Books I Loathed discussion

Most people I know who have read this book seem to have given it 4 or 5 stars. I honestly don't understand why.

I found the love story between the main characters to be trite, and the characterisation in general was very poor. I didn't empathise with either of the main characters whatsoever.

The best aspect of this book were the historical flashbacks, yet the author failed to make an effective connection between the past flashbacks and modern-day story...

Anyone else agree?

Noooooooooooooooo!

I adored this book like I hadn't a book of it's ilk in a while.

I found the characters realistic and the hospital/rehabilitation experience spot on.

I didn't loathe it, but I agree with you, Jess, and can't quite understand what readers found so convincing about it. I thought it was a clumsily over-written book that needed, at the very least, substantial editing. There isn't a cliché it doesn't rework, and the characterisation, particularly of the narrator, is paper-thin and bordering on the ludicrous.

Clearly we're in a minority, Jess.

The main character used to be a pornstar who loses his penis due to his burns injuries.

OH. COME. ON. GIVE. ME. A. BREAK. It cannot get more cliche and corny than that!

And the whole gargoyle metaphor! Ok I get it- the main character's appearance is similar to that of a gargoyle and Marianne Engel's calling is to 'free' gargoyles from stone. Yes, yes and she freed the main character from his 'prison' as well.

I get it already!

Maybe try delivering a more sophisticated and subtle messages next time, Mr Author?

Jess wrote: "The main character used to be a pornstar who loses his penis due to his burns injuries."

Other than the soap opera Passions, who else used that premise? Because I'll never tire of it.

I don't know who else used the premise and frankly, I hope Passions is the only one. I just think that metaphor was really lame. Sorry if you don't agree

I don't know if Passions is the only one but I'm sure they'll be the only one to reattach the penis on backwards.

Are you KIDDING ME? hahaha that just made my day.

I have heard of that show and how absurd some of its plot lines are, but that one is by far the best I've heard!

Here is what makes it better!

The doctor who did it was the dude's wife. She was drunk at the time and their son (who is a hermaphrodite) convinced her that was the right way.

That same son was pregnant with his father's child because he dressed up like a woman and dated his father after everyone had thought he had died. The mom knew all this, that's why she became an alchoholic.

BEST. SHOW. EVER.

WOW. That is disgusting!!!

I know, right?

I miss that show so much...