In 'Sorrowland,' The Story Gets Lost In The Forest
Rivers Solomon's new novel — a gothic thriller about a woman escaping a cult for a wild life in the forest — relies too much on atmospherics, neglecting the basic building blocks of story.
Rivers Solomon's Sorrowland tells a tale of how the horrors inflicted upon Black Americans warp and change us. However, an overreliance on atmospherics at the expense of basic building blocks weakens the overall story and themes.
I dove into Sorrowland ready to be enraptured by it. I'm drawn to gothic horror narratives. I spend an inordinate amount of time listening to podcasts about cults. I'm a fan of Solomon's work; faer The Deep, alongside the band clipping., and An Unkindness of Ghosts are painful, beautifully composed reads. (Solomon uses fae/faer pronouns.)
The novel's focal point is Vern, described by back matter as "a hunted woman." She is on the run after
