What do you think?
Rate this book
When the English Fall
A riveting and unexpected novel that questions whether a peaceful and nonviolent community can survive when civilization falls apart.
When a catastrophic solar storm brings about the collapse of modern civilization, an Amish community in Pennsylvania is caught up in the devastating aftermath. Once-bright skies are now dark. Planes have plummeted to the ground. The systems of modern life have crumbled. With their stocked larders and stores of supplies, the Amish are unaffected at first. But as the English (the Amish name for all non-Amish people) become more and more desperate, they begin to invade Amish farms, taking whatever they want and unleashing unthinkable violence on the peaceable community.
Seen through the diary of an Amish farmer named Jacob as he tries to protect his family and his way of life, When the English Fall examines the idea of peace in the face of deadly chaos: Should members of a nonviolent society defy their beliefs and take up arms to defend themselves? And if they don’t, can they survive?
David Williams’s debut novel is a thoroughly engrossing look into the closed world of the Amish, as well as a thought-provoking examination of “civilization” and what remains if the center cannot hold.
When a catastrophic solar storm brings about the collapse of modern civilization, an Amish community in Pennsylvania is caught up in the devastating aftermath. Once-bright skies are now dark. Planes have plummeted to the ground. The systems of modern life have crumbled. With their stocked larders and stores of supplies, the Amish are unaffected at first. But as the English (the Amish name for all non-Amish people) become more and more desperate, they begin to invade Amish farms, taking whatever they want and unleashing unthinkable violence on the peaceable community.
Seen through the diary of an Amish farmer named Jacob as he tries to protect his family and his way of life, When the English Fall examines the idea of peace in the face of deadly chaos: Should members of a nonviolent society defy their beliefs and take up arms to defend themselves? And if they don’t, can they survive?
David Williams’s debut novel is a thoroughly engrossing look into the closed world of the Amish, as well as a thought-provoking examination of “civilization” and what remains if the center cannot hold.
242 pages, Hardcover
First published July 11, 2017
314 people are currently reading
9294 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 927 reviews
September 12, 2021
2.5 "lackluster, had a lot of potential, needs a lot more work" stars !!
This is the story of Jacob and his family in Amish Pennsylvania. A major disaster hits the Eastern US and possibly elsewhere and all electric power is wiped out. All the non-Amish are called English. Jacob's current diary covers three months and shares his observations of what has occurred and how he, his family and his community will contend with their faith, their isolationist practices and the growing desperation of the outside English community.
As you can tell, this had the potential to be a major dystopian commentary told from a faith based perspective. However, the book lacked any complexity of both emotion and interpersonal conflict.
Blind faith although possible does not make for riveting reading. The diary was repetitive, one-dimensional and many aspects were just not believable. The story lacked passion, vigor and was so very predictable with foreshadowing that slapped you in the face.
I am very glad I read this but in the end it was only a fair to middling read that had the potential to be either a literary commentary on what could easily be possible or in the other direction a very interesting mainstream pulp fiction thriller. Sadly, it was neither, and in the end left me a tad deflated.
This is the story of Jacob and his family in Amish Pennsylvania. A major disaster hits the Eastern US and possibly elsewhere and all electric power is wiped out. All the non-Amish are called English. Jacob's current diary covers three months and shares his observations of what has occurred and how he, his family and his community will contend with their faith, their isolationist practices and the growing desperation of the outside English community.
As you can tell, this had the potential to be a major dystopian commentary told from a faith based perspective. However, the book lacked any complexity of both emotion and interpersonal conflict.
Blind faith although possible does not make for riveting reading. The diary was repetitive, one-dimensional and many aspects were just not believable. The story lacked passion, vigor and was so very predictable with foreshadowing that slapped you in the face.
I am very glad I read this but in the end it was only a fair to middling read that had the potential to be either a literary commentary on what could easily be possible or in the other direction a very interesting mainstream pulp fiction thriller. Sadly, it was neither, and in the end left me a tad deflated.
July 6, 2017
I find myself struggling to start this review.
Because the book was just so unbelievable, I find myself at a lack of words.
What would it be like to watch the end of the world as a bystander? As someone who has always thought that living that way was not wise, but had to hold onto that opinion as nobody really cared for it?
I should start with the fact that this is a dystopian book. However, it's not your typical dystopian book. You will not find zombies or adventure here. Nor will you find fast-paced action and gore. You might find some terror, but it won't be the scary kind. It will be the sad, regretful kind.
Jacob is Amish. He has worked the land as long as he's been alive. He's lived a simple life, and he's happy living this way. Jacob's daughter, Sadie, seems to have a sickness, most likely epilepsy, but it seems to be something more. Something more otherworldly, more like a gift. Sadie seems to know what will happen. And what will happen will bring an end to the world of the English – for Jacob's community, the English means the outside world, the Western way of life. The scathing way of life. The kind that separates everyone from each other, and man from land. The kind of life Jacob does not understand.
And then one day it happens. Something of a natural disaster, magnetic or solar storm – it's never explained, as we're seeing it through Jacob's eyes, and he doesn't know these things. Whatever happens, cuts out all power sources of The English, and ends their way of life. Society begins of unravel, animosity does more harm than nature. Meanwhile, Jacob's life hasn't changed – the sun still shines, the rain still falls, so he tends to his crops and does his daily work as usual. But he can't help wondering what will happen to the rest of the world. And he can't help noticing the signs on danger all around him. The men that run around the fields with guns in the night. The army trucks that come to requisition food and other supplies. The rumors of slaughtered households. Jacob's community seems to be the only people holding it together in a world that has changed irreparably overnight, and he's at a loss about what to do. The Amish way is one of peace, of never hurting anyone. And so, Jacob and everyone in his community is faced with the choice – do they hide behind the Western man and pretend that it's not the same that it wasn't their hand that pulled the trigger? Or is the true way of peace about accepting the consequences, turning the other cheek and choosing the way of least violence?
It's a truly heart-breaking tale of strength in the face of tragedy. Of faith, or just belief, or just being human the way humanity should be. It's heart-wrenching and it's utterly beautiful. This is a book you should read, if you enjoy musings on tough choices, morality and spirituality. I enjoyed this book unbelievably and I cried by the end. I must warn, it is not a fast-paced book, like I said. It's not about action or movement. It's about the geography of the human heart. If you enjoy books like that, you will greatly enjoy this one. And even though the voice is that of a Christian, especially an Amish Christian, you will not find it difficult to connect with Jacob's feelings or beliefs. They're so inherently human, that I believe we could all find them inside our hearts.
If this is not enough to convey how much I loved it, I'll say one more thing. I do not really re-read books. But I can say for sure I will be re-reading this one , after I've had sufficient time to let the details go. I want to experience this book again. It was wonderful.
I thank David Williams, Algonquin Books and NetGalley for providing this book in exchange to an honest review.
Read Post On My Blog | My Bookstagram | Bookish Twitter
What would it be like to watch the end of the world as a bystander? As someone who has always thought that living that way was not wise, but had to hold onto that opinion as nobody really cared for it?
I should start with the fact that this is a dystopian book. However, it's not your typical dystopian book. You will not find zombies or adventure here. Nor will you find fast-paced action and gore. You might find some terror, but it won't be the scary kind. It will be the sad, regretful kind.
Jacob is Amish. He has worked the land as long as he's been alive. He's lived a simple life, and he's happy living this way. Jacob's daughter, Sadie, seems to have a sickness, most likely epilepsy, but it seems to be something more. Something more otherworldly, more like a gift. Sadie seems to know what will happen. And what will happen will bring an end to the world of the English – for Jacob's community, the English means the outside world, the Western way of life. The scathing way of life. The kind that separates everyone from each other, and man from land. The kind of life Jacob does not understand.
And then one day it happens. Something of a natural disaster, magnetic or solar storm – it's never explained, as we're seeing it through Jacob's eyes, and he doesn't know these things. Whatever happens, cuts out all power sources of The English, and ends their way of life. Society begins of unravel, animosity does more harm than nature. Meanwhile, Jacob's life hasn't changed – the sun still shines, the rain still falls, so he tends to his crops and does his daily work as usual. But he can't help wondering what will happen to the rest of the world. And he can't help noticing the signs on danger all around him. The men that run around the fields with guns in the night. The army trucks that come to requisition food and other supplies. The rumors of slaughtered households. Jacob's community seems to be the only people holding it together in a world that has changed irreparably overnight, and he's at a loss about what to do. The Amish way is one of peace, of never hurting anyone. And so, Jacob and everyone in his community is faced with the choice – do they hide behind the Western man and pretend that it's not the same that it wasn't their hand that pulled the trigger? Or is the true way of peace about accepting the consequences, turning the other cheek and choosing the way of least violence?
It's a truly heart-breaking tale of strength in the face of tragedy. Of faith, or just belief, or just being human the way humanity should be. It's heart-wrenching and it's utterly beautiful. This is a book you should read, if you enjoy musings on tough choices, morality and spirituality. I enjoyed this book unbelievably and I cried by the end. I must warn, it is not a fast-paced book, like I said. It's not about action or movement. It's about the geography of the human heart. If you enjoy books like that, you will greatly enjoy this one. And even though the voice is that of a Christian, especially an Amish Christian, you will not find it difficult to connect with Jacob's feelings or beliefs. They're so inherently human, that I believe we could all find them inside our hearts.
If this is not enough to convey how much I loved it, I'll say one more thing. I do not really re-read books. But I can say for sure I will be re-reading this one , after I've had sufficient time to let the details go. I want to experience this book again. It was wonderful.
I thank David Williams, Algonquin Books and NetGalley for providing this book in exchange to an honest review.
Read Post On My Blog | My Bookstagram | Bookish Twitter
June 9, 2023
Not everyone may enjoy this book, but I thought it was stellar. When the English Fall is a unique dystopia where you watch the chaos happen from the outside, from the POV of those who happen to be prepared in an event not of their making.
If you're into:
- Quiet apocalypses,
- Small casts/isolated communities,
- Returning to nature,
- Ambiguous endings,
- Introspection, and
- Discussion of religious implications,
then you might think this is stellar, too.
In this epistolary novel, we follow the collapse of modern society through the journal entries of an Amish man. From his family's farm outside of Lancaster, PA, he, his wife, and their two children watch as the lights go out, as planes fall from the sky, and as military trucks start frequenting the roads.
This is an apocalypse their simple community had no part in creating, but it affects them just the same (just as climate change has their crops, despite their having no hand in industrialization.) It was the doing of the modern world, collectively referred to as “The English” by them. And when the “English” society crumbles, the Amish are better prepared for it than them, just by virtue of their way of life. It makes them a target for those desperate and scared on the outside — those hungry to pillage their farms and larders.
Their religion encourages them to share what they're able, but faith alone can't protect them when they're demanded to hand over what they can't spare.
Despite the global scale of the disaster, the book's focus remains contained to the pages of one man's journal. He ruminates only on his family, his community, and his faith - and the apocalypse's impact on all three. I love stories like this set on so small a stage, especially for how personal they tend to be. When the English Fall is no exception, delivering much commentary and pathos. On each page, I felt the worry this man had for his family's future, punctuated by the small joys of their love for one another.
This book isn't bombastic by any means, but it packs a strong punch. I won't soon forget it.
If you're into:
- Quiet apocalypses,
- Small casts/isolated communities,
- Returning to nature,
- Ambiguous endings,
- Introspection, and
- Discussion of religious implications,
then you might think this is stellar, too.
In this epistolary novel, we follow the collapse of modern society through the journal entries of an Amish man. From his family's farm outside of Lancaster, PA, he, his wife, and their two children watch as the lights go out, as planes fall from the sky, and as military trucks start frequenting the roads.
This is an apocalypse their simple community had no part in creating, but it affects them just the same (just as climate change has their crops, despite their having no hand in industrialization.) It was the doing of the modern world, collectively referred to as “The English” by them. And when the “English” society crumbles, the Amish are better prepared for it than them, just by virtue of their way of life. It makes them a target for those desperate and scared on the outside — those hungry to pillage their farms and larders.
Their religion encourages them to share what they're able, but faith alone can't protect them when they're demanded to hand over what they can't spare.
Despite the global scale of the disaster, the book's focus remains contained to the pages of one man's journal. He ruminates only on his family, his community, and his faith - and the apocalypse's impact on all three. I love stories like this set on so small a stage, especially for how personal they tend to be. When the English Fall is no exception, delivering much commentary and pathos. On each page, I felt the worry this man had for his family's future, punctuated by the small joys of their love for one another.
This book isn't bombastic by any means, but it packs a strong punch. I won't soon forget it.
June 3, 2018
What a thought-provoking dystopian novel this was!
When the English Fall is about an Amish family in Pennsylvania. The story is narrated by Jacob, a respected father and farmer, who finds comfort in writing in his journal at night. His diary records how society breaks down after a massive solar storm disrupts America's electrical system. Nothing is moving or working, and soon the "English" — the Amish name for those are aren't Amish — are desperate for food and begin to invade Jacob's small community.
I'll be honest: this book made me anxious. The real world is stressful enough, what with the economy and climate change and political saber rattling... so reading a novel about society breaking down due to a serious weather event didn't feel like fiction. It felt like a real possibility.
What I liked about this book was the perspective of the Amish community, and how Jacob and his friends respond with generosity and kindness to others in need. By coincidence, the morning after I finished this book there was a severe thunderstorm in my city, with lots of people losing power and a number of trees knocked down. I thought about how the Amish would react to such a storm: they would take time to go check on their neighbors and see if anyone needed help. Is that something we English could be better at?
For most of this book I expected to give it four stars, because it was so thought-provoking and I got emotionally invested in Jacob and his family. However, my quibble comes with how the book ends. To complain about the ending, I first need to mention the beginning: the first page of the novel follows that sci-fi trope of "found documents," with a short memo from an Army colonel detailing where Jacob's diary entries were found. So, as a reader, I expected some kind of an epilogue from the colonel, telling more about what happened to the family, or what society is like now. Instead, the story ends abruptly, which left me quite frustrated.
That complaint aside, I would still recommend this book to those who like dystopian novels. Just be prepared for some anxiety.
Favorite Quotes
"I think of Mike [one of the English] and his anger. Today he came to check on the [furniture] order, and when he talked, he was very angry about something he had heard on the radio in his truck. The radio person was angry about 'the global warming hoax' and 'the economy' and everything. I do not know why Mike listens to the radio if all he receives is anger, but he does. The things I hear in my life are so different. I read. I listen to the worship, and to the singing, and to the teachings, and that is not what I receive. I listen to the stillness in our times of silent prayer especially."
"Mike says the impatience is because of the internet, because everyone now wants everything the moment they want it. I remember this from when I was jumping around in the world. I remember how people would walk around not even seeing each other, eyes down into their rectangles of light. No one was where they were ... And yet this is how the English live now. Whatever they want is there, even their most terrible darkness. So different from when the Order stepped away. There was a time when we were almost alike. All rode on horseback. Oil lit all homes, be they English or of the Order. We all worked the land. But now? Now the English have their wild magics, so different it becomes hard to understand. Such a wild terrible mess, the world is now. I am glad that I am not in it."
"It makes me think of my father, as the cancer spread. It was not one thing, as he died. It was everything. It was everywhere in him, and when everywhere is broken, the body cannot mend. If there is no place that has strength, then death comes quickly."
"Everything in this world breaks, if you strain it hard enough."
"When the world is wild and inconsistent, sometimes simple and consistent are a comfort."
When the English Fall is about an Amish family in Pennsylvania. The story is narrated by Jacob, a respected father and farmer, who finds comfort in writing in his journal at night. His diary records how society breaks down after a massive solar storm disrupts America's electrical system. Nothing is moving or working, and soon the "English" — the Amish name for those are aren't Amish — are desperate for food and begin to invade Jacob's small community.
I'll be honest: this book made me anxious. The real world is stressful enough, what with the economy and climate change and political saber rattling... so reading a novel about society breaking down due to a serious weather event didn't feel like fiction. It felt like a real possibility.
What I liked about this book was the perspective of the Amish community, and how Jacob and his friends respond with generosity and kindness to others in need. By coincidence, the morning after I finished this book there was a severe thunderstorm in my city, with lots of people losing power and a number of trees knocked down. I thought about how the Amish would react to such a storm: they would take time to go check on their neighbors and see if anyone needed help. Is that something we English could be better at?
For most of this book I expected to give it four stars, because it was so thought-provoking and I got emotionally invested in Jacob and his family. However, my quibble comes with how the book ends. To complain about the ending, I first need to mention the beginning: the first page of the novel follows that sci-fi trope of "found documents," with a short memo from an Army colonel detailing where Jacob's diary entries were found. So, as a reader, I expected some kind of an epilogue from the colonel, telling more about what happened to the family, or what society is like now. Instead, the story ends abruptly, which left me quite frustrated.
That complaint aside, I would still recommend this book to those who like dystopian novels. Just be prepared for some anxiety.
Favorite Quotes
"I think of Mike [one of the English] and his anger. Today he came to check on the [furniture] order, and when he talked, he was very angry about something he had heard on the radio in his truck. The radio person was angry about 'the global warming hoax' and 'the economy' and everything. I do not know why Mike listens to the radio if all he receives is anger, but he does. The things I hear in my life are so different. I read. I listen to the worship, and to the singing, and to the teachings, and that is not what I receive. I listen to the stillness in our times of silent prayer especially."
"Mike says the impatience is because of the internet, because everyone now wants everything the moment they want it. I remember this from when I was jumping around in the world. I remember how people would walk around not even seeing each other, eyes down into their rectangles of light. No one was where they were ... And yet this is how the English live now. Whatever they want is there, even their most terrible darkness. So different from when the Order stepped away. There was a time when we were almost alike. All rode on horseback. Oil lit all homes, be they English or of the Order. We all worked the land. But now? Now the English have their wild magics, so different it becomes hard to understand. Such a wild terrible mess, the world is now. I am glad that I am not in it."
"It makes me think of my father, as the cancer spread. It was not one thing, as he died. It was everything. It was everywhere in him, and when everywhere is broken, the body cannot mend. If there is no place that has strength, then death comes quickly."
"Everything in this world breaks, if you strain it hard enough."
"When the world is wild and inconsistent, sometimes simple and consistent are a comfort."
July 3, 2017
Contemplative and powerful, WHEN THE ENGLISH FALL is an unsettling story about the precarious nature of current American society set in the farmlands of Pennsylvania in seemingly current times. Never before have I learned so much about a culture while reading a postapocalypic novel - a novel that didn't read at all like any dystopian story I have encountered before. In fact, I have a hard time even classifying this as dystopian, and caution readers of entering the novel with that expectation. I read this diary-entry style novel as a powerful and contemplative look at the Amish culture living amidst the English during a time of deep hardship - the cause of the hardship almost being irrelevant.
As the Amish come to realize just how entwined their lives truly are with the English, and realize that their peaceful way of life may not be enough to survive in a world of starvation and desperation, their beliefs must shift and make room for this new reality. Jacob's diary entries are sparse and ruminative and provide readers with an intimate look into the workings of a deeply spiritual and human mind. The Amish are not painted as saints in this book, nor are they depicted as "others" - Jacob writes them as he knows them as he wrestles with conflicts both old and new, English and Amish.
Williams writes in an essay for The Algonquin Reader that he based the solar storm premise of this book on an article he read about a real historical event - The Carrington Event of 1859, which was the single largest solar storm in modern history. The information he provides in this essay, combined with the background he provides on the Amish world, combines to give readers a perfect set-up for WHEN THE ENGLISH FALL. I live in an area of Wisconsin with many Amish families, and found the premise of this book to be incredibly unsettling - so much so that I honestly plan to rethink the way my family plans for emergencies. This book has changed the way I think and live - a true victory in the world of literary fiction.
Thank you to Algonquin for providing me with a paperback galley of this book for review purposes - all opinions are my own.
As the Amish come to realize just how entwined their lives truly are with the English, and realize that their peaceful way of life may not be enough to survive in a world of starvation and desperation, their beliefs must shift and make room for this new reality. Jacob's diary entries are sparse and ruminative and provide readers with an intimate look into the workings of a deeply spiritual and human mind. The Amish are not painted as saints in this book, nor are they depicted as "others" - Jacob writes them as he knows them as he wrestles with conflicts both old and new, English and Amish.
Williams writes in an essay for The Algonquin Reader that he based the solar storm premise of this book on an article he read about a real historical event - The Carrington Event of 1859, which was the single largest solar storm in modern history. The information he provides in this essay, combined with the background he provides on the Amish world, combines to give readers a perfect set-up for WHEN THE ENGLISH FALL. I live in an area of Wisconsin with many Amish families, and found the premise of this book to be incredibly unsettling - so much so that I honestly plan to rethink the way my family plans for emergencies. This book has changed the way I think and live - a true victory in the world of literary fiction.
Thank you to Algonquin for providing me with a paperback galley of this book for review purposes - all opinions are my own.
June 15, 2018
This dystopian novel takes place in the eastern part of Pennsylvania near Lancaster among the Amish community. Jacob is an Amish farmer and lives the simple life of the Order. This book is written in diary form which among the Amish is considered prideful but Jacob feels the need to write and tell what is happening. A solar storm takes place and all electricity is lost. For the Amish, this is not a problem but for the English (non-Amish) community living nearby, the loss of electricity is devastating. Jacob documents what takes place and how the Amish react to the desperation of the English; wanting to help but still wanting to preserve their way of life.
I loved this book. It is written in a quiet and gentle way that you would expect of the Amish lifestyle but it also deals with some harsh reality inflicted by the non-Amish community. Not a thriller but a near future novel that seems entirely possible.
I loved this book. It is written in a quiet and gentle way that you would expect of the Amish lifestyle but it also deals with some harsh reality inflicted by the non-Amish community. Not a thriller but a near future novel that seems entirely possible.
August 11, 2017
DNF at 31%. Too slow without much plot progression and I don' feel like continuing to read the diary entries of a person who can make the apocalypse sound even more uneventful than the process of paint drying.
February 28, 2017
David William’s debut novel When the English Fall offers a new perspective on apocalyptic fiction, written from the point of view of an Amish farmer named Jacob. Part insight into Amish culture, part dystopian novel, all written as journal entries, the novel follows the days leading up to a solar storm and its aftermath. Farmer Jacob lives a peaceful life with his wife Hannah and their two children, and occasionally does business with “the English” outside of his Amish community. His life is quiet and deliberate, until the day that the English fall. What begins as a solar storm, beautiful in its brutality, ultimately transforms society, knocking out power and machinery for everyone, causing planes to crash from the sky and vehicles to sit without purpose. Jacob and his family, already accustomed to a life without modern conveniences, must decide what course of action they will take, and what assistance, if any, they will provide to their English neighbors.
The novel offers a compelling plot and characters. Seeing the slow decline of society through the eyes of an Amish farmer and his family provides a unique perspective on the events taking place. Jacob’s daughter Rachel has what we might refer to as second sight, which Jacob attributes to her being born with a caul over her face. The passages involving Rachel and Jacob are some of the best in the novel, with Rachel offering prophetic glimpses of events which have not yet happened. Jacob’s English neighbors are also well-developed characters, providing a stark contrast to Jacob’s family and way of life. As events unfold outside of the Amish community, Jacob becomes witness to his English neighbors’ unraveling. The novel’s tone is slow and reflective, with Jacob pondering his place in the world, both before and after catastrophic events. The simple writing style reflects the simple lives of Jacob and his family. The story is compelling, however, and reads quickly, with the pace intensifying as the story progresses. The interesting points of view, perspective, plot, and characters add up to an enjoyable read.
The author, David Williams, was inspired by the events of 1859, also known as the Carrington Event, which is one of the largest solar storms on record. Scientists believe that if a solar storm of this scale occurred today it would cause extensive damage, knocking out the electrical grid among other things. If you enjoy this novel, some great read-alikes for this title would be Station Eleven by Emily St. John-Mandel, California by Eden Lepucki, the One Second After series by William Forstchen, the World Made By Hand series by James Howard Kunstler, and The Dog Stars by Peter Heller. If you are interested in reading more about the Carrington Event, try The Sun Kings: the unexpected tragedy of Richard Carrington and the tale of how modern astronomy began by Stuart Clark. When the English Fall will be released July 11th, 2017.
The novel offers a compelling plot and characters. Seeing the slow decline of society through the eyes of an Amish farmer and his family provides a unique perspective on the events taking place. Jacob’s daughter Rachel has what we might refer to as second sight, which Jacob attributes to her being born with a caul over her face. The passages involving Rachel and Jacob are some of the best in the novel, with Rachel offering prophetic glimpses of events which have not yet happened. Jacob’s English neighbors are also well-developed characters, providing a stark contrast to Jacob’s family and way of life. As events unfold outside of the Amish community, Jacob becomes witness to his English neighbors’ unraveling. The novel’s tone is slow and reflective, with Jacob pondering his place in the world, both before and after catastrophic events. The simple writing style reflects the simple lives of Jacob and his family. The story is compelling, however, and reads quickly, with the pace intensifying as the story progresses. The interesting points of view, perspective, plot, and characters add up to an enjoyable read.
The author, David Williams, was inspired by the events of 1859, also known as the Carrington Event, which is one of the largest solar storms on record. Scientists believe that if a solar storm of this scale occurred today it would cause extensive damage, knocking out the electrical grid among other things. If you enjoy this novel, some great read-alikes for this title would be Station Eleven by Emily St. John-Mandel, California by Eden Lepucki, the One Second After series by William Forstchen, the World Made By Hand series by James Howard Kunstler, and The Dog Stars by Peter Heller. If you are interested in reading more about the Carrington Event, try The Sun Kings: the unexpected tragedy of Richard Carrington and the tale of how modern astronomy began by Stuart Clark. When the English Fall will be released July 11th, 2017.
July 30, 2017
This was a refreshingly quiet, thoughtful novel. I loved the premise, and the writing is lovely. The diary format was a bit restrictive in the sense that we only get to know what the diarist knows in the midst of an apocalyptic disaster. On the other hand, it allowed the author to explore ideas about faith, violence, loss, and more.
July 30, 2017
"They are English. They are the world. They are so busy, they have no time to see God or each other."
-David Williams, When the English Fall
This is a dystopian novel unlike any other, as it takes the point of view of an Amish man named Jacob. The story is told through Jacob's journal entries. This is not your typical survival dystopian story, it's more of seeing the world through the eyes of the Amish community. When the English Fall was such a unique take on a dystopian novel that I found myself stopping mid-read to think about the way that I live my life. This book really made me think and realize that I do not appreciate the simple things in life, such as having a car, internet, or even air conditioning. I think this is a big part of why I loved this book so much. It taught me the lesson to slow down and to appreciate the small things in life. One of my favorite parts of this book was when Jacob focuses on describing the magic of a leaf that looks like it is floating in the air. It's actually just a leaf dangling from a thread of a spider's web. The fact that he could still find magic during the collapse of civilization just made this book such a pleasurable read. The small things in this book were just delightful additions.
If you aren't familiar with the Amish, they are known as being a peaceable community that reside in Pennsylvania. They don't use electricity or drive cars. Being from Pennsylvania myself, I grew up surrounded by the Amish and already had a good idea about how their communities worked. The Amish are known for being very devout in their religion and they live by the word of God. I loved the way this book gave an in-depth view of how the Amish went about their daily lives and their daily customs. Even with being familiar with the Amish community, I still learned a lot about them that I didn't know.
"Sadie turned to us, and her eyes were huge and wet with tears. 'The English Fall,' she said. And then she went inside, away from the light that filled the sky over the darkened Earth."
-David Williams, When the English Fall
The whole purpose of this book being written in the eyes of an Amish man was to get a different point of view on how the Amish would survive in a dystopian world. In this novel, the Amish were not heavily affected by the solar storm that wiped out all the electricity of the world since the Amish do not rely on electricity to live. As the days went on and things got worse for the English (Amish name for non-Amish people), they started borrowing their food to feed the big cities since the Amish were known as being farmers and making all their own food. Once food started running out, this is when the Amish became affected by the after-effects of the storm. People started leaving the cities and coming across the Amish farms. The Amish are known for being pacifists and when the English came and threatened them with guns, this is when the Amish began to face a dilemma; stick to their peaceable ways or defend what's theirs.
This was all-around a book that led to introspection of oneself and how we, the English, live in a society riddled with technology and take for granted the life we have. I highly, highly recommend this book to everyone. It's a great eye-opener to see the world through another's eyes. 5 out of 5 stars!
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and David Williams for a copy of this book in return for an honest review.
-David Williams, When the English Fall
This is a dystopian novel unlike any other, as it takes the point of view of an Amish man named Jacob. The story is told through Jacob's journal entries. This is not your typical survival dystopian story, it's more of seeing the world through the eyes of the Amish community. When the English Fall was such a unique take on a dystopian novel that I found myself stopping mid-read to think about the way that I live my life. This book really made me think and realize that I do not appreciate the simple things in life, such as having a car, internet, or even air conditioning. I think this is a big part of why I loved this book so much. It taught me the lesson to slow down and to appreciate the small things in life. One of my favorite parts of this book was when Jacob focuses on describing the magic of a leaf that looks like it is floating in the air. It's actually just a leaf dangling from a thread of a spider's web. The fact that he could still find magic during the collapse of civilization just made this book such a pleasurable read. The small things in this book were just delightful additions.
If you aren't familiar with the Amish, they are known as being a peaceable community that reside in Pennsylvania. They don't use electricity or drive cars. Being from Pennsylvania myself, I grew up surrounded by the Amish and already had a good idea about how their communities worked. The Amish are known for being very devout in their religion and they live by the word of God. I loved the way this book gave an in-depth view of how the Amish went about their daily lives and their daily customs. Even with being familiar with the Amish community, I still learned a lot about them that I didn't know.
"Sadie turned to us, and her eyes were huge and wet with tears. 'The English Fall,' she said. And then she went inside, away from the light that filled the sky over the darkened Earth."
-David Williams, When the English Fall
The whole purpose of this book being written in the eyes of an Amish man was to get a different point of view on how the Amish would survive in a dystopian world. In this novel, the Amish were not heavily affected by the solar storm that wiped out all the electricity of the world since the Amish do not rely on electricity to live. As the days went on and things got worse for the English (Amish name for non-Amish people), they started borrowing their food to feed the big cities since the Amish were known as being farmers and making all their own food. Once food started running out, this is when the Amish became affected by the after-effects of the storm. People started leaving the cities and coming across the Amish farms. The Amish are known for being pacifists and when the English came and threatened them with guns, this is when the Amish began to face a dilemma; stick to their peaceable ways or defend what's theirs.
This was all-around a book that led to introspection of oneself and how we, the English, live in a society riddled with technology and take for granted the life we have. I highly, highly recommend this book to everyone. It's a great eye-opener to see the world through another's eyes. 5 out of 5 stars!
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and David Williams for a copy of this book in return for an honest review.
March 24, 2017
I had to think about this one for a while but I'm changing my initial rating from 3 to 4 simply because I'm still thinking about it.
I received a free advance reader copy of this book from the publisher.
I was on a cross country flight this week for a librarian conference and just desperately going through my ebooks looking for something to read after I finished the amazing Ender's Game. I tried one and was bored, I scrolled thru the list several times, I had zero memory attached to the cover of this one so I clicked on it to see if I could figure out the plot from the first page or two (one thing I hate about advance reader copies is that there's no book info attached). so I read a page, didn't remember, read another page and had a vague recollection of Amish post-apocalypse, read another page and by now I was hooked.
in fact, even when planes were falling out of the sky I didn't correlate that *I* myself was in an airplane. and I am a poor flyer to begin with. it was that engrossing.
the premise is simple but revealed slowly due to the Amish POV. it's written in diary form by Jacob, a farmer, husband, father, worshipper, valiant member of the community. a massive solar flare or sun storm has knocked out electricity and fried circuits world wide and people in cities are losing their shit. the reader hears about that very removed as Jacob never sees it firsthand in a city. the community he lives in is carrying on pretty much business as usual with the farming and praying. there is a lot of both to do after all. but isolated attacks and scavenging start occurring to his friends as society devolves.
it's a short read but it's focused. I've read a lot of post-apocalypse fiction and consequently experienced a range of human reactions to the psychological and physical stresses of their new reality. this was different. the Order, as the Amish community refers to itself in the book, aren't reliant on technology the way the rest of the world is and aren't impacted in the same way. as an exercise in focused human experience from a single POV to a realistic potential future event, this was incredibly interesting and well written.
and now here's what I didn't like. what was up with the semi prologue introducing Jacob's journals as a find via letter between humanities colleagues? was that necessary? sometimes Jacob's writing was oddly repetitious. he would write the same short phrase twice. it distracted me out of the flow of the book every time. this is not a real example: the river flows so smoothly, so smoothly. see? it was just a writing device I didn't agree with, total personal preference. and lastly there were certain parts in the latter half of the book that made me want to scream. there is being naive and there is being purposely stupid. some of the things they did and DIDN'T do to protect themselves made me furious. I know it was part of the point of the religion and way of life to trust one another and provide for all but it was like in a horror movie where you yell at someone not to go in the garage or separate from the group.
but overall, an excellent thought experiment, easy, short read and ripe for discussion. I could easily see this being taught in a classroom or as a book club read.
I received a free advance reader copy of this book from the publisher.
I was on a cross country flight this week for a librarian conference and just desperately going through my ebooks looking for something to read after I finished the amazing Ender's Game. I tried one and was bored, I scrolled thru the list several times, I had zero memory attached to the cover of this one so I clicked on it to see if I could figure out the plot from the first page or two (one thing I hate about advance reader copies is that there's no book info attached). so I read a page, didn't remember, read another page and had a vague recollection of Amish post-apocalypse, read another page and by now I was hooked.
in fact, even when planes were falling out of the sky I didn't correlate that *I* myself was in an airplane. and I am a poor flyer to begin with. it was that engrossing.
the premise is simple but revealed slowly due to the Amish POV. it's written in diary form by Jacob, a farmer, husband, father, worshipper, valiant member of the community. a massive solar flare or sun storm has knocked out electricity and fried circuits world wide and people in cities are losing their shit. the reader hears about that very removed as Jacob never sees it firsthand in a city. the community he lives in is carrying on pretty much business as usual with the farming and praying. there is a lot of both to do after all. but isolated attacks and scavenging start occurring to his friends as society devolves.
it's a short read but it's focused. I've read a lot of post-apocalypse fiction and consequently experienced a range of human reactions to the psychological and physical stresses of their new reality. this was different. the Order, as the Amish community refers to itself in the book, aren't reliant on technology the way the rest of the world is and aren't impacted in the same way. as an exercise in focused human experience from a single POV to a realistic potential future event, this was incredibly interesting and well written.
and now here's what I didn't like. what was up with the semi prologue introducing Jacob's journals as a find via letter between humanities colleagues? was that necessary? sometimes Jacob's writing was oddly repetitious. he would write the same short phrase twice. it distracted me out of the flow of the book every time. this is not a real example: the river flows so smoothly, so smoothly. see? it was just a writing device I didn't agree with, total personal preference. and lastly there were certain parts in the latter half of the book that made me want to scream. there is being naive and there is being purposely stupid. some of the things they did and DIDN'T do to protect themselves made me furious. I know it was part of the point of the religion and way of life to trust one another and provide for all but it was like in a horror movie where you yell at someone not to go in the garage or separate from the group.
but overall, an excellent thought experiment, easy, short read and ripe for discussion. I could easily see this being taught in a classroom or as a book club read.
March 2, 2017
2.5 stars
Note: received and reviewed as a NetGalley
"Yes, we have the Order, and yes, we have our way, but the time when that meant we stood free from the world has passed."
The premise and cover of this book are marvelous. On the other hand, William's writing was dry and simple throughout the whole book. I'm not sure if that was supposed to be like that to reflect how simple the Amish live (since our narrator is Amish) but I just wasn't impressed.
The plot was pretty solid and I'm sad we were left with the ending that we were left with. However I feel like Williams could have fleshed out the characters some more. You don't feel connected with any of them, not even Jacob. The only time I felt deeply for anything of them was when a seriously dramatic thing was going on. (Not going to say anymore than that because spoilers!)
I have to say if it wasn't for the synopsis I probably wouldn't have even known some of the things that were going on in this book. For example, I barely grasped that it was a solar storm that caused all that devastation. I thought it was an electrical storm/bomb type thing. Also I really wanted Williams to expand on some of plot points that are in the book; like did Jacob have a serious because that's what I was gathering, and similar things along those lines.
In the synopsis we are told that in When the English Fall we will "examines the idea of peace in the face of deadly chaos: Should members of a nonviolent society defy their beliefs and take up arms to defend themselves? And if they don’t, can they survive?" but I never even really examined those thoughts. It was never a question in Jacob's mind what he should do; and therefore why would it be a question in mines? I feel that if Williams had had Jacob feeling more conflicted about picking up arms that it would have been more prevalent in the reader's mind.
I'm very interested to see what else Williams has in store for his readers and I wouldn't mind picking up another one of this books.
Note: received and reviewed as a NetGalley
"Yes, we have the Order, and yes, we have our way, but the time when that meant we stood free from the world has passed."
The premise and cover of this book are marvelous. On the other hand, William's writing was dry and simple throughout the whole book. I'm not sure if that was supposed to be like that to reflect how simple the Amish live (since our narrator is Amish) but I just wasn't impressed.
The plot was pretty solid and I'm sad we were left with the ending that we were left with. However I feel like Williams could have fleshed out the characters some more. You don't feel connected with any of them, not even Jacob. The only time I felt deeply for anything of them was when a seriously dramatic thing was going on. (Not going to say anymore than that because spoilers!)
I have to say if it wasn't for the synopsis I probably wouldn't have even known some of the things that were going on in this book. For example, I barely grasped that it was a solar storm that caused all that devastation. I thought it was an electrical storm/bomb type thing. Also I really wanted Williams to expand on some of plot points that are in the book; like did Jacob have a serious because that's what I was gathering, and similar things along those lines.
In the synopsis we are told that in When the English Fall we will "examines the idea of peace in the face of deadly chaos: Should members of a nonviolent society defy their beliefs and take up arms to defend themselves? And if they don’t, can they survive?" but I never even really examined those thoughts. It was never a question in Jacob's mind what he should do; and therefore why would it be a question in mines? I feel that if Williams had had Jacob feeling more conflicted about picking up arms that it would have been more prevalent in the reader's mind.
I'm very interested to see what else Williams has in store for his readers and I wouldn't mind picking up another one of this books.
July 31, 2017
I was looking forward to this book with it's apocalyptic theme. A solar storm / EMP causes a collapse of society as we know it. Survivalists would be able to hunker down and survive a good long time but face it, most of us would starve or die from lack of necessary medication and sanitation issues if something like this happened.
This book tells a story of how the English (non-Amish folk) reacted and how they eventually prey on the Amish community. Amish know how to grow food, store food and rely on the natural elements. When things get desperate people from cities invade the nearby farms.
The story is laid out in diary fashion. Jacob writes in his diary everyday and though his writings you get to know his family and way of life. As society disintegrates, at what point do you ditch your values and take up arms to defend your family against looters? In this slow plodding story of only 242 pages I was glad to be done with it. Truth be told, I started skimming through the last few entries I was so bored. The end was a disappointment.
Reviews are mostly 5 star and I am in the minority here so.....take that for what it's worth.
This book tells a story of how the English (non-Amish folk) reacted and how they eventually prey on the Amish community. Amish know how to grow food, store food and rely on the natural elements. When things get desperate people from cities invade the nearby farms.
The story is laid out in diary fashion. Jacob writes in his diary everyday and though his writings you get to know his family and way of life. As society disintegrates, at what point do you ditch your values and take up arms to defend your family against looters? In this slow plodding story of only 242 pages I was glad to be done with it. Truth be told, I started skimming through the last few entries I was so bored. The end was a disappointment.
Reviews are mostly 5 star and I am in the minority here so.....take that for what it's worth.
January 21, 2020
We usually read post-apocalyptic books from the viewpoint of those who have lost everything. This book watches the breakdown of society from the viewpoint of one who can survive without the necessity of electricity or fuel.
"When the English Fall" is told in the form of a diary, kept by Jacob, an Amish farmer living with his family and others in Pennsylvania. A solar storm disables electricity and electronics and we watch from this man's eyes, modern society spiral out of control. Desperation visits the communities doorsteps and we watch the best and worst of the characters come out.
Be warned, it is a quick read, but it is not a fast paced book. Don't expect a lot of action. Expect only moments of suspense. Expect a lot of contemplation as events unfold. I recommend this book to those who enjoy the genre. It is a change of pace.
Additionally, the author ends the book in such a way, that he could write a sequel if he chooses to.
"When the English Fall" is told in the form of a diary, kept by Jacob, an Amish farmer living with his family and others in Pennsylvania. A solar storm disables electricity and electronics and we watch from this man's eyes, modern society spiral out of control. Desperation visits the communities doorsteps and we watch the best and worst of the characters come out.
Be warned, it is a quick read, but it is not a fast paced book. Don't expect a lot of action. Expect only moments of suspense. Expect a lot of contemplation as events unfold. I recommend this book to those who enjoy the genre. It is a change of pace.
Additionally, the author ends the book in such a way, that he could write a sequel if he chooses to.
November 11, 2017
When the English Fall takes a familiar dystopian plotline, and dramatically shifts perspective to offer a wholly new experience in the genre.
Our point-of-view character is an Amish father and husband, Jacob, living in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and witnessing a solar storm that leads to an global-scale electromagnetic pulse (EMP) that shuts down all machines and the power grid. As an Amish community who lives without power, and electric machines, very little changes for the people on a daily basis, until they feel the weight and hurt of the world around them, at their doorstep.
I really enjoyed Jacob's relationship with his family; we learn most about his care for his epileptic daughter, Sadie. The book opens with Sadie in the throes of a violent seizure, one of many that she experiences in the book. Words that she says during these episodes are noted, and then come to pass days later, and Sadie takes on this role of an oracle during this troubling time.
Williams crafted a memorable tale of compassion, simplicity, and survival...(and it makes me want to stock my pantry).
*Interesting timing of reading this book and then seeing this article: North Korean EMP Attack Would Cause Mass U.S. Starvation, Says Congressional Report.
Our point-of-view character is an Amish father and husband, Jacob, living in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and witnessing a solar storm that leads to an global-scale electromagnetic pulse (EMP) that shuts down all machines and the power grid. As an Amish community who lives without power, and electric machines, very little changes for the people on a daily basis, until they feel the weight and hurt of the world around them, at their doorstep.
I really enjoyed Jacob's relationship with his family; we learn most about his care for his epileptic daughter, Sadie. The book opens with Sadie in the throes of a violent seizure, one of many that she experiences in the book. Words that she says during these episodes are noted, and then come to pass days later, and Sadie takes on this role of an oracle during this troubling time.
Williams crafted a memorable tale of compassion, simplicity, and survival...(and it makes me want to stock my pantry).
*Interesting timing of reading this book and then seeing this article: North Korean EMP Attack Would Cause Mass U.S. Starvation, Says Congressional Report.
June 29, 2017
Disquieting but gentle, When the English Fall made me ask what my responsibility was to my neighbor, my community, and myself.
It is a little preachy in places, and I don't believe it needs the short prologue attached to it. Tonally and thematically controlled, it is still expansive enough to allow for glimpses of delight and hope. Of late I have read more formidable works, but none which didn't wallow in despair.
David Williams' debut novel does the work of the very best fiction, and for years to come I will recommend it to anyone who wants to read something truly good.
It is a little preachy in places, and I don't believe it needs the short prologue attached to it. Tonally and thematically controlled, it is still expansive enough to allow for glimpses of delight and hope. Of late I have read more formidable works, but none which didn't wallow in despair.
David Williams' debut novel does the work of the very best fiction, and for years to come I will recommend it to anyone who wants to read something truly good.
January 19, 2020
I honestly wasn't sure about this one. By the end of the first chapter I was hooked. I really enjoyed hearing from Jacob. He is such a good person. What a unique perspective, one I never considered I am shamed to say.
November 11, 2024
A very thought-provoking read that is terrifying as it seems all to probable.
When civilization comes to a halt due to disastrous solar storms, we follow a simple yet complex community of the Amish. Due to them living off the land and in no need of vehicles or electricity, the are able to last longer than the English (their term on non-Amish people). But as time passes on and the English run out of resources, they start to converge upon the Amish. Can these peaceful people survive such violent attacks or should they take up arms and become like the others?
A small book that really packs a punch.
When civilization comes to a halt due to disastrous solar storms, we follow a simple yet complex community of the Amish. Due to them living off the land and in no need of vehicles or electricity, the are able to last longer than the English (their term on non-Amish people). But as time passes on and the English run out of resources, they start to converge upon the Amish. Can these peaceful people survive such violent attacks or should they take up arms and become like the others?
A small book that really packs a punch.
November 29, 2018
What would happen if something catastrophic knocked out the power grid and caused even vehicles and farm equipment to fail? An Amish farmer's daughter seemed to know the English would fall. Told through the farmer's diary, readers see life day by day as his daughter predicts the catastrophe, as the catastrophe unfolds, and as the crisis worsens. I am not a fan of science fiction or dystopian literature, but I loved this book! I listened to the audio book narrated by Eric Michael Summerer whose voice was a perfect fit for the character. While the ending left the reader with all sorts of questions, it was the perfect place to end the story, encouraging the reader to ponder not only the events of the book, but also the events yet to come. This book will probably be among my top reads of the year, and perhaps my favorite.
January 27, 2018
Just a beautiful novel. One of few where the story beats what I thought the synopsis to be.
And a protagonist in a "post Apocalypse" that chooses a way that is not violent.
And a protagonist in a "post Apocalypse" that chooses a way that is not violent.
January 30, 2020
It was a little slow but it was an interesting perspective on when it’s TEOTWAWKI.
October 27, 2017
Ok, I really liked this book except for two parts. The beginning, and the end. But that middle really rocked.
1. The beginning, I'm not sure what exactly adding that framework did for this book. It does indicate that humanity is still alive in the future, but I went back after I finished, and was still puzzled by this choice.
2. The end, as it was written, would have been more appropriate without that beginning "hook" I think. I would have been ok if I hadn't been looking for more of a link between the two bookends. It ended up looking disorganized I thought, but not disappointing.
3. I loved Jacob and the concept of the diary and his perspective on pretty much everything. I particularly enjoyed his relationships with his family, with his community, and with his friend Mike.
4. I liked the format of this being a journal kept by an Amish man, but I was a little confused as I was wondering what source of light Jacob had to write these entries at night. It's the apocalypse - wouldn't oil for their lamps be getting scarce and subject to rationing just like all other sources of fuel during this time? Maybe he should be writing this while he takes a break in the middle of the day while letting his lunch settle before he gets back to the fields.
5. I liked the interesting role for his daughter, Sadie. I wish they would have described in more detail some of her "mad ramblings" which were interpreted by some as prophesies.
6. Spoiler -
7. I also enjoyed this book as a discussion of faith, Christianity, especially through a pacifist Amish lens, and what happens when the lifestyle of the faithful peaceful is threatened by the English. The debates between Jacob and the elders about Mike and the attitudes towards other English were all quite interesting. There were a number of quotes I'd wished I'd captured, but I was listening to audiobook, often while driving around. One of my favorites was about the blessing of forgetting.
8. The audiobook was also quite well done. So, my road warrior audiobook listeners, it is quite ironic to listen to this book about bucolic country life while stuck in rush-hour gridlock.
1. The beginning, I'm not sure what exactly adding that framework did for this book. It does indicate that humanity is still alive in the future, but I went back after I finished, and was still puzzled by this choice.
2. The end, as it was written, would have been more appropriate without that beginning "hook" I think. I would have been ok if I hadn't been looking for more of a link between the two bookends. It ended up looking disorganized I thought, but not disappointing.
3. I loved Jacob and the concept of the diary and his perspective on pretty much everything. I particularly enjoyed his relationships with his family, with his community, and with his friend Mike.
4. I liked the format of this being a journal kept by an Amish man, but I was a little confused as I was wondering what source of light Jacob had to write these entries at night. It's the apocalypse - wouldn't oil for their lamps be getting scarce and subject to rationing just like all other sources of fuel during this time? Maybe he should be writing this while he takes a break in the middle of the day while letting his lunch settle before he gets back to the fields.
5. I liked the interesting role for his daughter, Sadie. I wish they would have described in more detail some of her "mad ramblings" which were interpreted by some as prophesies.
6. Spoiler -
7. I also enjoyed this book as a discussion of faith, Christianity, especially through a pacifist Amish lens, and what happens when the lifestyle of the faithful peaceful is threatened by the English. The debates between Jacob and the elders about Mike and the attitudes towards other English were all quite interesting. There were a number of quotes I'd wished I'd captured, but I was listening to audiobook, often while driving around. One of my favorites was about the blessing of forgetting.
8. The audiobook was also quite well done. So, my road warrior audiobook listeners, it is quite ironic to listen to this book about bucolic country life while stuck in rush-hour gridlock.
July 9, 2017
This is well written, insightful and engaging. My rating 4.75.
I was immediately drawn to this when I noted the genre and blurb. I have been reading a lot of post-apocalyptic stories and find some are more realistic than others. This one is could happen and is different because of the setting and characters.
This story is told in the form of diaries found on an Amish farm outside of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Jacob, the father of the family, shares of the struggle his family has been experiencing. Their 14-year-old daughter, Sadie, has been suffering from seizures, mostly nightmares, but not always at night. Sadie doesn’t understand either but she thinks she has had a strange premonition ability, knowing things before they actually happen. During her trance episodes, she has been muttering “they fall, they fall” and speaking of “Jimmy” although there is no Jimmy in the community.
Jacob’s diaries reflect how the people of the Order “are never really apart, as much as we choose to set ourselves different from the world that surrounds us.” He explains how the Amish people live simple lives, focusing on their faith and trust in God. They avoid many modern conveniences, such as televisions and phones and most equipment that relies on electricity. They use horses and buggies or wagons rather than vehicles and they farm using mostly older, nonmechanical equipment.
A night comes when there are flashing lights in the sky and Sadie notes that “they fall”, like angels falling. A young man rides from farm to farm delivering news. The word spreads that a solar flare has occurred which has taken out the power grid that the “Englishers”, as they call those not of the Order, rely on. At first there is no immediate impact on the Amish communities. The military soon arrives to take food to the nearby towns.
All too soon the looting and violence of the English towns begins to encroach into the peaceful community. How will the pacifist people respond to the theft and violence? How do they protect themselves? I really like how David Williams handles this dilemma with beautiful writing and insight into the Amish community. It is realistic and fitting. This is a quick read and I would like to read more. I recommend this to those who are interested in the Amish people and how they might react when society disintegrates around them.
I received this from the publisher through NetGalley.
I was immediately drawn to this when I noted the genre and blurb. I have been reading a lot of post-apocalyptic stories and find some are more realistic than others. This one is could happen and is different because of the setting and characters.
This story is told in the form of diaries found on an Amish farm outside of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Jacob, the father of the family, shares of the struggle his family has been experiencing. Their 14-year-old daughter, Sadie, has been suffering from seizures, mostly nightmares, but not always at night. Sadie doesn’t understand either but she thinks she has had a strange premonition ability, knowing things before they actually happen. During her trance episodes, she has been muttering “they fall, they fall” and speaking of “Jimmy” although there is no Jimmy in the community.
Jacob’s diaries reflect how the people of the Order “are never really apart, as much as we choose to set ourselves different from the world that surrounds us.” He explains how the Amish people live simple lives, focusing on their faith and trust in God. They avoid many modern conveniences, such as televisions and phones and most equipment that relies on electricity. They use horses and buggies or wagons rather than vehicles and they farm using mostly older, nonmechanical equipment.
A night comes when there are flashing lights in the sky and Sadie notes that “they fall”, like angels falling. A young man rides from farm to farm delivering news. The word spreads that a solar flare has occurred which has taken out the power grid that the “Englishers”, as they call those not of the Order, rely on. At first there is no immediate impact on the Amish communities. The military soon arrives to take food to the nearby towns.
All too soon the looting and violence of the English towns begins to encroach into the peaceful community. How will the pacifist people respond to the theft and violence? How do they protect themselves? I really like how David Williams handles this dilemma with beautiful writing and insight into the Amish community. It is realistic and fitting. This is a quick read and I would like to read more. I recommend this to those who are interested in the Amish people and how they might react when society disintegrates around them.
I received this from the publisher through NetGalley.
September 8, 2017
B.O.R.I.N.G. But it didn't have to be! It consisted only of journal entries from only one guy's perspective. I had high hopes for this one because the story sounded so interesting.
July 28, 2017
New perspective on a world gone topsy turvy, post apocalyptic.
The telling of Jacob captivates the reader, getting through it all, what takes place, and what road he will traverse upon, an empathy grows with the telling.
His writing in his journal has him have a voice to see the world through, come to realize his fate and faith, his spiritual struggle with the terrible world he finds himself in.
The authors lucid prose style delivers the tale into a memorable first person gripping narrative, a must read.
"I was not. Though I could not stay in the Order that my father had taught me, neither was the world for me. The world made me sick. Not with hate. Not sick with hate. Just sick. It was wildness, churning chaos. It upset my soul, making me dizzy like a little boy spinning circles in the field. The spinning is fun at first, but then you cannot stop, because if you stop, you fall and your stomach turns inside out. I haven’t ever liked that. And I like spirit sickness least of all."
"Everyone in Lancaster seems to be doing all right so far. But the world is not just Lancaster. There are larger cities, places where there are no fields and farms nearby, and where there is more violence. Pittsburgh, apparently, is bad. And other farther places, things were beginning to get bad. The biggest cities, like New York and Washington and Baltimore and Los Angeles. Rumors of violence. But just rumors. “Who knows anything anymore,” Isaak said. “It all feels like gossip, like none of it is real.” in the house, mike is sleeping."
"But then there was a patter of shots, and one of the soldiers went down, and the crowd surged forward. Then the soldiers opened fire.” Abram went quiet again. “He told me there were at least a hundred dead. At least. Many of them women and children. And then he said they had heard more stories just like that.”
"And there, in the air beneath the canopy of the oak, I saw a single bright yellow leaf. It was not falling. It hovered, whirling, floating and bobbing and moving. It did not fall. It refused to fall.
I watched it as it danced, defying the fall, a leaf that would not come to earth. It was magic, this leaf. A soft morning breeze rose up, and the golden leaf lifted upward, arcing back toward the branches that had cast it down. Like a fallen angel, repentant, straining back toward heaven. I knew what I was seeing, even though I could not see it. Attached to the leaf, defying my sight, beyond my human seeing, there was a single silver thread. That cord was there, though I could not see it, strong as steel, light as air. I knew this. It was woven by a spider, and fixed to the leaf, and fixed to the tree.
That is why I was seeing a leaf that would not fall. I knew this. But it still seemed magical. Just like everything in our world."
“It really is getting worse,” Jon said. “On the ride back, I heard that there was a big firefight between police and National Guard and some armed gangs from Philadelphia. Not like street gangs, these were just armed men who had gathered together to take what they needed. The gangs had moved from looting stores to moving through neighborhoods, taking food from every house, and shooting anyone who wouldn’t give them what they wanted.”
"Yet when I came here, and in a time of testing and prayer Jonas Beiler heard of my spiritual struggle, it was he who told me to set aside that bitterness. Do not let the poison of your spirit keep you from the truth. Do not forget the power of a time of testing.
And so as I write, every day, I remember. Writing the words helps me remember."
"Here we were, and we prospered. Our hard work and diligence was rewarded by Providence. There was food, there was plenty, and our faith was without trial. It was easy to become prideful, or to become convinced of God’s protection. Yes, we had to be disciplined, and yes, being among our brethren and renouncing the easy path of the English required strength of purpose. But the kind of strength to endure times of trial, and to stand unwilling to turn a hand against those who would harm us? Would starve us? Would destroy our bodies, even as our souls remain intact? That, for a while, has been a trial that we have not had to endure in this country. Now, though, the time has shifted. The world itself has shifted. I must trust in my faith, that it will endure this testing.
Is that not the purpose of faith? Surely it is."
"The news of the morning was that the delivery in Lancaster had not gone well. Again, there were disruptions, and the crowd was bigger, and there was less food. People were hungrier, and women were crying, and men were angry and most were armed. Order was maintained, but everyone was growing more desperate.
Alongside the roads, the piles of trash were growing, and stories of looting and killing for supplies were everywhere. Many stories were rumors and untrue, but there was some truth to parts of it. Too much truth.
Word had gotten out that the National Guard had been ordered to shoot looters on sight, and there was now a curfew. No travel after dark, for any reason."
"the three of us arrived, and it was as Jon had said. The farm was very quiet. There the bodies were out in the drive, two large, two so very small. They had fallen together, close to one another, just a heap, like a pile of meat dumped on the road."
"Because we know, now, that as the world of the English fails around us, we are not separate. Yes, we have the Order, and yes, we have our way, but the time when that meant we stood free from the world has passed."
"There are shots now again, bursts here and there, far away, and I cannot sleep. I think of this man in his hunger, shot like a rabbit raiding a garden. For what, Lord? For stealing corn intended for pigs and for cattle, like the hungry prodigal helpless in a strange land."
review also @ http://more2read.com/review/english-fall-david-williams/
The telling of Jacob captivates the reader, getting through it all, what takes place, and what road he will traverse upon, an empathy grows with the telling.
His writing in his journal has him have a voice to see the world through, come to realize his fate and faith, his spiritual struggle with the terrible world he finds himself in.
The authors lucid prose style delivers the tale into a memorable first person gripping narrative, a must read.
"I was not. Though I could not stay in the Order that my father had taught me, neither was the world for me. The world made me sick. Not with hate. Not sick with hate. Just sick. It was wildness, churning chaos. It upset my soul, making me dizzy like a little boy spinning circles in the field. The spinning is fun at first, but then you cannot stop, because if you stop, you fall and your stomach turns inside out. I haven’t ever liked that. And I like spirit sickness least of all."
"Everyone in Lancaster seems to be doing all right so far. But the world is not just Lancaster. There are larger cities, places where there are no fields and farms nearby, and where there is more violence. Pittsburgh, apparently, is bad. And other farther places, things were beginning to get bad. The biggest cities, like New York and Washington and Baltimore and Los Angeles. Rumors of violence. But just rumors. “Who knows anything anymore,” Isaak said. “It all feels like gossip, like none of it is real.” in the house, mike is sleeping."
"But then there was a patter of shots, and one of the soldiers went down, and the crowd surged forward. Then the soldiers opened fire.” Abram went quiet again. “He told me there were at least a hundred dead. At least. Many of them women and children. And then he said they had heard more stories just like that.”
"And there, in the air beneath the canopy of the oak, I saw a single bright yellow leaf. It was not falling. It hovered, whirling, floating and bobbing and moving. It did not fall. It refused to fall.
I watched it as it danced, defying the fall, a leaf that would not come to earth. It was magic, this leaf. A soft morning breeze rose up, and the golden leaf lifted upward, arcing back toward the branches that had cast it down. Like a fallen angel, repentant, straining back toward heaven. I knew what I was seeing, even though I could not see it. Attached to the leaf, defying my sight, beyond my human seeing, there was a single silver thread. That cord was there, though I could not see it, strong as steel, light as air. I knew this. It was woven by a spider, and fixed to the leaf, and fixed to the tree.
That is why I was seeing a leaf that would not fall. I knew this. But it still seemed magical. Just like everything in our world."
“It really is getting worse,” Jon said. “On the ride back, I heard that there was a big firefight between police and National Guard and some armed gangs from Philadelphia. Not like street gangs, these were just armed men who had gathered together to take what they needed. The gangs had moved from looting stores to moving through neighborhoods, taking food from every house, and shooting anyone who wouldn’t give them what they wanted.”
"Yet when I came here, and in a time of testing and prayer Jonas Beiler heard of my spiritual struggle, it was he who told me to set aside that bitterness. Do not let the poison of your spirit keep you from the truth. Do not forget the power of a time of testing.
And so as I write, every day, I remember. Writing the words helps me remember."
"Here we were, and we prospered. Our hard work and diligence was rewarded by Providence. There was food, there was plenty, and our faith was without trial. It was easy to become prideful, or to become convinced of God’s protection. Yes, we had to be disciplined, and yes, being among our brethren and renouncing the easy path of the English required strength of purpose. But the kind of strength to endure times of trial, and to stand unwilling to turn a hand against those who would harm us? Would starve us? Would destroy our bodies, even as our souls remain intact? That, for a while, has been a trial that we have not had to endure in this country. Now, though, the time has shifted. The world itself has shifted. I must trust in my faith, that it will endure this testing.
Is that not the purpose of faith? Surely it is."
"The news of the morning was that the delivery in Lancaster had not gone well. Again, there were disruptions, and the crowd was bigger, and there was less food. People were hungrier, and women were crying, and men were angry and most were armed. Order was maintained, but everyone was growing more desperate.
Alongside the roads, the piles of trash were growing, and stories of looting and killing for supplies were everywhere. Many stories were rumors and untrue, but there was some truth to parts of it. Too much truth.
Word had gotten out that the National Guard had been ordered to shoot looters on sight, and there was now a curfew. No travel after dark, for any reason."
"the three of us arrived, and it was as Jon had said. The farm was very quiet. There the bodies were out in the drive, two large, two so very small. They had fallen together, close to one another, just a heap, like a pile of meat dumped on the road."
"Because we know, now, that as the world of the English fails around us, we are not separate. Yes, we have the Order, and yes, we have our way, but the time when that meant we stood free from the world has passed."
"There are shots now again, bursts here and there, far away, and I cannot sleep. I think of this man in his hunger, shot like a rabbit raiding a garden. For what, Lord? For stealing corn intended for pigs and for cattle, like the hungry prodigal helpless in a strange land."
review also @ http://more2read.com/review/english-fall-david-williams/
September 1, 2021
Hoped that a post apocalyptic story set in an Amish community would be markedly different for the genre. It wasn't.
A very USian story.
A very USian story.
August 28, 2019
I found a copy of this rather obscure and beautifully presented novel on eBay. It provides an interesting twist on the well-established collapse-of-civilisation narrative: the narrator lives in an Amish settlement. The format is that of a diary kept by a man named Jacob to record how his family and community are faring. After initial signs of climate change, a solar storm destroys much of the technology on which civilisation depends overnight. The Amish, who use very little of this technology, don’t experience much in the way of immediate effects. But as the world around them unravels, Jacob’s community is increasingly endangered. At first his diary establishes the mundane details of daily life working the land and introduces his family, including his seemingly prophetic daughter Sadie.
Jacob’s narrative voice is both distinctive and sometimes, to me, hard to believe. I can’t judge the actual realism as I don’t know any Amish people, but he seems so pious and virtuous as to be a character in a Victorian moral fable. The generous and peaceful ethos of his community is undoubtedly admirable, however the contrast drawn with the greed and violence of normal people living nearby is crashingly unsubtle. It’s most definitely a fair point, that the Amish way of life is more resilient and sustainable, and goodness knows I hate wasteful and unnecessary technology. However it does come across as a little preachy. I contemplated the things I would miss in such a community: libraries, museums, non-religious music, a diversity of different people, and interesting clothes sprang to mind. All of these pre-date the technologies that the Amish eschew. (I would also greatly miss microwaving food, to be fair.)
The depiction of society’s collapse from the perspective of someone outside society is cleverly done and well paced. The fragility of doomsday prepper culture in the face of permanent economic breakdown and the inadvisability of widespread gun ownership come through very clearly. Jacob seems superhumanly measured and reasonable in his assessments throughout, which is both a strength and a weakness of his narrative voice. Although I wasn’t always convinced by him, I did appreciate his narration. At times it was really moving, especially in the latter half. Overall, an involving depiction of society’s breakdown from an unusual perspective. Not, however, a very reassuring book to read while worrying about Boris Johnson proroguing parliament.
Jacob’s narrative voice is both distinctive and sometimes, to me, hard to believe. I can’t judge the actual realism as I don’t know any Amish people, but he seems so pious and virtuous as to be a character in a Victorian moral fable. The generous and peaceful ethos of his community is undoubtedly admirable, however the contrast drawn with the greed and violence of normal people living nearby is crashingly unsubtle. It’s most definitely a fair point, that the Amish way of life is more resilient and sustainable, and goodness knows I hate wasteful and unnecessary technology. However it does come across as a little preachy. I contemplated the things I would miss in such a community: libraries, museums, non-religious music, a diversity of different people, and interesting clothes sprang to mind. All of these pre-date the technologies that the Amish eschew. (I would also greatly miss microwaving food, to be fair.)
The depiction of society’s collapse from the perspective of someone outside society is cleverly done and well paced. The fragility of doomsday prepper culture in the face of permanent economic breakdown and the inadvisability of widespread gun ownership come through very clearly. Jacob seems superhumanly measured and reasonable in his assessments throughout, which is both a strength and a weakness of his narrative voice. Although I wasn’t always convinced by him, I did appreciate his narration. At times it was really moving, especially in the latter half. Overall, an involving depiction of society’s breakdown from an unusual perspective. Not, however, a very reassuring book to read while worrying about Boris Johnson proroguing parliament.
September 17, 2017
I really enjoyed this book despite it's simplicity.
A solar storm ends "modern" life as we know it. Planes fall from the sky, cars and machines stop working and modern devices are useless. Life is in chaos for 'The English', but for the Amish people, it is life as usual. They continue living their simple lives, but become more and more aware of the unrest in the rest of the country.
The story is told through the diary of Jacob, an Amish farmer, I can see how others can find this boring. His life continues on as normal, with none of the intense drama of other dystopian/apocalyptic novels. But as the story goes on, the seemingly distant dangers creep closer and closer until an unimaginable tragedy hits the community. I found the whole story extremely emotional because these gentle people gave their food and homes to those in need while asking nothing in return.
Recommended for those who enjoy more "literary" dystopian with a slower pace and not a lot of action, but with a lot of emotion and heart.
A solar storm ends "modern" life as we know it. Planes fall from the sky, cars and machines stop working and modern devices are useless. Life is in chaos for 'The English', but for the Amish people, it is life as usual. They continue living their simple lives, but become more and more aware of the unrest in the rest of the country.
The story is told through the diary of Jacob, an Amish farmer, I can see how others can find this boring. His life continues on as normal, with none of the intense drama of other dystopian/apocalyptic novels. But as the story goes on, the seemingly distant dangers creep closer and closer until an unimaginable tragedy hits the community. I found the whole story extremely emotional because these gentle people gave their food and homes to those in need while asking nothing in return.
Recommended for those who enjoy more "literary" dystopian with a slower pace and not a lot of action, but with a lot of emotion and heart.
August 24, 2018
I didn't expect to like this book as much as I did - it's set up as a post-apocalyptic narrative about the poor, quaint Amish getting attacked by people with guns because the Amish still have food, and the relative importance of faith in a world that is, literally, broken. The first page is one of those "hey, Dr. Researcher Person, I found these archival documents, take a look!" tropes that keeps cropping up. It's probably one of the most annoying examples, because no context for the named organizations' larger places in the repaired society is ever explained.
Instead, it is about living with principle in both good times and bad - how faith is a decision that you must make again and again, and that trying to make that decision without a willingness to sacrifice for it can make it meaningless. If the choice is between an easier life that will force you to change in a way that will hurt you, or will inspire people to do things on your behalf that you would refuse to do yourself, the better, harder choice may be to go. A quiet book about living by faith and principle.
Instead, it is about living with principle in both good times and bad - how faith is a decision that you must make again and again, and that trying to make that decision without a willingness to sacrifice for it can make it meaningless. If the choice is between an easier life that will force you to change in a way that will hurt you, or will inspire people to do things on your behalf that you would refuse to do yourself, the better, harder choice may be to go. A quiet book about living by faith and principle.
August 22, 2017
After an apocalyptic event, an Amish farmer struggles with his faith as desperate outsiders encroach on his peaceful community.
There are no zombies, political commentaries, or even climactic showdowns, but this very personal account of a post-apocalyptic catastrophe, written from an unfamiliar perspective, kept a simple and steady pace, which resulted in a quick yet absorbing read.
There are no zombies, political commentaries, or even climactic showdowns, but this very personal account of a post-apocalyptic catastrophe, written from an unfamiliar perspective, kept a simple and steady pace, which resulted in a quick yet absorbing read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 927 reviews