I didn't know much about ME before reading this book and didn't realise what the symptoms were. I would definitely recommend this book.
April 9, 2013
Wonderful book. My heart goes out to all who suffer from this terrible illness. It sort of goes along with fibro in a sense. I suffer from this fibro and sometimes I am with pain for a month at a time and it takes me weeks or more to get back into the swing of things.
July 19, 2017
Received this book through a goodreads giveaway well over a year ago. I read the book when I received it but believed I'd left a review but just noticed I mustn't have posted/saved the review -_-
Anyway, I remember I enjoyed the book. The story was easy to read and follow whilst being page turning. I had never heard of ME before, so I found the book interesting and educational.
The book was also good at keeping with real life but exploring the difficulties that ME suffers must deal with .
The book offers a first person view of life with ME and how it effects every aspect of a persons life whilst also works towards motivating ME suffers towards enjoying life and not allowing their illness to dominate their life.
The characters were likeable, though on occasion immature though I suspect that is due to the age of the characters (high school ages). I also suspect that the the immaturity at times was used as a coping mechanism for this sudden illness.
Overall, I would highly recommend this book. If not for the story line, than for the insight into an ME suffers life.
**Note: I am planning on re-reading this book soon in order to compose a better review as thanks for the free copy.
Anyway, I remember I enjoyed the book. The story was easy to read and follow whilst being page turning. I had never heard of ME before, so I found the book interesting and educational.
The book was also good at keeping with real life but exploring the difficulties that ME suffers must deal with .
The book offers a first person view of life with ME and how it effects every aspect of a persons life whilst also works towards motivating ME suffers towards enjoying life and not allowing their illness to dominate their life.
The characters were likeable, though on occasion immature though I suspect that is due to the age of the characters (high school ages). I also suspect that the the immaturity at times was used as a coping mechanism for this sudden illness.
Overall, I would highly recommend this book. If not for the story line, than for the insight into an ME suffers life.
**Note: I am planning on re-reading this book soon in order to compose a better review as thanks for the free copy.
February 13, 2013
This review has been cross-posted on my personal blog.
Falling Through the World is a fictional story of a teenage girl’s plummet into M.E. While this book is fictional, it is greatly influenced by the author’s own experience of living with M.E.
Personally I feel that this is a book for friends, family and carers of those with M.E. as it gives a clear picture of what it is like to be struck down for no apparent reason, and then have to continue trying to live any kind of life. As someone with M.E., I found certain parts (particularly towards the beginning) of the novel physically difficult and distressing to read as it brought up some of my own memories; therefore I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone suffering from a Chronic Disability (other than if they wish to read it to advise friends and family of how their own experiences relate to it) as I feel that it could cause unnecessary pain and depression.
As a reader I felt that the prologue was unnecessary as it didn’t add anything to the story, and in fact made me less interested in reading on. Instead, I believe it would have benefited from an introduction forewarning readers that not only is the case of Sarah (the main character) extremely severe, but that everyone reacts differently, with different symptoms (not all of which are mentioned in the book), to M.E. and I would strongly suggest that any friends or family of sufferers are advised of this.
There are not many fictional stories about M.E. and this book highlights one of the reasons why not – it is impossible to create an enticing plot about becoming ill, possibly with little hope of recovering. Any story of this kind is going to be completely character-driven and unfortunately I felt that this is where the book fell flat. Sarah is an average teenager, who has an average life, with an average family and average friends. The problem is that she is a generalization of a ‘typical teenager’ and therefore it is difficult to have any feelings towards or about her. I think this story would definitely have benefited from a little bit more of an introduction, showing what Sarah is actually like – what her hopes and dreams are, what she thinks about - as this would give the reader some attachment to her and therefore would become more involved in the emotions of what happens to her.
This was true of all the characters, and even to some extent the symptoms of M.E. As there is no ‘average’ set of symptoms I found this a bit frustrating as I know I will have to explain this to each person I advise to read it; it is something that should have been included in the introduction. However, I do believe that the emotions that Sarah feels such as loneliness, anger, frustration and guilt, are likely to have been felt at some point with anyone with a chronic disability.
For those of us who need to know these emotions are normal, and for those wishing to understand how M.E. or any chronic disability effects the sufferer emotionally, I would definitely point towards this book.
Overall I felt that, while this isn’t the best-told story, it is a great start towards showing what living with M.E. is like, for those who cannot understand it. As I’ve mentioned, there are very few novels or stories about M.E., but reading books like this one gives me hope that there will be more on the way.
[I received a free copy of this book with no obligations. All opinions are my own.]
Other fictional books about M.E. that I recommend:
The State of Me by Nasim Marie Jafry
Verity Red's Diary: A Story of Surviving M. E by Maria Mann
Falling Through the World is a fictional story of a teenage girl’s plummet into M.E. While this book is fictional, it is greatly influenced by the author’s own experience of living with M.E.
Personally I feel that this is a book for friends, family and carers of those with M.E. as it gives a clear picture of what it is like to be struck down for no apparent reason, and then have to continue trying to live any kind of life. As someone with M.E., I found certain parts (particularly towards the beginning) of the novel physically difficult and distressing to read as it brought up some of my own memories; therefore I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone suffering from a Chronic Disability (other than if they wish to read it to advise friends and family of how their own experiences relate to it) as I feel that it could cause unnecessary pain and depression.
As a reader I felt that the prologue was unnecessary as it didn’t add anything to the story, and in fact made me less interested in reading on. Instead, I believe it would have benefited from an introduction forewarning readers that not only is the case of Sarah (the main character) extremely severe, but that everyone reacts differently, with different symptoms (not all of which are mentioned in the book), to M.E. and I would strongly suggest that any friends or family of sufferers are advised of this.
There are not many fictional stories about M.E. and this book highlights one of the reasons why not – it is impossible to create an enticing plot about becoming ill, possibly with little hope of recovering. Any story of this kind is going to be completely character-driven and unfortunately I felt that this is where the book fell flat. Sarah is an average teenager, who has an average life, with an average family and average friends. The problem is that she is a generalization of a ‘typical teenager’ and therefore it is difficult to have any feelings towards or about her. I think this story would definitely have benefited from a little bit more of an introduction, showing what Sarah is actually like – what her hopes and dreams are, what she thinks about - as this would give the reader some attachment to her and therefore would become more involved in the emotions of what happens to her.
This was true of all the characters, and even to some extent the symptoms of M.E. As there is no ‘average’ set of symptoms I found this a bit frustrating as I know I will have to explain this to each person I advise to read it; it is something that should have been included in the introduction. However, I do believe that the emotions that Sarah feels such as loneliness, anger, frustration and guilt, are likely to have been felt at some point with anyone with a chronic disability.
For those of us who need to know these emotions are normal, and for those wishing to understand how M.E. or any chronic disability effects the sufferer emotionally, I would definitely point towards this book.
Overall I felt that, while this isn’t the best-told story, it is a great start towards showing what living with M.E. is like, for those who cannot understand it. As I’ve mentioned, there are very few novels or stories about M.E., but reading books like this one gives me hope that there will be more on the way.
[I received a free copy of this book with no obligations. All opinions are my own.]
Other fictional books about M.E. that I recommend:
The State of Me by Nasim Marie Jafry
Verity Red's Diary: A Story of Surviving M. E by Maria Mann
April 3, 2013
A fictional novel about M.E is something which I had not come across until I read Falling through the World by the talented Rachel Clarke.
Thanks to Rachel, who suffers from M.E herself, I now have a much better grasp of how people with M.E feel as they live with this debilitating illness. I had no idea how suddenly this condition can take hold and how painful it can be. I know now that I was naive in thinking that it was just like feeling extremely tired and in not considering the other effects on the bodies and minds of sufferers.
The protagonist in this short novel, a teenage girl, is suddenly and unfairly struck down, by what first appears to be a mystery illness, when she is busy attending school, getting to know her new boyfriend and enjoying life with her best friend Ali. Her friends and family are desperate to see her get better which often results in her being the subject of arguments and being pushed and pulled in different directions. "Will I ever feel better?" and "can anyone really help?" are questions that spin around in Sarah's mind constantly when she is well enough to even think. Falling Through the World follows Sarah's ups and downs as she fights to recover what she once had and begins to see light in new places.
Not only has Rachel written a book that I am sure will give hope to any sufferer who reads it but she has made information about M.E more accessible to everyone else to help raise awareness of the condition. I can imagine that this book will be of great comfort to those supporting people with M.E too as it could give them an insight when perhaps their loved ones are too ill to. Knowing the author's own struggle with this condition makes the fact that she has written this novel all the more inspiring. Rachel is proof that you can use your experiences to give hope to others.
The fact that this novel is about M.E is not the only thing that makes it great by any stretch of the imagination. Clarke's characters are believable and well-developed, her descriptions beautifully detailed and brimming with feeling and her story of Sarah's journey keeps the reader interested at all times. I think that a book about an illness has the potential to become much more about the actual illness than the characters but Rachel really gets inside her protagonist's head and explores the psychological reactions and feelings that this teenage girl has to her life being so rudely interrupted. Like this book sufferers are defined by much more than their illness and that is what Rachel captures. Her book is not just about being ill but is about reclaiming your life.
Take it from me that this is well-worth a read - I know Rachel and she is even more wonderful, funny and inspirational than her book.
Thanks to Rachel, who suffers from M.E herself, I now have a much better grasp of how people with M.E feel as they live with this debilitating illness. I had no idea how suddenly this condition can take hold and how painful it can be. I know now that I was naive in thinking that it was just like feeling extremely tired and in not considering the other effects on the bodies and minds of sufferers.
The protagonist in this short novel, a teenage girl, is suddenly and unfairly struck down, by what first appears to be a mystery illness, when she is busy attending school, getting to know her new boyfriend and enjoying life with her best friend Ali. Her friends and family are desperate to see her get better which often results in her being the subject of arguments and being pushed and pulled in different directions. "Will I ever feel better?" and "can anyone really help?" are questions that spin around in Sarah's mind constantly when she is well enough to even think. Falling Through the World follows Sarah's ups and downs as she fights to recover what she once had and begins to see light in new places.
Not only has Rachel written a book that I am sure will give hope to any sufferer who reads it but she has made information about M.E more accessible to everyone else to help raise awareness of the condition. I can imagine that this book will be of great comfort to those supporting people with M.E too as it could give them an insight when perhaps their loved ones are too ill to. Knowing the author's own struggle with this condition makes the fact that she has written this novel all the more inspiring. Rachel is proof that you can use your experiences to give hope to others.
The fact that this novel is about M.E is not the only thing that makes it great by any stretch of the imagination. Clarke's characters are believable and well-developed, her descriptions beautifully detailed and brimming with feeling and her story of Sarah's journey keeps the reader interested at all times. I think that a book about an illness has the potential to become much more about the actual illness than the characters but Rachel really gets inside her protagonist's head and explores the psychological reactions and feelings that this teenage girl has to her life being so rudely interrupted. Like this book sufferers are defined by much more than their illness and that is what Rachel captures. Her book is not just about being ill but is about reclaiming your life.
Take it from me that this is well-worth a read - I know Rachel and she is even more wonderful, funny and inspirational than her book.
October 19, 2014
I read this novel as part of the research I’m undertaking before writing an account of my own experience of ME/CFS. The book is written from the point of view of a teenage girl brought down by this dreadful condition. It’s an honest, funny, moving and, at times, harrowing account of the life of a sufferer.
The reader is exposed to the prejudices of the ignorant, the helpless ignorance of the general medical profession, the casual cruelty that can come from friends and relatives, and the total lack of understanding that so frequently accompanies this much-misjudged condition.
Although this is a novel, it’s also a work that encapsulates the reality of ME/CFS. At the same time, it captures the fears, hopes, dreams and sorrows of a teenage girl and, to some extent, those of her family and friends.
A well-written story, full of hope, questioning, self-doubt, frustration and ambition, it carries the reader on waves of emotional ups and downs as the narrator describes what’s happening to her. Not a long novel, it nevertheless manages to incorporate most of what it’s like to live with ME/CFS, and provides readers with useful clues as to how sufferers, their families, and their medical helpers can best be approached.
There is the strong possibility that all readers will have some contact with either a sufferer or a member of the family of a victim. Because of this, I recommend the book to all. It’s punchy, accessible and short enough for all to read. Please do that, and educate yourself about this condition that attacks and ruins the lives of so many people of all ages.
The reader is exposed to the prejudices of the ignorant, the helpless ignorance of the general medical profession, the casual cruelty that can come from friends and relatives, and the total lack of understanding that so frequently accompanies this much-misjudged condition.
Although this is a novel, it’s also a work that encapsulates the reality of ME/CFS. At the same time, it captures the fears, hopes, dreams and sorrows of a teenage girl and, to some extent, those of her family and friends.
A well-written story, full of hope, questioning, self-doubt, frustration and ambition, it carries the reader on waves of emotional ups and downs as the narrator describes what’s happening to her. Not a long novel, it nevertheless manages to incorporate most of what it’s like to live with ME/CFS, and provides readers with useful clues as to how sufferers, their families, and their medical helpers can best be approached.
There is the strong possibility that all readers will have some contact with either a sufferer or a member of the family of a victim. Because of this, I recommend the book to all. It’s punchy, accessible and short enough for all to read. Please do that, and educate yourself about this condition that attacks and ruins the lives of so many people of all ages.
February 25, 2014
Quizás esta sea la única opinión en español del maravilloso libro titulado "Cayendo por el mundo". Un viaje en primera persona a través de la ignorada fatiga crónica o encefalopatía miálgica, de la mano de una adolescente que se adentra sin quererlo en un mundo oscuro, desconocido y turbulento. Un inesperado cambio en su salud, hace que todo el mundo a su alrededor desaparezca tal cual, y se convierta obligatoriamente en algo no deseado pero imposible de evitar. La adolescente tendrá que aprender a convivir con ello a partir de entonces. Este libro me enseñó una realidad hasta entonces inapreciable para muchos, ya que todos hemos oído hablar en algún momento sobre la fatiga crónica, pero creedme, hasta que no leáis esta magnífica obra, no sabreis realmente por lo que estos enfermos están pasando.
El inglés empleado por la autora es magnífico, os ayudará con la comprensión ya que es un lenguaje correcto y llano, que te sorprenderá por lo fácil que resulta su lectura.
Muchas gracias, Rachel Clarke, por esta amplia visión y lección de vida.
Lo recomiendo al 100%.
Rachel ClarkeFalling Through the World ~ A Journey Through ME/CFS
El inglés empleado por la autora es magnífico, os ayudará con la comprensión ya que es un lenguaje correcto y llano, que te sorprenderá por lo fácil que resulta su lectura.
Muchas gracias, Rachel Clarke, por esta amplia visión y lección de vida.
Lo recomiendo al 100%.
Rachel ClarkeFalling Through the World ~ A Journey Through ME/CFS
May 18, 2013
I received a copy of this book via Goodreads First Reads.
3.5 stars.
Plot
Falling Through the World is a teenage girls journey of ME as she struggles to come to terms with her illness, and deals with the confusion and ignorance of those around her. Sarah watches as her friends progress through school while she lays in bed unable to perform simple tasks. I have dealt with a similar condition to Sarah, and found the book awfully relatable in some parts. I think it could have been a lot longer, as Sarah starts to get healthier towards the end, I would have liked to have read more about her progress, but overall, this was a great story.
Characters
I loved Sarah, I found her strong and determined, as well as incredibly realistic and a true portrayal of a teenager with this sort of illness. While her whining about one annoying boy got irritating, I can understand why she felt the way she did, and I empathized with her. Sarah's best friend Ali was hilarious, and I wish she would have been a bigger part of Sarah's story.
Writing
Total overkill of exclamation marks. I felt some dialogue was cheesy and unrealistic; teenagers don't talk to each other like that. Not badly written, though.
Overall
I enjoyed this a fair bit and would recommend it to anyone dealing with ME/CFS, or anyone with a loved one inflicted by this frustrating and enigmatic condition. However, some parts were vague and there were some annoying inconsistencies.
3.5 stars.
Plot
Falling Through the World is a teenage girls journey of ME as she struggles to come to terms with her illness, and deals with the confusion and ignorance of those around her. Sarah watches as her friends progress through school while she lays in bed unable to perform simple tasks. I have dealt with a similar condition to Sarah, and found the book awfully relatable in some parts. I think it could have been a lot longer, as Sarah starts to get healthier towards the end, I would have liked to have read more about her progress, but overall, this was a great story.
Characters
I loved Sarah, I found her strong and determined, as well as incredibly realistic and a true portrayal of a teenager with this sort of illness. While her whining about one annoying boy got irritating, I can understand why she felt the way she did, and I empathized with her. Sarah's best friend Ali was hilarious, and I wish she would have been a bigger part of Sarah's story.
Writing
Total overkill of exclamation marks. I felt some dialogue was cheesy and unrealistic; teenagers don't talk to each other like that. Not badly written, though.
Overall
I enjoyed this a fair bit and would recommend it to anyone dealing with ME/CFS, or anyone with a loved one inflicted by this frustrating and enigmatic condition. However, some parts were vague and there were some annoying inconsistencies.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 8, 2015
It feels mean to give a low rating to a book earnestly tackling an important subject, one very close to me as an M.E. sufferer - and it must be said that 'Falling Through The World' is consistently impeccable on its facts and descriptions regarding various aspects of the illness. As a novel, though, it simply doesn't cut it.
The narrative style felt amateur and inauthentic, and not in an intentional way that might be employed for the voice of a young protagonist. It was also littered with an unbelievable number of unnecessary exclamation marks throughout, yet lacking just as many commas in sentences rendered very, very awkward. The clunky dialogue fell flat between characters lacking character, and the well-observed and researched non-fictional aspects sat awkwardly amidst everything else. Having bought this book on the basis of 43 4 and 5-star Amazon reviews I was massively disappointed.
I really do not wish to lay into the author - I applaud her for writing 'Falling Through The World' - but equally feel it would be foolish, unfair and disingenuous to give a rave review to a book purely for its subject matter. I think a factual account of Clarke's illness would have been the book to showcase her talents, though this novel could prove very helpful and useful to a younger audience.
...yeah, I feel like a big mean meanie. Sorry! I am but one person with one experience and point of view :)
The narrative style felt amateur and inauthentic, and not in an intentional way that might be employed for the voice of a young protagonist. It was also littered with an unbelievable number of unnecessary exclamation marks throughout, yet lacking just as many commas in sentences rendered very, very awkward. The clunky dialogue fell flat between characters lacking character, and the well-observed and researched non-fictional aspects sat awkwardly amidst everything else. Having bought this book on the basis of 43 4 and 5-star Amazon reviews I was massively disappointed.
I really do not wish to lay into the author - I applaud her for writing 'Falling Through The World' - but equally feel it would be foolish, unfair and disingenuous to give a rave review to a book purely for its subject matter. I think a factual account of Clarke's illness would have been the book to showcase her talents, though this novel could prove very helpful and useful to a younger audience.
...yeah, I feel like a big mean meanie. Sorry! I am but one person with one experience and point of view :)
April 10, 2014
I got this book from Goodreads as a first read book.
As someone with personal experience of ME I've put off reading it for fear of it bringing up difficult emotions which at times it did.
I'm not sure though who this novel is aimed at. Newly diagnosed would be put off by the harrowing descriptions, those who are 'better' wouldn't want reminded of how bad it can be and medical staff don't want to have their faults pointed out!
It tells the story of Sarah who as a teenager falls ill with a mystery illness which stops her going to school and her GP seems both unable and unwilling to help.
The constant attempt of people to come up with solutions was very true to my experience though and when she gave back her locker key it was very close to my own experience.
This is a good attempt to highight a terrible condition. Wish there really were clinics like the one featured.
As someone with personal experience of ME I've put off reading it for fear of it bringing up difficult emotions which at times it did.
I'm not sure though who this novel is aimed at. Newly diagnosed would be put off by the harrowing descriptions, those who are 'better' wouldn't want reminded of how bad it can be and medical staff don't want to have their faults pointed out!
It tells the story of Sarah who as a teenager falls ill with a mystery illness which stops her going to school and her GP seems both unable and unwilling to help.
The constant attempt of people to come up with solutions was very true to my experience though and when she gave back her locker key it was very close to my own experience.
This is a good attempt to highight a terrible condition. Wish there really were clinics like the one featured.
July 19, 2013
Firstly, thanks to Rachel Clarke for sending me a review copy of "Falling Through the World".
Secondly, I absolutely adored this book! I read it in pretty much one sitting because I could not put it down. I didn't know much about ME before reading this book - in fact, many of the things I "knew" were clearly completely incorrect and I feel so much more informed having read this book. The protagonist is a brilliant character: flawed, hurt, and completely relatable. I also really enjoyed reading an accurate portrayal of English secondary school life, rather than the usual dramatised and unrealistic depiction.
One word of warning: don't start reading this book unless you've got time to read the whole thing in one sitting, because once you've started, the story will stay with you and bug you until you finish it. I just had to know what happened - Sarah's struggle is intoxicating, you can feel her agony, and the agony of her family. I quite literally (apologies in advance) fell into her world (sorry, I really am!).
Brilliant book! I would absolutely recommend it. 5 stars.
Secondly, I absolutely adored this book! I read it in pretty much one sitting because I could not put it down. I didn't know much about ME before reading this book - in fact, many of the things I "knew" were clearly completely incorrect and I feel so much more informed having read this book. The protagonist is a brilliant character: flawed, hurt, and completely relatable. I also really enjoyed reading an accurate portrayal of English secondary school life, rather than the usual dramatised and unrealistic depiction.
One word of warning: don't start reading this book unless you've got time to read the whole thing in one sitting, because once you've started, the story will stay with you and bug you until you finish it. I just had to know what happened - Sarah's struggle is intoxicating, you can feel her agony, and the agony of her family. I quite literally (apologies in advance) fell into her world (sorry, I really am!).
Brilliant book! I would absolutely recommend it. 5 stars.
February 22, 2015
I read this book in a few hours, couldn't stop reading it. It is about the story of a teenager who becomes ill with ME. There is however very little to the story other than her and her families journey towards diagnosis and acceptance of the condition.
Having ME myself, and first becoming ill as a teenager, I was interested in how it was depicted.I was impressed, not only by how well it was written, but also by how well it showed the medical and emotional effects of ME. The struggles to do more, and the struggles to stay within your limits to prevent crashes. The lack of support from your GP and the random, strange "cures" that people advise you to try. Sarah was very lucky to have an understanding family (especially mum) and a friend who stood by her.
I would recommend this book to sufferers who are or have been teenagers with this condition, and family/friends to gain a better understanding of how it affects the sufferer and those who care for them.
Having ME myself, and first becoming ill as a teenager, I was interested in how it was depicted.I was impressed, not only by how well it was written, but also by how well it showed the medical and emotional effects of ME. The struggles to do more, and the struggles to stay within your limits to prevent crashes. The lack of support from your GP and the random, strange "cures" that people advise you to try. Sarah was very lucky to have an understanding family (especially mum) and a friend who stood by her.
I would recommend this book to sufferers who are or have been teenagers with this condition, and family/friends to gain a better understanding of how it affects the sufferer and those who care for them.
April 20, 2013
I received this book from Goodreads.I am in two minds really,on one side it was good book,if someone wants to now more about ME,on the other hand,all story was not so interesting.I really think,that it could be a lot better book,if written about an adult.Also I was dissapointed because it felt like story could end in a different way,telling something more,then conclusion,that Sarah got a better and she learnt how to dill with this illness.Unafortunately still I have no idea is full recovery possible.
July 28, 2013
I received this book as part of the 'First Reads' program. As an M.E sufferer, it was an interesting read- the character suffered far worse than I do, but I have lived through most of the things she goes through. I think this book could do a lot to raise awareness of the condition, and I definitely plan on making friends and family read it, particularly the ones who just think I'm lazy! The only thing that got on my nerves was the number of typos- hopefully this will be change in a future edition
March 16, 2014
started on Kindle on 8th March 2014. A teenage girl suddenly falls ill with flu like symptoms but does not get better. All the physical tests show up negative. So is her problem a mental one? It is likely she has ME or Chronic fatigue syndrome but even today some folk find it hard to believe in this despite how debilitating it can be. I experienced such disbelief at work when dealing with disabled adults. Some members of my team did not believe in it and thought it was used to 'con' the system by those who were in fact ok. Very hard as it is difficult to prove.
July 30, 2013
I won this in a Good Reads giveaway
This book was heart wrenching to read as sarah suffered from the debilitating illness ME, and all her family and friends could do was watch and hope she would recover. The story dealt well with her typical teenage emotions, and how not being able to do the normal teenage things were the hardest to deal with, this story makes you value your families health more than ever
This book was heart wrenching to read as sarah suffered from the debilitating illness ME, and all her family and friends could do was watch and hope she would recover. The story dealt well with her typical teenage emotions, and how not being able to do the normal teenage things were the hardest to deal with, this story makes you value your families health more than ever
April 28, 2013
I found this an interesting read. I've only vaguely heard about ME in the past so it's good to know a bit more about it and sad to hear of the time it robs of people's lives, especially of one so young. I think most people can relate to this through having been ill in some way and just imagine that going on for an indefinite period of time and the hopelessness that can bring.
August 18, 2013
A fast read but also an eye-opener into this terrible illness. The characters are true and believable and the plot is easy to follow. Short but well written and a very informative and touching read for all.
I received my copy free in a giveaway on Goodreads but this doesn't affect my review.
I received my copy free in a giveaway on Goodreads but this doesn't affect my review.
January 4, 2015
This book was won as part of a goodreads first reads giveaway.
A fantastic read, that provides an insight into the life of someone suffering with ME. A must read for everyone, to build an awareness of this illness and how it changes lives.
A fantastic read, that provides an insight into the life of someone suffering with ME. A must read for everyone, to build an awareness of this illness and how it changes lives.
August 18, 2013
This was a good reads first reads give away book
I feel bad giving this book a low rating, as i knew what it was about when i started it.
Was very samey from start to finish, which i realise is probably what it's like being so ill for a long time, but not really what i want in a book.
I feel bad giving this book a low rating, as i knew what it was about when i started it.
Was very samey from start to finish, which i realise is probably what it's like being so ill for a long time, but not really what i want in a book.
October 26, 2014
I loved this book so much. It was so lovely to be able to connect with a character who is in a similes situation as you. I found it easy to read even with my foggy mindedness.
It's a must read; for suffers and non suffers.
It's a must read; for suffers and non suffers.
July 22, 2015
great read living with me must be really difficult missing normal things you do in your life.this book gives you an insight of living with this condition well written book this book was recommend from a friend worth the read.
June 4, 2016
The author has done something both difficult and very helpful by using YA fiction to illustrate what it is to have this devastating and poorly understood disease. This is not a simple emotional landscape to communicate, and she does a fine job, with plenty of humor.
September 16, 2013
A moving first person account of learning to live with a debilitating yet "invisable" disease. Absorbing and easy to read.
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