The Mookse and the Gripes discussion

And Then She Fell by Alicia Elliott

I am about a third of the way through this and the language is so powerful, the story so original, the sentiments so cutting, that I can't imagine it not ending up at the top or very close to the top of my list. If anyone was kinda sorta interested but prioritizing other books first, I just want to put in a little plug for it. I'm so happy to be reading it.

I read this book as soon as it was published. I found it incredibly powerful. For me this is the book to beat.

Thanks both. Really exciting to hear

Your comments make me want to delay reading it a couple of weeks though as I want to save the best books until last.

I just finished it and, as expected, absolutely loved it.

This one was very thought provoking. I did not love reading it, however it left me pondering many questions. I would not be surprised to see this on the short list but it will not be my favorite.

This is certainly a very different novel - I need to mull my thoughts especially over the rather abrupt horror to sci fi transition but it’s very powerful.

GY, I loved your review of this novel.

Reading this novel gave me some insight on the way I judge fiction, however chaotically. The writing, especially in the beginning, felt so kerklunkety that it never occurred to me to think of it as "literary fiction" or to imagine it as a prize-nominated novel.

I spent the rest of the read thinking "wow, this is a pretty great story, and even if it's mainstream/general fiction and not written so well, I'm enjoying it a lot." I thought of this book in the same zone as Carrie by Stephen King, proof that mediocre writing can sometimes lead to a great story.

So this all sounds really snobby and I had a mix of feelings about seeing it on the women's prize list, a combo of "wow, that's great they could see past its flaws" and "what is this book doing on a literary prize list?" although tbh I have thought that about a lot of women's prize books, over the years, as it seems to be aimed at a more commercial space than other prizes.

Lark, I didn't think the writing was bad - I mean, I noticed what I understood as a bluntness, lack of literary finesse in the writing, but I saw that as deliberate because of the narrator's circumstances.

However, I do find that I deviate sometimes from others' feelings about writing style, plus you are an actual writer, so I'm perfectly willing to defer to your judgment! :-)

No, Elizabeth, I actually think my discomfort with the prose exposed a flaw in my reading habits, a tendency to be too judgmental or to categorize books as 'literary' or not. There are so many authors I love that never get tapped for prizewinning lists because other people also have this quirky idea of what 'literary' means.

I mostly-subconsciously put this novel in the same category as books by Iain Reid, Paul Tremblay, Kevin Wilson--other examples where I love the books, and am also surprised I love the books, because the writing is no great shakes.

I guess I'm glad in this case that the women's prize committee didn't let the prose stop them because I do think this is an amazing read.

Fair enough! I thought I had downgraded my 5 stars to 4, because after my feelings settled I felt that it was more of a 4-star read for me. Definitely interesting and thought-provoking, if not to everyone's taste!

Thanks for the comments on my review. Yours was very thoughtful and respectful and did get to the dilemma I faced in writing the review - the very act of me thinking as a white person that I can validate or otherwise indigenous art (here literature) is of course one of the many themes if this complex novel. I am impressed at the WP judges for choosing it.

GY, I keep thinking about how my own thinking was challenged as I read. Like: at first the voice in my head was thinking: “why is she so upset that her husband wants to learn her historical language and to study it, and preserve it?…Why is she angry that he is better at speaking the language than she is?” and then as I read forward I was faced with how, hmm, maybe the word is ‘white’…I was faced with how white my logic was. I began to understand this point of view that in the beginning I resisted.. It was a challenging read in the best sense for me.

Lark wrote: "No, Elizabeth, I actually think my discomfort with the prose exposed a flaw in my reading habits, a tendency to be too judgmental or to categorize books as 'literary' or not. There are so many auth..."

I find it helpful that you point out the writing style, Lark. Maybe it's "snobby" but I have such a hard time getting past what I consider a "not-that-literary" style so this does give me pause. Not in a "I won't read it" way, but definitely in a "maybe from the library" way.

This was probably my favorite reading experience of 2023 and last year was a pretty amazing year for books for me so that's really saying something.
I suspect that this book's style is influenced by Native American storytelling. I am hesitant to give it genre labels for that reason too.

I wish I could 'like' and 'share' this thread with my reading friends. This kind of discussion, from everyone above is exactly why I read the book comments from this group religiously. Thank you and please keep sharing your impressions!

I am over a third through in audio and so far I find myself thinking "post partum depression," but then thinking there must be something more to come. The comments give me hope that there will be. I don't think the narrator of the audio book is that good. She doesn't annoy me but -- she speaks differently for different characters and sometimes doesn't make the switch at the same time as the text.

Finished today. I loved the "sci fi" ending but wondered if maybe it is just a reflection of the different way indigenous peoples view the world. For me it fit nicely with the creation story thread of the novel.