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A review by tan_wayne
Northridge High Football Camp by S. Joseph Krol
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
This book is an out-of-print book from 1996. I chanced upon the podcast/audio for the book on Spotify. I decided to give it a try since I find it intriguing. This is also my first ever audiobook.
It follows the two main characters Vinnie and Vuch, football (rugby) players navigating their sexuality. I would like to say this book is NOT for the faint-hearted.
I felt physical pain hearing this book. My head was always going haywire because of the things happening. Not because it was exciting, but because so many things were problematic. There are so many I am going to list them out and my reasoning behind it (comment your differing thoughts on these issues if you like to).
1. Obsession with private parts. Yes, why? I got no idea. I cannot find a single chapter without talking about the sensitive parts of the body. How does tugging on pubic hair turn anyone on? I get that they wear protection during games, but I do not need the whole description of it.
2. Loyalty. There is one point of the book where (I think) Vinnie complains about his girlfriend leaving him, because he had almost sexually penetrated her underage sister. If this happened to anyone I care about in my life, you bet I will send their ass to jail! Can I just say something? Why are men always saying that it is the women’s seduction leading to them not controlling their sexual urges. KEEP YOUR EYES AND HANDS TO YOURSELF! NO ONE SHOULD BE ASSAULTING ON A MINOR!
3. Racism. In the camp, a separate bunker was assigned to “the black group” because of their darker skin tone. WAIT WHAT? I know racism is more prevalent then, but does that not ring any alarms in any characters’ heads? Why should someone be excluded because of their skin colour? THE FACT THAT THE SCHOOL MANAGEMENT ALLOWED THAT, SHAME ON YOU. DO BETTER!
4. Anger management. How is the Vinnie so temperamental? At one point he tried killing someone because that person badmouthed him. Vinnie again assaulted him until there were severe injuries. WHY IS NO TEACHER TAKING THIS INTO ACCOUNT? Vinnie needs to learn to control his anger, and peers should be teaching him to do so.
5. Drugs and alcohol. Everyone is taking drugs and alcohol all the time. To someone young who has never been introduced to vices may be misled into thinking that vices are good for the body. In no point of the book were there trigger warnings or education about vices.
6. Weird kinks. I am so pissed off by the number of events relating to piss! Why are the jocks pissing into the ocean and splashing each other with the same water? It is unhygienic and not erotic at all. People deliberately smell piss-filled clothing. People are also using fruits as sex toys and going in depth of how they use them. I CANNOT.
7. Bullying. The seniors of the football team are abusing their seniority on the juniors and sophomores. IS THERE NO PROPER ADULT SUPERVISION IN THE CAMP?
8. Sexual harassment. At one point, Vuch wanted a junior to suck his d*ck. The fact that they junior started crying shows how you can traumatise a person without consent. DO NOT FORCE YOURSELF ON OTHERS!
9. Fatphobia. One character literally called his ex-girlfriend a “fat-ass” numerous times, because of her body size. He even said he do not want to have s*x with her because he cannot “fantasise that much”. PEOPLE NEED TO START EMBRACING ALL BODY SHAPES! There is no rule for being “attractive” in the eyes of a person. Stop discriminating and bringing people down for loving who they are (that includes race, sexuality, gender, sex, and many others).
Was this an erotic book? Nah, the majority I was screaming in my head because I am irritated and disgusted. There are multiple occasions when I wanted the narrator/author to just keep quiet. There are just so many triggering content warnings.
The book is short with 216 pages, it would have faired much better by focusing on the introduction and conclusion. There is no need for problematic side characters to bring conflict.
The only saving grace is the borderline acceptable ending. I was so ready to dump this book (audiobook) into the piss-filled ocean😤.
☆1 Star☆
It follows the two main characters Vinnie and Vuch, football (rugby) players navigating their sexuality. I would like to say this book is NOT for the faint-hearted.
I felt physical pain hearing this book. My head was always going haywire because of the things happening. Not because it was exciting, but because so many things were problematic. There are so many I am going to list them out and my reasoning behind it (comment your differing thoughts on these issues if you like to).
1. Obsession with private parts. Yes, why? I got no idea. I cannot find a single chapter without talking about the sensitive parts of the body. How does tugging on pubic hair turn anyone on? I get that they wear protection during games, but I do not need the whole description of it.
2. Loyalty. There is one point of the book where (I think) Vinnie complains about his girlfriend leaving him, because he had almost sexually penetrated her underage sister. If this happened to anyone I care about in my life, you bet I will send their ass to jail! Can I just say something? Why are men always saying that it is the women’s seduction leading to them not controlling their sexual urges. KEEP YOUR EYES AND HANDS TO YOURSELF! NO ONE SHOULD BE ASSAULTING ON A MINOR!
3. Racism. In the camp, a separate bunker was assigned to “the black group” because of their darker skin tone. WAIT WHAT? I know racism is more prevalent then, but does that not ring any alarms in any characters’ heads? Why should someone be excluded because of their skin colour? THE FACT THAT THE SCHOOL MANAGEMENT ALLOWED THAT, SHAME ON YOU. DO BETTER!
4. Anger management. How is the Vinnie so temperamental? At one point he tried killing someone because that person badmouthed him. Vinnie again assaulted him until there were severe injuries. WHY IS NO TEACHER TAKING THIS INTO ACCOUNT? Vinnie needs to learn to control his anger, and peers should be teaching him to do so.
5. Drugs and alcohol. Everyone is taking drugs and alcohol all the time. To someone young who has never been introduced to vices may be misled into thinking that vices are good for the body. In no point of the book were there trigger warnings or education about vices.
6. Weird kinks. I am so pissed off by the number of events relating to piss! Why are the jocks pissing into the ocean and splashing each other with the same water? It is unhygienic and not erotic at all. People deliberately smell piss-filled clothing. People are also using fruits as sex toys and going in depth of how they use them. I CANNOT.
7. Bullying. The seniors of the football team are abusing their seniority on the juniors and sophomores. IS THERE NO PROPER ADULT SUPERVISION IN THE CAMP?
8. Sexual harassment. At one point, Vuch wanted a junior to suck his d*ck. The fact that they junior started crying shows how you can traumatise a person without consent. DO NOT FORCE YOURSELF ON OTHERS!
9. Fatphobia. One character literally called his ex-girlfriend a “fat-ass” numerous times, because of her body size. He even said he do not want to have s*x with her because he cannot “fantasise that much”. PEOPLE NEED TO START EMBRACING ALL BODY SHAPES! There is no rule for being “attractive” in the eyes of a person. Stop discriminating and bringing people down for loving who they are (that includes race, sexuality, gender, sex, and many others).
Was this an erotic book? Nah, the majority I was screaming in my head because I am irritated and disgusted. There are multiple occasions when I wanted the narrator/author to just keep quiet. There are just so many triggering content warnings.
The book is short with 216 pages, it would have faired much better by focusing on the introduction and conclusion. There is no need for problematic side characters to bring conflict.
The only saving grace is the borderline acceptable ending. I was so ready to dump this book (audiobook) into the piss-filled ocean😤.
☆1 Star☆
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, and Drug use