Book Title: Inexcusable by Chris Lynch
Topic: Rape
Thoughts: This book reminds me of a Robert Comier novel, in which the narrator is not completely trustworthy. The first chapter begins with Gigi attacking Keir trying to get him to admit what he did to her. She keeps telling him she said "No," but he keeps repeating that she didn't. I thought they were in a high school hallway, but by the end of the novel, I realize Gigi and Keir are in a room alone together.
The novel then flashes back to Keir describing his "loving family" and how he became popular at school through an accident on the football field. Keir makes himself seem like he is the "perfect" teenager who everybody loves. He always does what he is told on and off the field.
Like Poe's Cask of Amontialldo, is Keir trying to convince us the readers that he is a good guy, even though he finds out from his sisters and Gigi that he really isn't a good guy. Reading Keir's side of the story is like listening to a person who only tells part of the story to not get into trouble. All of us are guilty of omitting parts of the story to not be guilty. I know I like wearing my rose-colored glasses to live in my perfect world, but in reality I know neither myself, my family, my students, nor my life is perfect.
At times I had to go back and re-read previous chapters to figure out which time span Keir is referring to: before or after the incident. This would be interesting to read a companion piece from Gigi's point of view of what the last few months of high school and graduation was like with Keir.
Just like Keir thinks of excuses or reasons why we should believe him, I can think of excuses not to read this one again.
The novel then flashes back to Keir describing his "loving family" and how he became popular at school through an accident on the football field. Keir makes himself seem like he is the "perfect" teenager who everybody loves. He always does what he is told on and off the field.
Like Poe's Cask of Amontialldo, is Keir trying to convince us the readers that he is a good guy, even though he finds out from his sisters and Gigi that he really isn't a good guy. Reading Keir's side of the story is like listening to a person who only tells part of the story to not get into trouble. All of us are guilty of omitting parts of the story to not be guilty. I know I like wearing my rose-colored glasses to live in my perfect world, but in reality I know neither myself, my family, my students, nor my life is perfect.
At times I had to go back and re-read previous chapters to figure out which time span Keir is referring to: before or after the incident. This would be interesting to read a companion piece from Gigi's point of view of what the last few months of high school and graduation was like with Keir.
Just like Keir thinks of excuses or reasons why we should believe him, I can think of excuses not to read this one again.
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