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A review by intotherosegarden
Dream Boy by Jim Grimsley
4.0
The closeness in which they have rested through the night continues to surround them during the breakfast, a peace that fills the space between them, almost visible. There is a softness in Roy's eyes when he watches Nathan, and for Nathan the feeling is perfected in some way; Roy anchors him in the present, strips away shadows of the past. Like breathing, in and out. Nathan basks in the beating of his own heart, in the descending calls of birds, in the fresh shadows of leaves on the backs of his hands. Life becomes a cool gentleness, a process of listening, a caressing presence. In the world that exists only through Roy.
TW: sexual abuse, rape
Also major spoilers
Phewwww. This book was so heavy throughout, but there always appeared to be a thread of hope stitching the whole thing together. Grimsley's writing style at times felt too sparse, at times too descriptive over unimportant things, but sometimes he would hit the nick just right and grace us with an amazing passage like the one above.
The way that Nathan views sexual intimacy is obviously tainted through the abuse he endures from his father, but I don't know if the way the book handles it is accurate? I would know absolutely nothing about that, so I won't pass any judgement.
However, during the last quarter of this book, there is an absolutely amazing atmospheric section describing the dark and the dread and the silence of a haunted plantation house. I felt my breath hitch and the tension was palpable on the page. However, this exploration of the haunted house unfolds into a graphic depiction of rape, and although the event was heavily foreshadowed for at least 80 pages, it was still so obviously jarring to read. I don't know if the event was necessary, and I had a feeling that something like this would occur between the characters, but still... The book does have a happy ending, but the last 30 pages feel so tainted by the rape that it was hard to process what was happening. I don't think that I'm squeamish, and deplorable things like this do happen, but my god Nathan had suffered enough, suffered more than anyone should ever have to endure. I'm just glad he got to run away with Roy.
But then again am I? Roy left him there in the house after Burke raped him and Nathan somehow miraculously rose from the dead and walked miles and miles through the woods to Roy's church? Roy doesn't even audibly apologize during their reunion? Will he learn from this? Will running away with Nathan actually force him to not be ashamed of his feelings for him? I understand that this book is set in the South, and during a very different time, and it does feel realistic in that way, but it's hard not to look back (from where we are now) and judge Roy for his silence.
Something within me really wants to like this book, and I think there is definitely something here. The highs weren't that high, and the lows were so so so low. It's just strange to me that Nathan is so passive in Roy's treatment of him, especially during the ending. Maybe I just don't understand.
TW: sexual abuse, rape
Also major spoilers
Phewwww. This book was so heavy throughout, but there always appeared to be a thread of hope stitching the whole thing together. Grimsley's writing style at times felt too sparse, at times too descriptive over unimportant things, but sometimes he would hit the nick just right and grace us with an amazing passage like the one above.
The way that Nathan views sexual intimacy is obviously tainted through the abuse he endures from his father, but I don't know if the way the book handles it is accurate? I would know absolutely nothing about that, so I won't pass any judgement.
However, during the last quarter of this book, there is an absolutely amazing atmospheric section describing the dark and the dread and the silence of a haunted plantation house. I felt my breath hitch and the tension was palpable on the page. However, this exploration of the haunted house unfolds into a graphic depiction of rape, and although the event was heavily foreshadowed for at least 80 pages, it was still so obviously jarring to read. I don't know if the event was necessary, and I had a feeling that something like this would occur between the characters, but still... The book does have a happy ending, but the last 30 pages feel so tainted by the rape that it was hard to process what was happening. I don't think that I'm squeamish, and deplorable things like this do happen, but my god Nathan had suffered enough, suffered more than anyone should ever have to endure. I'm just glad he got to run away with Roy.
But then again am I? Roy left him there in the house after Burke raped him and Nathan somehow miraculously rose from the dead and walked miles and miles through the woods to Roy's church? Roy doesn't even audibly apologize during their reunion? Will he learn from this? Will running away with Nathan actually force him to not be ashamed of his feelings for him? I understand that this book is set in the South, and during a very different time, and it does feel realistic in that way, but it's hard not to look back (from where we are now) and judge Roy for his silence.
Something within me really wants to like this book, and I think there is definitely something here. The highs weren't that high, and the lows were so so so low. It's just strange to me that Nathan is so passive in Roy's treatment of him, especially during the ending. Maybe I just don't understand.