University of Minnesota Press, 2021 Hardcover: 22.95
Reviewed by Eimile Campbell
Waterfall, Mary Casanova’s third in a series of companion novels set on Rainy Lake in the 1920s, that includes Frozen and Ice-Out, is the story of a young woman, Trinity Baird and her return to her parent’s island resort after a forced stay in a mental institution. Trinity aspires to be an artist and return to the Sorbonne where she had studied before being committed against her will. However, her parents mask control as concern, and are reluctant to let their daughter explore life on her own. Suiters are introduced and dismissed by the parents when they are found less than suitable. Trinity is in many ways marooned on her parents’ island in the middle of Rainy Lake, though, as she truly seems to cherish the summer resort, she is always a conflicted captive.
The premise is exciting and full of possibilities regarding woman’s rights and mental health and the privilege of the white and wealthy of the time period. And if the politics of the time period interest you and you would like to see a plucky, independent young heroine challenge societal norm, then you will undoubtably find much to enjoy about Waterfall. Because of the premise, I had hoped that the novel would have something interesting to say on mental illness and the mental health care available in the 1920s, but it quickly becomes clear that the psychiatric hospital in Saint Peter is just a dumping ground for women who have flaunted social conventions or become burdensome to their families. This, I’m sure is historically accurate, but if you are interested in characters struggling with actual mental health issues, I’m afraid you will not find much illuminating here. The novel is reluctant to deal with issues deeper than whether or not Trinity will be readmitted into her art school in Paris, and though she does have plenty to say about the racism, classism and homophobia of her time, she does little to actively combat it. That being said, I found Waterfall to be an easy and enjoyable read. A good novel to curl up with at night and imagine yourself in another time.