Fallen

by Mel O'Doherty

When Michael Connolly was a child in the 1970s, his mother Elaine told him about all the things that happened to her in that place. All that the nuns had done. The doctors encouraged Elaine to talk, and talk she did. She even tried to tell the public. She wrote letters to the newspapers. She made signs and picketed Mass. The good pious parishioners silenced her. The doctors told her she was delusional. Her husband didn’t post her letters. Her son didn’t believe her. Three decades later, still caught in the guilt from that time, Michael sits watching the news about the mother and baby homes unfolding, and realises, with his mother long gone, that she had been telling the truth all those years ago. Fallen is a stark and beautifully written account of the impact on one family of a shameful chapter in modern Irish history.

‘Fallen is a powerful, engrossing, deeply moving novel. I loved it.’ Roddy Doyle

‘A hugely powerful novel, full of heart, empathy and quiet passion.’ Joseph O’Connor.

‘A quietly devastating novel. Mel O’Doherty crafts this powerful story with the lightest of touches and yet every sentence seemed to sink its teeth into me. I will be thinking about Fallen for quite some time.’ Jan Carson

280 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 24, 2021

Reviews

[Ellie Hawkes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could tell from the opening pages that the quality of the prose was outstanding, and the story that unfolds is an incredibly powerful one. This is a heart-breaking book: the horror of what Elaine goes through, and the effect it has on her family, makes for difficult reading at times. It is absolutely shocking to read about what went on in the mother and baby homes, even more so because the structure of the novel cleverly moves backwards in time as well as forwards, so that we are completely emotionally invested in Elaine by the time we see the full, nightmarish reality of the home.

What struck me most about this book is that it is not only an expose of the criminal practices that went on, but it is also a deep exploration of shame and guilt. The fact that Michael and his father, who both love Elaine deeply, betray her by not believing her at the time is so poignant, and the traumatic results for Michael in particular are explored with nuance and subtlety. He can’t simply join in the outcry at the discovery of what really went on – because he had already been told. It’s so tragic and complex and really quite devastating. That moment when the penny drops, when Michael realises what we, as readers, already know – that Elaine wasn’t delusional, that it all happened as she said – is one of the most powerful, affecting moments I’ve read in a novel this year.

By refusing to use the reality of the situation as a ‘plot twist’ for the readers, and instead having us be aware before Michael is that Elaine is telling the truth, O’Doherty avoids ‘shock factor’ tricks and allows for a much more complicated psychological exploration of the effects of trauma on both Elaine and her son. There are also plenty of wonderful characters – John, Michael’s eccentric friend, and Jill, whom Michael admires from afar, both inject some much-needed levity into proceedings, while also providing another perspective on themes such as finding your own path and writing your own story.

Fallen is strikingly original, but it does have shades of other brilliant books I have read. I was reminded of two of my favourite books of last year: The Truth Must Dazzle Gradually by Helen Cullen, and The Sound Mirror by Heidi James (also published by Bluemoose). If you loved either of these books, then Fallen will be for you. It is a tough read in terms of its subject matter, but the way it is written and structured is exquisite, and I highly recommend this profound, intelligent, beautiful book.

[Ryan Dennis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Writing about the Bessborough mother and baby home in Cork, Fallen showcases the power of literature by telling a story that needs to be told. It boldly and delicately portrays the relationship between a father and a son dealing with startling news that forces them to confront the past.

[Monika · Rating 5 out of 5]

Michael Connolly ema on peast segi. Seda ütlevad 1970ndatel nii arstid, kui kohalikud elanikud, sest kuidas saavad ta väited nunnade pahatahtlikku tegevuse kohta tõsi olla? Kolmkümmend aastat hiljem tuleb välja, et kõik, mida Michel'i ema Bessborough'i ema-laste kodu kohta rääkis, oli tõsi. Ta ei valetanud, aga nemad panid ta ikkagi hullumajja kinni...
Eelmise aastal tühistas Usa ülemkohus enda aastakümnete eest tehtud üleriigiliselt abortilubava otsuse ja andis otsustamise üle osariikidele. Selle muudatuse tulemusena on osariigiti nii lubavaid kui ka ülirangeid abordivastaseid seadusi. Näiteks lubatakse ühes aborti teha ainult kuuenda rasedusnädalani või ei tehta erandeid ei vägistamise ega instesti tagajärjel rasestunutele või loote raske puude korral. Küsimus, kas oled valiku või elu poolt lõhestab ühiskonda ja mõlemad pooled on argumentides kirglikud.
Just selline on taust, milles ma "Langenut" lugema hakkasin ja minu silmis on see hoiatuslugu sellest, mis saab siis kui abordivastased (usu)grupid võidavad, aga järgnevat korralikult läbi ei mõtle. Mis saab neist lastest?
"Langenud" on raske ja valus ja kohati segane raamat, aga väga oluline. On raamatuid, mis on oma õuduses nii head, et neid tuleb lugeda. Kergeks suvelugemiseks kindlasti ei sobi, kuid masendavalt pimedal sügisel-talvel võib veelgi raskem olla.

[Anna-Grete Juchnewitsch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Taas kord üks raske ja rõhuva sisuga raamat, millest paramatult ei saa mööda minna. Autori poeetiline sulg tabab oskuslikult valusaid teemasid ja läbielatud hetki. Ühes Claire Keegan "Small Things Like These" teosega, mis kätkeb endas sama teemat, saab hea sissevaate Iirimaa ajaloo tumedamasse poolde. Soovitan lugeda!

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

My enjoyment of this book too much hampered by my incomprehension of those whose lives are controlled by an adherence to the Catholic faith (or any faith, come to that). Additionally, unintentionally, this is the second read in the past two weeks dealing with the forcible removal from their mothers of new-born illegitimate babies ( thus doubling the horror of such occurrences). To begin with I found the details of what Martin and his father had to bear distressing, to the extent I doubted I would continue, but am glad I did because the telling of their tale was compelling and I needed to know how it would pan out. A strong and painful read, the impact of which will reverberate.