J.B. Taylor The Script

**spoiler alert** The writing is tremendous. The atmosphere is claustrophobic and fully realized. I did not root for the main character, merely thought him mentally ill and therefore a sympathetic character. But as the story progressed I found myself caring less and less for him and more about those around him. His sister, mother, and the eighteen year old girl he becomes smitten with. Especially her as she's taken with him and finds herself in his near-constant orbit. I worried tremendously for her, and the sister and mother. The author should have introduced the main characters published article, his piece of theory on how the great should have specials rights and privileges above lesser citizens. Even the right to spill blood, lots of it for the greater good, for his/her greater good even. It not being introduced made me think he was too ill to have done it. That eventually led me to believe it was all in his head. If it was a slight of hand, it was a rough but admittedly effective one. Every character was a good one. Even if they were despicable, they were superbly written. My biggest problem was the ending. Not because the character took to the bible. That I understood. He realized he was in love and wanted close to him the thing she once owned. It's a means to a direct connection. A connection to her. It was the tease of possibilities to come. Things that could happen, may happen. But you never see it. The story ends with his love sick again but happy, and him clutching the closest connection he has to her. After all that I wanted more. It wasn't a good enough ending. And for that I rated it 3 stars.

Minor spoilers throughout. The story started out kinda slow - well-written, but slow. Then it picks up once Marty Coslaw is introduced. How about that name? Everytime I read it I was reminded of the food coleslaw. Anywho, the story needed him and his family and once it had it it was off and running. I really enjoyed the wife beater getting his just dues. And the way he gets it - magnifico! Really chose a poor way to get ahead in the world. Got ahead of himself. Was a little too head strong. Okay, I'll stop now. Then ending was awesome, even though the setup was ridiculous. But it's a story about a werewolf so suspension of disbelief is required. If you're a werewolf reading this and I completely dismissed you - seek professional care. You got issues, Stan. Anywhoo the best uncle of the year came through and because of that the werewolf was vanquished. I read the illustrated version, which I do not recommend as just by simply turning the page you'll have important bits of the story spoiled for you. Which always sucks. Other than that, I liked it.

Will contain some spoilers. This is an excellent premise for a story, superb. But right out of the gate it is immediately unbelievable. I understand and support the underlying message here. Entirely and completely. But the setup was what was unbelievable. It was exceptionally unrealistic. The bible belt would never stretch as far as it does in this story. There are a billion atheists in the world, and more added to the figure every year. The bible belt would never expand to an 'Iron Maiden' as its called in the book. I get that it's fiction. But the authors intent was to create a message, to get people talking. The message is fine. But it's how she chose to tell the story which ruined it for me. I'm disappointed 'cause I enjoyed the premise, and believe it's something that could happen, but not in the way it happens in this story. We do have a supreme court, and that's pretty much made to seem vulnerable. Also, I really don't think every man - even some republican men - would be down for making such a thing happen. There would be allies on both sides. A war if you will. The set up is too wild. People too limp and too wiling to roll over. I don't want people to think I disliked it 'cause I'm a man. That's not it at all. I just couldn't be pulled in with how ridiculously it all started. Maybe if it were far-fetched here and there throughout the book, and not a sledgehammer of stupid in the first nineteen pages, I might have been able to fight off my dislike and finish it.

This book was gripping. It was powerful and moving, and showed the difficulties of growing up gay in a world so quick to condemn, persecute, judge. Kate Fagan is an amazingly strong woman to have gone through the things she did and still be so successful. She is a true inspiration. I recommend this book not only to those struggling to come out of the closet, but to those who believe in “Hate the sin, not the sinner.” I believe both will find great knowledge in this story. To those struggling to come out of the closet, you’ll feel stronger, braver, like you matter (which you do). Also- and this for the ‘hate the sin not the sinners’- you’ll finish this story and find that you’ve been so blind to the obviousness of the truth; that there is nothing, at all, wrong with being gay.

Tautly written. The story is emotional and gripping. Horrifying and unrelenting. Both relateable and mind-boggling. Frustrating for all the right reasons. The pace never let up, Every character - big and small- were thoroughly developed and - those good and bad - were great additions to the story. The narrator took a chapter or two to vibe with, but ended up doing justice to the story. I will physically read it in the future as it's a story you shouldn't experience only once, but also because even though the narrator was good, there are narrators better suited for this story.

The story nor the characters are original. But it still managed to be fun. Fun because a wise-cracking, doesn't-know-when-to-shut-up character really never gets old. I dislike the trend of having GIRL in titles when the story is centered around a woman. She's a grown ass person, not a child. That always annoys me, even with stories I like. It's a trend that needs to go. I liked this story and its characters. Though bisexuality used to tantalize rather than genuinely propel the plot was a bit much. All and all, it was a fun bit of escapism.

Ripley is talented, but the story and how it progressed within the first ten percent bored me to tears. Perhaps I'll like something else he's written. I'll give him another go. But with this story, the interesting bits were glossed over or teased. That isn't something I like in a story. It all seemed to be going absolutely nowhere right from the start. For me at least.

Physically reading-wise I'm going to dnf. Maybe it'll be better if I listen to it. But I don't know. It was from interesting to boring in just 13%. I liked Helena discussing what time really is, but that's about it. Crucial plot points seemed glossed over, like the loss of a kid, the mothers condition, building the chair, even life on that oil rig seemed paraphrased and it was talked about the most. I couldn't finish the book. It was, for me, too badly written.

Amusing, Informative and Honest Some bits - very very few - seemed a little repetitive. But overall it was a really damn good first book. I laughed and smiled and teared-up and cringed and gasped. There were shocking revaluations that made me respect both women more so than I already did. The lists, Rose's sarcasm and Rosie's eloquence in her reading were all delightful cherries on top of one happily gay cake. I adore these two and root for them every single day. I wish them more and more success.