Esther wakes, aware of being connected to wires, tape over her lips and eyes, hands tied down, and a tube down her throat. She doesn’t know where or how she got here. A person called Grace is massaging her body, assuring her that she is looking after her.
Her young children are not there, and she longs to solve their absence. Memories of them, of her husband, and her own childhood flood her semi-consciousness with vivid accounts of both delightful and traumatic events. Maddeningly, Grace will not answer any of her questions. As Esther gets stronger, her frustration turns to anger, and she plans to overcome Grace and escape.
The theme of leaving is paramount and the effects that leaving has on everybody. The theme of motherhood exposes unreal expectations of mothers. Esther sensitively reveals the child’s view of parental separation, and a mother’s guilt.
This is speculative fiction at its best. There’s a scientific premise at its core. We become chillingly aware of how and why Esther is in this state. The world outside above them is a mystery withheld. She had always wanted to succeed as a writer, to make a record, to stop time. But now she realises for her time is moving on.
Could this happen in the future with the progress of science? We can imagine the challenges humanity may face. Even though the situation is unreal, it’s not out of the realm of possibility. If You Go explores with gripping action, strong characters, and visceral language whether Esther will survive.
A feeling of hope lingers. Although bleak, it’s a challenging, inspiring and insightful read.
Reviewed by Judith Grace
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Alice Robinson is the author of three novels, with more forthcoming. Her debut novel, Anchor Point (2015), was longlisted for the Stella Prize and the Indie Book Awards. T
he Glad Shout (2019) was shortlisted for an Aurealis Award and The Colin Roderick Literary Award and won the Readings Prize for New Australian Fiction. Alice earned a PhD in Creative Writing at Victoria University in 2012.
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