I knew the subject matter but I had lead myself to believe this was going to be written in the style of a psychological thriller or crime novel, but so far I would describe what I’m reading as a straight up romance between a child and a grown man.
Obviously there’s a huge amount of dramatic irony at play, and I’m not here to suggest whether it’s a “good book” or not, but so far I haven’t taken much away from this story besides feeling gross. Does the tone shift at all? Or is this going to be another 300 pages of this girl’s inner monologue of her relationship with this guy?
by TheBoredMan
8 Comments
It’s not a thriller or a crime novel. It’s supposed to be Lolita from the girl’s perspective. So yes, the relationship is pretty much the whole focus.
It’s not gonna get less gross, unfortunately. But it’s a whole story with a beginning, middle, and end.
I’m sorry for bluntness, but if course it’s not a straightforward romance (?) between a pupil and a grown man.
The whole point of the book is that she’s being so expertly groomed, that – being adolescent – she THINKS it is a romance. The exact point of grooming.
No, it feels gross and uncomfortable throughout. Definitely not a thriller, but I enjoyed it still.
It’s been a minute since I read it but I think it stays pretty consistent in tone.
Her own understanding of things shifts and changes, but it never takes on a thriller-y vibe, it’s always sort of “literary fiction” in genre.
A lot of the book is like that. It’s definitely more literary than thriller, so I would reconsider what you want out of this book.
For something more on the thriller/psychological side that’s adjacent to the subject matter, I’d recommend “They Never Learn” by Layne Fargo
It’s certainly not a thriller and I don’t think it’s ever been marketed that way. It’s all inner monologue as the character first experiences the grooming, lives through the fallout and then struggles to come to terms with it in adulthood.
It is a difficult read cover to cover. You get her inner thoughts from the grooming, through the abuse, and after she outgrows his preferences. I took several breaks but I’m glad I finished it.
This book seems like a direct inspiration (or plagiarism fodder) for Frieda McFadden’s “The Teacher.”