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A review by dryriver
You Feel It Just Below the Ribs by Jeffrey Cranor, Janina Matthewson
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I enjoyed this dystopian, post-apocalyptic read. It felt like a true memoir and had a hazy, melancholic feel that added to the clouded truth within the storyline.
Dr. Mariam Gregory was born into the collapse of society during the early 1900s, leading to her immediate family's death and hyperindependence. She eventually learned a method of meditation, called the "watercolor quiet" which she further developed as a quasi-psychologist. This is occasionally interrupted by the "editors" of her memoir, who claim it is riddled with inaccuracies. This book's framing makes it feel dark and questionable, especially as Mariam discovers what has been done with her work.
While I like the realistic feel of Mariam's recollection, this also makes the storyline feel piecey at times and muddles any clear themes. I wish that the authors pursued some of the large concepts more independently rather than frequently switching the moral focus. I love that they created such intense moral conflicts, but many of these areas felt underdeveloped. Again, maybe this is the result of having a believable personal narrative, but I was left wishing for a bit more.
Overall I think this is an intriguing novel for those who love post-apocalyptic and morally questionable themes.
Dr. Mariam Gregory was born into the collapse of society during the early 1900s, leading to her immediate family's death and hyperindependence. She eventually learned a method of meditation, called the "watercolor quiet" which she further developed as a quasi-psychologist. This is occasionally interrupted by the "editors" of her memoir, who claim it is riddled with inaccuracies. This book's framing makes it feel dark and questionable, especially as Mariam discovers what has been done with her work.
While I like the realistic feel of Mariam's recollection, this also makes the storyline feel piecey at times and muddles any clear themes. I wish that the authors pursued some of the large concepts more independently rather than frequently switching the moral focus. I love that they created such intense moral conflicts, but many of these areas felt underdeveloped. Again, maybe this is the result of having a believable personal narrative, but I was left wishing for a bit more.
Overall I think this is an intriguing novel for those who love post-apocalyptic and morally questionable themes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War and Death
Moderate: Abandonment and Forced institutionalization