Jim GrimsleyReseñas

This book is so unlike anything I've read before that after finishing it I really had to wait twenty four hours before writing my review. It tells the story of a teenage boy who seeks to find respite from his abusive family life in a relationship with a boy who lives next door. The book unselfconsciously passes through at least three genres in the process, meaning that the reader can never quite settle. It's not a challenging read, however, for two reasons. First, Jim Grimsley's prose is beautifully efficient; for pages on end he doesn't waste a word. Second, the characters, while also sparsely drawn, are human and relatable. As a reader I couldn't help but desperately want the best for the protagonist, Nathan, and hope that Roy could provide his redemption.

I'd highly recommend this unique little book and I'll be chasing up the rest of Jim Grimsley's work.

3 3/4 stars

Now this is a romance well worth reading. It took a bit to get into the style of the author, but once I did, the story flowed wonderfully and I began to get into Ford and Dan as a couple.

I think a quote from the book will sum up my thoughts on this book

Yet, they slept peacefully, side by side, and the body of one became adjusted to the rhythm of the other, and the breathing of one slowed the breathing of the other, and they dream in tandem and shared fragments of each other's dreams, and they grew more like each other day by day, not in personality but in the fissures of the brain, because, seeing the same things every day, day after day, they laid down crevices in themselves that were the same shape, that were the same events written into memory, and this was enough ... (pg.s 207-208)

It's a slow romance, full of doubts and discomfort on both sides. Ford isn't sure of his footing in this new world, does not even like to have the word "gay" used to describe him, yet, he knows deep down that he's the happiest he's ever been with Dan. In the face of his parents' doubts and anger at his going against the family tradition of marrying when told to, he finds he has to center himself and work his way to a point that he can face them and say "this is my life".

Dan, too, has his problems. He's a hemophiliac and it HIV positive, a combination which, at first, causes Ford some qualms. A childhood of poverty and hardship has left Dan with hard ideas about how much money he spends and he's fiercely independent. Yet, when the time comes, Ford proves to be just what Dan needs, to be able to help him with his illness and take care of him when Dan is too impaired to deal with things on his own.

Lovely romance.

Theme song for this book: More Than Words by Extreme.

Beautifully written chronicle of abuse. Strange and dreamlike but also horrifying.

This is surprisingly good book. I was expecting something a bit fluffier, and instead found a very well written story. The plot is simple, a gate has formed between two worlds, one running on technology, the other on magic. And the world of technology sees the open spaces, and the backwards ways of the world of magic.

Jedda is a linguist, providing her services to merchants who trade across the gate. When she is asked to be the linguist with a delegation to see Malin, a mysterious leader of this world.

The plot of the book seems simple, but its incredibly nuanced. Between Jedda getting a taste of this world that is usually hidden from her people, to the culture of this world. This book is second in a serious, but you can read it without the first book. However, things aren't explained. Why something works isn't given, but enough detail is given so that a reader can pick up on whats happening.

The other thing is that this book is beautifully written. It has a fairy tale feel to it, while being grounded in a reality. The mystical is there, but as a background.

Highly recommended.

The first half of this boom was quite remarkable. It’s a simple and stunning portrait of a young man trying to escape abuse at home.

The second half left me feeling confused and disappointed. There is a violent assault in the second half ... it’s unclear whether it’s real or dreamed or even who the perpetrator is. I felt as though the author was trying to hard to make the final pages of the book obscure.

Challenging subject matter to be sure.

I just wish the ending had been a little more revealing.

This is not a mystery but a wonderful little book of real people and real families. A successful pediatric surgeon and his lover discover each other and their ties to their very different, but very similar families. It's a marvelous afternoon read and I guarantee you that you will rediscover members of your own family in the character set. This is a wonderful treat of a story.

TRIGGER WARNING FOR SEXUAL ABUSE

This is a story about Nathan, a boy who’s home life is quite less than ideal, and who’s in love with his next door neighbor. This story is also about Roy, who’s struggling with his desires and what others think of him. Those are the basics but there’s so much more to it than that.

Jim Grimsley writes as though you are standing next to the Nathan the entire time, not hovering far above as with some third person writing. You’re not Nathan, but you’re right by his side the whole time, hearing his thoughts and wondering his wonders without being him.

This book was quite short, could be read in one sitting which maybe I should have done because toward the middle/end of the book it seemed to take on a sort of different feel than the beginning of the book. There is a point when the boys explore a “haunted house” and this part of the book almost seemed out of place to me for some reason, maybe it was the pacing but this is pretty much my only dislike of this book.

The characters were all written as though you were there with them, so even though you don’t learn a lot about every character throughout hundreds of pages of exposure, you feel as though you know them as though you’ve been with them for hours in person. You know how they walk, how they talk, their tendencies when it comes to talking to their family or peers. This is one thing that I think Jim Grimsley did so well, even though the book is under 200 pages you somehow just know the characters.

———SPOILERS BELOW———

The main character of the story is Nathan, followed very closely by Roy. We get to see these two get to know each other and fall for each other in a very small, religious town. We get the impression early on that Nathan’s father is a shady individual, but it isn’t until a bit later that he’s abusing Nathan in some way. This effects Nathan even when away from his father when it comes to this budding relationship with Roy. This abuse paired with his being a young boy causes him to not really know how to be in a relationship. His father is shown to be a churchgoer who on every day but Sunday is drunk to the point of mental absence. Nathan’s mother is floating in space, a husk of what she most likely once was, due to her husband’s actions toward her son, and his ongoing drinking issues and how it affects their lives. They’ve also been said to move around a lot, so his father’s actions clearly have an effect on the communities they’re involved with as well.

Roy’s family is a good one on the decline due to illness, his family also attends church regularly and he has a girlfriend there. He catches feelings for Nathan quickly but is sometimes erratic due to his fear of being gay. Most likely in this time and place it is completely shunned upon, which shows because Roy is always asking Nathan to not mention their times together, and gets afraid when Nathan shows more knowledge and affection than himself.

We also meet a couple of Roy’s friends and Roy introduces Nathan to their school group. Burke is the more notable character of these two friends because he clearly has some issues of his own. Nathan nor Randy (Roy’s other friend) seem to get along with Burke at all, and for good reason. At one point Burke bullies Nathan, who canning swim, but dangling him
up high above a lake where the boys are swimming, and threatens to drop him. This like this are not uncommon, and as time goes on Burke becomes more and more watchful of Nathan and of his interactions, as subtle as they may be, with Roy.

Through this Nathan and Roy are having sexual interactions, but Roy is the only one that’s really given pleasure. Nathan doesn’t seem to care, though at one point he does wonders if he does mind that Roy doesn’t do the same for him.

Throughout the book the situation with Nathan and his father escalates, to the point where Nathan has to leave home and hide in other areas on the property for days at a time. This goes on for awhile, he goes to school, stays in the woods, goes to school, and Roy eventually allows him to stay in his family’s barn. Throughout this time Nathan and Roy become closer and eventually the two and Roy’s friends decide to go camping.

On this trip, Nathan and Roy begin to be less careful about their interactions and it slowly becomes apparent to Burke that something might be going on between the two of them, and there is a sort of dominance factor into play as well. This is shown by it being mentioned time and time again where Burke will stare at Nathan almost constantly, and the fact that Burke keeps trying to lead the group when Roy appears to be the more knowledgeable of the two.

The group makes their way to a house that Roy knows of that is haunted. They first see a burial ground for slaves, the boys are all too afraid to step onto it except for Nathan, who steps forward seemingly unafraid, I assume this is because he knows what real fear really is. The others stand gaping at him. They move on and explore the actual house. They end up meeting a ghost of sorts, whether this is a legitimate ghost, fear and reaction from being in an old and broken down house, or a ghost of Nathan’s own (his father? Everyone’s disapproval?). This ghost causes everyone to be on edge and finally brings Burke and Roy to fight, they’ve (Burke mostly) has been playing this dominance card for pages upon pages at this point and finally they go at it. They see the ghost again and the boys scatter, Burke and Randy running off one direction, and Roy and Nathan to another. After a moment of being alone, Nathan sees the ghost again. This “thing” that reminds him of his father, standing in the doorway. He’s frightened and uncomfortable and Roy wishes him to turn away from whatever it is, he wants to be with Nathan. Nathan is far too unsettled by the thing watching them from the doorway however, and declines Roy’s advances when Roy surprises him by giving him oral sex. During this scene Burke and Randy walk in on them. Burke is seemingly disgusted and Roy immediately stops and they have an altercation. Burke and Randy run off, and shortly after Roy does as well (Due to extreme fear and embarrassment. Not that he wasn’t happy about being with Nathan.) Leaving Nathan alone.

It’s at this point things escalate even more. Some time passes before a “thing” creeps back into the room with Nathan, except this thing is real as it attack’s him, blindfolds him, and taunts him. It’s revealed that it’s Burke, and what follows is a graphic scene where he proceeds to rape him and beat him to the point of death. Burke leaves him bleeding on the floor and it appears as though Nathan is dead. Roy and Randy find him later, and we are left with Nathan who seems to be dead, we see a scene of what seems to be him being examined by his father, and Roy. We hear his contemplations about each of them. Then we see him backtracking, we relive what happened between him and Burke, and follow Nathan as he walks through the house, through the woods where the boys were camping. We follow him back to the house and eventually find Roy. Nathan and Roy talk and decide to run off together.

———CONCLUSION——-

All in all this book left me shattered. It’s a beautiful representation of how abuse and oppression can effect people, particularly young adults/children. The characters were all extremely realistic in their actions and thoughts and reactions. You felt like you knew them all and you felt for them all and you wanted the best for them. And halfway through the book, you think they’ve got it! And then it drops to such a low that you think it’s all over for them all. One boy dead, one boy a violent rapist and murderer, and one boy finding himself who may never continue due to what happened. The broken family of Nathan even more broken with his death. And just when you think it’s over, you see Nathan’s scene of being in the middle of life and death. Comparing abuse to love, and then making his way back to Nathan, or even just to reality and life itself.

I might be making more of this than it deserves, but it’s just such a good representation of the LGBTQ+ community, and how abuse effects people that I can’t help it.

The subject of this book, the interactions of a North Carolina family struggling with poverty, many children, alcoholism, verbal and physical abuse, infidelity, and disability (loss of an arm by the dad and hemophilia of two sons) are not topics that usually interest me. However, this author’s writing is so compelling. It just sings! What a delight it is to read this novel although the story is beyond sad. It’s utterly heartbreaking because it is extremely dark and terrifying in its reality.

It took everything I had not to jump into the pages of this book and say to the Mama, “Leave that bastard. I’ll take you to where you can find help and shelter for yourself and your children”. This is not my life, but it upset me so much because this fiction may be real life for someone else just bouncing around the pages of this novel.

The first half of this boom was quite remarkable. It’s a simple and stunning portrait of a young man trying to escape abuse at home.

The second half left me feeling confused and disappointed. There is a violent assault in the second half ... it’s unclear whether it’s real or dreamed or even who the perpetrator is. I felt as though the author was trying to hard to make the final pages of the book obscure.

Challenging subject matter to be sure.

I just wish the ending had been a little more revealing.

This was a solid high fantasy - a coming of age story of a young wizard, some of which was predictable and some that was unexpected. I found the war bits tedious at times, but enjoyed the rest. There was a tiny bit of foreshadowing for The Ordinary and it was nice to get Jessex's story.

I love the original treatment of a fantasy world connected to a far future "science fiction" world. I'm a little worried that it's given me spoilers for Kirith Kirin, but I'd like to read that one also. The protagonist is middle aged and mellow - character development often suffers compared to intense world building, but the setting is so intriguing, that didn't bother me too much.

This book left me wishing I could remember the Ordinary better, but first it horrified me with child abuse and mass killings. The world is fascinating, but just too violent and creepy to be much fun.

Ursula please write a book!

Ursula please write a book!

Interesting book, though a little twisted. I can relate to though having gone through a divorce and being unemployed.

Sheer horror and sadness.

The book begins like a normal scifi story--a group of diplomats, scientists and their linguist go on an expedition to meet the leader of the world they recently discovered. From there, it gets a bit awesome. Seriously, this story goes from solid tale to enthralling in one unexpected switcheroo. It rapidly becomes an incredible tale that spans thousands of years, told from several points of view. It reminded me a bit of Patricia McKinley's incredible "Riddle-Master of Hed" series, with a taste of Ursula K LeGuin. Overall, a fascinating look at the intersection between science and magic, with some novel characters. Watching Jedda and Malin slowly shift their stances over time was great fun, and I could barely contain my excitement and anticipation over their eventual meeting. I highly recommend this book.

Jedda is a linguist from a scientifically advanced people who value conformity and fear being noticed. Every citizen is linked and recorded via a "stat"; privacy is an illusion. To her mingled consternation and pleasure, she is selected to be part of a small diplomatic envoy through the mysterious Twill Gate to Irion. Irion is a technologically backward country where the common people believe in wizards and magic. Jedda and her superiors are astounded when a fleet of their best ships is easily destroyed by Irion's magic. The rest of the Hormlings go home, but Jedda stays behind to learn about this strange new world. She begins to learn magic, time-travels to the beginnings of Irion, and falls in love with a powerful sorceress.

Grimsley has a gift for names--they are musical, fantastical, yet easily remembered. He is not good with magic, however, and his dragging explanations of mediation and energy slow the second half of the book. I expected to like this novel, but there is no conflict or climax--deus ex machina *literally* saves the day every time. Even the Big Bad is defeated off-stage, without any trouble at all, while Jedda lies unconscious. It is frustratingly boring.

Despite my annoyance, there were a lot of details I liked about this book. Jedda really reads like a linguist; she's continually noticing language shifts or figuring out what the root of a word means. Her interest and skill carries the story of her uncovering of the truth about Irion. Grimsley describes sex and desire well--no ridiculous euphamisms, and the right combination of intellect and heat. And I loved that because Irion's stars were mutable and changed every night, the people tried to explain their world through intuition and magic instead of clockwork and science. Makes sense!

As an anti-racism activist, I am an avid reader of all books by white people who believe in sharing their awakenings and the actions they take to denounce their own prejudices. This one is even more intense because Jim Grimsley is a fine, fine writer who is also a hemophiliac and gay. He grew up in rural Eastern North Carolina and was one of the first students to attend an integrated high school in his community.

Jim believes that his disease, which prevented him from engaging in typical rough play and sports, separated him from the other white boys in his classes, as well causing his categorization as a "sissy". This enabled him to become more friendly with girls, who seemed to be less likely to become involved in fights with black kids in his small town (of course, the fact that whites and blacks lived completely separate lives helped, too - churches, stores, restaurants - were not integrated until 1968) and a bit less racist.

Grimsley's vivid descriptions of his schooling, his life of poverty due to his father's alcoholism, and his very slow lessons learned about the similarities between him and the black children in his classes are remarkable and will throw most readers back into their own daily school lives.

In Jim's high school, the tracking of black students into less academically rigorous classes was mitigated somewhat since many of his white classmates had been removed from the public schools to avoid integration, and attended private "academies", mostly run by white churches. As he made his way through, times changed and "hippies" of both colors hung out together in the smoking area and even dated secretly.

This is a remarkable tale told with amazing awareness of the complete influence parents and the churches had over the children's blossoming minds - and how simple it was to create a new generation of racists. These are the same people who today "don't see color" "don't care if you're green, pink, or purple" and want you to "stop making everything about race". But not Jim. As he said, he did take a far and admirable journey to shed much of the racist skin of his childhood. A must read for anyone trying to figure out what the hell is going on in this country, and why it's so slow to change.

Jim Grimsley gives an autobiographical account of his experience as an 11-year-old white boy during desegregation. In 1966, his school became racially integrated. He lived in a small town in North Carolina.
He talks about his prejudices and his actions that reflected those beliefs.
I feel he was courageous to write this book.

When I originally looked up the book, I found that it was written by a white man; so, in a way, I was confused. I read the story and began to feel a sense of personal connection. I grew up in a society where white people were dominant in a sense. This book has some biased point of views but was good overall. It showed the growing up of a white man who had rasism all around him. All around, it was a good book and I recommend reading it.

In "How I Shed My Skin" Jim Grimsley looks back at his growing up as both a gay man and as a white man going to an intergrated school for the first time. Not only does he talk honestly and deeply about where we as a country have been but also how far we still have to go.

This is one of my favorite books of all time. I've read it 5-6 times and find something interesting about the characters with each reading. Two very different individuals learn to love one another.....and to deal with their families. I highly recommend.

A very slashy male-male fantasy romance. In between the hurt-comfort and the romance is a huge amount of information on how the magical system in this world works. I could see influences from Darkover, but Bradley was so steeped in mythology that maybe they were just drawing on similar sources. But I think fans of Darkover might like this book. It's not my kind of book, so take my rating with a grain of salt.

This book bills itself as a stand alone novel, but I got about halfway through and found I couldn't go on without reading Kirith Kirin. I really wanted to like this book because I think that the author's Hormling short story "120 Hours of Sodom" was a brilliant piece of work, but The Ordinary after a really slow start and a long pause to read Kirith Kirin, seemed very rushed and unsatisfying at the end.

Set in pre-Katrina New Orleans, this is the coming out story of a boy from Alabama. He encounters a lot of the seamier side of NO and the gay community, as well as the things that make both NO and its gay community such a special place.