In The River

Jeremy Robert Johnson

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In The River by Jeremy Robert Johnson is an emotionally intense novella that follows a father and son on a fishing trip that takes a dark turn. The story delves into themes of parenthood, grief, and the lengths one would go to for their loved ones. Johnson's writing style is described as lean, precise, and compelling, with not a single wasted sentence, making it nearly impossible to put down.

The novella explores the father's descent into madness as he seeks justice for his son, showcasing the raw emotions and turmoil he experiences along the way. Johnson skillfully weaves together a narrative that is both heartwarming and heart-wrenching, capturing the love and anxiety of parenthood in a brutally honest manner.

Characters:

Characters are deeply explored, with the father depicted as a grieving protector and the son remembered as a beloved child, with the mother influencing the narrative through memory.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is emotionally charged, featuring simple yet powerful prose that captures deep feelings of grief and loss, often with lyrical qualities.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot revolves around a father's intense emotional turmoil following a tragic fishing trip with his son, intertwining themes of loss and the lengths a parent would go for their child.

Setting:

The setting is a tumultuous river, representing both a place of familial bonding and a backdrop for tension and despair.

Pacing:

The pacing is tight and well-managed, driving the narrative forward and maintaining intense emotional engagement throughout.

Notes:

The novella explores themes of existential dread and parental grief.

It portrays a father's journey of loss after a fishing trip with his son goes wrong.

Johnson's writing style shifts from his usual satirical tone to a more mournful narrative.

The story includes bizarre elements, like giant catfish creatures lurking in the river.

Character dialogue and flashbacks reveal a strong familial bond despite the mother's absence in present moments.

The novella's emotional depth hits home for many readers, resonating with their personal experiences of loss.

Proceeds from the book's sales are donated to Portland Homeless Family Solutions.

The book is described as beautifully written, often evoking tears from readers.

Readers praise Johnson for his expert storytelling abilities and emotional impact.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

The novella contains content warnings for themes of child death, grief, and psychological trauma.

From The Publisher:

An intensely moving tale of survival, loss, and madness along the river's edge. A father and son fishing lesson becomes a nightmarish voyage to the sea in this visionary testament to the lengths we will go for those we love.

"The simple story of a father and son going fishing somehow morphs into a soul-shattering tale of anxiety, loss, and vengeance wrapped in a surreal narrative about the things that can keep a person between this world and the next. Johnson is a maestro of the weird and one of the best writers in crime and horror, but this one erases all of those genres and makes him simply one of the best." -PANK Magazine

"This is superb fiction with a raw, throbbing, aching heart at its core that is far too big to be contained within the book's pages but that is, by some bizarre magic, still there." -Vol. 1 Brooklyn

" In the River is a brilliant offering; the pain and strange beauty of it will wash over you and sweep you away." -Scream Magazine

"Gripping, horrifying, surreal...Think The Old Man and the Sea meets The Pearl meets Pet Sematary ...But, dare I say it, In the River takes you to even darker places..." -Verbicide

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