Reviews with content warning for Forced institutionalization - And Then She Fell

And Then She Fell by Alicia Elliott is a strikingly sharp and poignant novel that masterfully explores the intersection of patriarchy, anti-Indigenous racism, and psychological horror. From the very first pages, Elliott's prose captivates with its precision and depth, bringing to light the pervasive and painful realities faced by Indigenous communities.

Elliott's depiction of the intersectionality of oppressive systems is both spot-on and unsettling. The protagonist, Alice, navigates a world where colonial concepts of femininity and patriarchal pressures weigh heavily on her, reflecting a profound critique of how deeply these ideas are ingrained in society.

The novel also delves into the horrors of assimilation and the loss of cultural heritage. Alice's experience of not speaking her native language, and the broader implications of this loss, highlights the painful consequences of enforced assimilation. This theme is poignantly reflected in the psychological horror elements of the story, where everything appears normal until it suddenly isn't, a trope Elliott employs to great effect.

Alice's journey is also one of motherhood under the oppressive standards of white supremacy. The double burden she carries, trying to be a "good mother" under these impossible standards, is depicted with heartbreaking clarity. Elliott's commentary on how society fails mothers is particularly powerful.

The book's horror elements are intricately tied to Alice's mental state, her dissociation, and her struggles with substance abuse. Elliott's portrayal of these themes is both empathetic and harrowing, shedding light on how substance abuse is often a coping mechanism in the face of systemic racism, personal trauma, and a lack of other resources.

Elliott's anticolonial critique shines through in her reflections on storytelling, art, and community. She skillfully illustrates the power and difficulty of storytelling in Indigenous cultures, while also critiquing the commodification of art under capitalism. The novel’s anticapitalist themes are particularly striking, especially in the context of mental illness, grief, and their lack of productivity in a capitalist society.

One of the most compelling aspects of the book is its exploration of ancestral knowledge and community care. The narrative's focus on the importance of community, especially for new parents, is beautifully depicted, offering a powerful counterpoint to the isolating effects of modern society. Elliott’s thoughts on community care are wonderfully summed up by the book's final lines: “The most important thing wasn't that she'd fallen. The most important thing was that she'd been caught. That she had allowed herself to be caught.”

Despite the novel’s many strengths, the ending leaves a slight sense of brusqueness. The transition from Alice's last hallucinatory moments to the final resolution felt a bit jarring. A brief return to Alice's perspective, offering a moment of reflection or closure, would have provided a more satisfying conclusion.

Overall, And Then She Fell is a stellar work that balances sharp social critiques with deeply personal narratives. Alicia Elliott’s exploration of anticolonial and antiracist themes, psychological horror, and the struggles of motherhood is both powerful and profoundly moving. This novel is a testament to the resilience and strength of Indigenous femmes, and a call to recognize and dismantle the oppressive systems that continue to impact their lives.

📖 Recommended For: Enthusiasts of Intersectional Feminist Prose, Readers Interested in Anti-Colonial and Anti-Racist Themes, Admirers of Psychological Horror with Social Commentary, Fans of Netflix’s film “His House” and Lena Waithe’s “Them” anthology.

🔑 Key Themes: Patriarchy and Anti-Indigenous Racism, Cultural Erasure and Assimilation, The Struggles of Motherhood and Identity, Community Care and Ancestral Knowledge, The Psychological Toll of Colonial Oppression.

Content Warnings

kristenbynoe's review

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dark emotional tense

Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.0

Content Warnings

fiaharringbook's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book was a life-changer for me. It was like Get Out but make it Indigenous Canadian, meets Everything Everywhere All at Once or Interstellar. The scope of imagination, creativity and originality in the way this story was told was gob-smacking. My favourite book of the year so far, absolutely bloody exquisite, I cannot recommend enough.

Content Warnings

baileyanabella's review against another edition

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dark emotional tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

... just wow. I am going to be thinking about this book for a long, long time. My first completed title from the 2024 Women's prize longlist, and if the rest of them hold a candle to this one then we are in for a real treat.
Slight spoiler alert in the content warnings - but if you are sensitive to dark themes I recommend looking over them, there is a lot in this book.

Content Warnings

mmccombs's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful reflective tense medium-paced

4.0

That ending!! I was not so sure of this book at the beginning, I almost dnf’d like 35% of the way through, but I am so glad I kept going. The pace was a bit slow, but ultimately that made the way the ending unfurled so rewarding. Such beautiful themes at play here, highlighting the interconnectedness of Native women and their stories and their generations of striving toward hope. It definitely got kind of bonkers there at the end, which made for some delicious horror moments and also very poignant pieces about postpartum depression and psychosis and how that experience intersects with (and is further compounded and criminalized by) colonization and racism. This is such a well constructed book, would definitely recommend!

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