tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538519583031442151.post4926367238761118315..comments2023-05-31T07:38:46.210-07:00Comments on It's All About Me: My Squick Is Not Your SquickBeckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10142090423235200822noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538519583031442151.post-23083146715658834822011-04-18T20:35:07.132-07:002011-04-18T20:35:07.132-07:00Interesting. I'll have to see if I can get a ...Interesting. I'll have to see if I can get a hold of a copy of Tim. As a side note, McCullough also wrote The Ladies of Missalonghi, which is a total rip-off of one of my favorite books ever-- The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery.Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10142090423235200822noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538519583031442151.post-68829878170454663712011-04-18T19:59:54.668-07:002011-04-18T19:59:54.668-07:00This makes me think of two things. An example of a...This makes me think of two things. <br><br>An example of a romance between someone mentally challenged, and someone not, that was sensitively handled, is Colleen McCullough's Tim. It's very sweet. You could make that a gay romance and it would still be sweet. (Though it wouldn't work cause the family would never support it. But you get my drift.)<br><br>The Brier character also sounds a lot like the character of Cyril in the show Oz, except that he wasn't gay. Highly functioning, with a brother, sexually abused, childlike with capacity for great temper. Played by a very hot actor. So I can kind of see an author wanting to take a character like that and see if they can make a good romance out of it, gay or otherwise (and Oz also had a very hot gay romance in it). So I guess... I could see how this book might come about.<br><br>But it sounds like the ick-factor fail should lie at the feet of the author, not you. I would absolutely need to be shown the two of them falling in love--I'd have to understand how this came about, to feel comfortable. She took on a lot of sensitive issues for one book!London Mabelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04344685160375710889noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538519583031442151.post-53074658357479686262011-04-17T22:15:27.623-07:002011-04-17T22:15:27.623-07:00Well, I didn't go into this planning to take o...Well, I didn't go into this planning to take one for the team, LOL! I had heard that Lynne was a seriously under-read and underrated m/m writer, so I decided to check her out. There was nothing in the blurb I read to suggest that Brier had this issue. So it was a total surprise to me. I think maybe if I'd known what I was getting into I would have been prepared and maybe less squicked out. But more likely I think I just wouldn't have bought the book in the first place.<br><br>I've now read the second and third book in this series also (they're short), and I think this author just isn't for me. Book two raised some similar issues for me, with one of the heroes having serious abuse (I mean BAD) in his immediate past. (And by "immediate past" I mean like three weeks ago.) <br><br>The relationship went from zero to "I love you" over the course of a long weekend. The younger, abused hero hadn't experienced a brain injury like Brier did, but he was traumatized, under active threat by a real sick puppy, and had never witnessed or been part of any healthy, loving relationship. And this character has a history of suicide attempts in his teens, which isn't that far back when you consider that he's in his mid-twenties now. I know that heightened emotions are a staple of romantic suspense, but everything that Jared had been put through made the rush to love and commitment suspicious and unlikely.<br><br>The third book featured two heroes who were physically and emotionally healthy for the most part. Or, you know, as healthy as any of us are. This one was a much more satisfying read, although still too short.<br><br>I've got one more of Ms Lynne's books in the TBR file. I'll probably read that one but no more by the author.Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10142090423235200822noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538519583031442151.post-77492219773566102922011-04-17T20:30:34.052-07:002011-04-17T20:30:34.052-07:00I am, sometimes yes, I admit it, an asshat (of sor...I am, sometimes yes, I admit it, an asshat (of sorts) sorry. I judge. In this case, I don't think that you are being one at all though. I'm with you here, all for everyone and anyone being portrayed in fiction, it needs to be done. This was just not done well, it sounds like. Especially, as you say, this is only Brier's second relationship, and the first one doesn't actually count. Ick. You have done us a service by going where many of us could/would not.<br><br>You are brave and open-minded, no asshattery in evidence on your part.<br>Julieurthalun.comhttp://urthalun.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538519583031442151.post-9617396098052388092011-04-17T18:00:39.963-07:002011-04-17T18:00:39.963-07:00No, I don't think you're guilty of asshatt...No, I don't think you're guilty of asshattery here. I can't really say for certain, because I haven't read it, but I think I'd probably have the same reaction.Delia Moranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01957513773943040065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538519583031442151.post-49281107748999281302011-04-17T15:15:45.628-07:002011-04-17T15:15:45.628-07:00I think I'll pass on this one.Any reference to...I think I'll pass on this one.<br><br>Any reference to child abuse and particularly the type listed in this book squicks me out to no end. I would freak out/have nightmares/etc.<br><br>While I applaud the choice to make Brier a romantic lead, I think it sounds like the relationship wasn't drawn deftly wnough to rule out exploitation. Maybe it's a problem of execution in this delicate subject?<br><br>idk but it does NOT sound like anything I could read comfortably.<br><br>It actually proves you're a kind and compassionate person to be troubled by the idea that Brier is being taken advantage of!lora96http://www.blogger.com/profile/08171062741089674769noreply@blogger.com