Reviews with content warning for Suicidal thoughts - Nothing but the Rain

Reviews tagging 'Suicidal thoughts'

Nothing but the Rain by Naomi Salman

8 reviews

schnaucl's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

I enjoyed it, although the more I think about it the less reliable I find the narrator.

I can't imagine how terrifying it would be if any time you came into contact with water it cost you some of your memory. And how long would it take to figure out that's what happened, especially if you lived alone?

While I understand why people would want to try and leave, their plan to do so was never quite clear to me other than maybe they can't shoot all of us? Except it seemed like they all expected to make it past the military barricade but without explaining how. Or what they planned to do once they were past it. It's set in modern times and I would imagine it's hard to prove you are who you say you are without some kind of proof. I get that a lack of birth certificate for the child isn't the most pressing concern in that situation but eventually it'll come up.

I also wonder how many people deliberately stood outside in the rain and deliberately lost themselves, particularly if they thought they couldn't make it past the military blockade. Would that be better or worse than being shot? The death would certainly be prolonged and death by starvation isn't pretty but if you're not aware enough to know that's what's happening or to be aware of your hunger maybe that's kinder?

As to the ending, if time is of the essence, I'm not sure it makes sense that she let the child cry for her mother for three minutes. It certainly makes for a dramatic end though. I'm also wondering how old the kid was supposed to be when she was allowed to read the journal/diary.

Anyway, it's a really interesting concept.

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jstilts's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark funny reflective sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

A very short book that reveals the circumstances of it's world and characters swiftly but naturally through plot devices utterly intrinsic to the story. This is a delightfully shocking slice of apocalyptic domesticity, with an acerbic lead that lets the author cut straight to the point of every thought and situation. Brilliant, satisfying, horrifying - with the occasional twist of dark humour. Highly recommend!

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not_another_ana's review against another edition

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challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

A droplet's all it takes for confusion to set in. You lose your days as if they were melting off, going further and further into your past. Little sugar dolls left in the rain, that's what we are now.

In the town of Aloisville the rain takes memories. One drop is enough to cause confusion, more than that will do away with hours, then days, until its taken all that makes you a person. Laverne cannot remember when it all started but she does her best to not forget anything important by keeping a journal of the events. Little by little facts of the matter are revealed to us, like how the town seems to be under quarantine and surrounded by the military, or how the leftover residents are coping with this extraordinary event. Whatever is happening will force the citizens into a dangerous path.

Told through Laverne's journal entries this was a great read. The main character's voice is sharp and intelligent, and the narration is tense. The concept was fascinating, an exploration of the connection between memory and sanity. It never lowered the stakes, it just keep getting more and more complex. This book had me audibly saying FUCK twice, I was surprised that such a short novella had these powerful twists and turns. I cannot wait to read more of this author's output.

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anna_hepworth's review against another edition

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dark tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

This is very bleak horror, with minimal nasty and much slow creeping dread. The viewpoint is very tightly first person--as diary entries--until the end, when it moves to second, and that works incredibly well in ratcheting up the emotional resonance of the story.

It is a story about forgetting, about an apocalypse--or maybe a pandemic--where one can survive, but not thrive. About the slow erosion of memory and the loss of self that goes with that.

There is no logic to what is going on, no explanation. Laverne, who is writing the diary, doesn't know the why. They know some of the what is happening in the now, and some memory of the bad things that have happened, but there is no indication that this is all the bad, just all the bad that they have remembered.

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caterina_1212's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I liked how the story worked within its own constraints, cool concept

I don't believe Laverne and Zoe are not related, and who knows what other lies Laverne has been told

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f18's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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grimdark_dad's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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kristinvaldez's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced

4.25

This was a strange little book.

Journal entries from an old woman living in a town where the water and rain wipes away your memory. We follow her through suicide thoughts, loneliness, happiness and determination.

This book is very short so there isn’t much I can say that won’t give it away. Is there action? No. Do you have a mystery you solve during reading? No. It’s just a look into someone’s mind, someone’s kind who keeps forgetting little things and trying so hard to hold on to her memory.

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