Review by vividvoid - We Could Be Rats

vividvoid 's review for:

We Could Be Rats by Emily Austin

4.75

dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

"Suicide is a sensationalized mortal sin. I don’t know a single soul who isn’t guilty of at least one of the less theatrical ones. Did you know that extreme anger and despair are mortal sin?”

Emily Austin has done it again.

This time, she dissects every little detail of someone with suicidal ideation’s inner workings. The story is divided into three parts. The first part is a collection of suicide letters, the second, the POV of the main character’s sister, and the third, the main character’s POV. Although these three parts seem very straightforward, Emily Austin is going to pull you along with her captivating craft. She will lead you in one direction and then bring you along to another just to realize it is something different altogether.

Austin’s choice to orchestrate the ordinariness of a suicidal person is worth noting. It is not uncommon for people to assume some big tragedy has befallen suicidal people that then leads them to attempt suicide. The truth is that Sigrid is only one amongst many. Like her, a suicidal person can be anyone: a stranger, a distant relative, a childhood friend, a cashier, etc.

In contrast to her ordinariness, Sigrid’s suicide letters are the rawest, most hauntingly realistic depiction of suicidal ideation I’ve ever read. I had to stop a few times because of how intricate it is described. Sigrid’s rationality, her detachment from traumatic events, her grief over the loss of childhood, her loneliness, her hopelessness—all these aspects of her life coalesce into lifelong misery that torments her every single day. Combined with the simplicity of her voice, this book successfully pries my heart from my body, stomp it hard on the ground until there’s nothing left, then spit on it.

I appreciate how this book carefully handles a topic as heavy and serious as suicide. Austin doesn’t glorify, romanticize, or dictate. This core theme is presented from inside and outside perspectives as well, making it balanced really nicely.

The only thing that doesn’t warrant this a perfect 5-star read is, towards the end, the pacing suddenly becomes wonky. The narrative feels uncertain of where to go. But other than that, this book is a roller coaster of emotions that I highly recommend with a serious disclaimer of the aforementioned warnings.

Content Warnings