A Book A Week

"We came here as individuals, we leave as one."

Much of my reading in July was consumed by horror novels. I've always been a fan of the genre, so it was really fun to devote so much of my reading time to it. As we entered August (how is it already August?!), I really wanted to vary my reading a bit more. I've got some non-fiction sprinkled in with a thriller or two and even a YA romance all set to be read this month. But when author Jeremy Ray reached out to me for a review of his debut short story, an apocalyptic horror story at that, I just couldn't resist it. So here I am, defaulting back to a genre that has sustained me for the past several weeks. The Gatherings is the perfect excuse for a short detour from my regularly scheduled reading. I have no doubt that you'll want to veer off your reading path to include it too.

The story opens with our heroine Emily writing an account of the past several days with the only paper and pen that she's been able to find. In reading her writing, we learn that the world as we currently know it has ceased to exist. Most people are gone, leaving the few remaining individuals to reckon with the changes that have happened and to fight to stay alive. Look up in the sky and you may be lucky enough to spot a bird or two, doing everything in its power to stay airborne and stay alive. This isn't your ordinary end of the world scenario. There was no virus, no nuclear blast, not blood-thirsty zombies hungry for your brains. If it weren't for the invasive vines covering every inch of occupiable land, you probably wouldn't even know anything was wrong.

The Gatherings were advertised as an almost magical experience. Famous celebrities, sports icons, and prominent elected officials all touted the potential for global peace and connection that could only be achieved by attending one of the events. Despite her introverted nature, Emily was convinced to attend her local gathering by her beautiful yoga instructor. The two women had quite the potential romance brewing, and Emily was not going to let her reserved nature keep her from spending time with the instructor. The couple approaches the sight of The Gathering, a sprawling orchard right outside of the city, to see the crowd assembling. The mayor begins the event by praising the wonderful effects of The Gatherings, and then the singing and dancing begin. The crowd is immediately overcome by a trance-like bliss, moving and swaying as a collective group. Emily is the only one who notices what is happening, the only one who sees the vines creeping toward the collective group, and the only one who has a chance at escaping the botanical hell that is quietly overtaking the world.

The Gatherings sees author Jeremy Ray enter the literary scene with a bang. This short story packs a punch that will leave you shaken, even after you finish the final page. The short story as a form is always a tricky balance of world-building, character development, and a fully formed narrative arc. Ray achieves all of these with the ease of a tenured storyteller, never veering too far into one area at the disservice of the other. Strong, descriptive imagery helps bring this apocalyptic world to life. Connecting this world-ending event to images of nature and classical art grounds the writing into a reality that makes the fiction all the more horrifying. Combine the terror with a relatable heroine who is easy to root for, and you've got a killer combo that maintains both suspense and pace. I read this short work in one sitting, not able to put it down before I knew how it ended. If this is any indication of the quality of work that we can expect from Jeremy Ray, then I'm really excited to see where is writing will take us next.

For more information visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads.
(2020, 36)