In the River by Jeremy Robert Johnson Published by Coevolution Press on August 10 2021
Genres: Adult, Horror
Pages: 137
Format: Finished paperback
Source: Purchased
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The nitty-gritty: Short and powerful, In the River is a tiny, horrific masterpiece.
I can’t believe I haven’t read anything by Jeremy Robert Johnson before now, but In the River might be the perfect place to start. This is a fairly short novella and can be read in a matter of hours, but it packs a huge emotional punch, and it’s one of those stories that will end up haunting you long after you’ve finished it. I purchased a lovely paperback copy after hearing that several of Johnson’s older books were getting a fresh look and reprint, and I’m so glad I got my hands on this! Think a cross between The Old Man and the Sea and Moby Dick with a grief-stricken protagonist, add in a bit of body horror and an ending that had me in tears, and that’s what you can expect from In the River.
Because the story is short, I’m not really going to talk much about the plot. In gorgeous but spare prose, Johnson tells the story of a man (unnamed) who is taking his young son on a fishing trip for the first time. But something goes terribly wrong, and the man is thrust into a nightmarish journey from which he may never return.
You can’t tell from the dreamy cover art, but there are some truly horrific scenes in this story. The man’s journey is one of despair and madness, and after a particular event happens, I did not expect things to get worse, but they did. Johnson’s deceptively simple prose perfectly describes the man’s emotional and mental state, which deteriorates as the story progresses.
We see the horrors unfold from the man’s point of view, and afterwards we witness his decline: he is so wracked with grief he can barely think straight. He spends a great deal of time thinking of his wife back home and worrying about her, and this adds another gut wrenching layer to the story. Joining the man on his journey was emotionally devastating, and because of this I’m glad this novella was on the short side. I don’t think I could have taken any more, to be honest.
So if it hurt so much to read it, why did I love it? Some of my favorite stories deal with emotional pain, and if it’s done right, they end up being the unforgettable ones, the ones that linger long after the story has ended. For me, In the River is one of those: short, brutal, horrifying and surprising. The ending was not what I expected; in fact, it was much better and much more painful than anything I could imagine. I cannot wait to read more of Jeremy Robert Johnson’s books.
Trigger warnings:View Spoiler »
It sounds awesome and right up my alley. The cover is very clever the way the seaweed continues through the text; I love it.
Priscilla Bettis recently posted…August’s Shakespeare-Themed Reading Challenge: What Bill Taught Me
The cover is cool, right?
A cross between The Old Man and the Sea and Moby Dick? I really like the sound of that!
Stephanie @ Bookfever recently posted…The 10 Books That Have Been On My TBR The Longest
It was so original but horrific!
Wow, sounds like it had quite an impact on you. It’s not that often I crave a story so full of horror and grief, something that leaves me feeling raw. And yet, as you said, those are the stories that really stay with us long after we finish reading them.
I think because it was short, it really made an impact, also it was over fast!
Wow! Sounds terrific! I’m so curious now to find out what happens.
It’s super sad but good!
This is the first I’ve heard of this one but it sounds amazing! Adding it to my watchlist right now, and what a stunning cover.
I only heard of it because I’m on Instagram a lot, lol.
The cover is striking! It’s the first time I hear about this book, it might be a bit too sad for me but it sounds like a story that packs a punch.
Maryam recently posted…July Wrap-Up & August Reading Plans
It’s sad but it’s over quickly:-)
This sounds fantastic! I’ll give it a go 🙂
Yes! Hope it crushes you as much as it crushed me, lol.
Haha that’s the first time I get such wishes!
So this sounded amazing, and I went to add it to my wishlist on Amazon, and I realized I had read another book by the author (The Loop- it was SO messed up!) and loved it so now I am absolutely buying this one! Just bought it, your review was very compelling!
Shannon @ It Starts at Midnight recently posted…September 2021 Of Books Giveaway Hop Sign Up
Thanks so much, Shannon! I think you will enjoy this. Super hard to read but it’s really masterfully written.
Well, I don’t really read novellas but your review has convinced me to pick this one up.
Thanks
Lynn 😀
It’s so well done, and his writing is *chef’s kiss*