A review by zigzagzmak
Nothing but the Rain by Naomi Salman

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

4.5

An apocalyptic amnesia takes over Aloisville, and Laverne isn't sure when it started or whether the world outside of town is safe. She knows that someone is airdropping food and keeping the electricity and water going and that armed guards dressed in rubber line the barricaded town. She forgets these details often but her many notes on the walls of her house remind her the important details, until she starts a journal. Nothing But the Rain reminded me of my creative writing teachers encouraging stories that allow their readers to know more about what's going on than the characters do. Salman does a fabulous job of making that a narrative imperative of the story. By its nature, a diary written by someone suffering constant bouts of amnesia means you will piece together and remember things the main character cannot. Despite knowing more than Laverne, Salman does not allow you to know everything, leaving some key details up to you to decide, which is a difficult line to walk as an author, and one that Salman walks brilliantly. You know just enough to keep it interesting and not too much to be bored with the world. 

Salman tells Laverne's story in three distinct but intriguing sections that together beg the question of whether a crisis situation where you at least know your basic needs will be met is preferable to the unknowns of freedom. Salman quietly answers the question early on: "Turns out we can't just stay inside all day. Not even in the middle of the apocalypse," but still leaves you wondering what will come next as details small and large are forgotten. 

This novella is a quick and interesting read, which I recommend for anyone who enjoys reading stories about memory, forgetting, and apocalypses of unknown origin. 

Thank you to Tor Publishing Group and Netgalley for the advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review! 
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