In Falling Snow

July 8, 2013
The well-crafted new novel from Australian author MacColl, her first to be published in America, traces an elderly woman’s reflections, avoiding the trappings of sentimentality while easily slipping through time. Iris Crane is comfortable in her Australian life when an invitation for a commemoration catapults her back 60 years to WWI and her stint as a nurse in a Parisian abbey. Iris remembers the past she has kept hidden from Grace, her obstetrician granddaughter whom she raised. Iris’s career as an attendant began in childhood when she began caring for her younger brother, Tom, after the untimely death of their mother, and it’s why she followed his trail after he enlisted as a young man. In 1978, Grace tends to her patients yet ignores potential evidence pointing to a health risk in her young son, Henry, while worrying about Iris’s health. The ceremony in France serves as a catalyst for Grace to learn more about her grandmother’s mysterious past and her own heritage. MacColl’s novel will appeal to a wide audience including those who enjoy historical fiction and medical drama. Agent: Daniel Lazar, Writers House.

July 2, 2012
When Iris, an elderly widow, receives an invitation to a reunion in France, where she worked as a nurse during the First World War, she’s determined to go. But Iris’ journey summons memories of a bittersweet past: of her first love, her best friend and a tragedy that changed everything. In Falling Snow is the latest novel from Vogel-shortlisted author Mary-Rose MacColl, and it’s an evocative and intriguing tale that encapsulates the horrors of war and the powerful legacy of love. As Iris recalls her wartime experience, she draws the reader deep into her past, eventually revealing the tragic secret that has shaped the rest of her life. Interwoven with this is the story of Grace, Iris’ granddaughter, a headstrong doctor with a family of her own in 1970s Brisbane. Both women’s voices are compelling and believable, and their differing perspectives offer insights into the changing role of female medical professionals during the 20th century. MacColl skilfully blends meticulous historical research with a moving human narrative: In Falling Snow may be one among many novels about wartime love and heroism, but it’s a well-executed and gripping piece of popular fiction.

Carody Culver is a bookseller at Black Cat Books in Brisbane, a PhD student and a freelance reviewer