Member Review
Review by
Michael B, Reviewer
Taken. Saved?
"If the Dead Belong Here" begins with the abduction of a six-year-old girl, Laurel. The narrative intertwines supernatural elements and Native American folklore, shedding light on the enduring impact of colonial harm. What resonates most, however, is the overwhelming grief borne by the women in this novel.
Laurel’s mother, Ayita, initially accuses the father of kidnapping. He was an abusive man who abandoned the family before Laurel's birth. Their relationship was destined for failure due to the damage caused by their alcoholism. An emotional wreck now, Ayita vacillates between rage and melancholy– the bottle always there to mock.
Haunted by nightmares, fourteen-year-old Nadine grapples with the disappearance of her sister, Laurel, and its unsettling connection to their family's past. Feeling the weight of solving the mystery while her mother flounders, Nadine seeks guidance from her elders, hoping to uncover the knowledge concealed within her family's traditions.
In the novel's latter half, Nadine travels from Wisconsin to her ancestral home in South Carolina. There, she discovers the stories of the "Little People"—the enigmatic figures her sister depicted and communicated with—and the boundary between the living and the dead becomes increasingly indistinct. A pivotal question arises: can the dead heal the living, or are the living members of the family haunting the dead?
Carson Faust's debut novel is a remarkable convergence of themes. Described as "Native American Southern Gothic," it masterfully weaves together elements of horror, magical realism, domestic violence, and the enduring impact of historical injustice. These themes are enveloped in an overwhelming sense of grief and pain, leaving the reader to contemplate the resilience required to endure such profound suffering.
“Sisters… She, like me, is torn in two. You wouldn’t understand. Some of us are not meant to be whole in the world. Some of us are made to exist in pieces.”
Thank you to Viking Penguin and NetGalley for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review. #IftheDeadBelongHere #NetGalley
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May 5th marks the National Awareness Day for Missing or Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, a critical issue with some connection to this book's theme. Although public awareness of this heinous problem has been increasing, this year the US Department of Justice regrettably chose to withdraw significant reports concerning violence against Indigenous people, including those related to the bipartisan Not Invisible Act. Funding for vital programs is now at risk due to executive orders targeting "gender ideology." This issue demands more visibility, not less.
"If the Dead Belong Here" begins with the abduction of a six-year-old girl, Laurel. The narrative intertwines supernatural elements and Native American folklore, shedding light on the enduring impact of colonial harm. What resonates most, however, is the overwhelming grief borne by the women in this novel.
Laurel’s mother, Ayita, initially accuses the father of kidnapping. He was an abusive man who abandoned the family before Laurel's birth. Their relationship was destined for failure due to the damage caused by their alcoholism. An emotional wreck now, Ayita vacillates between rage and melancholy– the bottle always there to mock.
Haunted by nightmares, fourteen-year-old Nadine grapples with the disappearance of her sister, Laurel, and its unsettling connection to their family's past. Feeling the weight of solving the mystery while her mother flounders, Nadine seeks guidance from her elders, hoping to uncover the knowledge concealed within her family's traditions.
In the novel's latter half, Nadine travels from Wisconsin to her ancestral home in South Carolina. There, she discovers the stories of the "Little People"—the enigmatic figures her sister depicted and communicated with—and the boundary between the living and the dead becomes increasingly indistinct. A pivotal question arises: can the dead heal the living, or are the living members of the family haunting the dead?
Carson Faust's debut novel is a remarkable convergence of themes. Described as "Native American Southern Gothic," it masterfully weaves together elements of horror, magical realism, domestic violence, and the enduring impact of historical injustice. These themes are enveloped in an overwhelming sense of grief and pain, leaving the reader to contemplate the resilience required to endure such profound suffering.
“Sisters… She, like me, is torn in two. You wouldn’t understand. Some of us are not meant to be whole in the world. Some of us are made to exist in pieces.”
Thank you to Viking Penguin and NetGalley for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review. #IftheDeadBelongHere #NetGalley
—---
May 5th marks the National Awareness Day for Missing or Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, a critical issue with some connection to this book's theme. Although public awareness of this heinous problem has been increasing, this year the US Department of Justice regrettably chose to withdraw significant reports concerning violence against Indigenous people, including those related to the bipartisan Not Invisible Act. Funding for vital programs is now at risk due to executive orders targeting "gender ideology." This issue demands more visibility, not less.
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