'By The Time We Leave Here, We?ll Be Friends' by Jeremy Robert Johnson and J. David Osborne is a dark and gritty novel set in a Siberian gulag, following the story of Alek Karriker, a former prisoner turned guard, as he navigates the treacherous environment filled with violence, body horror, and surreal nightmares. The book explores themes of survival, betrayal, and moral ambiguity, all depicted through the minimalist writing style of Osborne that vividly portrays the harsh realities of life in the prison.

Characters:

Characters are deeply flawed and complex, embodying betrayal, desperation, and the struggle for survival in a brutal setting.

Writing/Prose:

The prose is minimalist and evocative, effectively conveying harsh realities through impactful dialogue and action.

Plot/Storyline:

The story delves into the brutal life within a Siberian gulag, exploring themes of betrayal, survival, and psychological struggles, enhanced by cryptic symbols.

Setting:

Set within a Siberian gulag, the bleak and harsh environment amplifies the themes of survival and moral degradation.

Pacing:

The pacing is brisk, with short, impactful chapters that build tension and maintain reader engagement.

Notes:

The book is layered with deep meanings that some readers struggle to understand fully.

The author, J. David Osborne, wrote the book while living in his car during freezing temperatures.

Osborne's writing style is minimalist yet impactful, conveying harsh realities effectively.

The story revolves around Alek Karriker, who is marked as a traitor by his tattoos and faces danger from prisoners.

The setting is a Siberian gulag, depicting a bleak environment where survival is a daily battle.

Prisoners engage in bizarre activities, like smoking cow eyes and tattooing their crimes on their bodies.

The narrative includes surreal elements, with Karriker experiencing strange nightmares and hallucinatory sequences.

Some readers find the ending of the book to be rushed and unsatisfactory, leading to mixed feelings about the conclusion.

Osborne promises a second novel following the strong debut of this first one.

The book is described as both dark and gritty, exploring themes of betrayal and survival in extreme conditions.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

The book contains high content warnings for themes of brutality, psychological horror, physical torture, and body horror, reflecting the harsh realities of prison life.

From The Publisher:

WINNER OF THE 2010 WONDERLAND AWARD FOR BEST NOVEL!

Siberia, 1953. Stalin is dead and a once-prosperous thief named Alek Karriker is feeling the pressure. Trapped in an icy prison camp where violent criminals run the show, betrayed by his friends and his body, Karriker is surrounded by death and disorder. Bizarre Inuit shamans are issuing ever-stranger commands that he must obey. Opium is running scarce and bad magic is plentiful. Razor-tooth gangsters can smell Karriker's blood and they plan to murder him more than once. The only option: ESCAPE.

Enlisting the aid of an aging guard, a cold-blooded killer, and a beautiful, murderous nurse, Karriker must now secure his getaway by finding a "calf": a gullible prisoner to be cannibalized when the tundra is at its most barren. As the vice grows tighter and life in the gulag becomes increasingly surreal, Karriker must hurry to find his mark and convince him...

BY THE TIME WE LEAVE HERE, WE'LL BE FRIENDS

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By The Time We Leave Here, We’ll Be Friends

Jeremy Robert Johnson, J. David Osborne

Characters:

Writing/Prose:

Plot/Storyline:

Setting:

Pacing:

Genres:

Tropes/Plot Devices:

Topics:

Notes:

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

From The Publisher:

Reader Stats (1):

What can you read after By The Time We Leave Here, We’ll Be Friends?

Jeremy Robert Johnson,
J. David Osborne

What can you read after
By The Time We Leave Here, We’ll Be Friends?