Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

And Then She Fell by Alicia Elliott

35 reviews

kylieqrada's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Harrowing depiction of perinatal mood disorders and more specifically postpartum psychosis. Also loved learning more about Indigenous lore. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Racism, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Moderate: Addiction, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent

Minor: Drug abuse and Forced institutionalization

javafenn's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

This book was tough and I almost didn’t any to finish it but I’m glad I stuck with it. The book is heavy and also incredibly confusing for a good portion of it but it’s all clarified with the final 1.5 hours of listening time. The final part really brought everything together and wove Alice’s glaringly obvious mental illness with her ability to traverse her people’s stories and legends. The book is heavy though. She clearly has postpartum psychosis which is finally mentioned towards the end but even as the reader you think maybe she doesn’t sometimes. It’s a book you need to be in a secure headspace for but it’s a good book. The ending was great and I’m ultimately glad I listened on. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Classism

erica_cb's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Racism, and Death of parent

Minor: Gun violence, Racial slurs, and Police brutality

toadfairy's review against another edition

dark emotional informative reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Moderate: Body horror, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Gore, Racism, Blood, and Grief

Minor: Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Colonisation

charleshasalibrary's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring sad medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, and Colonisation

Moderate: Child death, Death, Misogyny, Self harm, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, and Grief

plasticpansy's review against another edition

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

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Blood, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Colonisation

yvanngo's review against another edition

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness

Moderate: Addiction, Drug use, Grief, Death of parent, and Gaslighting

CW: The main character suffers from postpartum depression.

bisexualbookshelf's review against another edition

challenging dark funny reflective fast-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

4.75

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.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism

Moderate: Misogyny, Grief, and Death of parent

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Cannibalism, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

awebofstories's review against another edition

dark tense fast-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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Body horror, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Cannibalism, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Cultural appropriation

katie_elise's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense fast-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? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis