In her third novel, “We Could Be Rats,” Emily R. Austin ventures deeper into the themes of mental health and family dynamics that she previously explored in “Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead” and “Interesting Facts About Space.” This time, she examines the complex relationship between two sisters navigating their way through a conservative small town, their family’s dysfunction, and their own divergent paths into adulthood.
The Story and Its Layers
Set in the fictional town of Drysdale, the narrative alternates between the perspectives of sisters Sigrid and Margit. Sigrid, the younger sister who never graduated high school, works at the Dollar Pal and struggles to find her place in a world that seems increasingly hostile to her sensibilities. Margit, pursuing an English degree at college, grapples with her role as the “responsible” sibling while trying to understand her sister’s apparent inability to conform to societal expectations.
The story begins with Sigrid’s suicide attempt and unfolds through multiple narrative layers, including Sigrid’s various attempts at writing a suicide note and Margit’s efforts to forge one on her behalf. This structure, while initially jarring, effectively reveals the depths of both sisters’ inner worlds and the ways they’ve been shaped by their childhood experiences.
Writing Style and Structure
Austin’s prose is raw and immediate, often reading like stream-of-consciousness thoughts while maintaining narrative coherence. The author takes risks with her storytelling approach, particularly in the way she structures the suicide notes as numbered “attempts,” each revealing different facets of Sigrid’s character and experiences.
However, this experimental structure sometimes works against the novel’s emotional impact. The multiple versions of the suicide note occasionally feel repetitive, and some readers might find it challenging to maintain engagement through these iterations.
Strengths
The novel excels in several areas:
- Childhood Memory Portrayal: Austin masterfully captures the magic of childhood imagination and the pain of losing it to adulthood
- Sister Dynamic: The relationship between Sigrid and Margit feels authentic, complete with its complications and contradictions
- LGBTQ+ Representation: The author handles Sigrid’s sexuality with nuance, making it an integral part of her character without reducing her to just this aspect
- Mental Health Discussion: The exploration of depression, anxiety, and suicide is handled with sensitivity and depth
Areas for Improvement
Some aspects of the novel could have been stronger:
- The pacing sometimes suffers from the recursive nature of the suicide note attempts
- Secondary characters, particularly the parents, occasionally feel underdeveloped
- The resolution might feel too neat for some readers given the complexity of the issues addressed
- The political elements of the story sometimes feel heavy-handed
Themes and Social Commentary
Small Town Politics and Social Issues
Austin doesn’t shy away from addressing contemporary social issues, particularly through the lens of small-town conservatism. The character of Kevin Fliner and the upcoming mayoral election serve as effective vehicles for exploring themes of political polarization and social justice. However, these elements occasionally overshadow the more intimate family drama at the story’s heart.
Mental Health and Identity
The novel’s treatment of mental health issues is particularly noteworthy. Through Sigrid’s perspective, we experience the crushing weight of trying to maintain authenticity in a world that seems designed to suppress it. The author skillfully portrays how mental health struggles can be exacerbated by social and familial expectations.
Sisterhood and Family Dynamics
The heart of the novel lies in its exploration of sisterly bonds. Margit and Sigrid’s relationship is complicated by their different approaches to life and their shared trauma from growing up in a volatile household. Austin effectively shows how family members can simultaneously be both lifelines and sources of pain.
Literary Merit and Cultural Impact
Austin’s writing style has matured since her previous works. While maintaining the raw honesty that characterized “Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead,” she demonstrates greater control over her narrative voice in “We Could Be Rats.” The novel contributes meaningfully to contemporary discussions about mental health, family relationships, and the challenges of maintaining individuality in conservative environments.
Verdict
“We Could Be Rats” is an ambitious novel that largely succeeds in its goals, despite some structural flaws. It will particularly resonate with readers who appreciate:
- Stories about complex family relationships
- Explorations of mental health and identity
- LGBTQ+ narratives set in conservative environments
- Literary fiction that experiments with form and structure
While not perfect, the novel offers a compelling examination of sisterhood, mental health, and the challenge of maintaining one’s authentic self in an often hostile world. It’s a worthy addition to Austin’s growing body of work and to contemporary literary fiction addressing these crucial themes.
Similar Books and Recommendations
Readers who enjoy “We Could Be Rats” might also appreciate:
- “The Bell Jar” by Sylvia Plath
- “All My Puny Sorrows” by Miriam Toews
- “Everything Here Is Beautiful” by Mira T. Lee
- “Tell the Wolves I’m Home” by Carol Rifka Brunt
These works similarly explore themes of sisterhood, mental health, and the challenges of finding one’s place in the world.