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In Falling Snow

by Mary-Rose MacColl (Goodreads Author)

3.94 of 5 stars 3.94 · rating details · 82 ratings · 29 reviews

A vivid and compelling story of love, war and secrets, set against the backdrop of WWI France. 'In the beginning, it was the summers I remembered - long warm days under the palest blue skies, the cornflowers and forget-me-nots lining the road through the Lys forest, the buzz of insects going about their work, Violet telling me lies.' Iris is getting old. A widow, her days...more

Paperback, 448 pages

Published October 1st 2012 by Allen & Unwin

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Dec 15, 2012 Sam rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: fans of WWI fiction and strong female characters

Recommended to Sam by: sent by Allen and Unwin and The Reading Room

The cover of In Falling Snow is deceptive. Yes, there is a little snow in this book and it may be easy to categorise this book as a Christmas special. Please don’t do that. Beneath its cover, this book holds a very interesting story of family, history, war, medicine, suspense and a touch of romance.

In Falling Snow is told from two different time periods using two different main characters. The first person we meet is Iris Crane, a young Australian nurse, off to Europe to bring home her underage...more The cover of In Falling Snow is deceptive. Yes, there is a little snow in this book and it may be easy to categorise this book as a Christmas special. Please don’t do that. Beneath its cover, this book holds a very interesting story of family, history, war, medicine, suspense and a touch of romance.

In Falling Snow is told from two different time periods using two different main characters. The first person we meet is Iris Crane, a young Australian nurse, off to Europe to bring home her underage brother who is a soldier in World War I. Later, in approximately 1970s Brisbane, we meet Iris again as an elderly lady but the focus is on Grace, her grand-daughter. Grace is fighting sexism at work as a doctor and worrying about her son Henry at night. What is the common thread that ties these two stories together? It’s more than family and it will be a shocking revelation to the reader and characters alike.

This book is fascinating as it tells a piece of World War I I wasn’t familiar with, nor had I read about elsewhere. Iris, on arrival in France, is swept away to assist the leader of Royaumont, a hospital set up by the Scottish Women’s Hospitals and run entirely by women. Royaumont Hospital was situated in Royaumont Abbey, a magnificent piece of architecture. MacColl describes Royaumont beautifully, a real place, that can be visited today.

Inside the magnificent structure, Miss Frances Ivens, director and doctor is trying to be taking seriously by the French to have Royaumont registered as a hospital. Here, Iris comes in useful as she speaks fluent French. Iris becomes a fixture at Royaumont and good friends with one of the ambulance drivers, fellow ‘flower bird’, Violet. Iris locates her brother, but is unsuccessful in convincing him to return home.

In the modern time period, Iris receives an invitation to Royaumont’s anniversary, which piques Grace’s curiosity. Iris wants to go, but she is becoming frail. Grace has her own issues to deal with and becomes preoccupied, as Iris retreats into memories…

Sometimes with dual narrative novels, it’s difficult to remember what is happening in each time period. There’s no such problem with this book – Iris’s youthful memories keep the threads firmly entwined. The mystery surrounding Grace’s son seems a bit extraneous at first, but it becomes clear that it is an integral part of the plot. My only concern is I found it far too easy to guess what was happening to Henry and I started to look for clues (and there are a few of them) that not all is what it seems. I may just know too much about random things though!

The narrative set in Royaumont gives a completely different aspect to WWI from a female point of view. It is not congested with wounds and medicine, but is more of a social history. There is little description of the fighting itself, which suits the story well. This is a novel focusing on characters, their actions and their effects. The rippling effects of choices made long ago are evident in the conclusion, where everything turns on its head rather quickly.

This book also is a very strong portrayal of women – women running the hospital, women making decisions. Grace is a doctor herself, but is sometimes ridiculed for her actions by her male colleagues (despite them being quite correct). Grace also represents the modern woman – mother, wife, career woman and homemaker, juggling it all sometimes more successfully than others.

Easy to read with a unique, interesting topic, I look forward to reading more by this author. Thank you to Allen and Unwin and The Reading Room for providing me with this copy.

http://samstillreading.wordpress.com (less)

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Apr 17, 2013 Rebecca rated it 4 of 5 stars

In Falling Snow follows two women, Iris and Grace, at different points in their professional and personal lives. Iris is an old woman, accepting the fact that she is dying. Grace is her granddaughter, attempting to balance life as a doctor while raising three kids.

As she reaches the end of her life, Iris begins to reflect on her years working as a nurse in a WWI hospital and on her younger brother, Tom, who ran off to join the army at only 15. As the story jumps between her reflections and pres...more

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Nov 03, 2012 This Charming Mum rated it 4 of 5 stars

In Falling Snow tells the story of Iris Crane, an elderly widow who lives a quiet life in Brisbane, worrying more about her granddaughter, Grace, a headstrong doctor juggling work with children, than she does about herself. Iris is a mesmerising character from the get –go thanks to the tender authenticity of her narrative voice. It struck me immediately how rarely I read a novel voiced (in part) by an elderly woman. The ways in which MacColl renders her combination of naivety about aspects of th...more In Falling Snow tells the story of Iris Crane, an elderly widow who lives a quiet life in Brisbane, worrying more about her granddaughter, Grace, a headstrong doctor juggling work with children, than she does about herself. Iris is a mesmerising character from the get –go thanks to the tender authenticity of her narrative voice. It struck me immediately how rarely I read a novel voiced (in part) by an elderly woman. The ways in which MacColl renders her combination of naivety about aspects of the modern world with the recognition of her own rich and eventful life is refreshing and skilfully written. How often do we judge the elderly based on their current limitations rather than the wealth of experience inevitably gained through a long life?

Things change suddenly for Iris when she receives an invitation to a reunion in France, where she served as a hospital nurse in World War 1. As a young woman, Iris took off to Europe on a mission to locate her brother who enlisted despite being under age. En route she met Miss Ivens – a charismatic Scot establishing a field hospital in an old abbey at Royaumont. The invitation brings back memories and ghosts from the distant past and Iris must determine whether it’s time for certain buried stories to be brought out into the light.

The narrative moves between time frames, and between the perspectives of Iris and Grace. The young Iris carries the weight of responsibility on her shoulders – having been a surrogate mother to her brother after their own mother’s death – but remains inexperienced about many aspects of travel, war, men and human nature itself. She makes a delightful narrator in the earlier part of the book and personifies the curious mix of naivety and enthusiasm that accompanied many young Australians on the ‘adventure’ of going to war in the days of heavy propaganda and devotion to the Empire. Iris has a subtle inferiority about her Australianness: she feels her accent is “harsh, like the summer sun” compared to some of the “deep and melodious” British voices around her. Yet, Iris’ father steps in as a complex antidote to this; having lost a brother in the Boer War he tells Iris that Australia isn’t Britain and “…shouldn’t be in a British war”. This variety of perspectives on each of the novel’s big themes steers it away from being a sentimental war memoire or history lesson.

McColl has a lot to say about parenting and gender roles, juxtaposing the position of women as professionals and homemakers over the ages. There are questions drawn about what constitutes mothering – is it the giving birth or the nurturing and responsibility that makes a mother? Gender is significant in the book’s medical environments. Royaumont has an all-female staff tending to male soliders; whereas back in 1970s Brisbane, Grace’s maternity ward is dominated by officious male obstetricians who lack compassion for the women in their care. Grace, in fact, fights her own daily ‘war’ against the hospital hierarchy. Matters of heredity and lineage are also highlighted when Grace’s son shows signs of a genetic illness.

MacColl also makes comment on the ways we perceive of age. Grace treats a pregnant teen who has little power over the delivery method, or the future, of her child; whereas war time puts teenagers at the front line. Another theme worthy of mention is memory – with all its heightened colours and tricky false impressions. The elderly Iris describes her life vividly through sensory recollections: “…Royaumont was full of smells, the perfume we sprinkled on our beds to try to rid ourselves of the awful reek of decay […], the clean smell of snow, […] the spring flowers and fresh cut grass of summer.” There is great poignancy in the way a quiet life provides opportunity to ‘stop and smell the roses’ – even if the roses in question are long since gone from a faraway garden.

MacColl’s story is increasingly complicated as the novel progresses and there is a sense that she has tried to cover too many aspects of her chosen subjects; however, there are few things more complicated than family, and McColl respects the reader’s ability to keep up. She, rightly, avoids oversimplification of either the legacies of war or the endless complexities of matters of the heart.

A more detailed review can be read at http://thischarmingmum.com (less)

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Oct 02, 2012 Kim Wilkins rated it 5 of 5 stars

This novel is wonderfully measured and beautifully written. It follows a young woman named Iris who goes to Europe during world war one to find her brother, who has enlisted although he is too young. While there, she finds work at Royaumont, an abbey converted into a field hospital by an all-woman team of Scottish doctors and nurses (and a real place!)

The vivid descriptions of snowy France contrast beautifully with the setting of the framing narrative, 20th century Brisbane, where Iris, now an e...more

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May 13, 2013 Andrea (Cozy Up With A Good Read) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-own

This review and others can be found on Cozy Up With A Good Read

This book really stuck out to me because it was more than just a romance during the war. This book is about family and how secrets from the past can come back generations later to make an impact on their lives. This is also about friendships and family throughout and how those stick with someone years after. I was really intrigued in how Grace's past during WWI could affect her granddaughter's future. This story is told in alternatin...more This review and others can be found on Cozy Up With A Good Read

This book really stuck out to me because it was more than just a romance during the war. This book is about family and how secrets from the past can come back generations later to make an impact on their lives. This is also about friendships and family throughout and how those stick with someone years after. I was really intrigued in how Grace's past during WWI could affect her granddaughter's future. This story is told in alternating perspectives between Iris and Grace.

I found that I did enjoy Iris' perspective more, but I was confused often. Iris is an older woman and is very confused about where she is and who is around her. Her perspective jumps back and forth from the present to her past at Royaumont (which is the part that kept me interested in the story). I really loved the slow build up to what happened at Royaumont and what brought Iris to where she is now.

I loved the sense of family that is portrayed in this book. Iris has gone to Paris to bring her little brother home and convince him to change his mind about joining the war. Throughout her time at Royaumount, Iris is continually thinking about her brother, she sees herself as his protector. Iris also has this strong relationship with Violet bringing out her strengths. I love a friendship with two people that are so opposite from each other, you really see another side of the character.

Grace's perspective was not as in depth as Iris' but you do see her strength. Grace has her own issues to deal with in family and her career. Grace is a surgeon in obstetrics but she is fighting to prove her worth because she is a woman, Grace works long hours and must deal with three children while her husband is also a doctor. As much as I wasn't as interested in Grace's story it did add to show how Iris was as a person. Since Grace's mother passed away, Iris took her in and raised her as her own, even though she was older at that point.

All in all this is a story that is all about Iris and her personality. But I did enjoy the little bit of mystery behind Grace's family and what happened to her mother and father. I was actually surprised at how the book ended, and what everything came to about the past. This book really shows how secrets can affect children and even following generations. This book was a beautiful story, even though it felt a little disjointed at times.(less)

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Nov 08, 2012 Shelleyrae at Book'd Out rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-are, aussie-author, provided-by-publisher

In this captivating novel, Australian author Mary-Rose MacColl moves between the past and the present, from Australia to war torn France to create a compelling story of love, loss, friendship, family and dreams.

When Iris Crane receives an invitation to a ceremony honouring les dames ecossais de Royaumont she is forced to confront the events of sixty years ago. At twenty one, Iris followed her younger brother to war in Europe, determined to bring him home, but instead remained in France to serve...more
In this captivating novel, Australian author Mary-Rose MacColl moves between the past and the present, from Australia to war torn France to create a compelling story of love, loss, friendship, family and dreams.

When Iris Crane receives an invitation to a ceremony honouring les dames ecossais de Royaumont she is forced to confront the events of sixty years ago. At twenty one, Iris followed her younger brother to war in Europe, determined to bring him home, but instead remained in France to serve at Royaumont, a field hospital established in an Abbey on the outskirts of Paris, staffed exclusively by women. Despite the horrors of war, Royaumont became home for Iris. She befriended a remarkable group of women including the spirited Violet Heron, discovered a talent for medicine and fell in love. Yet just three years later, Iris left Royaumont and never looked back.

I was immediately drawn to Iris, an old woman in failing health, who is remembering both the best and worst moments of her long life. As she drifts between the present and past she relates a full life of adventure, love, heartbreak and tragedy. From a motherless child on her father's farm, to a young nurse in the midst of World War 1 combat in France and then to her role as a wife, widow, mother, grandmother and great grandmother in Brisbane's suburbs, Iris reveals long held secrets and lingering regrets.

A mother of three and a obstetrician at a major hospital, Grace is struggling with her grandmother's decline as she tries to juggle the demands of work and family. Caught up in her own personal drama including being the target of a complaint and her growing concern about the health of her youngest son, Rose is dismissive of Iris's desire to attend the reunion at Royaumont. Despite being raised from birth by Iris, Grace is unaware of most of her grandmother's incredible past and is stunned by what she discovers when she honours Iris's last wish. There were times when I felt Grace's complications distracted from Iris's story somewhat but I also appreciated that MacColl ensured Grace was a well developed character.

MacColl develops interesting comparisons between the lives of Iris and Grace as she switches between narrative voices, exploring society's shifting perspectives of issues such as gender roles, motherhood, age expectations and health care. The author draws attention to the extraordinary changes in social attitudes that have affected women in particular during the past century, as well as the shameful instances where little has changed at all. MacColl also highlights the way in which the devastating toll of the first world war impacted on the generations that followed.

I was engrossed in both women's stories but I must admit I was especially fascinated by Iris's experiences at Royaumont. The Author's Notes reveal that In Falling Snow is inspired by the real life role of the Royaumont during World War 1 and though MacColl admits the story contains some historical inaccuracies for the purposes of fiction, she has tried to honour the incredible spirit of the women who served as surgeons, doctors, orderlies, nurses and drivers in the all woman military hospital that treated the casualties of war. I was absolutely fascinated by this aspect of the novel, enthralled by the courage and determination of the women who challenged society's expectations of them and MacColl's portrayal of life in the Abbey during an extraordinary time.

Royaumont almost becomes a character in its' own right. I was easily able to imagine the staff of Abbey working hard to prepare the space for the wounded as MacColl described but the scale of the challenge, and the incredible achievement of The Scottish Women's Auxiliary really only became obvious when I viewed the photographs online of the astonishing echoing rooms and vaulted ceilings.

I found In Falling Snow a wonderfully engaging tale, so caught up in life at Royaumont I regretted putting it down to attend to the mundane tasks of everyday life. I would recommend this novel particularly to participants of the Australian Women Writers Challenge, but I also feel it would be widely enjoyed by readers who find the synopsis appealing.(less)

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Dec 15, 2012 Kathy rated it 4 of 5 stars

‘In Falling Snow’ – a beautifully written novel set in two time periods. The 70’s and WW1. I loved both…..The interesting storyline held me captivated as I was fascinated with the women who were able to set up a field hospital in the middle of a war in an old Abbey in France. The sheer strength that these women had was incredible and brought to mind again how many obstacles women have had to face over the years to get to where we are now – and that was continued in the struggles of Grace, in the...more

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Dec 20, 2012 Christine rated it 3 of 5 stars

Iris is getting old. A widow, her days are spent living quietly and worrying about her granddaughter, Grace, a headstrong young doctor. It's a small sort of life. But one day an invitation comes for Iris through the post to a reunion in France, where she served in a hospital during WWI.

Determined to go, Iris is overcome by the memories of the past, when as a shy, naive young woman she followed her fifteen-year-old brother, Tom, to France in 1914 intending to bring him home.

On her way to find Tom...more

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Jan 30, 2013 Amanda rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary-fiction, australian-women-writers

I've read quite a bit about WW1, but had never heard of this remarkable hospital, or the women who ran it, and have now just spent some time on the interwebz checking it out. And, without giving too much away, Tom's fate came as a shock, highlighting British army policy that I not given much thought to - brutal stuff and the figures cited were horrifying. I'm wondering if there isn't a book in this topic alone. All in all an absorbing read which opened up some new areas of interest for me. Bravo...more

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Nov 11, 2012 Gail Intas rated it 4 of 5 stars

MacColl had me at “pants puddled around their ankles” (page one). Much like seeing a five star movie – totally taken into the story and when emerging back into the light of reality – perceiving it altered. The last page turned and I was proud of women, more learned in history, heart-raw about war, ribboned by romance, conscious of consequences and outsmarted by the twist. A cleverly executed tale that sucked me into its non-stopping pages on an international flight. Bravo Mary-Rose MacColl!

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Apr 07, 2013 Sharon rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: australian-fiction

This book gives an insight beyond the mud, trenches and bullets of the Great War by spending time with the women of the Royaumont hospital. Although the main characters are fictional, it does give a refreshing glimpse at the women who went to war.
Despite this, a large portion of the book is set in Australia, hopping between former Royaumont nurse Iris in her dotage and her granddaughter Grace, an obstetrician.
I thought both young nurse Iris and adult Grace needed a bit of a slap for their self-c...more

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Dec 30, 2012 Cynthia rated it 4 of 5 stars

The beauty in this book is that it links past and present, France and Australia within a web of history. Offering us a historical mystery and a nest of characters to compel you through the beautiful language, to enter into aspects of our involvement in war that are heart wrenching and so worthy of our attention. Thank you and so very well done Mary- Rose.

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Nov 28, 2012 Cathy rated it 4 of 5 stars

I knew very little about World War 1 and the role of the nurses. I loved the movement between the past and Iris's slightly confused present. I felt great sympathy for Grace and the effort she puts into trying to hold all her balls in the air. When I finished I had to reread it straight away to pick up the subtleties.

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Mar 24, 2013 Daniela rated it 3 of 5 stars

I did enjoy this book - although it did take me a few chapters to warm to it. Written in two different eras so it switches back forth between WWI and present. A story of family, war times, sacrifice and unknown truths which keeps the story authentic and interesting. I was slightly annoyed at Graces character and found myself wanting to give her a good shake to stop being so stubborn and tough with Iris. A good story.

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Mar 03, 2013 Maree rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book was recommended by Kobo because I liked "The Secret Keeper" by Kate Morton. I'm glad I took the recommendation because it was a good read. Set in the present and WWI it had a secret to be revealed - much like Kate Morton's books.

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May 14, 2013 Shirley Evans rated it 5 of 5 stars

I really found this book very satisfying. It had the ring of truth with the WWI hospital story and I have to admit it moved me to tears a few times - won' t say when so as not to spoil it for others. The people were well drawn and the suspense maintained. I' m sorry to have finished it.

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Jan 03, 2013 Ruth rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-read-in-2013

I think it took me a little while to really get into it, but by the middle I was hooked and had to work hard not to flick forward to see what the big mystery was all about! The characters of Iris and Grace were both very likable.

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Nov 29, 2012 Helen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: australian, recommend

I am really enjoying this book. It is difficult to put down. I suspect it will be a four and a half stars - if I can ever figure out how to do half a star in the rating!

Highly recommend this one.

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Nov 07, 2012 Helen Goltz rated it 4 of 5 stars

I just had the pleasure of meeting Mary-Rose at 4BC and just finished "In Falling Snow". A truly delightful book with engaging characters and a captivating story.

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Apr 04, 2013 Arna rated it 2 of 5 stars

Not as good as I thought it had the potential to be. Disjointed and choppy in it's telling I don't think the author did justice to the women of Royaumont. Just an average WWW1 story. Disappointing.

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Apr 12, 2013 Rincey rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013

I liked this book, but I didn't love this book. There were so many parts and the way it was broken up didn't always interest me, but I did like it in the end. View my full review here: http://youtu.be/QoO98xwOKMc

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Apr 30, 2013 RiverinaRegional Library rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: war-stories-by-australian-authors

Members of Riverina Regional Library reserve your copy now

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Feb 27, 2013 Alex Field rated it 4 of 5 stars

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Feb 25, 2013 Culture Street rated it 4 of 5 stars

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May 16, 2013 Ruth Ross rated it 4 of 5 stars

great story - loved it, the ending was a little surprising, but it was a great twist.

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Jan 19, 2013 June Thorn rated it 5 of 5 stars

Loved this book. Living in Brisbane I knew many of places. Would recommend this book to my friends.

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Sep 12, 2012 KateFromAllGoodBookStore rated it 3 of 5 stars

an intergenerational WW1 story - good writing and characters but a little over complicated towards the end

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Jan 14, 2013 Kate Forsyth rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: australian, contemporary, historical, parallel-narratives

'In Falling Snow' is a rather quiet, thoughtful novel, moving between modern-day Brisbane and the Royamount abbey hospital in France during the First World War. I particularly enjoyed the historical sections, which brought the world of the women's hospital vividly to life.

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Jan 03, 2013 Isabel Mansfield rated it 4 of 5 stars

Good Read

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Apr 04, 2013 Just rated it 4 of 5 stars

Definitely one of my favourite books that I've read this year. It was lovely the way the story moved between the past and the present to tell the story. A must read.

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About Mary-Rose MacColl

Mary-Rose MacColl is an Australian writer whose first novel, No Safe Place, was runner-up in the 1995 Australian Vogel literary award. Her first non-fiction book, The Birth Wars, was a finalist in the 2009 Walkley Awards. In Falling Snow (October 2012), Mary-Rose's fourth novel, tells the largely unknown story of a small group of Scottish women who ran a field hospital for France in World War I in...more

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