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A review by natreviews
You Feel It Just Below the Ribs by Jeffrey Cranor, Janina Matthewson
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Before you read this review, this is really one of those boo that should be read with not knowing a whole lot of information going into it. Or, if you had heard of the podcast "In the Wires", this is a great companion book (not necessary to listen to read the book, and not necessary to read the book to listen).
Firstly, I want to say how much depth and difference You Feel It Just Below The Ribs is to Jeffery Cranor's other books. I have read Welcome to Nightvale (the first of the Nightvale books) as well as read the first volume and part of the second of the podcast manuscripts that they published in book form.
I found You Feel It Just Below The Ribs to be an interesting, thought provoking read. The story takes place in an alternate 20th century, where connections between family members becomes outlawed. You follow the scientist reflecting on her life from during a WWI-ish war, to discovering the techique she uses, to developing it, and seeing it all go wrong.
One of the things I have always appreciated about Cranor (and his co-writers) is that they include queer characters. It's really cool to see and I always love the inclusion and seeing a bit of me reflected on the page.
The writing itself is amazing. You follow two different storytellers, the main character Miriam and the publishing company, who throughout the novel will interject corrections. It's down to the reader to decide how much of Miriam's story is true, how much you believe the publisher has been conditioned by the society they now live in, and how much of the later third of the book is really a conspiracy or not. Speaking of the later third, be ready for a hard hitting coupe of pages that will make you squirm in your seat.
I haven't read anything before by the co-author Janina Matthewson, but seeing this book, I'll need to check some of her stuff out. Of course you never know how much is written by one author or the other, but this book just has a bit of a different flavour than Cranor's other books that I bet came from Matthewson.
Overall, I am very happy I read this book and it will be kept in my library for the foreseeable future.
Firstly, I want to say how much depth and difference You Feel It Just Below The Ribs is to Jeffery Cranor's other books. I have read Welcome to Nightvale (the first of the Nightvale books) as well as read the first volume and part of the second of the podcast manuscripts that they published in book form.
I found You Feel It Just Below The Ribs to be an interesting, thought provoking read. The story takes place in an alternate 20th century, where connections between family members becomes outlawed. You follow the scientist reflecting on her life from during a WWI-ish war, to discovering the techique she uses, to developing it, and seeing it all go wrong.
One of the things I have always appreciated about Cranor (and his co-writers) is that they include queer characters. It's really cool to see and I always love the inclusion and seeing a bit of me reflected on the page.
The writing itself is amazing. You follow two different storytellers, the main character Miriam and the publishing company, who throughout the novel will interject corrections. It's down to the reader to decide how much of Miriam's story is true, how much you believe the publisher has been conditioned by the society they now live in, and how much of the later third of the book is really a conspiracy or not. Speaking of the later third, be ready for a hard hitting coupe of pages that will make you squirm in your seat.
I haven't read anything before by the co-author Janina Matthewson, but seeing this book, I'll need to check some of her stuff out. Of course you never know how much is written by one author or the other, but this book just has a bit of a different flavour than Cranor's other books that I bet came from Matthewson.
Overall, I am very happy I read this book and it will be kept in my library for the foreseeable future.