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In Our Bones
Powerful and unapologetic exploration of one woman's journey as democracy fails and authoritarianism takes hold
Lauren’s happy childhood on a farm in Minnesota is shattered after an assault during her teen years, and she retreats into her own world as America falls apart. Hers was the last generation to grow up before the economic collapse that followed the Corona pandemic. Amidst roiling climate chaos, the government has been taken over by extremists, incompetents, and con-men who tear the country apart while clinging to power. Lauren is swept up in the madness when she falls for the wrong man. She’s looking for love and safety, but Bryan becomes distant and abusive as he obsesses over White Sharia and deepens his ties to the racist patriot militia group. Lauren worries about the safety of her sister and nephew, who is mixed-race. Will Lauren escape from Bryan and keep her nephew safe from danger? In a world where values are tested and morality is unsettlingly murky, Lauren must break free from the constraints in her mind to protect her family.
Lauren’s happy childhood on a farm in Minnesota is shattered after an assault during her teen years, and she retreats into her own world as America falls apart. Hers was the last generation to grow up before the economic collapse that followed the Corona pandemic. Amidst roiling climate chaos, the government has been taken over by extremists, incompetents, and con-men who tear the country apart while clinging to power. Lauren is swept up in the madness when she falls for the wrong man. She’s looking for love and safety, but Bryan becomes distant and abusive as he obsesses over White Sharia and deepens his ties to the racist patriot militia group. Lauren worries about the safety of her sister and nephew, who is mixed-race. Will Lauren escape from Bryan and keep her nephew safe from danger? In a world where values are tested and morality is unsettlingly murky, Lauren must break free from the constraints in her mind to protect her family.
266 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 6, 2020
30 people are currently reading
10120 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
October 12, 2020
This was a really good and thought provoking novel. I really loved that there was a very extensive conclusion. I like a good wrap up. I pretty much felt every emotion while reading this and although this is a novel based on very real political issues, you are able to read a story that is gripping no matter what political side you stand on. I was very invested in the main character and the journey she was on. I think this book shows the true power of kindness and empathy and working together towards humanity.
Favorite quotes:
"What mattered most was the sliver of time before her eyes, not dwelling in the past nor obsessing about a future she couldn’t control."
"Anyone can present themselves as a leader. The question is, what kind of a leader do you want to be?”
"at the end of the day the best leaders are actually not leaders at all. They’re servants because they put people first. They lift those around them; they empower others to greatness."
Favorite quotes:
"What mattered most was the sliver of time before her eyes, not dwelling in the past nor obsessing about a future she couldn’t control."
"Anyone can present themselves as a leader. The question is, what kind of a leader do you want to be?”
"at the end of the day the best leaders are actually not leaders at all. They’re servants because they put people first. They lift those around them; they empower others to greatness."
October 7, 2020
A cautionary tale for a world that could be...if the right, or wrong choices are made. In Our Bones skillfully blends the recent past, current events and gives us a glimpse into one possible future all while inserting some really clever thematic elements. This debut dystopian novel from Pernell Plath Meier did not disappoint.
October 8, 2020
This book takes on a very believable fictional journey that we all could find ourselves having to take. Life as we know it suddenly flipped into chaos due to political takeover. Lauren must use every ounce of her self when forced to find her estranged sister after the white supremist president's militia take over the country. Lauren's nephew is of mixed heritage which alas is what the white supremist are purging the country of. Lauren and her sister must flee to save him. Their journey finds them on a long and many harrowing and disturbing experiences as they seek to find the new sanctuary city somewhere in Canada. On this journey they meet new friends and alliances. They find new strengths and mend their sisterly bond. They suffer loss and they suffer love. This was very real life that we could find ourselves in this very situation. Exciting read.
October 8, 2020
Powerful and unapologetic. Meier has successfully interwoven what has happened with what might come to pass if we, as a society, don't step up and save ourselves. I loved Lauren - as a character she was flawed, but never stopped trying to be better. So many of us can find ourselves in her and cheer her on through each struggle she faces.
October 10, 2020
Pernell Plath Meier writes powerfully about the very real possibility of a dystopian future; not in some distant time but in the immediate now. Having fallen into a bad relationship, Lauren is trapped not only by her abuser but by a country that is crumbling while militias, and hatred, are on the rise. In Our Bones tells the story of one woman’s journey from trauma and self-centered denial of what is happening in the world around her to realization – about the world she’s living in, about the people close to her, and about her innermost self. I highly recommend it!
October 14, 2020
Meier's depiction of a Post-Covid/post-Trump reelection is all too real and often frightening. It reminds me of reading 1984 as a child, then realizing how much has come true today. Her details of life are realistic, from the stores and businesses barely hanging on, to the lack of decent food, to the sense of distrust of even the people closest to one. Details like feral animals, sudden television outages and a whole new attitude towards animals are unnerving. A bit heavy-handed with adjectives and similes at time, Meier's writing is still strong and I was immediately drawn into the story. It is a page-turner in the best sense.
October 25, 2020
In Our Bones by Pernell Plath Meier is a frightening realization of where our country could be headed. Freedoms as we know it are just a passing dream as the destroyed economy takes the livelihood and dignity of most young people. Extremist groups rise up and declare their path is directed from God, as they steal, destroy, and ruin your possessions. Lauren Hansberry has always relied on other people to determine herself worth. Along comes Bryan who is sweet, but gradually decides she has no self worth. Can she find the strength to stand up to him and his evil friends?
I found In Our Bones as sad reminder where we could be headed. Pernell Plath Meier paints an accurate picture of oppression in a country. I felt connected to Lauren from the start as she struggles to do her best, but looking back she sees the many mistakes she has made. She has more strength than she thought. She really only had a choice, to accept death or decide to live.
I found In Our Bones as sad reminder where we could be headed. Pernell Plath Meier paints an accurate picture of oppression in a country. I felt connected to Lauren from the start as she struggles to do her best, but looking back she sees the many mistakes she has made. She has more strength than she thought. She really only had a choice, to accept death or decide to live.
October 15, 2020
So very relevant.
I can’t tell you how long it’s been since I read a book from start to finish in one sitting. Relatable characters, relevant topics, the storyline keeps moving throughout. Highly recommend!
I can’t tell you how long it’s been since I read a book from start to finish in one sitting. Relatable characters, relevant topics, the storyline keeps moving throughout. Highly recommend!
October 8, 2020
Frightening because it easily could happen.
November 5, 2020
Pernell Plath Meier has a keen sense of awareness of the current political climate and her writing, though fiction, seems more like a theory on what’s possible in the future. Meier’s background and education play a clear role in systematic deduction and applying that deduction in a cause-and-effect scenario that becomes the “In our Bones” story.
Lauren is a character that is so relatable it’s hard to grasp she isn’t a real person. She fights to defend her family, and, like many of us, has a lot of fear for the world and the current state. This, with some personal character traits like lack of self-worth, makes her so real that it is easy to feel what she feels. Meier’s universe, and characters, drive this story forward in a fast-paced and relevant tale. We also see how strong people can be. As Meier wrote about Lauren, “I’m not fragile.” And that couldn’t be truer.
The end of civilization as we know it always seems like a far-off idea, but this hits close. From radical groups using religion for their evil, to weasels just trying to get one over on you, this book has everything we see now in the world, but after civility and stability have died off.
If you like books or movies that portray what the end of society would look like, then this is for you. It stands out for being so current. Highly recommend.
Lauren is a character that is so relatable it’s hard to grasp she isn’t a real person. She fights to defend her family, and, like many of us, has a lot of fear for the world and the current state. This, with some personal character traits like lack of self-worth, makes her so real that it is easy to feel what she feels. Meier’s universe, and characters, drive this story forward in a fast-paced and relevant tale. We also see how strong people can be. As Meier wrote about Lauren, “I’m not fragile.” And that couldn’t be truer.
The end of civilization as we know it always seems like a far-off idea, but this hits close. From radical groups using religion for their evil, to weasels just trying to get one over on you, this book has everything we see now in the world, but after civility and stability have died off.
If you like books or movies that portray what the end of society would look like, then this is for you. It stands out for being so current. Highly recommend.
October 22, 2020
I was hooked on In Our Bones from the first page. The lead, Lauren, is so relatable and I'm sure many women reading the book would feel the same connection. The book is a reflection of our real and semi-current climate and expands into one of the possible futures our country may have to endure. The book explores Laurens personal life and facing similar struggles as so many women from romance, marriage and children, self-esteem and assault as well as politics, racism and extremism. This book feels a lot like a biography of many American women trying to both accept and fight the countries many defects. Meier is a fantastic and natural writer and I hope to see more novels from her in the future.
October 22, 2020
People need loving the most when they deserve it the least’
Minnesota author Pernell Plath Meier earned her degrees in science (biology, anthropology, environmental studies) as an undergraduate, followed by graduate degrees in sustainable agriculture and anthropology from Iowa State University, and has worked in ten countries as well as in Kentucky where she helped farmers transition from tobacco production to local foods. Pernell is a committed environmentalist and humanist, deeply concerned about climate change and political issues,
Though IN OUR BONES is the author’s debut novel, the quality of prose and the pungent content announce a writer of significance on the scene. Pernell has written articles about gardening and adoption, but this is her auspicious introduction to the world of writing novels.
Bracing prose is evident from the outset of this excellent novel, when after an introduction to the main character, Lauren, we read: ‘Blinding warm sunshine blasted the open door as she stepped inside. A huge window dominated the royal purple bathroom with crystal suncatchers filling the glass, splitting the light into its constituent parts and sending rainbows dancing across the walls. This room was Lauren’s favorite. She’d never had the money to fix up her whole house the way she’d wanted, but her dad had found the claw foot tub and pedestal sink at an auction and restored them to their former glory. Before he got sick, Dale did things like that for her all the time. He was an attentive father to both Lauren and her sister, Rachel. Though it seemed there was always a little something extra for her, as if he was trying to make up for some wrong he thought he’d committed. Lauren could never tell him why things really changed between them…’ Facile and eloquent writing make the inherent challenging messages of this story a solid entry into contemporary literature.
The author’s pertinent and topical views about the world in which we live flow forth in a compelling story: ‘Lauren’s happy childhood on a farm in Minnesota is shattered after an assault during her teen years, and she retreats into her own world as America falls apart. Hers was the last generation to grow up before the economic collapse that followed the Corona pandemic. Amidst roiling climate chaos, the government has been taken over by extremists, incompetents, and con-men who tear the country apart while clinging to power. Lauren is swept up in the madness when she falls for the wrong man. She’s looking for love and safety, but Bryan becomes distant and abusive as he obsesses over White Sharia and deepens his ties to the racist patriot militia group. Lauren worries about the safety of her sister and nephew, who is mixed-race. Will Lauren escape from Bryan and keep her nephew safe from danger? In a world where values are tested and morality is unsettlingly murky, Lauren must break free from the constraints in her mind to protect her family.’
This is a dynamic and richly controversial novel that deserves our close attention. Very highly recommended.
Minnesota author Pernell Plath Meier earned her degrees in science (biology, anthropology, environmental studies) as an undergraduate, followed by graduate degrees in sustainable agriculture and anthropology from Iowa State University, and has worked in ten countries as well as in Kentucky where she helped farmers transition from tobacco production to local foods. Pernell is a committed environmentalist and humanist, deeply concerned about climate change and political issues,
Though IN OUR BONES is the author’s debut novel, the quality of prose and the pungent content announce a writer of significance on the scene. Pernell has written articles about gardening and adoption, but this is her auspicious introduction to the world of writing novels.
Bracing prose is evident from the outset of this excellent novel, when after an introduction to the main character, Lauren, we read: ‘Blinding warm sunshine blasted the open door as she stepped inside. A huge window dominated the royal purple bathroom with crystal suncatchers filling the glass, splitting the light into its constituent parts and sending rainbows dancing across the walls. This room was Lauren’s favorite. She’d never had the money to fix up her whole house the way she’d wanted, but her dad had found the claw foot tub and pedestal sink at an auction and restored them to their former glory. Before he got sick, Dale did things like that for her all the time. He was an attentive father to both Lauren and her sister, Rachel. Though it seemed there was always a little something extra for her, as if he was trying to make up for some wrong he thought he’d committed. Lauren could never tell him why things really changed between them…’ Facile and eloquent writing make the inherent challenging messages of this story a solid entry into contemporary literature.
The author’s pertinent and topical views about the world in which we live flow forth in a compelling story: ‘Lauren’s happy childhood on a farm in Minnesota is shattered after an assault during her teen years, and she retreats into her own world as America falls apart. Hers was the last generation to grow up before the economic collapse that followed the Corona pandemic. Amidst roiling climate chaos, the government has been taken over by extremists, incompetents, and con-men who tear the country apart while clinging to power. Lauren is swept up in the madness when she falls for the wrong man. She’s looking for love and safety, but Bryan becomes distant and abusive as he obsesses over White Sharia and deepens his ties to the racist patriot militia group. Lauren worries about the safety of her sister and nephew, who is mixed-race. Will Lauren escape from Bryan and keep her nephew safe from danger? In a world where values are tested and morality is unsettlingly murky, Lauren must break free from the constraints in her mind to protect her family.’
This is a dynamic and richly controversial novel that deserves our close attention. Very highly recommended.
November 2, 2020
Dystopian fiction has never seemed more current than with 'In Our Bones' by Pernell Plath Meier. It is set in the US following the economic collapse caused by the Covid-19 epidemic, which has led to the unraveling of government and a return to white supremacy being mainstream. Our protagonist is Lauren, who is concerned for the safety of her mixed-race nephew as her partner Bryan becomes increasingly indoctrinated by White Sharia with a growing hatred of other races and religions. Her fight to protect her family is one that becomes increasingly difficult in a world where morality and values are not what they once were.
You may think this novel would be a little 'preachy', but it really isn't. I found it to be completely compelling, challenging, and full of fascinating insights. Could this novel be a terrifying glimpse into the future? I seriously hope not, in the current climate, things could really go either way.
You may think this novel would be a little 'preachy', but it really isn't. I found it to be completely compelling, challenging, and full of fascinating insights. Could this novel be a terrifying glimpse into the future? I seriously hope not, in the current climate, things could really go either way.
October 26, 2020
In Our Bones is a cautionary tale of the potential future facing the United States. Set in the present and mimicking every aspect of todays world - including the pandemic - the story follows Lauren as she navigates a challenging life. Lauren is trying to improve her life and future but must overcome a fair few obstacles to do so. The story takes a turn for even worse when the white supremacy militia take charge of the country. This is a brilliant but unnerving story that has an uncomfortable feeling of possibility to it. Highly recommend.
November 16, 2020
I was absolutely blown away by In Our Bones and was amazed that this is the first fictional story the author has written. Saying that, the events in this book have huge potential to become true events. I loved the characters and thought they were really well developed. As a woman I found it especially easy to relate to Lauren and the struggles that she faced throughout the book. This is a book that acts as a warning for the future of America, very thought provoking.
October 17, 2020
Have you ever thought what might happen if a U.S. President declared voter fraud and a state of emergency after an election? This dystopian thriller’s main character, Lauren, focused on survival as she experienced changes in relationships, employment, and the environment. This novel is very well researched. It was a bit disconcerting, however, to Google some of the more extreme facets of her futuristic society and discover how they were based on current events. I was particularly drawn to Lauren’s inner monologues and Meier’s use of futuristic language. Move over bunker people! I’m packing my bug-out bag and moving to Kanata!
October 21, 2020
thought provoking and intense fiction that combines current events to a future that sadly is plausible. Great work of literature and I hope to see more from this up and coming author.
December 13, 2020
When bad just gets worse
When democracy is a distant memory and having a full belly and food in the cabinets would be a dream come true. Laura finds her self with Brian someone to thought was her knight in shining armor, turns out to be a member of white sharia and one morning she is abruptly woken up and told the home she has owned and her family has lived on for four generations is now the headquarters for white Sariya andoh yes they are now government sanctioned. But after disrespecting the jack ass Steven who is the leader of white sharia she is abused and left in the shed. When a storm hits and it causes the shed to collapse she escapes and runs away to her Dads old friend Sam and his wife, she is a modern-day medical person tells her she is pregnant. So it just gets better. They contact her sister and find out that she is welcome to go there, but upon arrival she tells her sister Brian will be looking for her and they are all in danger. Especially because our nephew is mixed race So they make plans to try and get to Canada although my summary is almost as long as the book I had to say I couldn’t put this book down. When I first read the blurb for the book I didn’t think it would be that good, but after reading it I was happily mistaken. The only thing I didn’t like about the book as Laurie was a very weak person and although a lot happened to Laurie she was assaulted abused abandoned and this was throughout our life up to this point not to mention she had to live in the mix the burden of America which sounded horrible. I still thought her character to be wishy-washy one minute she would be making plans and acting like a person with a back bone and the next she was falling apart. Having said that though I read the book in one setting and couldn’t put it down. This is definitely a book I will read again in the future. I highly recommend this book to those who like character driven stories and original plots. Oh yes and this book had one of my favorite things where the characters talk like normal people and say commonsense things and have common sense reactions. I would’ve given it five stars, but as I said I kind of didn’t like Laurie’s wishy-washy attitude in the book.
When democracy is a distant memory and having a full belly and food in the cabinets would be a dream come true. Laura finds her self with Brian someone to thought was her knight in shining armor, turns out to be a member of white sharia and one morning she is abruptly woken up and told the home she has owned and her family has lived on for four generations is now the headquarters for white Sariya andoh yes they are now government sanctioned. But after disrespecting the jack ass Steven who is the leader of white sharia she is abused and left in the shed. When a storm hits and it causes the shed to collapse she escapes and runs away to her Dads old friend Sam and his wife, she is a modern-day medical person tells her she is pregnant. So it just gets better. They contact her sister and find out that she is welcome to go there, but upon arrival she tells her sister Brian will be looking for her and they are all in danger. Especially because our nephew is mixed race So they make plans to try and get to Canada although my summary is almost as long as the book I had to say I couldn’t put this book down. When I first read the blurb for the book I didn’t think it would be that good, but after reading it I was happily mistaken. The only thing I didn’t like about the book as Laurie was a very weak person and although a lot happened to Laurie she was assaulted abused abandoned and this was throughout our life up to this point not to mention she had to live in the mix the burden of America which sounded horrible. I still thought her character to be wishy-washy one minute she would be making plans and acting like a person with a back bone and the next she was falling apart. Having said that though I read the book in one setting and couldn’t put it down. This is definitely a book I will read again in the future. I highly recommend this book to those who like character driven stories and original plots. Oh yes and this book had one of my favorite things where the characters talk like normal people and say commonsense things and have common sense reactions. I would’ve given it five stars, but as I said I kind of didn’t like Laurie’s wishy-washy attitude in the book.
December 18, 2020
An intense story that develops in times of a pandemic; I can completely see a future where this kind of story develops and it is frightening; the political changes, the fear of people even of those you call family, the chaos in society and the lack of control can make the one person who holds control over the country to be the monster who plays however he wants with the desperation of people.
While America is falling apart, Lauren finds herself in a dilemma, involved with Bryan an advocate of a racist patriot militia group, she now needs to save her nephew who is of mixed heritage and her sister. In a world that is changing they need to seek protection and so they find themselves in road where family bonds are tightened, and experiences and obstacles are conquered.
While America is falling apart, Lauren finds herself in a dilemma, involved with Bryan an advocate of a racist patriot militia group, she now needs to save her nephew who is of mixed heritage and her sister. In a world that is changing they need to seek protection and so they find themselves in road where family bonds are tightened, and experiences and obstacles are conquered.
December 16, 2020
In Our Bones is really one of a kind. I've not had the pleasure before of reading a fictional book so in tuned with the present day including the current covid pandemic. The book focuses on a snippet of time in one woman’s life as she battles with her past, and tries her best to manage her future during this very challenging phase we are all experiencing. Economic collapse, political and racial tensions and the pandemic all play out in this fantastic novel by an incredibly talented woman. I highly recommend.
January 26, 2021
I kept reading this for all the 5 star reviews and the 4.26 rating. But to be honest I just found it unbearable. The writing is aweful, the main character is just plain stupid (falls madly in love after a few brief moments of skipping stones, despite the chauvinistic comments that might’ve alerted anyone with half a brain) and frankly life is just too short to invest anymore time and energy on this.
July 1, 2021
Two stars for the premise- love the idea but the author doesn't have the writing skills to see it through. There's virtually no description, no inference and everything is simply related like a report so consequently it's very difficult to engage with the characters or plot. The vocabulary was so simplistic and the sentence construction so basic that I initially wondered if it was aimed at younger teenagers. It's a shame, because this could be a great story.
September 8, 2021
I'm absolutely shocked by these 5 star reviews. I did not enjoy this book, and would not recommend it to anyone.
January 11, 2021
[English review + Reseña en español]
In Our Bones, by Pernell Plath Meier
Willow River Press. 2020
268 pages
Dystopic/political fiction
The current president of the United States of America has declared a state of emergency, alleging fraud after the recent federal elections that were on the verge of taking the perfect dictatorship away from him. The entire nation has fallen into an open racist fight and various paramilitary groups have erupted throughout the territory. Lauren Hansberry is the daughter of a midwestern farm family and a member of the last generation that grew up before the post-Corona pandemic economic collapse. Her personal drama begins when Bryan, the man with whom she fell in love, begins to bring out the worst in himself, proving that he is nothing more than a cowardly macho obsessed with obtaining a position in the emerging Defenders of the Homeland army, a group that aims to install a twisted Christian version of Sharia across the nation. Lauren must fight to save herself and her family amid the chaos that is wiping out the entire country.
The plot is memorable, full of danger and action; the characters are coherent, identifiable, relatable; the pace of the story is fast and the objectives are well established from the beginning of the story.
In Our Bones is an excellent post-pandemic novel that successfully portrays some of the biggest social problems of our day and, while effectively critiquing machismo, racism, polarization, bigotry, herd mentality, and the lack of charity and commitment to those who are in disgrace, it also celebrates the resistance and the fight for freedoms.
I highly recommend this story to anyone who is fed up with the stereotypes and mentalities that hurt us so much, and also to those who like good human stories that unfold in the midst of the prevailing chaos.
-------
In Our Bones, de Pernell Plath Meier
Willow River Press. 2020
268 páginas
Ficción distópica/política
El presidente en turno de los EEUU ha decretado un estado de emergencia, alegando fraude tras las recientes elecciones federales que estuvieron a punto de arrebatarle la dictadura perfecta. La nación entera ha caído en una abierta lucha racista y diversos grupos paramilitares han surgido como erupción por todo el territorio. Lauren Hansberry es hija de una familia granjera del medio oeste y miembro de la última generación que creció antes del colapso económico post-pandémico. Su drama personal comienza cuando Bryan, el hombre de quien se enamoró, comienza a sacar lo peor de sí, demostrando que no es más que en un macho pusilánime obsesionado con obtener un puesto en el emergente ejército Defensores de la Patria, un grupo armado que pretende instalar una retorcida versión cristiana de la Sharia en toda la nación. Lauren deberá luchar por salvarse a sí misma y a su familia en medio del caos que está acabando con el país entero.
La trama es memorable, llena de peligro y acción; los personajes son coherentes, identificables, relatables; el ritmo de la historia es rápido y los objetivos quedan bien establecidos desde el inicio de la historia.
In Our Bones es una excelente novela post-pandémica que retrata con éxito algunos de los mayores problemas sociales de nuestros días y, a la vez que critica de manera efectiva el machismo, el racismo, la polarización, el fanatismo, la mentalidad de rebaño y la falta de caridad y compromiso con aquellos que están en desgracia, celebra por lo alto la resistencia y lucha por las libertades.
Recomiendo ampliamente esta historia a todo aquel que esté harto de los “-ismos” que tanto daño nos hacen, y a quien guste de las buenas historias humanas que se desarrollan en medio del imperante caos.
In Our Bones, by Pernell Plath Meier
Willow River Press. 2020
268 pages
Dystopic/political fiction
The current president of the United States of America has declared a state of emergency, alleging fraud after the recent federal elections that were on the verge of taking the perfect dictatorship away from him. The entire nation has fallen into an open racist fight and various paramilitary groups have erupted throughout the territory. Lauren Hansberry is the daughter of a midwestern farm family and a member of the last generation that grew up before the post-Corona pandemic economic collapse. Her personal drama begins when Bryan, the man with whom she fell in love, begins to bring out the worst in himself, proving that he is nothing more than a cowardly macho obsessed with obtaining a position in the emerging Defenders of the Homeland army, a group that aims to install a twisted Christian version of Sharia across the nation. Lauren must fight to save herself and her family amid the chaos that is wiping out the entire country.
The plot is memorable, full of danger and action; the characters are coherent, identifiable, relatable; the pace of the story is fast and the objectives are well established from the beginning of the story.
In Our Bones is an excellent post-pandemic novel that successfully portrays some of the biggest social problems of our day and, while effectively critiquing machismo, racism, polarization, bigotry, herd mentality, and the lack of charity and commitment to those who are in disgrace, it also celebrates the resistance and the fight for freedoms.
I highly recommend this story to anyone who is fed up with the stereotypes and mentalities that hurt us so much, and also to those who like good human stories that unfold in the midst of the prevailing chaos.
-------
In Our Bones, de Pernell Plath Meier
Willow River Press. 2020
268 páginas
Ficción distópica/política
El presidente en turno de los EEUU ha decretado un estado de emergencia, alegando fraude tras las recientes elecciones federales que estuvieron a punto de arrebatarle la dictadura perfecta. La nación entera ha caído en una abierta lucha racista y diversos grupos paramilitares han surgido como erupción por todo el territorio. Lauren Hansberry es hija de una familia granjera del medio oeste y miembro de la última generación que creció antes del colapso económico post-pandémico. Su drama personal comienza cuando Bryan, el hombre de quien se enamoró, comienza a sacar lo peor de sí, demostrando que no es más que en un macho pusilánime obsesionado con obtener un puesto en el emergente ejército Defensores de la Patria, un grupo armado que pretende instalar una retorcida versión cristiana de la Sharia en toda la nación. Lauren deberá luchar por salvarse a sí misma y a su familia en medio del caos que está acabando con el país entero.
La trama es memorable, llena de peligro y acción; los personajes son coherentes, identificables, relatables; el ritmo de la historia es rápido y los objetivos quedan bien establecidos desde el inicio de la historia.
In Our Bones es una excelente novela post-pandémica que retrata con éxito algunos de los mayores problemas sociales de nuestros días y, a la vez que critica de manera efectiva el machismo, el racismo, la polarización, el fanatismo, la mentalidad de rebaño y la falta de caridad y compromiso con aquellos que están en desgracia, celebra por lo alto la resistencia y lucha por las libertades.
Recomiendo ampliamente esta historia a todo aquel que esté harto de los “-ismos” que tanto daño nos hacen, y a quien guste de las buenas historias humanas que se desarrollan en medio del imperante caos.
June 1, 2021
The book read like a book report about a book. What I mean by that is that it was largely ABOUT the story rather than BEING the story. Pages upon pages of what happened in prose form, but very little action. Any Writing 101 teacher will drum into aspiring writers to "show, don't tell" --this book was nearly all telling, which is very tedious to read. It's a short book--only 150 pages in a my Kindle app with an estimated 3.5 hour reading time and so it could definitely could have been bulked up with more dialogue and the actual story.
**minor spoiler ahead**
The main character, Lauren, is very insecure and always doubting herself, but then somehow becomes the president of the utopian city she escapes to. Her big relationship with Bryan comes across as very contrived. She meets him on page 27 and by page 32 this happens: "...Lauren channeled her feelings into making love to Bryan as she'd never made love to anyone before. She let herself trust him and soaked into his warmth. After that night, things progressed quickly between them. He wasn’t the first man to live with Lauren; she’d had several others. No one had brought every worldly possession inside with as such speed as Bryan, however. He was running on full octane. Lauren was head over heels and didn’t want put on the brakes. She believed she’d found her one true love at long last, a knight in a decrepit Chevy. When Lauren texted Rachel about him, her sister had been concerned. It pissed Lauren off. “
Then, literally the next paragraph goes from “Lauren felt sure she was his one and only. She was so sure this time” to “…he’d push Lauren’s buttons until she’d explode then say that she was unstable. She was a mess.” A couple of paragraphs later: “Lauren believed that she had no way to make it out alive. She couldn’t make him leave. She had no one to help her make him leave. At times her despair grow so dark she could barely imagine living another day.” So, the whole of this crucial relationship in the book goes from first encounter with the guy to being held captive by him in her home in six iphone Kindle pages. He’s also the reason he ends up becoming a refugee in Canada, as she tries to escape him and his racist, militant friends, in a boring telling of her escape from his imprisonment of her.
This is just one example of the stilted prose, the weak character development and the clunky, cliché-ridden writing. I have to say I kept waiting for the plot itself to captivate me but it never did. It’s gotten lots of 5 star review so I kept thinking it would get better but IMHO, it never did.
Minor other note: This is the only Kindle book I’ve read that didn’t have the X-Ray feature enabled. Not sure why….
**minor spoiler ahead**
The main character, Lauren, is very insecure and always doubting herself, but then somehow becomes the president of the utopian city she escapes to. Her big relationship with Bryan comes across as very contrived. She meets him on page 27 and by page 32 this happens: "...Lauren channeled her feelings into making love to Bryan as she'd never made love to anyone before. She let herself trust him and soaked into his warmth. After that night, things progressed quickly between them. He wasn’t the first man to live with Lauren; she’d had several others. No one had brought every worldly possession inside with as such speed as Bryan, however. He was running on full octane. Lauren was head over heels and didn’t want put on the brakes. She believed she’d found her one true love at long last, a knight in a decrepit Chevy. When Lauren texted Rachel about him, her sister had been concerned. It pissed Lauren off. “
Then, literally the next paragraph goes from “Lauren felt sure she was his one and only. She was so sure this time” to “…he’d push Lauren’s buttons until she’d explode then say that she was unstable. She was a mess.” A couple of paragraphs later: “Lauren believed that she had no way to make it out alive. She couldn’t make him leave. She had no one to help her make him leave. At times her despair grow so dark she could barely imagine living another day.” So, the whole of this crucial relationship in the book goes from first encounter with the guy to being held captive by him in her home in six iphone Kindle pages. He’s also the reason he ends up becoming a refugee in Canada, as she tries to escape him and his racist, militant friends, in a boring telling of her escape from his imprisonment of her.
This is just one example of the stilted prose, the weak character development and the clunky, cliché-ridden writing. I have to say I kept waiting for the plot itself to captivate me but it never did. It’s gotten lots of 5 star review so I kept thinking it would get better but IMHO, it never did.
Minor other note: This is the only Kindle book I’ve read that didn’t have the X-Ray feature enabled. Not sure why….
December 30, 2020
My first thought when I began reading this book was just how incredibly real it all felt. Lauren is struggling and the world around her is all falling apart but the use of details makes it all easy to relate to in a terrifying way. Lauren is living in America during the economic crisis after the end of Covid and in a world where the 2020 election went another way. The story has a dark and gritty edge that makes for a thrilling tale. Laurens’s personal journey with the background of the upheaval of the world is an engaging, sometimes distressing, and intense story. I loved how much she came alive for me as I read. I did not always agree with the paths she was choosing but I always rooted for her to get out of the situations and find happiness. This is a story of desperation, finding morality in a darkening world, a need to be loved, and hope.
February 22, 2021
In Our Bones by Pernell Plath Meier is a brilliant but unnerving story that also includes the present day’s pandemic and how it has affected the world, and will continue to have real impact on us all in the future. A young woman who has had her fair share of traumas and tries her best to deal with them. This is a very well written piece of fiction that touches on racism, culture change and politics. Highly recommended.
January 7, 2022
Hi, I am reading this book for a book group. I am about 35% through the book. I think it is a good story so far about what a dystopian near future could be like, and about a woman who has suffered abuse finding strength and believing that she matters and that what she says matters, and starting to be willing to open up to non-abusive people in her life.
I agree that characters like Bryan and Steven are despicable and what they are trying to do is reprehensible.
One thing that I would ask, respectfully, if you read this review, Ms. Meier, if you ever do a new edition of this book, could you please not use the name of Francis Schaeffer as the "progenitor" of the Defenders of the Homeland group? I would think a made up historical figure would work just as well in that place. Like "the President" - a real person's name is not used for that character.
How Schaeffer differs from what was implied in the story:
* He did not believe in establishing a theocracy
* He believed that evangelical Christians should be active in politics to serve and help others, and to be a voice for those who do not have a voice.
* He was not a racist or white supremacist
* He was not anti-semitic. He did not believe anything in any way like the statement that Jews were the offspring of Satan and Eve.
I do agree that some of the readers of "In Our Bones" would disagree with some of Schaeffer's views, and I understand some of what is "out there" in articles about those who follow "Dominion Theology" being influenced by Schaeffer. But he should not be directly equated with those who took certain of his views as a starting point and then took them somewhere that he might have never intended to go.
Thanks!
Here is a link to an article clarifying about Schaeffer and what he believed, and then I have included below one particularly relevant paragraph from that article. https://www.covenantseminary.edu/fran...
Quote from the article:
"Racial Equality
This sense of the unique dignity of all human persons also filled Schaeffer with a deep passion for racial equality and reconciliation, both in his own personal life and in his teaching. We can readily see this in examples from his college days when, as a very young believer, he would walk across the fields from the college to teach a class of African-American children each Sunday afternoon; and when he regularly visited the African-American janitor from the college when he became ill—Schaeffer would go to the man’s home to read the Scriptures and to pray with him.
This valuing of all men and women showed too in the way people of all races were welcomed to the Schaeffers’ home at L’Abri in Switzerland. He was happy to take the wedding service of Interracial couples, despite, in the case of two special friends of ours, the anger of the white parents (a minister in Britain and his wife) at Schaeffer’s “aiding and abetting marriage between blacks and whites.” I well remember how disturbed some white Christians were by his words in Whatever Happened to the Human Race?—at his speaking with such passion about the injustice and wickedness of slavery and the slave trade. These views on race may have seemed, particularly at that time, unusual for someone of Schaeffer’s strongly conservative views about the Bible and about moral and social issues. But he never felt constrained by a “system,” whether it was some particular detail of a theological system that seemed imposed on Scripture rather than drawn from it, or a political system of thought that had undermined evangelical concern for those who were discriminated against or downtrodden."
I agree that characters like Bryan and Steven are despicable and what they are trying to do is reprehensible.
One thing that I would ask, respectfully, if you read this review, Ms. Meier, if you ever do a new edition of this book, could you please not use the name of Francis Schaeffer as the "progenitor" of the Defenders of the Homeland group? I would think a made up historical figure would work just as well in that place. Like "the President" - a real person's name is not used for that character.
How Schaeffer differs from what was implied in the story:
* He did not believe in establishing a theocracy
* He believed that evangelical Christians should be active in politics to serve and help others, and to be a voice for those who do not have a voice.
* He was not a racist or white supremacist
* He was not anti-semitic. He did not believe anything in any way like the statement that Jews were the offspring of Satan and Eve.
I do agree that some of the readers of "In Our Bones" would disagree with some of Schaeffer's views, and I understand some of what is "out there" in articles about those who follow "Dominion Theology" being influenced by Schaeffer. But he should not be directly equated with those who took certain of his views as a starting point and then took them somewhere that he might have never intended to go.
Thanks!
Here is a link to an article clarifying about Schaeffer and what he believed, and then I have included below one particularly relevant paragraph from that article. https://www.covenantseminary.edu/fran...
Quote from the article:
"Racial Equality
This sense of the unique dignity of all human persons also filled Schaeffer with a deep passion for racial equality and reconciliation, both in his own personal life and in his teaching. We can readily see this in examples from his college days when, as a very young believer, he would walk across the fields from the college to teach a class of African-American children each Sunday afternoon; and when he regularly visited the African-American janitor from the college when he became ill—Schaeffer would go to the man’s home to read the Scriptures and to pray with him.
This valuing of all men and women showed too in the way people of all races were welcomed to the Schaeffers’ home at L’Abri in Switzerland. He was happy to take the wedding service of Interracial couples, despite, in the case of two special friends of ours, the anger of the white parents (a minister in Britain and his wife) at Schaeffer’s “aiding and abetting marriage between blacks and whites.” I well remember how disturbed some white Christians were by his words in Whatever Happened to the Human Race?—at his speaking with such passion about the injustice and wickedness of slavery and the slave trade. These views on race may have seemed, particularly at that time, unusual for someone of Schaeffer’s strongly conservative views about the Bible and about moral and social issues. But he never felt constrained by a “system,” whether it was some particular detail of a theological system that seemed imposed on Scripture rather than drawn from it, or a political system of thought that had undermined evangelical concern for those who were discriminated against or downtrodden."
February 18, 2021
Such a good storyline.
February 17, 2021
Utterly mesmeric novel.
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