One man. Two lives. No clean escape.
A wry, haunting, mental and physical descent into a fractured heart, soul, and mind.
Presented in an unconventional tête‑bêche (head-to-tail; tail-to-head) format, The Lost Soldier / Arnie Eats an Ice Cream serves as more than just a novel; it introduces a unique reader experience: you do not simply read this book; you listen to it; you wrestle with it; you embrace it; you navigate it; physically turning the pages and then the entire volume to uncover the mirrored halves of a single, devastating truth.
Part I: The Lost Soldier
Narrated by renowned psychiatrist Dr Elizabeth Heapy, FRCPsych, this dispassionate account tracks Stephen's clinical descent. Born into the shadowed prestige of the British Special Forces, he faces a life that was expected but never arrives. The deaths of his father, mother, and best friend in quick succession anchor him in an unmanageable internal conflict. Burdened by grief, and despite mounting mental and physical challenges, Stephen becomes an unlikely, deeply unsettled vigilante. The Fatman rises.
Part II: Arnie Eats an Ice Cream
Written by Anonymous voice, the narrative pivots 180 degrees. The narrative shifts focus from the reasons behind Stephen's fall to the inevitable 'what', which represents the true purpose his life was always moving towards. Set against the volatile backdrop of 1970s-90s sectarianism, crime, and politics, Stephen's internal history propels him toward a real-world, high-profile, historical event that altered the course of history forever. The Fatman falls.
Why this book is different:
- The unique Tête‑Bêche Structure: A physical metaphor for a fractured heart and soul. The reader must flip the book itself to confront the next side of his life story
- Fractured Consciousness: Inspired by 'show your working out' in maths exams: Stylistic strike-throughs expose alternative thinking and suppressed truths Stephen cannot admit to, even to himself
- A Cinematic Experience: A curated pre-1996 soundtrack underscores mood and tension, borrowing the emotional language of film to deepen every chapter
But who is Claire? But who is Alyson?
Darkly humane and emotionally resonant, with humour and irony woven throughout, The Lost Soldier / Arnie Eats an Ice Cream examines how an ordinary life veers into extraordinary consequences. It asks not only how to read the book, but also how to judge the man at its centre and determine where his fiction ends, where his reality begins, and where it ends again.
What did I think?
I didn't know what a Tête‑Bêche book was before reading The Lost Soldier / Arnie Eats an Ice Cream and what an amazing experience this was. I have to say it's a physically challenging book as it is large and heavy but well worth 'picking up', albeit in a metaphorical way rather than literal.
It is very unusual, not just the flip book style but the writing style with some words crossed out, but still visible to read, and other words redacted for security reasons. This is Stephen Cooper's story and it's both heartbreaking and harrowing.
The Lost Soldier is the story of Stephen's life from childhood to a certain point in time that changed the course of his life. In this part he meets Claire and it's very much a 'what might have been' had events not conspired against him.
Arnie Eats an Ice Cream sounds like perhaps a fun story but wow it is dark. Stephen's story interweaves with some real events that I actually found difficult to read about because it brought it all back into my mind. Not that it's something I had forgotten, but seeing it written about from Stephen's point of view was quite upsetting, such is the power of the writing. I don't want to say what the events were as it will spoil it for others but, as disturbing as it was, it really kept me turning the pages rapidly.
The chapters are quite long but once you get into the story, it's difficult to put down. I felt totally invested in Stephen's life and there are many shocks and surprises along the way as his life isn't exactly smooth sailing. The book also has a playlist with songs stated to accompany the events that have just taken place and they matched perfectly.
Perhaps one of the most unusual books I have ever read, The Lost Soldier / Arnie Eats an Ice Cream is certainly one of the most unforgettable too. A highly recommended read.
I received a gifted hardback for the Love Books Tours readalong and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
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