This is not a book for those who like a bit of bloodletting in the library with their tea and crumpets. Abide with me took me to places ive never been but feel now that i totally understand. Abide with me john sissons, book 1 by ian ayris book cover, description, publication history. Abide with me john sissons by ayris, ian and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. You have the right to remain silent ian ayris messy. Ayris writes in the first person narrative vernacular, one of the hardest narrative voices to master. The ending of this book is so powerful, poignant and heart breaking it actually brought tears to my. There is no weight to the book at all, despite westlakes wryly humorous reflections on government corruption, academic corruption, and the general ineptitude of the human race. Abide with me, short story writer ian ayris s debut novel, is an astoundingly simple yet brilliantly written first novel. My debut novel is called abide with me and is slated for release some time around october this year.
The book is narrated by john, a fanatical west ham supporter. Eight year old john sissons watches his beloved west. It usually takes some time for me to tackle a new voice in. Ian brings enthusiasm and ideas along with dedication to complete the job to his best ability. Abide with me was one of my top 10 reads of 2012 ian ayris was born in dagenham, essex. Abide with me by ian ayris editing by elizabeth crime. Get all 3 books in ian ayris stunning john sissons series in this beautiful boxset. So, two months earlier than anticipated the paperback edition of abide with me is here. Abide with me is a story of football, friendship, and hope. Download the john sissons audiobook series and listen anywhere, anytime on your iphone, android or windows device. Abide with me is the story of two boys forced to walk blind into the darkness of their shattered lives. Abide with me john sissons book 1 kindle edition by.
Ten year old john sissons leads a carefree life, his time is spent mucking about with friends both in and out of school and on saturdays he watches his beloved west ham united football team with his dad. Cant recommend this highly enough, a perfect audio book. Ian ayris lecturer creative writing barking and dagenham. Weighing in at a miighty 560 pages and with a new introduction by the author, this beautiful volume is definitely one to treasure. With his honed vernacular narrative style and concise, realistic characterisation he draws the reader into a narrative with great skill. Abide with me by ian ayris ian ayris debut novel is a poignant tale of growing up in seventies london. Abide with me has the same clarity of voice, the same dark humor, as well as a poignancy that wrenches and moves the reader. His john sissons series of books, abide with me and april skies are highly rated, and his short works are major lights across a ton of anthologies. Author ian ayriss complete list of books and series in order, with the latest. Abide with me john sissons book 1 kindle edition by ian ayris. Abide with me is a special book by a special writer. Ian ayris is the author of two novels and a novella, as well as forty short stories published online and in print. His short fiction is outstanding, packed with images and always tapping nerveends and ripping at heart strings in ways that many dont even come close to.
One streetwise and football mad, the other cold and unfathomable. With power, sensitivity and wit, ian ayris has crafted one of the most authentic snapshots of working class life you will ever read. Eight year old john watches his beloved west ham win t. Ian ayris has 18 books on goodreads with 862 ratings. Eightyearold john watches his beloved west ham win the cup, while at the same time, kenny tumbles out the front door of the house opposite, blood all over his face. Having spent most of his childhood more interested in kicking a tennis ball about the school playground with his mates than actually learning anything, he managed to leave the public education system in 1985 with but two o levels and a handful of c. The official publication date in terms of book signings and the ebook remains the same but if you fancy getting your hands on a paperback copy of awm, its ready and waiting. Sissons isnt perfect but he commands our allegiance.
His one day in the life of jason dean is a masterpiece, about a debt collector whose job grates against his love for classical music and philosophers. The long goodbye by ian ayris editing by elizabeth. His debut novel abide with me was published in 2012 by caffeine nights publishing and his novella one day in the life of jason dean was published later that year by byker books, and reissued in feb 2016 by near to the knuckle. Its a book about friendship and the power of community. Abide with me john sissons book 1 and millions of other books are available for instant access. For the first time ever, all 3 books in ian ayris stunning john sissons trilogy in one stunningl volume. Lynn harris abide with me ian ayris abide with me delia parr abide with me shellie arnold abide with me the barn church series book 3 shellie arnold abide. The story is a charming bonbon, aiming solely to amuse the reader, and it succeeds admirably, though the book does not quite rise to the levels of hilarity achieved in. Abide with me, by ian ayris, is a remarkable first novel. This is a coming of age story, a story about friendship and loyalty, of family and choices made. Praise for abide with me if you remember the queens silver jubilee parties, choppers, staying out all day, jumpers for goalposts or have ever had a special football away day then this novel is for you. Abide with me by ian ayris meet your next favorite book. He has a new novella out, a day in the life of jason dean and it is ayris at his emotive honest best.
Ian lives in london, england with his wife and three children. The sequel to abide with me april skies was published in ebook and paperback through caffeine nights publishing in april 2016. Ayris again demonstrates the importance of family, community, friendship and loyalty. His john sissons series of books, abide with me and april skies are highly rated, and his short works are major lights across a ton of. Ian ayris is the author of abide with me, a recentlyreleased novel that centres around a young west ham united supporter, john sissons, growing up in londons east end during the 1970s. So, i decided to catch up with london author ian ayris to ask him some questions about the book, and how he feels now his debut is out. It makes you look like you are up to some mischief.
Ian ayris caught the public imagination with his fantastic debut abide with me. April skies by ian ayris ronnie swordfish getting killed has got me radar bangin through the roof, like all them eyes i see in the shadows, everywhere i go, theyre all opened up at once all at the same time. The thatcherera britain ayris lays out for us is palpable in the details and populated with some of the most painfully real characters ive read in a long time. Abide with me is a superb debut novel full of heart, tragedy and humour. A list of amazon books by the publisher caffeine nights publishing tracked with novelrank and sorted alphabetically. Working with in on abide with me has been a rewarding experience and one i wont forget. Abide with me, short story writer ian ayriss debut novel, is an astoundingly simple yet brilliantly written first novel. We recently met up with ian for a chat about what is also his first fulllength book. No stranger to pen to print, ian has been a mentor to book challengers, as well as running a series of writing workshops for buddi ng writers. His debut novel abide with me was published in 2012 by caffeine nights. Beginning in 1975, abide with me is the story of eightyearold john, and his life growing up in the east end of london. He has had almost forty stories published online and in print, and his debut novel abide with me will be published by caffeine nights publishing.
Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading abide with me john sissons book 1. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. In abide with me set in 1975 johnny sissons is a young boy from the east end of london. Ian ayris, karl jenkinson, caffeine nights publishing. About the author ian ayris was born in dagenham, essex, in august 1969. Its the story of two boys john and kenny growing up through the 70s and 80s in londons east end. When we meet the narrator, john, he is at primary school. As john celebrates the hammers beating fulham in the cup final, kenny tumbles out the door of the new peoples house across the street having taken a beating of a different kind. A story of how two boys walked blind into the darkness.
In addition to abide with me, he has one other published work apart from short story contributions to some uk anthologies one day in the life of jason dean. I am very curious to see what ian ayris will come up with next soon, hopefully. Ian ayris writes gritty british fiction and characters with vast emotional punch. He was born in dagenham, essex, having spent most of his childhood more interested in kicking a tennis ball about the school. Which brings me to ian ayris brilliant john sissons novels, abide with me and april skies. It is so very good and its almost scary to say this author has the potential to be even better that even though i was familiar with the quality of ayriss short stories, i was poleaxed by both story and writing in abide with me. Abide with me by ian ayris i love the writing of ian ayris. Ayris may even go a bit further in capturing a vivid slice of life that rings true to this yank. In the first of our as a series, lynda shepherd interviews crime writer ian ayris. Abide with me by ian ayris editing by elizabeth crime fiction. The debut novel from ian ayris, a well known writer in online circles, abide with me will surely ensure that this author becomes wellknown to a much wider audience, such is the quality of the book. We werent never bad kids, we just didnt have nothing to hold on to, thats all.