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On The Table Read, “the best book magazine in the UK“, one half of the Scottish BAFTA-nominated magic and comedy duo Barry and Stuart, Barry Jones, shares the story of actor Niall Adams, who on first appearances has it all, but as he suffers from Depersonalisation and Derealisation Disorders (DPDR), Niall’s grip on reality is very quickly slipping away.
Praised by the likes of Matt Lucas and Derren Brown, The Book of Niall by Barry Jones is a graphic novel that readers will find hard to forget.
“A mesmerising story of reality and disillusionment from a real-life master of illusion.”
Matt Lucas – Actor, comedian and writer
“One of my favourite wonderworkers takes us to the heart of what it is to find peace in a difficult world. It’s a poignant story of illusion, the self, and the outer reaches of mental health. And a gift to anyone who suffers from the suspicion that reality cannot be as it seems.”
Derren Brown – Illusionist, painter and author
While almost unheard-of, the mental disorder Depersonalisation and Derealisation Disorder (DPDR) has been part of the Barry Jones’ daily life for many years. In The Book of Niall, Barry explores and shares the experiences of actor Niall Adams’ experiences with DPDR.
Set in modern-day Hollywood, where everything is artificial, Niall Adams lives his life believing that everybody around him is fake and that the whole world is an illusion. Through a combination of Barry’s own expertise in magic, and his first-hand experience of DPDR, he accurately portrays how people suffering from this condition experience the world.
With 240 full-colour pages, The Book of Niall lifts the lid on a condition that is estimated to affect 1% of the population, a figure similar to the number of people who suffer from schizophrenia and OCD, and takes the reader on a rollercoaster of an interactive experience. Readers not only become part of the story themselves, but the book will become a magical object in their hands.
Whether who’ve never read a graphic novel before, or you’re an ardent comic book fan, you will be blown away by the author’s unique use of words, pictures and illusion. The Book of Niall is nothing short of a literary tour-de-force, and wholeheartedly deserves to be recognised as one of this year’s unmissable ‘must-reads’.
Actor Niall Adams seems to have it all. Hollywood career, LA apartment, money, youth, good looks, a loving partner. His life should be perfect… except it isn’t.
In fact, Niall’s grip on reality is rapidly slipping away. He is certain that everybody around him is also an actor, reciting lines from a pre-written script. He is convinced that, at any moment, the director will call cut.
Little does Niall know that his perception of reality is about to be tested to its limits, as he is swept along on a hyper-real journey through the bizarre world of fame and celebrity… right up to the bleeding edge of existence itself.
A timely, philosophical and often humorous exploration of mental health, THE BOOK OF NIALL is a story of acceptance, understanding and – most importantly – a story of hope. It teaches us how to find meaning and mindfulness in an often confusing and disconnected world.
“The Book Of Niall is probably the most creative and relatable way of depicting depersonalisation disorder that I’ve ever seen – it does such an accurate job of communicating the confusion, bewilderment and hard realities of living with the disorder and it’s all so beautifully crafted.”
Joe Perkins – Musician, Unreal Charity Trustee and author of “Life on Autopilot: A Guide to Living with Depersonalisation Disorder”
“The Book of Niall is an enthralling exploration of critical issues, both philosophical and psychological. Without being preachy, it suggests answers to timeless questions – and even serves as a guide to when to stop asking them. It is refreshing, challenging, beautiful and unique. I recommend it especially to those who seek out art that does philosophy.”
David Kyle Johnson, Ph.D. – Professor of Philosophy at King’s College (PA) and Editor-in-Chief of The Palgrave Handbook of Popular Culture as Philosophy
“I’ve been living with DPDR for many years now and needed a vessel with which to examine it, as well as a way of raising awareness and hopefully educating others about this mostly unheard-of condition.”
Full-time professional magician of almost twenty years, Barry Jones, has garnered BAFTA and Rose d’Or nominations, plus a succession of five-star reviews at global comedy and arts festivals, and has toured the UK four times with sell-out stage shows. He performed on BBC1 prime time in a live weekly magic show regularly watched by nine million people, and was voted ITV1’s ‘Next Great Magician’. He worked as part of the comedy/magic duo Barry and Stuart.
With a lifetime dedicated to creating illusions and no formal art training, Barry exchanged his magic wand for a pencil and devoted two years to teaching himself how to draw. A further two years were spent creating the artwork for the book. This is Barry’s first graphic novel.
Available in digital form (£14) and a deluxe printed edition (£33), The Book of Niall is available to purchase from the author’s website at https://shop.barryjones.net
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