Reviews

Fall Back Down When I Die by Joe Wilkins

fkshg8465's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

Took a really long time to get into this book, but I’m glad I stuck with it. When the dots were finally connected, I could see the bigger themes in the book and its relevance from the time of colonization in the US. That was a big lightbulb moment for me. Would’ve given it a five except that it did take so long to get there.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Alcohol, Death of parent, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Police brutality, and Gun violence

heidisreads's review against another edition

5.0

A remarkable story with characters I will hold close to my heart forever, a timely yet timeless setting, and writing that's beautiful, gritty and raw.

dedicated_reader's review against another edition

Liked ✅
- Started off good
Didn't Like ❌
- Different characters brought in with no real connection
- Past memories were overshadowed by a lot of detail
- Slow paced
- Confusing
Thoughts 💭
Got 28% through. Grabbed my attention quickly, dropped off shortly after. Kept trying to get through it to understand what the different characters were about and their involvement with the mains. Felt like I should have had more understanding of characters and situations at this point in the book.

shotclocker's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad slow-paced

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

4.25

extraterrestrial_congregations's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted relaxing sad medium-paced

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

3.25

cierra_marie's review against another edition

4.0

3.75 stars. The last few pages were something, it was not what I expected. But there were points where the story drug a little for me.

ejoppenheimer's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

3.0

fraunilsson's review against another edition

adventurous sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

knitter22's review against another edition

4.0

Joe Wilkins is a skilled poet, and it shows in his debut novel, Fall Back Down When I Die. Set in eastern Montana's Bull Mountains, his writing captures the essence of the setting and the importance of land, loyalty, and revenge. Fall Back Down When I Die is the simple story of Wendell Newman, a 24-year-old ranch hand who is trying to do the best that he can after the suicide of his mother and becoming the caretaker of his cousin's son, Rowdy. Chapters from other characters like Wendell's father Verl, vice principal Gillian Houlton, and her daughter Maddy give the reader a fuller picture of why trying to do the best you can may still not be enough.

Was she saying he’d already somehow let Rowdy down? That no matter what he did it wouldn’t be enough? That people like him — his mother, his father, Lacy, him — simply didn’t have it in them? He felt his jaw tighten. He tried to let it go, but the world burned now at the limits of his vision. That same old shame, that fear and rage at being examined, judged, found wanting.

This is a sad and tragic story, but one so beautifully written that it is well worth reading.

charmeezy's review against another edition

adventurous emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0