Boy Erased: A Memoir of Identity, Family and Faith – Book Review

Published Date: June 14, 2018

Publishing Co.: William Collins

Pages: 352

Goodreads Synopsis.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Gay conversion therapy definition: the pseudo-scientific practice of trying to change an individual’s sexual orientation from homosexual or bisexual to heterosexual using psychological or spiritual interventions.

A memoir by someone who had experienced such an “intervention” immediately had my attention. I knew this therapy, and I used that term very loosely, was bat shit crazy stuff so I was ready to learn more.

I feel like a monster admitting that I had a hard time pulling my way through this. There were points in the beginning and the ending that I just couldn’t stop reading, but the middle really slowed down the flow of the narration. Sometimes, the back and forth between past and present at LIA felt drawn out. A quagmire in the middle of a perilous trek.

Why does that make me feel like a monster? I feel bad for becoming bored by someone else’s suffering. Not so much on a personal level, just on pacing in the novel. There is no mistaking the author’s pain during this part of his life and he is a relate able person. Because most importantly, this is a person, a human-fuckng-being, that other people are trying their best to break in order for them to live the life they think God wants for them. Seems pretty arrogant to think you know what God, should you believe in him, wants of people or to think you have the say in the matter of anyone else’s lives.

This story is profoundly important. It keeps the lime light on the fact that there is still much fighting to be done for the LGBTQ community.

Love is love.

American Hippo – Book Review

Published Date: May 22, 2018

Publishing Co.: Tor

Pages: 256

Goodreads Synopsis.

Rating: 5 out 5 stars

I received this copy from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

River of Teeth

Imagine 1800s America, where instead of horses, cowboys and outlaws rode hippos. Oh yes, sweet gentle fiends, hippopotami. The most dangerous creature in Africa is intentionally brought to the United States as an alternative meat source during a meat shortage. But Americans always take things one step further, and now they’re also used as mounts. Of course, someone always has to fuck something up and there manages to be a massive hippo escape from a ranch. Now there are feral hippos that rule the rivers and marshes. Blood thirty, angry hippos.

In this novella we are introduced to a host of outlaws, hired for a high paid, high danger job. To rid a dam of the feral hippos. Doing so will release the dangerous feral hippos into the South, spreading their death and destruction even further. Jobs never go as planned, someone always wants the death dealing hippos to stay right where they are.

Taste of Marrow

The surviving characters from the first novella continue their adventures in this one. Adelia has given birth after kidnapping Hero. Houndstooth is obsessively searching for Hero, not quite convinced that they’re even alive. Archie is waiting for her handsome U.S. Marshal to show up after not hearing from him at their arranged rendezvous spot.

Adelia’s newborn is stolen during a surprise attack while her and Hero are traveling. She’s being forced to meet with a mysterious person who arranged her child’s kidnapping, to see what they intend for her and the child. Probably not the smartest idea for the mystery person, Adelia is an infamous assassin. Hero is helping her despite the fact that she stabbed them, and they’re a poison and explosives expert. Archie is a notorious pick pocket and scam artist, and Houndstooth is your general bad ass and they’re hot on Adelia and Hero’s trail.

There are a couple short stories at the end that cover Archie meeting her U.S. Marshal for the first time and how Houndstooth’s hippo Ruby got her gold-plated tusks.

I loved everything about these novellas. The characters, the world-building, the plot lines. You name it, it kicked all the ass. Most importantly, major kudos to the author for including a non-binary person. It was a perspective to get used to but only because we are a gender obsessed world. It was further proof that content of character is far more important that one’s gender.

Conspiracy of Ravens – Book Review

Published Date: October 11, 2016

Publishing Co.: Orbit

Pages: 359

Synopsis link to Goodreads.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Review of the first book in the series: Wake of Vultures – Book Review.

Rhett Walker is the Shadow. What that means is still a bit of a mystery to him. What he does know is that he follows his gut feeling into the monster den and kills what needs killin’. This time around Rhett and his friends are begged to take care of a railroad boss that cuts off pieces of his monster workers to fuel building the railroad. A monster that scares and controls other monsters makes quite the villain.

The most important part of this story really isn’t the plot line even though that’s enjoyable. It’s more the journey of self discovery of the main character Rhett, who was previously Nettie Lonesome. You see, Rhett is not only half black, half Native American, he’s also transgender in an era/world where such a thing is not heard of. I cannot give the author Lila Bowen enough credit in how well they portray what that life looks like from the inside.

This is both the tale of the struggle against hate of various forms, and also the love and acceptance of the person. The compassion of Rhett’s friends is so important and moving. I recommend that if you have someone in your life that is LGBTQ you gift them this book series. Let it share hope in their darkest days when the world is being a right evil place. Hell, gift it to everyone. Everyone could use more compassion in their life. Nettie/Rhett is a very likable character, and maybe that relation may help someone who’s close-minded, open up a little.