When Cardiac Arrest Stopped Life, a Writer Found Second Life Through Silence and Nature.
After a near-death experience that left him clinically dead for 40 minutes, Jago Trevarno has retreated to his childhood village in Cornwall to rebuild his shattered life. The young man's world was shattered after his mother's cancer diagnosis and subsequent death; now, with his recovery underway, he must confront the void left by her passing.
Life on a subsistence farm is simplicity itself for Jago – days are measured by the weather, daylight hours, and the natural rhythms of the land. His uncle Jacob, an 'off-gridder' who has taken him under his wing, provides a safe haven from the world's chaos. But as Jago's physical condition improves, so too does the threat to this fragile existence.
The arrival of old flames Sophie and meddling neighbour Bill Sligo pose significant challenges to Jago's delicate emotional state. Sophie's reappearance raises painful memories, while Sligo's plans for his land threaten the very stability Jago has worked so hard to establish.
This is a powerful debut novel by Patrick Charnley, whose own experiences of cardiac arrest and brain injury have infused the narrative with authenticity and emotional depth. The writing is spare yet beautiful, evoking a world that is both starkly natural and intensely alive.
Jago's voice is authentic and compelling, his struggles to navigate his new reality conveyed through simple yet powerful prose. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that Charnley has distilled the essence of human experience into this haunting portrayal of recovery and resilience.
After a near-death experience that left him clinically dead for 40 minutes, Jago Trevarno has retreated to his childhood village in Cornwall to rebuild his shattered life. The young man's world was shattered after his mother's cancer diagnosis and subsequent death; now, with his recovery underway, he must confront the void left by her passing.
Life on a subsistence farm is simplicity itself for Jago – days are measured by the weather, daylight hours, and the natural rhythms of the land. His uncle Jacob, an 'off-gridder' who has taken him under his wing, provides a safe haven from the world's chaos. But as Jago's physical condition improves, so too does the threat to this fragile existence.
The arrival of old flames Sophie and meddling neighbour Bill Sligo pose significant challenges to Jago's delicate emotional state. Sophie's reappearance raises painful memories, while Sligo's plans for his land threaten the very stability Jago has worked so hard to establish.
This is a powerful debut novel by Patrick Charnley, whose own experiences of cardiac arrest and brain injury have infused the narrative with authenticity and emotional depth. The writing is spare yet beautiful, evoking a world that is both starkly natural and intensely alive.
Jago's voice is authentic and compelling, his struggles to navigate his new reality conveyed through simple yet powerful prose. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that Charnley has distilled the essence of human experience into this haunting portrayal of recovery and resilience.
jago's story is like a punch to the gut - you feel his pain, his anger, his desperation... but at the same time, you're rooting for him to find this inner peace that lets him move on from all the trauma. and let me tell you, patrick charnley's writing is like a breath of fresh air - it's like he's speaking straight to your soul 
i loved how he wove together these themes of nature, silence, and rebirth... it's like this novel is saying that sometimes we just need to slow down, listen to the world around us, and find our own rhythm 
he went through so much trauma & loss, but in finding silence & connection with nature, he found a new lease on life 
it's such an important reminder that healing is not just physical, but also emotional & spiritual 
the way patrick charnley writes about jago's journey feels so raw & honest, like we're right there with him experiencing every moment of his struggle & triumph 
It's crazy how much the author got right about the mental health struggles that come with such a traumatic experience. And the way Patrick Charnley weaves together nature and silence as therapeutic tools is just genius 
. I love how Jago finds solace in the simple things, like the rhythms of the land and the company of his uncle Jacob 
. It's a powerful reminder that healing doesn't have to be complicated or grand – sometimes it's just about finding your own quiet strength 
.
. Can't wait to see how this story unfolds! 
I mean, 40 minutes without life? That's crazy talk! But what really got me was how Jago found solace in nature and silence after going through that traumatic experience. It's like he found a new lease on life, you know? And Patrick Charnley's writing is like butter for the soul - it's so simple yet so powerful 
. I mean, who wouldn't be? 40 minutes without a heartbeat is a huge wake-up call. It's like, your whole perspective changes after that. But at the same time, it's kinda scary to think about how vulnerable we are as humans. Like, our lives can just slip away in an instant. 
Still, I love how Patrick Charnley has woven this story together – it's so raw and honest, but also hopeful. Jago's journey is like, super relatable, you know? The struggle to find your place again after losing someone close... it's a really tough pill to swallow 
. But the way he finds solace in nature and silence is just beautiful