I read Fall on Your Knees about 10 years ago when it was first published and re-read it as part of Canada Reads 2010. This is a heartbreaking novel about the lives of the members of the Piper family in early 1900's Cape Breton.

This novel deals with several dark issues including incest. Throughout the novel, there is a constant feeling of hope underneath the frequentg tragedies. The characters are strong and complex.

Ann-Marie Macdonald is a master storyteller; her greatest strength is in evoking the experience of childhood. ( )

Sad story about an abusive family. Father is mad, mother is suicidal and children are all crazy as a result. Ugh! ( )

Can I raise my hand to shout that I discovered this book before Oprah did? That someone could write like this, create such an original story, defies belief. I was stunned. Read it.

I loved this book! It is set on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, beginning in 1890 and spanning over fifty years into the 20th century. The setting and scenery are easily imagined, as MacDonald paints a detailed portrait of the Piper family and of the island. MacDonald is a beautiful writer and gives perfect descriptions of her characters. Though MacDonald deals with intense issues, she does it delicately and with sensitivity. I strongly and wholeheartedly recommend this book! ( )

Ridiculous piling on of miseries. I only finished it out of morbid curiosity -- what could the author think of next to do to her poor, defenseless characters? ( )