We Could Be Rats by Emily R. Austin
Emily R. Austin, known for her ability to navigate complex emotional landscapes in Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead and Interesting Facts About Space, returns with a raw and intimate narrative that delves deep into the space between childhood imagination and adult reality. We Could Be Rats presents the story of two sisters—Sigrid and Margit—whose divergent paths in life illuminate the challenges of growing up while trying to maintain one’s authentic self. Plot and Narrative Structure: A Tale of Two Perspectives The novel unfolds through multiple attempts at writing a suicide note, creating a unique narrative structure that reflects the fragmentary nature of memory and trauma. Through these attempts, we learn about Sigrid’s life working at the Dollar Pal, her profound connection with her friend Greta, and her struggles with family dynamics and small-town politics. The story’s strength lies in its ability to weave between past and present, creating a tapestry of experiences that shapes our understanding of both sisters. However, this non-linear approach occasionally makes it challenging to follow the narrative thread, …
