The Coward

The Coward is a striking novel. It confronts the issue of what its like to end up in a wheelchair. To confront the actions we make and having to live with them. Jarred, is on a rampage of self implosion seeing to do even more harm to himself after the accident and we also see his life leading up to it. The book is far from punishment for the reader though. The book is exquisitely written. For one, Jarred is surrounded by such a vast amount of love and support. We follow relationship with a number of women, all of which are engaging and written with such a vivid use of language, its easy to be drawn into both of them. The core of the novel comes from the relationship between Jarred and his dad. We learn early on that he he didn’t call him dad from an early age and throughout the novel is refered to as “Jack”.

Jack, Sarah and Mellissa intertwine in his life through different stages and bring out a different side to him. He also seems to have a good impact on people. Despite the negative self infliction he puts on himself throughout the novel, through his actions and approach. His relationship with Jack is what ties it all together though. The actions of his dad to protect and do best by his son paint a man trying to get forgiveness. Ultimatley that is the question the book asks, will Jarred be able to do it. The book leaves a trail throughout and I felt it was all dealt with in an excellent manor. This is a superb debut novel and one that confronts challenging issues with articulate ferocity

After a car accident Jarred discovers he’ll never walk again. Confined to a ‘giant roller-skate’, he finds himself with neither money nor a job. Worse still, he’s forced to live back home with the father he hasn’t spoken to in ten years. Add in a shoplifting habit, an addiction to painkillers and the fact that total strangers now treat him like he’s an idiot, it’s a recipe for self-destruction. How can he stop himself careering out of control?

This is a very hard-hitting but truthful book. This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

A thoroughly enjoyable read. Events of the past and the present are skillfully woven together. I highly recommend this book.

After the accident Jarred found himself unable to use his legs and was told he would never walk again. His despair and damaged relationship with his father make him almost an anti-hero. His past misdemeanours and societal transgressions could place him on a path to destruction. Will he overcome everything? You almost hate the character but inevitably you keep willing him to surmount the obstacles, some of which he placed in his own way. A thought provoking read.

I loved the anti-hero that is Jarred. He is a highly relatable character, making mistakes despite his best intentions. His renewed relationship with his widowed father, Jack, of whom he'd been estranged for the past ten years, is so moving and true-to-life. The Coward is a beautifully-written novel, with a protagonist you will miss after spending a book-length in his company.

Definitely a book that draws you in. No matter what Jarred reveals about himself in the past and his behaviour in the here and now, you cannot help but be drawn to him and, if nothing else, admire the ferocity of his reactions to how he believes life has treated him. The humour is subtle and sits comfortably within his own pain and suffering and that which he causes to others. A book about the enduring powers of love, family and finding redemption.

I am so glad I read this book. It was such a lovely read. Primarily the book is about family relationships, self-esteem, self-perception and surviving various types of trauma. The writing makes you really understand Jarred, the main character, and his relationships and anger with various people in his life. The novel is well put together and has a two-track storyline (I’m reading quite a few books like this at the moment) in the present and past – and they sort of meet in the middle. It’s one of those books where you don’t ‘love’ every character but you see them, as people with their advantages and flaws. For that, it was a really great read. The kind of book that increases your ability to feel empathy and warms your heart. I feel I got an insight into daily life of the character Jarred and his experience of being a wheelchair user and consequent complications / difficulties. For me, it was the little things, like the nicks around the door frame from the chair, and things that as a non-wheelchair user/ person without direct experience you wouldn’t think of.
Also, after I read the book, I realised the main character has the same name as the author. I didn’t and don’t know to what extent it’s autobiographical – or re-imagined autobiographical but the photo on his website was taken by Sarah McGinnis (!?) which is intriguing.

This is a stunning book that highlights the impact of suddenly being unable to walk and how to accept everything that comes with this.

Everything about this book is gritty, completely stripped bare and so authentic. Jarred is a troubled character, long before his horrific accident, so when he faces life in a wheelchair his life spirals even more. It was all done so well and really gets you into the head of Jarred and just what life is like for him.

Throughout the book we learn more about Jarred and his life before the accident. Exploring what he had experienced was at times sad to read about but really helped to show just how misunderstood and lost he was. He was a character with such depth who will make you laugh at times with some of his comments but I couldn’t help care for him, even if he did make some careless decisions at times.

Whilst this book does highlight the struggles of coming to terms with a disability it also shows the relationship between a father and son, and how they slowly both face their demons to regain the relationship that was lost.

I will say it ends very abruptly but I’m really glad it did as I think it fit perfectly for the style of the book and leaves it open to interpretation.

Overall this was such an impressive story about life with a disability, the acceptance that comes with it and the unconditional love of family. Absolutely beautifully written with characters you will care about.

The Coward, Jarred McGinnis

Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre: General Fiction (Adult)

I wasn't really sure I could deal with this, part fiction, part bio read. I'm also in a wheelchair, like Jared I wasn't born disabled, and even now 25 years on the frustration between now and my “old” life is hard to deal with.

But I did read it, and what a gripping read it is. Jarred is such a real person. Too often we disabled folk are portrayed as some kind of saint – I've been patted like a dog, had my hair ruffled, been called Brave more times than I can count. We're people, same as able bodied folk, we get angry, we do bad things, we can be impatient, rude, arrogant....and Jarred illustrated most of those at times. There are times when I really want to be like Blunt Jarred. But that's not me ;-( I keep it inside. We are who we are.

Its hard reading, very hard at times but the type of book where you just have to keep going, see whats coming next. I felt for young Jarred but had the benefit of the wider view, knowing why he was acting out. His neighbours, the shopkeepers whose stock he was taking, the schools were he truanted, acted out will have a different view.
I feel for his frustration, I understand why he's rude to those helpful, well meaning folk. Some days you just can't take it. Its not their fault or yours, it just is.

Poor Jarred didn't have the greatest upbringing either, mum died young, dad took to the bottle and Jarred was left to his own devices. For a young, grieving teen that means trouble...and after a few more rows with Jack, his dad, he leaves at just 16. The next time Jack hears from him is ten years later.
Those ten years have changed Jack, but Jarred has been on some kind of merry go round, always searching, always moving on, until he comes to this forcible stop. He's still angry at life, his dad, his older brother, who it seems to him could have helped but turned a blind eye to what was going on.
Now he's even more to be angry about, and I understood his feelings so well. I found losing my work, losing my leg, equaled losing my identity. I just couldn't be grateful for the wheelchair, the false leg, the social workers who were well meaning but really didn't understand. Everything has to be relearned, even simple stuff like turning over in bed. No wonder Jarred was so angry, no wonder he didn't want to deal, he felt guilt for the accident and his friends death, still had his grief for his mum, issues with his dad. He couldn't just be grateful his dad took him in, he was angry and it really was a last resort going back to Jack. What an awful situation to be in.

It was a joy to read how slowly he and Jack found common ground, how his brother acknowledged his position in what happened, how Jack has dealt with his alcoholism and what he'd been doing in the intervening years. They both had a dry sense of humour, that came out at times. When they were laughing at the well meaning but patronizing people that struck a chord. The number of times I've said to family or friends. “I'm going to spit and scream at the next person to pat me”, or where I've paid for something and the change has been ( or attempted to be ) given to whoever is with me. They've been trained, ignore until finally assistant realises its Me that wants the change!)

Sarah was the real life saver, and what a wonderful lady she is/was. Again I'm not sure where reality stops and fiction begins but she was a gem, knew just when to stand back and when to push, exactly what Jarred – and Jack – needed. Her family, wonderful and I hope they're all real. I loved the scenes with Marcus and the time they took him out to the casino. Its back to that “disabled folk should accept their lot and not be out among able bodied people”. That's a very prevalent attitude, one I've met many times. Even my own father expected me at 37 to just be content to sit at home, give up my life. I didn't and I'm so glad Jarred found a way through too.
I've just read his bio, where it mentions his daughters, and that made me really happy that he's found the family he deserves.


Stars: Five, an astonishingly readable, gripping novel.

ARC supplied by Netgally and publishers