Jem Lester was a journalist for nine years and saw the Berlin Wall fall in 1989 - and though there, he denies personal responsibility. He was also the last journalist to interview the legendary Fred Zinnemann, before the director died. He denies responsibility for that too. He taught English and Media studies at secondary schools for nine years. Jem has two children, one of whom is profoundly autistic, and for them he accepts total responsibility. He lives in London with his partner and her two children.Jem's first novel, SHTUM, won the 2013 PFD/City University Prize for Fiction.Follow Jem on Twitter @JemLester
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.
*TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT*
Gritty, heart-breaking and wonderful all at once.
*THE SUN*
Prepare for an unsweetened heart-shredder of a novel, as raw as it
is real.
*JEWISH CHRONICLE*
Heart-wrenching and thought-provoking story of a family coping with
an autistic child.
*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.
*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*
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