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Helpmeet
It's 1900, and Louise Wilk is taking her dying husband from Manhattan to the upstate orchard estate where he grew up. Dr. Edward Wilk is wasting away from a mysterious affliction acquired in a strange encounter: but Louise soon realizes that her husband's worsening condition may not be a disease at all, but a transformative phase of existence that will draw her in as much more than a witness.
94 pages, Paperback
First published May 24, 2022
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About the author
Naben Ruthnum
11 books103 followersNaben Ruthnum is a Canadian writer, who has published work under both his own name and the pen name Nathan Ripley.
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March 12, 2022An odd, mysterious and at times revolting medley of body horror and weird fiction. The historical setting adds to the feeling of unease and it's smart enough to be short, which means that it does not wear thin its welcome.
September 29, 2023
It is important to note that the majority of the themes explored in this book deal with sensitive subject matters. My review, therefore, touches on these topics as well. Many people might find the subject matters of the book as well as those detailed in my review overwhelming. I would suggest you steer clear of both if this is the case. Please note that from this point forward I will be writing about matters which contain reflections on graphic descriptions of physical decomposition & body fluid, gore, disease, sexual promiscuity, body mutilation, & others.
The house that Louise shared with her husband, Edward Wilk, will be repossessed by the bank. The life she knew in comfort from the one she worked to obtain has shifted & Louise will be leaving Manhattan for the Buffalo home that housed the Wilk family for generations. On the eve of their departure, in November of 1900, Louise ensures that all the preparations are made & she reflects upon the moment when she first saw the vacant home of her partner in a photograph depicting the shadow of a being unknown within the home.
Ruthnum’s writing is pointed, simplistic & morbid. There is no necessity in sautéing the words with thick saucy prose; the vernacular employed within this novella leaves the reader with the immediate sensation of being shadowed in a room near a closing door; the only door to the hallways & subsequently a way out of the house.
Perhaps you have known the gumption of Gothic Horror that slithers trepidation across dated, shafting floorboards within desolated abodes. Perhaps you have come upon this book seeking the satiation that is felt when coming upon an orchard of chills. You have come to the right place.
One may read this book ostentatiously for the horror alone; unflinching when the pink tips of the nail bed pinch their way through Edward’s tear ducks. One may also approach these 94 pages with the exaltation of someone who has come upon an author who seamlessly showcases their craft by describing the growing entity that slurped power from Edward’s brain, nestling itself in between vertebrae to become the new man we see him become at the end of the story.
Whichever way you choose to interpret or absorb this story you will be left with sentiments of humour, for truly, the line that distinguishes laughter from screams is quite thin. What better reaction to a tongue that falls deadly out of a gaping mouth like a slippery slug on the rotting carpet of an abandoned home, than to laugh?
Nothing is funny, certainly the opposite. However, Ruthnum’s writing is poignant to the point of being obscene. There is truly no greater way to approach a novella of horror than to teeter the line between morose decomposition & gory rebirth.
The dual interpretations of this story will leave a reader pondering the implications of the character’s actions for hours after the completion of their read. Is the irony lost on any reader that Edward, the brilliant & respected surgeon of New York State is unable to riddle himself out of a deteriorating & rotting body? I should think not. Yet, not once does the author indicate that his sojourn through extramarital affairs is a reflection of incompetence or lack of moral stability. Edward is simply drawn to the physicality of what is around him in a bid to further a desire to become utterly & completely singular by exploring the duple exchange.
Where do these encounters leave Louise? Louise works in the same field as the surgeon & is unperturbed by cleaning molten bedpans. Her sole desire remains to become a nurse so that she need not showcase gratuity for financially motivated employment. Louise person married Edward, not for the intimacy that he could offer her physically, for certainly, she received proximity to all those whom she healed with dedicated action; but for the absorption of the comfort his person brought into her life.
I cannot say that I inherently understand the reasons behind any of the choices made within this story. Why would Louise choose to delve head-first into Edward’s carcass, disappearing from her individuality in life? Was she reliant on his body in a different way than Edward was when seeking out the pulsating flesh of other people?
I suppose both chose to enter the bodies of other people to feel more themselves. The action of penetrating the entity of another individual holds a rather steep significance within this book. How much could Louise have truly felt a place within Edward when she had never visited the crevices in his shell?
What is the significance of a lack of sexual reproductive organs on this new ‘Louise Wilk’? Are Louise & Edward alive in this sarcophagus or have they meshed together to an unrecognizable height which leaves them lacking in a singular body?
Could one interpret that the metamorphosis of the two (2) individuals, living within one body, reflects the concurrent expressions of those who feel that there are no two without one; those who express coming to be in the mistake of anatomy that does not suit their soul? I suppose it should depend on the reader. Though, I am inclined to feel that this avenue is a worthy one to explore.
A blossoming tether of imagery & personification of the flower that presents itself to Louise in the darkened apple orchard is brutal. Here the neutral entity expresses simply wanting to be alive, not wanting to destroy or repulse; no inherent negative or violent desires are held within the deconstructed razor flower. One could certainly look upon this creature as a simple reflection of the human species. How often we have bent over backwards to remain steadfast whilst simultaneously halting our own progress around every corner; unable to meet at the halfway point of consensus & respect.
Edward’s brain is alive in his body though every other part of him has been absorbed by the flower. The mind is the driving force behind our presence in life. It is with appreciation & inflation that the flower leaves Edward’s brain unperturbed, surely knowing that Louise will grasp at the opportunity to revive the mental stamina of her husband though she will never be held by him again.
When the final scene cuts like the nails through Isabel’s scalp the reader is presented with the concluding opportunity to regain their stance on their feelings towards this story. Is this one of metaphors or one of demise?
The petals that warp around vertebrae slowly grow with the reimagined ‘Louise Wilk’ & tether themselves to be steady & slow, making certain to not outgrow the carapace that shelters them in this life. Friend or foe is the one who steadies themselves in the unknown; our fears, hopes & uncertainties, quantifying in the depths of places unvisited by the conscious abilities of our own entity.
Thank you to Edelweiss+, Undertow Publications, & Naben Ruthnum for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
The house that Louise shared with her husband, Edward Wilk, will be repossessed by the bank. The life she knew in comfort from the one she worked to obtain has shifted & Louise will be leaving Manhattan for the Buffalo home that housed the Wilk family for generations. On the eve of their departure, in November of 1900, Louise ensures that all the preparations are made & she reflects upon the moment when she first saw the vacant home of her partner in a photograph depicting the shadow of a being unknown within the home.
Ruthnum’s writing is pointed, simplistic & morbid. There is no necessity in sautéing the words with thick saucy prose; the vernacular employed within this novella leaves the reader with the immediate sensation of being shadowed in a room near a closing door; the only door to the hallways & subsequently a way out of the house.
Perhaps you have known the gumption of Gothic Horror that slithers trepidation across dated, shafting floorboards within desolated abodes. Perhaps you have come upon this book seeking the satiation that is felt when coming upon an orchard of chills. You have come to the right place.
One may read this book ostentatiously for the horror alone; unflinching when the pink tips of the nail bed pinch their way through Edward’s tear ducks. One may also approach these 94 pages with the exaltation of someone who has come upon an author who seamlessly showcases their craft by describing the growing entity that slurped power from Edward’s brain, nestling itself in between vertebrae to become the new man we see him become at the end of the story.
Whichever way you choose to interpret or absorb this story you will be left with sentiments of humour, for truly, the line that distinguishes laughter from screams is quite thin. What better reaction to a tongue that falls deadly out of a gaping mouth like a slippery slug on the rotting carpet of an abandoned home, than to laugh?
Nothing is funny, certainly the opposite. However, Ruthnum’s writing is poignant to the point of being obscene. There is truly no greater way to approach a novella of horror than to teeter the line between morose decomposition & gory rebirth.
The dual interpretations of this story will leave a reader pondering the implications of the character’s actions for hours after the completion of their read. Is the irony lost on any reader that Edward, the brilliant & respected surgeon of New York State is unable to riddle himself out of a deteriorating & rotting body? I should think not. Yet, not once does the author indicate that his sojourn through extramarital affairs is a reflection of incompetence or lack of moral stability. Edward is simply drawn to the physicality of what is around him in a bid to further a desire to become utterly & completely singular by exploring the duple exchange.
Where do these encounters leave Louise? Louise works in the same field as the surgeon & is unperturbed by cleaning molten bedpans. Her sole desire remains to become a nurse so that she need not showcase gratuity for financially motivated employment. Louise person married Edward, not for the intimacy that he could offer her physically, for certainly, she received proximity to all those whom she healed with dedicated action; but for the absorption of the comfort his person brought into her life.
I cannot say that I inherently understand the reasons behind any of the choices made within this story. Why would Louise choose to delve head-first into Edward’s carcass, disappearing from her individuality in life? Was she reliant on his body in a different way than Edward was when seeking out the pulsating flesh of other people?
I suppose both chose to enter the bodies of other people to feel more themselves. The action of penetrating the entity of another individual holds a rather steep significance within this book. How much could Louise have truly felt a place within Edward when she had never visited the crevices in his shell?
What is the significance of a lack of sexual reproductive organs on this new ‘Louise Wilk’? Are Louise & Edward alive in this sarcophagus or have they meshed together to an unrecognizable height which leaves them lacking in a singular body?
Could one interpret that the metamorphosis of the two (2) individuals, living within one body, reflects the concurrent expressions of those who feel that there are no two without one; those who express coming to be in the mistake of anatomy that does not suit their soul? I suppose it should depend on the reader. Though, I am inclined to feel that this avenue is a worthy one to explore.
A blossoming tether of imagery & personification of the flower that presents itself to Louise in the darkened apple orchard is brutal. Here the neutral entity expresses simply wanting to be alive, not wanting to destroy or repulse; no inherent negative or violent desires are held within the deconstructed razor flower. One could certainly look upon this creature as a simple reflection of the human species. How often we have bent over backwards to remain steadfast whilst simultaneously halting our own progress around every corner; unable to meet at the halfway point of consensus & respect.
Edward’s brain is alive in his body though every other part of him has been absorbed by the flower. The mind is the driving force behind our presence in life. It is with appreciation & inflation that the flower leaves Edward’s brain unperturbed, surely knowing that Louise will grasp at the opportunity to revive the mental stamina of her husband though she will never be held by him again.
When the final scene cuts like the nails through Isabel’s scalp the reader is presented with the concluding opportunity to regain their stance on their feelings towards this story. Is this one of metaphors or one of demise?
The petals that warp around vertebrae slowly grow with the reimagined ‘Louise Wilk’ & tether themselves to be steady & slow, making certain to not outgrow the carapace that shelters them in this life. Friend or foe is the one who steadies themselves in the unknown; our fears, hopes & uncertainties, quantifying in the depths of places unvisited by the conscious abilities of our own entity.
Thank you to Edelweiss+, Undertow Publications, & Naben Ruthnum for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 6, 2022
Possibly one of the strangest and grossest books I've ever read.
It's 1900 and former nurse Louise Wilk is caring for her ailing husband, Dr. Edward Wilk. She has arranged for them to leave Manhattan to return to his childhood home in the country and the apple orchard that surrounds it. That is where he'd like to spend his remaining days.
No doctors can seem to figure out what it is that Edward has contracted though it's assumed it was sexually transmitted. Edward has always been unfaithful and he spent most evenings in brothels bedding various women. Louise, however, is incredibly loyal to her husband and will do whatever she can to make his life more comfortable as his body is literally falling apart. Sores ooze, skin splits open, appendages fall off - all described in glorious detail. 🤮
The writing is well done but the story left a lot to be desired. Thankfully this was a short one. *Shudders* 2 stars!
Thanks to Overdrive for the loan!
It's 1900 and former nurse Louise Wilk is caring for her ailing husband, Dr. Edward Wilk. She has arranged for them to leave Manhattan to return to his childhood home in the country and the apple orchard that surrounds it. That is where he'd like to spend his remaining days.
No doctors can seem to figure out what it is that Edward has contracted though it's assumed it was sexually transmitted. Edward has always been unfaithful and he spent most evenings in brothels bedding various women. Louise, however, is incredibly loyal to her husband and will do whatever she can to make his life more comfortable as his body is literally falling apart. Sores ooze, skin splits open, appendages fall off - all described in glorious detail. 🤮
The writing is well done but the story left a lot to be desired. Thankfully this was a short one. *Shudders* 2 stars!
Thanks to Overdrive for the loan!
March 23, 2023
What a strange little book!!
Louise is devoted to caring for her ailing husband and prepares to take him to his childhood home to live out the remainder of their time together in solitude. His condition makes for some pretty gross bodily horrific descriptions and imagery, and I just loved how weird things got at the end.
I need more stories like this. Slow, but it’s only 80 or so pages and was very impactful.
Louise is devoted to caring for her ailing husband and prepares to take him to his childhood home to live out the remainder of their time together in solitude. His condition makes for some pretty gross bodily horrific descriptions and imagery, and I just loved how weird things got at the end.
I need more stories like this. Slow, but it’s only 80 or so pages and was very impactful.
November 11, 2022
honestly, i'm just confused.
December 29, 2023
So. Freaking. Weird.
November 1, 2022
SQUEEZING IN ONE LAST SKINNY SPOOK IN SPOOKTOBER!
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February 4, 2023HELPMEET by Naben Ruthnum
Release Date: May 24th, 2022
General Genre: Adult Horror, Gothic, Body Horror, "Visionary & Metaphysical"
Subgenre/Themes: Caretaking for an ailing partner, Disease (actively rotting while alive), infidelity
Writing Style: Slow pace, graphically detailed
What You Need to Know: It's 1900, and Louise Wilk is taking her dying husband from Manhattan to the upstate orchard estate where he grew up. Dr. Edward Wilk is wasting away from a mysterious affliction acquired in a strange encounter: but Louise soon realizes that her husband's worsening condition may not be a disease at all, but a transformative phase of existence that will draw her in as much more than a witness.
My Reading Experience: As short as this book is, it felt much longer. The prose is not overly rich or dense, I think it's just the mental energy required to read it that slows down the experience. I read and then re-read certain parts just to affirm or dismiss certain thoughts and theories.
Louise Wilk is an enigma. I honestly cannot relate to her situation or even try to put myself in her shoes. It's very clear early on how her husband, Edward, came to be overcome by this illness he's suffering through and if I were Louise, I'd let him suffer alone.
But she loves him.
Why? This story doesn't resolve that question. There's one thing Louise mentions while she's talking about her state of affairs to her brother that gives a little insight into the way Louise viewed her marriage and endured her husband's cruelties, but...you know, whatever.
I will say that as far as body horror goes, this is a prime example of how an author wielding the proper skills can shock, horrify, and disgust with graphic descriptions. Edward's body is literally rotting and falling apart. Louise graciously keeps him together to the point of martyrdom.
There's this one scene when Edward is telling Louise a particularly cruel, sordid story and I was just shaking my head in disbelief. Why? WHY LOUISE???
As the story progresses, a strange element is introduced which left me quite perplexed. I'm unsure how I feel about the last fifteen to twenty pages. Just very...peculiar.
Final Recommendation: I would recommend this book to people who enjoy something off the beaten path. A fresh, weird, unexpected story that is thought-provoking and disturbing; readers willing to endure explicit, graphic descriptions of a man rotting to death.
Comps: Perfect for fans of Eric LaRocca, extreme body horror, ambiguity, I've never really read anything like this, so not a lot of comps.
Release Date: May 24th, 2022
General Genre: Adult Horror, Gothic, Body Horror, "Visionary & Metaphysical"
Subgenre/Themes: Caretaking for an ailing partner, Disease (actively rotting while alive), infidelity
Writing Style: Slow pace, graphically detailed
What You Need to Know: It's 1900, and Louise Wilk is taking her dying husband from Manhattan to the upstate orchard estate where he grew up. Dr. Edward Wilk is wasting away from a mysterious affliction acquired in a strange encounter: but Louise soon realizes that her husband's worsening condition may not be a disease at all, but a transformative phase of existence that will draw her in as much more than a witness.
My Reading Experience: As short as this book is, it felt much longer. The prose is not overly rich or dense, I think it's just the mental energy required to read it that slows down the experience. I read and then re-read certain parts just to affirm or dismiss certain thoughts and theories.
Louise Wilk is an enigma. I honestly cannot relate to her situation or even try to put myself in her shoes. It's very clear early on how her husband, Edward, came to be overcome by this illness he's suffering through and if I were Louise, I'd let him suffer alone.
But she loves him.
Why? This story doesn't resolve that question. There's one thing Louise mentions while she's talking about her state of affairs to her brother that gives a little insight into the way Louise viewed her marriage and endured her husband's cruelties, but...you know, whatever.
I will say that as far as body horror goes, this is a prime example of how an author wielding the proper skills can shock, horrify, and disgust with graphic descriptions. Edward's body is literally rotting and falling apart. Louise graciously keeps him together to the point of martyrdom.
There's this one scene when Edward is telling Louise a particularly cruel, sordid story and I was just shaking my head in disbelief. Why? WHY LOUISE???
As the story progresses, a strange element is introduced which left me quite perplexed. I'm unsure how I feel about the last fifteen to twenty pages. Just very...peculiar.
Final Recommendation: I would recommend this book to people who enjoy something off the beaten path. A fresh, weird, unexpected story that is thought-provoking and disturbing; readers willing to endure explicit, graphic descriptions of a man rotting to death.
Comps: Perfect for fans of Eric LaRocca, extreme body horror, ambiguity, I've never really read anything like this, so not a lot of comps.
October 17, 2023
This book is as dry as the man’s skin
February 21, 2025
I read a weird novella last night, Helpmeet by Canadian writer Naben Ruthnum...an unsettling book about a very bad man married to a very saintly woman...which then turns into something unexpected. This morning, still grinding that corn in my mental quirn, The Walrus arrived and it's one of their Staff Picks for Best of 2022!
Rating: 3.5* of five
The Publisher Says: It's 1900, and Louise Wilk is taking her dying husband from Manhattan to the upstate orchard estate where he grew up. Dr. Edward Wilk is wasting away from a mysterious affliction acquired in a strange encounter: but Louise soon realizes that her husband's worsening condition may not be a disease at all, but a transformative phase of existence that will draw her in as much more than a witness.
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.
My Review: Beautiful sentences, emotionally evocative imagery, a genuinely affecting story, give this body horror novella all its stars. The quiet emotional truth of loving a person who has wronged you, who will never know their own interior well enough even to know they have wronged you, would have earned it more stars. What I disliked was the truly horrifying body horror. My friend E, who's a horror writer, was even taken by surprise by how affecting these images were. Let him tell you about it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GV_Ns...
A bridge too far for me, and very sad to say it. This is a creative talent indeed; I'll seek his non-horror work out, see if I can stick that.
Undertow Publications asks a minimal investment of $4.99 for the ebook.
Rating: 3.5* of five
The Publisher Says: It's 1900, and Louise Wilk is taking her dying husband from Manhattan to the upstate orchard estate where he grew up. Dr. Edward Wilk is wasting away from a mysterious affliction acquired in a strange encounter: but Louise soon realizes that her husband's worsening condition may not be a disease at all, but a transformative phase of existence that will draw her in as much more than a witness.
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.
My Review: Beautiful sentences, emotionally evocative imagery, a genuinely affecting story, give this body horror novella all its stars. The quiet emotional truth of loving a person who has wronged you, who will never know their own interior well enough even to know they have wronged you, would have earned it more stars. What I disliked was the truly horrifying body horror. My friend E, who's a horror writer, was even taken by surprise by how affecting these images were. Let him tell you about it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GV_Ns...
A bridge too far for me, and very sad to say it. This is a creative talent indeed; I'll seek his non-horror work out, see if I can stick that.
Undertow Publications asks a minimal investment of $4.99 for the ebook.
August 31, 2023
This was bloated for sure. It should have been a short story, but even then it wouldn't have been scary.
The writing was dull, and the characters and the narrator all spoke in the exact same overly verbose voice. I'm extremely disappointed. So many reviewers and booktok/bookgram people said it was wonderfully disturbing. Well, it's not. It's not even just disturbing (to me, at least). Perhaps if any of the characters had more of a reaction to anything I would have felt differently, but it was like this dude was falling apart and everyone was pretty cool with it. Like, a character can fall to pieces and it won't affect me unless I care about the characters, and I certainly did not.
This was boring, and I'm glad I didn't buy it.
On the plus side, the cover is attractive.
The writing was dull, and the characters and the narrator all spoke in the exact same overly verbose voice. I'm extremely disappointed. So many reviewers and booktok/bookgram people said it was wonderfully disturbing. Well, it's not. It's not even just disturbing (to me, at least). Perhaps if any of the characters had more of a reaction to anything I would have felt differently, but it was like this dude was falling apart and everyone was pretty cool with it. Like, a character can fall to pieces and it won't affect me unless I care about the characters, and I certainly did not.
This was boring, and I'm glad I didn't buy it.
On the plus side, the cover is attractive.
March 2, 2024
Helpmeet by Naben Ruthnum takes the simple premise of a dutiful wife caring for her dying husband and then ratchets up the tension with grotesque body horror that teeters the story into incomprehensibility.
Ruthnum spends most of the novella detailing Edward’s deteriorating condition, lingering on his missing appendages, hollowed out body, and decaying flesh. It evokes the acute horror anyone caring for a dying loved one has experienced, as terror and helplessness struggle to the surface.
Set in 1900, the calamity Louise must face is contextualised by her economic and social position in society. Louise Wilks is just as dependent on her husband’s reputation and wealth as he is on her care, and in both cases it is a losing battle; Edward will die, and Louise will fall.
But Helpmeet concocts a bizarre synthesis for them as it introduces further disturbing elements to the story. It’s definitely an acquired taste as it hurtles to its disorientating conclusion, but at 85 pages, it doesn’t overstay its welcome.
Ruthnum spends most of the novella detailing Edward’s deteriorating condition, lingering on his missing appendages, hollowed out body, and decaying flesh. It evokes the acute horror anyone caring for a dying loved one has experienced, as terror and helplessness struggle to the surface.
Set in 1900, the calamity Louise must face is contextualised by her economic and social position in society. Louise Wilks is just as dependent on her husband’s reputation and wealth as he is on her care, and in both cases it is a losing battle; Edward will die, and Louise will fall.
But Helpmeet concocts a bizarre synthesis for them as it introduces further disturbing elements to the story. It’s definitely an acquired taste as it hurtles to its disorientating conclusion, but at 85 pages, it doesn’t overstay its welcome.
September 22, 2023
Hmm I feel like this would have had more of an impact on me if I was better acquainted with the history of gothic horror and early speculative fiction that other reviewers and cover blurbs mention.
As it is, Helpmeet is a very strange journey following a wife taking care of her husband as he wastes away from an unknown disease. The body horror in this is A+ top tier madness.
As it is, Helpmeet is a very strange journey following a wife taking care of her husband as he wastes away from an unknown disease. The body horror in this is A+ top tier madness.
April 27, 2022
STAR review in the April 2022 issue of Library Journal
Three Words That Describe This Book: grotesquely beautiful, immersive, deeply unsettling
DRAFT REVIEW:
In this grotesquely beautiful, deeply unsettling, and utterly beguiling Kafkaesque novella, Ruthnum introduces readers to Louise, a nurse in 1900 New York City, caring for her husband, Edward, a doctor, dying painfully, his body literally dissolving piece by piece, as they prepare to relocate to Edward’s family’s orchard in Buffalo, where he wants to die peacefully. Edward’s numerous dalliances lead many to believe he has syphilis, but early on, it is made clear his suffering comes from something bigger than a bacterium. What exactly it is however, is for Lousie, Edward, and the reader to discover. Told with multiple narrators, including Lousie and Edward, this magnificent novella, draws readers in immediately and then holds their emotions hostage for the duration, without argument, as they watch the story transform* from a tangible tale of illness and death into one of otherworldly beauty, with just the right amount of darkness hiding in the wings. A reading experience that will linger long after the final page is turned.
Verdict: This uncanny and disquieting story, with a perfect title,“Helpmeet,” a historical term for “a helpful companion,” a definition that Ruthnum satisfyingly twists in an unexpected way, is reminiscent of the complex feelings induced by Jones’ Mapping the Interior, any Oyoyemi tale, or We Can Never Leave This Place by LaRocca [also in this issue].
NOTES:
Excellent novella that draws you in from first page and holds your attention and your emotions hostage.
Figuring out how not to give away anything but I will say the title is PERFECT.
Readalikes- This reminded me of a debut I read last year and loved- The Taxidermist’s Lover but with the storytelling feel of Mapping the Interior by Stephen Graham Jones. Also a great choice for Oyoyemi fans.
More than a touch of Kafka as well.
I will seek out more by this author.
Three Words That Describe This Book: grotesquely beautiful, immersive, deeply unsettling
DRAFT REVIEW:
In this grotesquely beautiful, deeply unsettling, and utterly beguiling Kafkaesque novella, Ruthnum introduces readers to Louise, a nurse in 1900 New York City, caring for her husband, Edward, a doctor, dying painfully, his body literally dissolving piece by piece, as they prepare to relocate to Edward’s family’s orchard in Buffalo, where he wants to die peacefully. Edward’s numerous dalliances lead many to believe he has syphilis, but early on, it is made clear his suffering comes from something bigger than a bacterium. What exactly it is however, is for Lousie, Edward, and the reader to discover. Told with multiple narrators, including Lousie and Edward, this magnificent novella, draws readers in immediately and then holds their emotions hostage for the duration, without argument, as they watch the story transform* from a tangible tale of illness and death into one of otherworldly beauty, with just the right amount of darkness hiding in the wings. A reading experience that will linger long after the final page is turned.
Verdict: This uncanny and disquieting story, with a perfect title,“Helpmeet,” a historical term for “a helpful companion,” a definition that Ruthnum satisfyingly twists in an unexpected way, is reminiscent of the complex feelings induced by Jones’ Mapping the Interior, any Oyoyemi tale, or We Can Never Leave This Place by LaRocca [also in this issue].
NOTES:
Excellent novella that draws you in from first page and holds your attention and your emotions hostage.
Figuring out how not to give away anything but I will say the title is PERFECT.
Readalikes- This reminded me of a debut I read last year and loved- The Taxidermist’s Lover but with the storytelling feel of Mapping the Interior by Stephen Graham Jones. Also a great choice for Oyoyemi fans.
More than a touch of Kafka as well.
I will seek out more by this author.
August 21, 2024
This is an intense, beautiful novella, with a lot of lovely writing:
Body horror is so hard to pull off in fiction; the examples I consider successful can be counted on the fingers of one hand. This is certainly one of them. I was so drawn into the head of the narrator and her elegiac voice, as she cares for a dying husband, I was not sure whether to squirm at the horrific details of his decay, or empathize with her situation as we find out more about his complex past. And the turn in the second half of the story with the "flower", wow.
I'm obviously already hankering for my next Ruthnum book. But they all seem very different from this one. Odd.
Louise had placed the photograph in Edward's hands, because he wanted it there, and he held it by the edges. His fingers, the long fingers of the surgeon he was or the musician he sometimes pretended to be in bars and brothels and around card tables, seemed to have grown as Edward shrunk, lenghthening by a phantom joint as his palms lost their muscle. She took the photo away when he fell asleep. The dents the stiff backing had made in his flesh remained for hours.
Body horror is so hard to pull off in fiction; the examples I consider successful can be counted on the fingers of one hand. This is certainly one of them. I was so drawn into the head of the narrator and her elegiac voice, as she cares for a dying husband, I was not sure whether to squirm at the horrific details of his decay, or empathize with her situation as we find out more about his complex past. And the turn in the second half of the story with the "flower", wow.
I'm obviously already hankering for my next Ruthnum book. But they all seem very different from this one. Odd.
April 28, 2022
“noun: helpmeet
a helpful companion or partner, especially one’s husband or wife.”
First – huge massive thank you to Michael Kelly and Undertow Publications for sending me a digital ARC of this upcoming release. The previous digital ARC I’ve been fortunate to read from the mighty Undertow Publications was the stunning ‘Armageddon House’ by Michael Griffin and that one turned out to be one of my all time favorite books. Would lightning strike twice?
I very rarely mention a books cover in my reviews, but in this case, I must. Just look at that painting. My apologies, I thought I noted what it was called, but it was from approx. 1825 and not only does it accurately depict the story you’re about to read, but also the sense of unknown dread that accompanies the reader as you crack this one open.
In the advanced praise section prior to the story, author Craig Davidson likens this to the old masters, those who’ve come before who used sparse wording and simply prose, but managed to create massive, monstrous results, IE Algernon Blackwood as an example. Folks – Davidson was spot on.
What I liked: As both a fan of reading and writing novellas, ‘Helpmeet’ delivers everything you want in a novel in a smooth sixty nine pages. Not a word is wasted here and when I finished reading this over the course of about an hour last night, I was exhausted mentally and physically. This is an experience. I would compare it to when you first discovered a horror movie when you were young. You were captivated and had to sit rapt until it was over and you had to question yourself about what you just read.
‘Helpmeet’ delivers the same (as did Armageddon House for those wondering), and it was absolutely compulsive. The story follows Louise, the wife of a well to do doctor, Edward in 1900. Edward has come down with an odd affliction, one that is causing his body to rot, decay and fall off of his skeleton. He hasn’t much time left and needs to get to his out of state property before it is too late.
Ruthnum paints a picture of a dotting wife (who also used to a nurse) caring for her husband, even when he’s been a horrible man. Frequenting brothels, stepping outside of their marriage with other nurses and generally not being there for Louise. But what would normally strain this relationship, has been pushed aside by Louise, as she decides to stick with him and help him as he becomes unable to do most anything. I loved seeing how this one unraveled and when we arrive at an ending, that completely floored me and absolutely opened up a whole world of questions and enormous possibilities, I knew Ruthnum had decided to ‘go there’ for this story. Those who’ll read this will know what I mean. Just so, so phenomenal.
What I didn’t like: Ruthnum fit in a 500 page novels worth of story here, but even after all of that, I still wish we could’ve learned a little bit more of some specific events surrounding the ending. I hate being spoiler free for this specific reason, but boy, would I have loved to learn even 5% more!
Why you should buy this: This is what writing a classic story looks like in 2022. I struggle reading the old masters, Blackwood and Machen and others, because I find their writing can often be clunky and far too often the choice of phrasing is confusing and baffling. Not with Ruthnum, and not with ‘Helpmeet.’
From the first word to the very last word, this story crawls under your skin and I was often times reminded of Iain Reid’s work with ‘FOE,’ in that you know something is off, something not right, but even when you find out what it is, your eyes practically pop out of your skull. This was pristine storytelling and I’ve very thankful to have read this one. It’ll be staying in my head for a very long time.
a helpful companion or partner, especially one’s husband or wife.”
First – huge massive thank you to Michael Kelly and Undertow Publications for sending me a digital ARC of this upcoming release. The previous digital ARC I’ve been fortunate to read from the mighty Undertow Publications was the stunning ‘Armageddon House’ by Michael Griffin and that one turned out to be one of my all time favorite books. Would lightning strike twice?
I very rarely mention a books cover in my reviews, but in this case, I must. Just look at that painting. My apologies, I thought I noted what it was called, but it was from approx. 1825 and not only does it accurately depict the story you’re about to read, but also the sense of unknown dread that accompanies the reader as you crack this one open.
In the advanced praise section prior to the story, author Craig Davidson likens this to the old masters, those who’ve come before who used sparse wording and simply prose, but managed to create massive, monstrous results, IE Algernon Blackwood as an example. Folks – Davidson was spot on.
What I liked: As both a fan of reading and writing novellas, ‘Helpmeet’ delivers everything you want in a novel in a smooth sixty nine pages. Not a word is wasted here and when I finished reading this over the course of about an hour last night, I was exhausted mentally and physically. This is an experience. I would compare it to when you first discovered a horror movie when you were young. You were captivated and had to sit rapt until it was over and you had to question yourself about what you just read.
‘Helpmeet’ delivers the same (as did Armageddon House for those wondering), and it was absolutely compulsive. The story follows Louise, the wife of a well to do doctor, Edward in 1900. Edward has come down with an odd affliction, one that is causing his body to rot, decay and fall off of his skeleton. He hasn’t much time left and needs to get to his out of state property before it is too late.
Ruthnum paints a picture of a dotting wife (who also used to a nurse) caring for her husband, even when he’s been a horrible man. Frequenting brothels, stepping outside of their marriage with other nurses and generally not being there for Louise. But what would normally strain this relationship, has been pushed aside by Louise, as she decides to stick with him and help him as he becomes unable to do most anything. I loved seeing how this one unraveled and when we arrive at an ending, that completely floored me and absolutely opened up a whole world of questions and enormous possibilities, I knew Ruthnum had decided to ‘go there’ for this story. Those who’ll read this will know what I mean. Just so, so phenomenal.
What I didn’t like: Ruthnum fit in a 500 page novels worth of story here, but even after all of that, I still wish we could’ve learned a little bit more of some specific events surrounding the ending. I hate being spoiler free for this specific reason, but boy, would I have loved to learn even 5% more!
Why you should buy this: This is what writing a classic story looks like in 2022. I struggle reading the old masters, Blackwood and Machen and others, because I find their writing can often be clunky and far too often the choice of phrasing is confusing and baffling. Not with Ruthnum, and not with ‘Helpmeet.’
From the first word to the very last word, this story crawls under your skin and I was often times reminded of Iain Reid’s work with ‘FOE,’ in that you know something is off, something not right, but even when you find out what it is, your eyes practically pop out of your skull. This was pristine storytelling and I’ve very thankful to have read this one. It’ll be staying in my head for a very long time.
August 11, 2023
I don’t mind gore and horror but this didn’t do it for me. Thankfully it was short because I feel like I wasted my time finishing this one.
Plot was lacking and other than two or three descriptions of a body breaking down the writing wasn’t good either.
Ending, what a stupid ending. You want me to believe this woman was like “ okay. Guess my husband finally kicked the bucket. Might as well let this bloody nail flower have their way with my brain - oh you need me to put my head in my husbands dead stomach, right away!” It’s a no for me.
If you’re looking for a 5/5 gore/ horror look up The Troop by Nick Cutter
Plot was lacking and other than two or three descriptions of a body breaking down the writing wasn’t good either.
Ending, what a stupid ending. You want me to believe this woman was like “ okay. Guess my husband finally kicked the bucket. Might as well let this bloody nail flower have their way with my brain - oh you need me to put my head in my husbands dead stomach, right away!” It’s a no for me.
If you’re looking for a 5/5 gore/ horror look up The Troop by Nick Cutter
November 23, 2023
Holy hell!!! This is like 80(something) pages but so well done start to finish. A twisted Gothic romance with unsettling body horror that really delivers on creepy atmosphere and just super strange fever dream vibes. Good luck looking at oven roasted chicken the same way ever again.
May 2, 2023
This was one of the most remarkable explorations of body horror I've read yet, melding mysterious syphilitic wasting with botanical horror akin to Hanahaki disease, for those familiar with fanfic concepts. It was eerily written as a very worthy peer to precursors like Henry James' work, and so many other Gothic short stories filled with creeping dread.
April 14, 2022
Infidelity and dark secrets set the stage for this curiously dark and unsettling novella set in the early 1900's, in which a wife begins to care for her husband who is literally being eating away at by a strange and painful infliction. Gosh, it's such a lavishly slow moving story... until it isn't (slow moving, I mean)! And when the REALLY weird stuff starts.... * chef's kiss *
The book is so short, cloking in at a mere 88 pages, that if I were to say any more, I might ruin it for you.
The book is so short, cloking in at a mere 88 pages, that if I were to say any more, I might ruin it for you.
October 3, 2023
Love love LOVED this. My favorite kind of horror. Wonderfully visceral writing and a delight to imagine. Wheeeeee!! (this is the part of the review where i imagine i’m on a theme park ferris wheel)
May 31, 2024
Almost unbearable to keep reading through the first half. Then like most horror, the twist happens, and the tension can’t quite be sustained. But it’s alright. I enjoyed this! The kind of horror that changes your mood, that changes your thoughts while you’re reading it. The world feels transformed, a little bit, into something raw and horrible and true - a least for a little while.
Best read at midday under the burning sun.
Best read at midday under the burning sun.
July 26, 2023
This was a strange and not entirely pleasant experience.
In 1900 Louise Wilk takes her gravely ili husband, Edward, from Manhattan to a remote estate. As Edward's condition worsens, it becomes clear that it may not be an illness, but a strange transformation.
Although the story is short, I found it hard to get through, not because the prose is dense, but because I couldn't figure out what was going on.
Louise was hard to connect with and most of the time I didn't understand her choices.
Also, the body horror is... a lot. I'm not easily disgusted, but some descriptions made me feel sick.
Read this if you like perplexing stories filled with gore.
In 1900 Louise Wilk takes her gravely ili husband, Edward, from Manhattan to a remote estate. As Edward's condition worsens, it becomes clear that it may not be an illness, but a strange transformation.
Although the story is short, I found it hard to get through, not because the prose is dense, but because I couldn't figure out what was going on.
Louise was hard to connect with and most of the time I didn't understand her choices.
Also, the body horror is... a lot. I'm not easily disgusted, but some descriptions made me feel sick.
Read this if you like perplexing stories filled with gore.
May 13, 2022
A creepy and unsettling novella made all the more disturbing by the calm lack of urgency in the narrative. Body horror, weird, gothic and surreal, I was unable to stop reading until the end.
Quite a remarkable little book.
Quite a remarkable little book.
February 3, 2024
I am not entirely sure what I just read but honestly I really liked the vibe
October 15, 2024
woah rock on freaky bro! So original and went somewhere I wasn’t expecting. 3.5 stars.
July 24, 2024
CONTENT and/or TRIGGER WARNINGS
This book contains themes that might be sensitive or potentially distressing to some readers, including body horror, gore and infidelity.
Summary
The story is set in the 1900s and follows the relationship between Louise and her husband, Edward, a doctor who is slowly succumbing to a mysterious and horrifying disease.
Edward's condition is characterised by a grotesque physical deterioration that cannot be explained by contemporary medicine. As his body deteriorates, Louise remains devoted to him, providing care and support despite the increasingly horrific nature of his affliction. Her commitment to Edward is tested as she witnesses his transformation into something inhuman and monstrous.
As the disease progresses, it becomes clear that Edward's condition is not just a medical anomaly but something far more sinister and otherworldly. Louise's journey with Edward becomes a nightmarish descent into the unknown, blurring the lines between love, duty, and horror.
Review
The novella excels in creating a creepy, atmospheric setting. Ruthnum's descriptions of Edward's physical decay are vividly horrifying, and the sense of dread builds effectively as Louise grapples with the reality of her husband's condition. The historical backdrop adds an extra layer of intrigue, grounding the supernatural elements in a believable time and place.
However, despite its strengths, 'Helpmeet' has some notable weaknesses. The novella leaves some aspects of the story underdeveloped. The characters, particularly Louise, could have been more fleshed out to make her emotional journey more impactful. The pacing also feels uneven at times, with certain scenes dragging while others rush past crucial developments.
Additionally, while the horror elements are well-executed, the story's resolution felt somewhat abrupt and left me wanting more in terms of explanation and closure. The blend of love and horror is compelling, but it sometimes lacks the depth needed to fully engage the reader.
3/5 ⭐️
This book contains themes that might be sensitive or potentially distressing to some readers, including body horror, gore and infidelity.
Summary
The story is set in the 1900s and follows the relationship between Louise and her husband, Edward, a doctor who is slowly succumbing to a mysterious and horrifying disease.
Edward's condition is characterised by a grotesque physical deterioration that cannot be explained by contemporary medicine. As his body deteriorates, Louise remains devoted to him, providing care and support despite the increasingly horrific nature of his affliction. Her commitment to Edward is tested as she witnesses his transformation into something inhuman and monstrous.
As the disease progresses, it becomes clear that Edward's condition is not just a medical anomaly but something far more sinister and otherworldly. Louise's journey with Edward becomes a nightmarish descent into the unknown, blurring the lines between love, duty, and horror.
Review
The novella excels in creating a creepy, atmospheric setting. Ruthnum's descriptions of Edward's physical decay are vividly horrifying, and the sense of dread builds effectively as Louise grapples with the reality of her husband's condition. The historical backdrop adds an extra layer of intrigue, grounding the supernatural elements in a believable time and place.
However, despite its strengths, 'Helpmeet' has some notable weaknesses. The novella leaves some aspects of the story underdeveloped. The characters, particularly Louise, could have been more fleshed out to make her emotional journey more impactful. The pacing also feels uneven at times, with certain scenes dragging while others rush past crucial developments.
Additionally, while the horror elements are well-executed, the story's resolution felt somewhat abrupt and left me wanting more in terms of explanation and closure. The blend of love and horror is compelling, but it sometimes lacks the depth needed to fully engage the reader.
3/5 ⭐️
February 2, 2024
dull writing, didn't care for the story.
September 15, 2022
I loved this. The body horror is absolutely disgusting, the entity is genuinely unsettling, and it is also a meditation on love and devotion.
Louise is a doting wife to her dying husband Edward. He was a surgeon, she was a nurse, can I make it any more obvious. Edward’s flesh is disintegrating. He no longer has eyeballs and the sockets are always seeping fluids. No one knows what disease he has, but it’s implied to be an STD because Edward was not exactly faithful in their marriage. Louise knows all about her husband’s behavior and accepts him anyway. His condition has deteriorated so much he’s essentially just waiting to die, and they’re traveling to upstate NY to a house he owns so that he can die in peace and solitude.
(SPOILER ALERTS)
The monster reveal was fantastic. An entity has been implanted in Edward, and it’s harvesting his parts to build itself. It was transmitted through sex, as we suspected. The entity is this disgusting flesh flower with fingernail petals. It reminded me of the tree that the dwarf turns into in Twin Peaks: The Return. Imagining the way it moves and glides was eerie. It was truly unsettling and delivered on the blurb’s Cronenberg promises.
Louise enters Edward’s body and they fuse. At first I was disappointed with this– she was so undyingly devoted to him, and he didn’t deserve it at all. Her love and devotion to Edward in his condition was admirable to me. She really took the vow “in sickness and in health” seriously. I read that the divorce rate for men leaving chronically ill wives is way way way higher than the rate of women leaving chronically ill husbands. I have a lot of respect for caretakers and their love in action. Louise was unique in that she had medical training and could split herself into wife mode and nurse mode. But I felt angry for her because he was such an asshole who did not deserve her and would never ever have done the same for her, even though he was also a man of medicine.
They have a war for dominance inside of the body, though Edward to his credit doesn’t put up much of a fight. Over time Edward’s shell shrinks to become more similar to Louise’s frame, though they still end up looking like a Chimera. I felt grateful that the story allowed Louise to have the ultimate autonomy over their body (and mind).
I googled “helpmeet” to find out more about the author, and instead fell into a rabbit hole. There were a zillion articles in the google results about how to be a better helpmeet to your husband. Genesis reads that before creating Eve, God says “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make an Help Meete for him”. The articles were depressing, mostly what you would expect about pleasing your husband and standing by your man.
The story is clearly making you think about the imbalance of devotion from a wife to a husband as opposed to the reverse. It doesn’t seem like Edward was a very caring or respectful husband, yet Louise dedicates all her energy to him. There is of course an expectation that a woman will care for her husband, children, elderly that doesn’t exist for men to the same degree. This was true in 1900 when the book is set and remains true now. I know all this, and I felt bad for Louise, but I also really respected her and I feel it is somehow unfeminist of me to think that. I just think she has a kind of strength that many people don’t have, and yes it's informed by gendered expectations and the dude sucks, but I still admire the unselfishness of those who care for others like this.
Louise is a doting wife to her dying husband Edward. He was a surgeon, she was a nurse, can I make it any more obvious. Edward’s flesh is disintegrating. He no longer has eyeballs and the sockets are always seeping fluids. No one knows what disease he has, but it’s implied to be an STD because Edward was not exactly faithful in their marriage. Louise knows all about her husband’s behavior and accepts him anyway. His condition has deteriorated so much he’s essentially just waiting to die, and they’re traveling to upstate NY to a house he owns so that he can die in peace and solitude.
(SPOILER ALERTS)
The monster reveal was fantastic. An entity has been implanted in Edward, and it’s harvesting his parts to build itself. It was transmitted through sex, as we suspected. The entity is this disgusting flesh flower with fingernail petals. It reminded me of the tree that the dwarf turns into in Twin Peaks: The Return. Imagining the way it moves and glides was eerie. It was truly unsettling and delivered on the blurb’s Cronenberg promises.
Louise enters Edward’s body and they fuse. At first I was disappointed with this– she was so undyingly devoted to him, and he didn’t deserve it at all. Her love and devotion to Edward in his condition was admirable to me. She really took the vow “in sickness and in health” seriously. I read that the divorce rate for men leaving chronically ill wives is way way way higher than the rate of women leaving chronically ill husbands. I have a lot of respect for caretakers and their love in action. Louise was unique in that she had medical training and could split herself into wife mode and nurse mode. But I felt angry for her because he was such an asshole who did not deserve her and would never ever have done the same for her, even though he was also a man of medicine.
They have a war for dominance inside of the body, though Edward to his credit doesn’t put up much of a fight. Over time Edward’s shell shrinks to become more similar to Louise’s frame, though they still end up looking like a Chimera. I felt grateful that the story allowed Louise to have the ultimate autonomy over their body (and mind).
I googled “helpmeet” to find out more about the author, and instead fell into a rabbit hole. There were a zillion articles in the google results about how to be a better helpmeet to your husband. Genesis reads that before creating Eve, God says “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make an Help Meete for him”. The articles were depressing, mostly what you would expect about pleasing your husband and standing by your man.
The story is clearly making you think about the imbalance of devotion from a wife to a husband as opposed to the reverse. It doesn’t seem like Edward was a very caring or respectful husband, yet Louise dedicates all her energy to him. There is of course an expectation that a woman will care for her husband, children, elderly that doesn’t exist for men to the same degree. This was true in 1900 when the book is set and remains true now. I know all this, and I felt bad for Louise, but I also really respected her and I feel it is somehow unfeminist of me to think that. I just think she has a kind of strength that many people don’t have, and yes it's informed by gendered expectations and the dude sucks, but I still admire the unselfishness of those who care for others like this.
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