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4.17 AVERAGE
4.17 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, Rape
I have seen the movie by Gregg Araki which I have quite liked. It was disturbing of course, but interesting and I thought I should read the book.
It's now done. I am glad I have read it though it was sometimes a bit difficult because the subject is heavy and so are some scenes. It's far from being a funny book and I sometimes felt quite bad for the two boys. When you read the last words you just wondered about many things: how we forget things which are too much for us, how we cope with trauma, our relationships with the other, and the others' reactions with you.
Really thoughtful.
It's now done. I am glad I have read it though it was sometimes a bit difficult because the subject is heavy and so are some scenes. It's far from being a funny book and I sometimes felt quite bad for the two boys. When you read the last words you just wondered about many things: how we forget things which are too much for us, how we cope with trauma, our relationships with the other, and the others' reactions with you.
Really thoughtful.
***Trigger Warning*** This book covers issues of sexual assault.
“Why Now?” This Neil asks Brian about his remembrance of the event that changed their lives forever. Mysterious Skin is about Brian & Neil, 2 8 year old boys molested by their baseball coach. We catch up with them at different times of their adolescence & early adulthood. The effects of these events, clearly shaping their lives in very different ways. Brian has convinced himself he’s been abducted by aliens to explain missing pieces of time in his childhood. Neil, already learning a lot from watching his mother & her boyfriend & finding porn, remembers everything, but cannot understand the emotions he feels. He spends the next 10 years becoming a delinquent in so many ways. 10 years later, these two young men meet again to figure out what really happened that summer.
I spent this entire book hating everything about the story. It was incredibly sad to watch Neil let himself be degraded by other people & to watch him spiral so out of control. I was sad to watch Brian five deeper & deeper into himself as time goes on & to watch him obsess over finding answers to his questions. The boys’ families were always there for them & they did have friends (some with questionable morals & deep seated issues of their own). The writing itself was very compelling & Heim went into plenty of detail (sometimes too much) to add to the story & really make the reader feel what those boys were feeling throughout their lives. I know this mostly sounds negative, but I give it a 4 ⭐️ review because while the story was sad & depressing, it covers some very heavy topics that should be discussed.
“Why Now?” This Neil asks Brian about his remembrance of the event that changed their lives forever. Mysterious Skin is about Brian & Neil, 2 8 year old boys molested by their baseball coach. We catch up with them at different times of their adolescence & early adulthood. The effects of these events, clearly shaping their lives in very different ways. Brian has convinced himself he’s been abducted by aliens to explain missing pieces of time in his childhood. Neil, already learning a lot from watching his mother & her boyfriend & finding porn, remembers everything, but cannot understand the emotions he feels. He spends the next 10 years becoming a delinquent in so many ways. 10 years later, these two young men meet again to figure out what really happened that summer.
I spent this entire book hating everything about the story. It was incredibly sad to watch Neil let himself be degraded by other people & to watch him spiral so out of control. I was sad to watch Brian five deeper & deeper into himself as time goes on & to watch him obsess over finding answers to his questions. The boys’ families were always there for them & they did have friends (some with questionable morals & deep seated issues of their own). The writing itself was very compelling & Heim went into plenty of detail (sometimes too much) to add to the story & really make the reader feel what those boys were feeling throughout their lives. I know this mostly sounds negative, but I give it a 4 ⭐️ review because while the story was sad & depressing, it covers some very heavy topics that should be discussed.
45% read. DNF I just don't care and I really don't enjoy reading about this topic.
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Homophobia, Rape, Sexual assault
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence
A tad too visceral for my liking. Scrap that - for comfort. I also saw the movie. Subject matter is not a happy one, and the writing pulls you in just when you think you have had enough.
The narration (especially Neil's) comes off as very try-hard and edgy but it fits. The visual aspects of the movie definitely elevate it above the book.