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A review by spacecars
You Feel It Just Below the Ribs by Jeffrey Cranor, Janina Matthewson
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
The premise of this book is so fascinating! This is a speculative dystopian fiction where a manuscript written by a prominent figure was discovered and published into this book by this publisher'; the author is a doctor who was instrumental to the rebuilding of the world after a decades-long war, and in this 'memoir' she details her life and how she became who she is today.
The book includes interludes written by the publisher, who wants to support free speech by publishing this and availing it to a limited number of discerning readers, as well as footnotes for the research and verifications they did on the revelations in the manuscript while they were putting this memoir together.
The pace is a little slow and the ending was a little too abrupt, but the idea of an unreliable narrator is extremely interesting. I went in feeling sad for the author, and in the midst of it I started questioning whether she's telling the truth since the footnotes indicate otherwise, but then at the end I realise that I can't trust both the author and the publisher because they each have their own agendas.
The idea of accuracy and reliability at play is very unique, and I thoroughly enjoyed this writing style. I don’t even read speculative/dystopian fiction (never my first choice), but I’m glad I picked this up after reading the synopsis as this was really good!
The book includes interludes written by the publisher, who wants to support free speech by publishing this and availing it to a limited number of discerning readers, as well as footnotes for the research and verifications they did on the revelations in the manuscript while they were putting this memoir together.
The pace is a little slow and the ending was a little too abrupt, but the idea of an unreliable narrator is extremely interesting. I went in feeling sad for the author, and in the midst of it I started questioning whether she's telling the truth since the footnotes indicate otherwise, but then at the end I realise that I can't trust both the author and the publisher because they each have their own agendas.
The idea of accuracy and reliability at play is very unique, and I thoroughly enjoyed this writing style. I don’t even read speculative/dystopian fiction (never my first choice), but I’m glad I picked this up after reading the synopsis as this was really good!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Abandonment, and War
Moderate: Physical abuse and Torture