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Good Sex, Great Prayers
Pratt has fallen upon strange times. Father Johnstone, who s served at the helm for the past thirty years, has begun to lose his flock. He dispenses poor marital advice and indulges in the company of lusting widows, both of which he can hardly remember doing. The pastor has never felt more unlike himself, and Madeline Paige the town s newest resident believes she knows the reason. What she reveals will compromise everything Father Johnstone has ever known. Meanwhile, two men beyond Pratt s county lines administer their own brand of faith. Billy Burke, the truck-stop preacher, tours the Bible Belt advising blue-collar workers how to properly assault a meth-hooker and the best way to protest gay nightclubs. He s destined to meet a man that s been operating out of Las Vegas under many different names, experimenting on a myriad of escorts using Christian lingerie, pious role-play, and Biblical paraphernalia. Together, they will push the threshold, and the town of Pratt will serve as the battleground for when faiths clash and lives hang in the balance.
444 pages, Paperback
First published March 28, 2014
About the author
Brandon Tietz
10 books57 followersBrandon Tietz is the author of OUT OF TOUCH and the Christian-erotica novel GOOD SEX, GREAT PRAYERS, both of which are to be released through Perfect Edge Books. His short stories have been widely published, appearing in such print works as WARMED AND BOUND (Velvet Press), AMSTERDAMNED IF YOU DO (CCLAP), SPARK (vol. II), SOLARCIDAL TENDENCIES, and the Chuck Palahniuk anthology BURNT TONGUES (Medallion Press).
Tietz also serves as a regular contributor for LitReactor.com.
He lives and works in Kansas City, MO.
Tietz also serves as a regular contributor for LitReactor.com.
He lives and works in Kansas City, MO.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
April 3, 2014
Originally published at DigBoston:
http://digboston.com/boston-arts-thea...
Brandon Tietz’s new novel Good Sex, Great Prayers is a dark and dirty delight, a small town horror story in the vein of Stephen King but bolstered with an elegant, vagrant voice all its own.
Be warned: This novel will forever change the way you look at the words “chili dog.” Unless you already viewed those two words as completely terrifying, in which case, congratulations, what the hell is wrong with you?
This book also explains what happened to centaurs. No, seriously. It does. And this book doesn’t even have anything to do with centaurs. It’s just good like that.
What Good Sex, Great Prayers does have something to do with is Father Johnstone, a goodhearted small town pastor who’s beginning to lose his flock of the faithful in the town of Pratt due to his increasingly strange behavior. Johnstone has no idea what’s happening to him but Pratt’s newest resident, Madeline Paige, seems to know exactly what’s behind his drastic change in character. And what she reveals to him is enough to rattle not only the pastor’s faith but also his preconceived notions of what is and what isn’t possible.
What’s refreshing about this novel is that despite the seeming irreverence in the title and the book half jokingly being referred to as Christian Erotica in some blurbs, it treats its devout protagonists and their faiths with respect. Not that this book by any means feels like an endorsement of Christianity or any other faith, but instead of going for the low hanging fruit of making fun of people and their belief systems it instead challenges the ideas core to those beliefs and in turn challenges characters like Father Johnstone to accept or reject a wider view of the world.
Tietz does all this with his solid characterization. I mentioned Stephen King earlier, and besides his penchant for small town politics and small town as microcosm or allegory for civilization at large, another useful device Tietz employs here that the best of King’s work also exhibits is the feeling of authentic, fully fleshed out characters.
The town of Pratt lives and breathes, all of its denizens, even the ones that make only a minor appearance, feel like people who have lives outside these pages. This is a remarkable feat and something that Tietz should be proud of. This immersive approach also carries over to the book’s characters that live outside Pratt.
The novel’s ongoing plot featuring Johnstone and Madeline’s conflicting faiths and the conspiracy behind the pastor’s recent bizarre behavior is interrupted ever so often with some brief, often vicious interludes. These feature the exploits of two other men of faith, after a fashion, the truck-stop, hate spewing preacher Billy Burke and the mysterious, almost alien-like man named Pollux.
Much of the horror in Good Sex, Great Prayers comes from these interludes. While the Billy Burke chapters function more as a revulsion of and study in religious fanaticism and good old-fashioned, monstrous demagoguery, the other chapters revolving around Pollux are even more unnerving for the opposite reason. The Billy Burke chapters, where he proudly instructs his followers on the proper way to beat the shit out of hookers or gays (all for the Lord, natch) will get under your skin because of how real, and sadly, ordinary this kind of evil and prejudice is, the chapters with Pollux, a man taken to experimenting with religious accouterment and prostitutes in Las Vegas, are chilling because of how far beyond the norm they go.
We don’t know much about Pollux, at least at first, but what we quickly come to understand by the detached, methodical severity of his actions and the weirdly removed tone of his voice, is that Pollux is someone who wasn’t brought up in what we’d deem normal society and therefore, does not adhere to its rules. This is illustrated in the following excerpt from Pollux where he explains an early miscommunication he had with one of his victims.
“ ‘Eating out’ does not literally mean to bite, chew, and swallow. I made that mistake some years ago and have since learned it’s the slang vernacular for oral stimulation.”
Of course the stories of Pollux and Billy Burke eventually tie-in with Johnstone and Madeline’s troubles but I leave it up to you to discover just how. Which is half the fun of this book. Seeing how all the pieces will finally fit.
This is Brandon Tietz’s second novel but with its confident, mostly unadorned voice, you could think it’s his fourth or fifth. Because this is knockout storytelling. It knows when to dazzle but it knows when to relent as well. When to relax and invite you back in and ultimately, it knows how to lean in for a kiss before tearing your face clean off. It’s one of the most enjoyable and effortlessly seductive books I’ve read in quite some time.
Brandon Tietz’s debut novel Out of Touch was released back in 2008, now 6 years later, his follow-up, Good Sex, Great Prayers reads like an author fully coming into his own, finding that his faith in his own craft has been rewarded.
As Father Johnstone will attest, faith is a tenuous thing. It has to be earned and maintained. With his latest, Tietz has earned my faith as a reader, read this book and he just might earn yours too. I’ll give Tietz the highest compliment I can give an author: I want to read whatever he does next because I believe it will be worth my time.
Can you think of anything better than faith being rewarded?
How ’bout a chili dog?
Chili Dog.
http://digboston.com/boston-arts-thea...
Brandon Tietz’s new novel Good Sex, Great Prayers is a dark and dirty delight, a small town horror story in the vein of Stephen King but bolstered with an elegant, vagrant voice all its own.
Be warned: This novel will forever change the way you look at the words “chili dog.” Unless you already viewed those two words as completely terrifying, in which case, congratulations, what the hell is wrong with you?
This book also explains what happened to centaurs. No, seriously. It does. And this book doesn’t even have anything to do with centaurs. It’s just good like that.
What Good Sex, Great Prayers does have something to do with is Father Johnstone, a goodhearted small town pastor who’s beginning to lose his flock of the faithful in the town of Pratt due to his increasingly strange behavior. Johnstone has no idea what’s happening to him but Pratt’s newest resident, Madeline Paige, seems to know exactly what’s behind his drastic change in character. And what she reveals to him is enough to rattle not only the pastor’s faith but also his preconceived notions of what is and what isn’t possible.
What’s refreshing about this novel is that despite the seeming irreverence in the title and the book half jokingly being referred to as Christian Erotica in some blurbs, it treats its devout protagonists and their faiths with respect. Not that this book by any means feels like an endorsement of Christianity or any other faith, but instead of going for the low hanging fruit of making fun of people and their belief systems it instead challenges the ideas core to those beliefs and in turn challenges characters like Father Johnstone to accept or reject a wider view of the world.
Tietz does all this with his solid characterization. I mentioned Stephen King earlier, and besides his penchant for small town politics and small town as microcosm or allegory for civilization at large, another useful device Tietz employs here that the best of King’s work also exhibits is the feeling of authentic, fully fleshed out characters.
The town of Pratt lives and breathes, all of its denizens, even the ones that make only a minor appearance, feel like people who have lives outside these pages. This is a remarkable feat and something that Tietz should be proud of. This immersive approach also carries over to the book’s characters that live outside Pratt.
The novel’s ongoing plot featuring Johnstone and Madeline’s conflicting faiths and the conspiracy behind the pastor’s recent bizarre behavior is interrupted ever so often with some brief, often vicious interludes. These feature the exploits of two other men of faith, after a fashion, the truck-stop, hate spewing preacher Billy Burke and the mysterious, almost alien-like man named Pollux.
Much of the horror in Good Sex, Great Prayers comes from these interludes. While the Billy Burke chapters function more as a revulsion of and study in religious fanaticism and good old-fashioned, monstrous demagoguery, the other chapters revolving around Pollux are even more unnerving for the opposite reason. The Billy Burke chapters, where he proudly instructs his followers on the proper way to beat the shit out of hookers or gays (all for the Lord, natch) will get under your skin because of how real, and sadly, ordinary this kind of evil and prejudice is, the chapters with Pollux, a man taken to experimenting with religious accouterment and prostitutes in Las Vegas, are chilling because of how far beyond the norm they go.
We don’t know much about Pollux, at least at first, but what we quickly come to understand by the detached, methodical severity of his actions and the weirdly removed tone of his voice, is that Pollux is someone who wasn’t brought up in what we’d deem normal society and therefore, does not adhere to its rules. This is illustrated in the following excerpt from Pollux where he explains an early miscommunication he had with one of his victims.
“ ‘Eating out’ does not literally mean to bite, chew, and swallow. I made that mistake some years ago and have since learned it’s the slang vernacular for oral stimulation.”
Of course the stories of Pollux and Billy Burke eventually tie-in with Johnstone and Madeline’s troubles but I leave it up to you to discover just how. Which is half the fun of this book. Seeing how all the pieces will finally fit.
This is Brandon Tietz’s second novel but with its confident, mostly unadorned voice, you could think it’s his fourth or fifth. Because this is knockout storytelling. It knows when to dazzle but it knows when to relent as well. When to relax and invite you back in and ultimately, it knows how to lean in for a kiss before tearing your face clean off. It’s one of the most enjoyable and effortlessly seductive books I’ve read in quite some time.
Brandon Tietz’s debut novel Out of Touch was released back in 2008, now 6 years later, his follow-up, Good Sex, Great Prayers reads like an author fully coming into his own, finding that his faith in his own craft has been rewarded.
As Father Johnstone will attest, faith is a tenuous thing. It has to be earned and maintained. With his latest, Tietz has earned my faith as a reader, read this book and he just might earn yours too. I’ll give Tietz the highest compliment I can give an author: I want to read whatever he does next because I believe it will be worth my time.
Can you think of anything better than faith being rewarded?
How ’bout a chili dog?
Chili Dog.
February 26, 2014
Knowing the author as I do, I expected an irreverent romp in the vein of Jesus Angel Garcia’s Badbadbad, perhaps lampooning religion while vacuous sluts violated Commandments under the auspices of some misguided preacher. Instead, the story (though not the writing) is closer to Chuck Wendig territory, with supernatural elements that took me by surprise—which isn’t a spoiler. It’s a “rural fantasy” with a high body—er, bodily fluid count, and the mature evolution I’d hoped for Tietz. A major leap in that regard, really. Its faith and religious elements are treated respectfully, just like in the characters who embody them. When one guy’s blood type inexplicably changes, for example, he didn’t even go for the cheap joke about it having been the advertised result of a morning-after pill for men.
My gripes are few. It’s overlong, despite reading very quickly. Especially early on, the pastor’s inner monologue tends to restate lots of obvious things we expect in the trope of a simple holy man, so I often found myself wanting to skip to the next bit of dialogue. Once the second half’s hellbound handbasket revs up, though, they become more poignant with the evolution of his worldview, and some of the sentiments are downright touching. And as a former Yorkie master myself, the pastor’s affection for his dog—a major player here—warmed the cockles even as evil loomed.
If you liked Tietz’s previous work, odds are good you’ll dig this, too, and even if you didn’t, GSGP offers a clean slate. While the voice of the interspersed sermons from its truck-stop preacher will ring familiar to you, the main story I would not have even recognized as being by the same author. It’s mostly written in very straightforward language that I think would appeal to a mass audience. Pun unintended. As always, his characters are distinct and colorful, enhanced by the small town they inhabit and its collective personality. A fickle flock, prone to gossip and groupthink. Just like readers. Give the guy a chance, for Christ’s sake.
My gripes are few. It’s overlong, despite reading very quickly. Especially early on, the pastor’s inner monologue tends to restate lots of obvious things we expect in the trope of a simple holy man, so I often found myself wanting to skip to the next bit of dialogue. Once the second half’s hellbound handbasket revs up, though, they become more poignant with the evolution of his worldview, and some of the sentiments are downright touching. And as a former Yorkie master myself, the pastor’s affection for his dog—a major player here—warmed the cockles even as evil loomed.
If you liked Tietz’s previous work, odds are good you’ll dig this, too, and even if you didn’t, GSGP offers a clean slate. While the voice of the interspersed sermons from its truck-stop preacher will ring familiar to you, the main story I would not have even recognized as being by the same author. It’s mostly written in very straightforward language that I think would appeal to a mass audience. Pun unintended. As always, his characters are distinct and colorful, enhanced by the small town they inhabit and its collective personality. A fickle flock, prone to gossip and groupthink. Just like readers. Give the guy a chance, for Christ’s sake.
July 14, 2014
When Brandon Tietz sent me an early copy of this book through Facebook, this is how he signed it:
If only I could illustrate how appropriate this was to christen my experience with this book.
This book is just a great romp. It's not perfect, but it's almost perfect in its imperfection, much the same way chipped teacups have personality and smelly farts bring happiness. There are some parts where internal monologues repeat themselves often and typos present themselves, sure, but the experience is a bright one with attitude.
The three main characters, Father Johnstone, Madeline Paige and Mary (Father Johnstone's dog) are nothing short of amazing. Mary made me look at my dog and sigh, and Madeline and Johnstone's chemistry is strong despite the fact that it's only remotely sexual. Because it's not a strictly romantic interest, their bond is made only more electric and their symbiotic relationship is admirable. As they walked that fine line between spiritual and supernatural all too well, I realized that they are a unique duo that I haven't seen the likes of before.
The villain is disgusting. I haven't detested a man more since that gross pus-filled Baron Harkonnen from Dune, and that's saying something. The story shifts from the villain's perspective to Johnstone and Madleine's every other chapter with spells tossed in for good measure. The brilliance behind this is that it doesn't even feel like the same book through all these shifts since the villain is so terrible, his acts serve a perfect contrast to illustrate how good-natured Johnstone is. So when the ultimate battle happens, it indeed feels like it is a clash of opposed worlds as the writing meshes in a cacaphonous climax. It's gorgeous.
The ending was immaculate; without spoiling anything, the finishing lines tie everything up so well. When I put the book down, I had a sloppy grin as goosebumps rippled up my back and I wish this was an exaggeration, but it's just too perfect.
Guys, just read it. I swear you won't read anything else like it ever in your life, and anyone who is intrigued by the idea of Christian Erotica is going to learn something if they pay attention to the ingredients.
If only I could illustrate how appropriate this was to christen my experience with this book.
This book is just a great romp. It's not perfect, but it's almost perfect in its imperfection, much the same way chipped teacups have personality and smelly farts bring happiness. There are some parts where internal monologues repeat themselves often and typos present themselves, sure, but the experience is a bright one with attitude.
The three main characters, Father Johnstone, Madeline Paige and Mary (Father Johnstone's dog) are nothing short of amazing. Mary made me look at my dog and sigh, and Madeline and Johnstone's chemistry is strong despite the fact that it's only remotely sexual. Because it's not a strictly romantic interest, their bond is made only more electric and their symbiotic relationship is admirable. As they walked that fine line between spiritual and supernatural all too well, I realized that they are a unique duo that I haven't seen the likes of before.
The villain is disgusting. I haven't detested a man more since that gross pus-filled Baron Harkonnen from Dune, and that's saying something. The story shifts from the villain's perspective to Johnstone and Madleine's every other chapter with spells tossed in for good measure. The brilliance behind this is that it doesn't even feel like the same book through all these shifts since the villain is so terrible, his acts serve a perfect contrast to illustrate how good-natured Johnstone is. So when the ultimate battle happens, it indeed feels like it is a clash of opposed worlds as the writing meshes in a cacaphonous climax. It's gorgeous.
The ending was immaculate; without spoiling anything, the finishing lines tie everything up so well. When I put the book down, I had a sloppy grin as goosebumps rippled up my back and I wish this was an exaggeration, but it's just too perfect.
Guys, just read it. I swear you won't read anything else like it ever in your life, and anyone who is intrigued by the idea of Christian Erotica is going to learn something if they pay attention to the ingredients.
October 3, 2014
Being a leftist-secular-agnostic-guerilla, I was apprehensive to read something dubbed “Christian erotica.” So I let my girlfriends take the initial plunge - she read the first few pages and said, “Babe, this guy is just as fucked up in the head as you.” And so I read the thing and instantly admired Tietz’s command of the craft. The style is ornate and imaginative, with very nightmarish sexual passages. I’m anti-religion in the most radical and offensive way; for a writer to question faith with a neutral voice, while keeping my attention, is quite an accomplishment. The prose was emotive, yet it sustained a solid level of objectivity. I don’t know where the “Christian erotica” thing came from; it is more of a horror and transgressive hybrid with sexual overtones. Although the POV was third person and the descriptions were highly decorated, I found that the story had fluidity and held my interest from beginning to end. I laughed a lot and felt that the humor was sophisticated and entertaining. Best of all – I still don’t believe in god and am now a fan of Brandon Tietz.
May 29, 2014
What makes you pick up a book? A cool cover? A recommendation from a trusted friend? A good price?
Do you ever decide to read a book that you aren’t quite sure about? Maybe it’s to appease a friend who won’t stop raving about a particular book, but has given you not-so-hot recommendations in the past. Maybe it’s to see what all the fuss is about, or just maybe it’s because you’re expecting an absolute train wreck and want to see how it turns out.
I can’t say for sure what drew me to Brandon Tietz’s GOOD SEX, GREAT PRAYERS–but more than likely it was a combination of all these things. By now, I know to expect fantastically written and wonderfully different books from the Perfect Edge publishing house, but a book billed as Christian Erotica, and with THAT title no less?
The synopsis was well written and sounded pretty okay, so I very hesitantly decided to give it a try…
…And I was met with one of the absolute best books I’ve read in quite some time–a year? Two? Three?
It’s true, I don’t think the genre or the title do this book the justice it deserves. I’m not sure what I’d rename it, but genre-wise this is definitely dark literary fiction at its finest–with some magical realism thrown in for fun.
I fell into the world of GOOD SEX, GREAT PRAYERS almost immediately. Father Johnstone is a very likable and relatable character, and some very strange/ horrifying things are happening to him. It turns out he’s been cursed by a powerful witchcraft practitioner, and now the whole town is at risk of being wiped clean off the map.
Father Johnstone must team up with Madeline Paige, a woman who I’d describe as kind and pure despite her promiscuity and belief in witchcraft. Like Glenda of the North, she’s a good witch. And the ways the author combines Catholicism and witchcraft is genius but also very respectful. Having been raised in a religious home, I surprisingly didn’t find this book offensive, although I’ve found many other secular books with Christian characters to be done poorly and inaccurately.
So back to the action… The bad guy draws nearer, and we are afforded occasional glimpses into his evil guy doings. Let me tell you, this is some of the most disgusting, deranged stuff I’ve ever read (right up there with Chuck Palahniuk’s GUTS, but maybe worse because this guy is hurting other people instead of himself). The grotesqueness of it all only adds to the horror, knowing that this monster is approaching our heroes.
The final confrontation is perfectly done, and I don’t throw that word around casually. Threads and characters you may have forgotten about come back to weave their threads, and as a reader, you know this is the way it had to end all along–but you probably won’t figure it out before the end, which leaves things amazingly, rapid-page-turning awesome.
While this isn’t my usual reading fare, GOOD SEX, GREAT PRAYERS breathed some much-needed freshness into my bookish life. The title may not appeal to you either, but please give it a shot. It’s THAT good.
Do you ever decide to read a book that you aren’t quite sure about? Maybe it’s to appease a friend who won’t stop raving about a particular book, but has given you not-so-hot recommendations in the past. Maybe it’s to see what all the fuss is about, or just maybe it’s because you’re expecting an absolute train wreck and want to see how it turns out.
I can’t say for sure what drew me to Brandon Tietz’s GOOD SEX, GREAT PRAYERS–but more than likely it was a combination of all these things. By now, I know to expect fantastically written and wonderfully different books from the Perfect Edge publishing house, but a book billed as Christian Erotica, and with THAT title no less?
The synopsis was well written and sounded pretty okay, so I very hesitantly decided to give it a try…
…And I was met with one of the absolute best books I’ve read in quite some time–a year? Two? Three?
It’s true, I don’t think the genre or the title do this book the justice it deserves. I’m not sure what I’d rename it, but genre-wise this is definitely dark literary fiction at its finest–with some magical realism thrown in for fun.
I fell into the world of GOOD SEX, GREAT PRAYERS almost immediately. Father Johnstone is a very likable and relatable character, and some very strange/ horrifying things are happening to him. It turns out he’s been cursed by a powerful witchcraft practitioner, and now the whole town is at risk of being wiped clean off the map.
Father Johnstone must team up with Madeline Paige, a woman who I’d describe as kind and pure despite her promiscuity and belief in witchcraft. Like Glenda of the North, she’s a good witch. And the ways the author combines Catholicism and witchcraft is genius but also very respectful. Having been raised in a religious home, I surprisingly didn’t find this book offensive, although I’ve found many other secular books with Christian characters to be done poorly and inaccurately.
So back to the action… The bad guy draws nearer, and we are afforded occasional glimpses into his evil guy doings. Let me tell you, this is some of the most disgusting, deranged stuff I’ve ever read (right up there with Chuck Palahniuk’s GUTS, but maybe worse because this guy is hurting other people instead of himself). The grotesqueness of it all only adds to the horror, knowing that this monster is approaching our heroes.
The final confrontation is perfectly done, and I don’t throw that word around casually. Threads and characters you may have forgotten about come back to weave their threads, and as a reader, you know this is the way it had to end all along–but you probably won’t figure it out before the end, which leaves things amazingly, rapid-page-turning awesome.
While this isn’t my usual reading fare, GOOD SEX, GREAT PRAYERS breathed some much-needed freshness into my bookish life. The title may not appeal to you either, but please give it a shot. It’s THAT good.
November 7, 2014
Brandon Tietz is one of those guys to keep watching. This guy is one of the hardest working writers out there and it shows in his work. One of the few books I waited and looked forward to it's release, mostly because I had no idea what to expect from it. I almost quit reading because the "bad guy" was almost too bad. That alone is a hard enough to pull off these days, so I kept reading. Finished the book and glad I did. It was awesome experience. Then I read Out of Touch and it was pretty good too but from Out of Touch to this book you wouldn't believe it's the same writer. The rate of his progression is unbelievable. Say what you will about this guy but I Can't wait to see what he's going to come out with in the next ten years.
March 22, 2015
This novel was not at all what I expected and I mean that in the best way possible. I was expecting "Fifty Shades of Grey" style filth but what we get is more akin to Stephen King. Gripping, often times surprisingly touching and a climax that you won't see coming (pun intended) make for an extremely satisfying read. Loved every second of this book. There were so many great playoffs in the end. Highly recommended.
January 11, 2015
All the way through this book I was enjoying a guilty secret, the way I always have with transgressive fiction. Good Sex Great Prayers puts me in mind of something I read in a Brett Easton Ellis interview where he complained that a lot of stories are too caught up in decency. Anyone who agrees with that or feels like they do, or like me enjoys the train wreck effect of finding a book like this and thinking ‘How bad can it be?’ will find Good Sex Great Prayers a more than satisfying antidote to ‘decent’ fiction.
Let’s not waste time talking about how this is not a book for the faint hearted. Let’s go straight for this: if a film were to be made of it, it would be the kind where the producers would demand pretty heavy cuts from the horror scenes before submitting it for rating classification. The narrative style, particularly in the sections written in the 1st person, points the camera straight at what the reader is supposed to look away from, and no details are spared. I would challenge anyone who went to see Hostel or Saw to get through this book without at least one good old grimace. Or at least one occasion where they show their friends that page and go for the good old gross-out contest. Yet for all the hard hitting luridness of Good Sex Great Prayers, its biggest strength perhaps lies in how Brandon Tietz as the author has set out to do more than simply reach into the Palahniuk school of trying to out-write and out-shock himself, and written a story where the longer than normal length for a book like this earns its value.
Even though books that address the much debated and reinvented partnership between sex and religion are legion, I always have some measure of respect for an author brave enough to go there, even though most don’t succeed at producing anything meaningful. Brandon Tietz has earned a place among authors whose bravery paid off thanks to avoiding yet another book that descends into religion bashing or too much focus on religious people being horrified by any remote act of sex. Instead, we have a small town in America ‘hiding in plain sight,’ where the people often seem like hick/redneck stereotypes whose town has its own set of laws that they’ve decided on, but as their hidden lives come out and the reader gets to see what’s behind the mask, and like the protagonists Father Johnstone and Madeline Paige the reader is made to somewhat ‘compromise’ their judgement of the people of Pratt. It is not just religion that’s put under the spotlight in this book either, as even the men of science have to admit to a ‘grey area in between’ and question what they really believe because of what they see. We can think what we like about ‘Sunday Christians’ or fundamentally dedicated ones, but Good Sex Great Prayers is a book where people’s need for faith and why they stick with it even after big questions make them think twice is explored in an enjoyably twisted way. ‘Beware of false prophets’ is very much the name of the game here, and what constitutes a false prophet very much depends on which character’s perspective you get at any one time, and even characters lacking in morals or decency hold the attention.
Few characters in this book are sympathetic in any way, but a certain amount of understanding is created in how they are a product of their environment and are resistant to anything or anyone who rocks the boat. Father Johnstone is a priest almost stereotypically pious, conforming and possessed of a fear of all things sensual that religious people I know would probably tell me is greatly exaggerated and largely a product of fiction mocking religion. Yet despite never getting to like him or see him a representation of what men of the cloth are really like, I wanted to see where the big shake-up of his life took him in this story, largely through his relationship with Madeline - a poster character for anyone who likes the strong yet vulnerable female lead whose past becomes more and more fantastical and rooted in powers the readers sometimes wishes they could possess over people.
The page turning quality of Good Sex Great Prayers lay not so much in character development but in the gradual emergence of characters’ secrets and how they shaped a chain of events that brought a riveting climax in the last quarter, with a showdown worthy of any good horror writer and the kind of slow, slightly drawn out tying up of loose ends afterwards. To anyone familiar with certain narrative devices, the plot twists of this book are not so difficult to see coming, yet are still compelling enough thanks to the authorial craft behind them. Nothing comes out of nowhere - a statement of praise for a book in which fantastical powers grow more and more outrageous as the pages turn. Books that combine first and third person narratives sometimes come under criticism for the narrative switches spoiling the continuity, but Good Sex Great Prayers is another title I can add to my list of books that use it for the right reasons. (I’d love to be more specific, but no spoilers). The only parts I would have cut were the excerpts from ‘recipe’ books which although in some way relevant I didn’t really pay much attention to. They felt like filler because something was always needed between the 3rd person sections, but this is only a minor complaint.
When I picked this book up I did not expect it to be as long as it was, but this to me became a pleasant surprise. Once I got past asking myself ‘how can you get a book this long on these ideas?’ and just read the thing, I discovered how: Tietz had not gone for a style as minimalist as I was expecting, and I was quite happy to read this. I have sometimes said that the irony of minimalist styles is that they smack of too much effort. Good Sex Great Prayers has many beautiful one-liners, and the kinds of similes and comparative language in general that can only come from an author who has worked hard at their craft, but the narrative style built around it is unafraid of leaving meat on the bones rather than have it all stripped bare. Instead of striving for every line as an epiphany and flooding the reader with wow-effect until it becomes boredom-effect, Tietz uses these techniques more sparingly and with precision. I’m not usually a fan of alliteration, but I had to love the line about how someone was ‘blinder than a bat on a mug of moonshine.’ The speech of these characters is often captured in lines like that, with the author creating a wide variety of voices. As unpleasant as it is, the line ‘...he had a mean smile on him, that preacher did. Grinnin’ like a coon over a fish carcass’ is a great example of speech-style and character rolled into one.
Check this book out if:
- You enjoy the thrill of seeing how much twisted content you can tolerate
- You got on with the likes of ‘American Psycho’ by Brett Easton Ellis, ‘Haunted’ by Chuck Palahniuk and ‘Crash’ by J G Ballard (GSGP isn’t the same as any of them but the readership probably is)
- You like studying the craft of writing and want to read the sort of stuff that craft essays on horror and transgressive are often talking about
- You like reading books you don’t want your family knowing much about you reading and hope they never look at (okay so I’ve posted a review; my secret’s out now!)
- You like slightly longer than average books the makes you wait for the climax for a while and then reward you with a mountain of gold
- You’re not too worried about ‘sympathetic’ characters but are more interested in what they do and the possibility they might become sympathetic later
- You like books centred around small town politics and people who are a bit of a ‘law unto themselves’
Overall this was a really good read and even if you don’t fit into any of the above categories, it’s a good way to challenge yourself.
Let’s not waste time talking about how this is not a book for the faint hearted. Let’s go straight for this: if a film were to be made of it, it would be the kind where the producers would demand pretty heavy cuts from the horror scenes before submitting it for rating classification. The narrative style, particularly in the sections written in the 1st person, points the camera straight at what the reader is supposed to look away from, and no details are spared. I would challenge anyone who went to see Hostel or Saw to get through this book without at least one good old grimace. Or at least one occasion where they show their friends that page and go for the good old gross-out contest. Yet for all the hard hitting luridness of Good Sex Great Prayers, its biggest strength perhaps lies in how Brandon Tietz as the author has set out to do more than simply reach into the Palahniuk school of trying to out-write and out-shock himself, and written a story where the longer than normal length for a book like this earns its value.
Even though books that address the much debated and reinvented partnership between sex and religion are legion, I always have some measure of respect for an author brave enough to go there, even though most don’t succeed at producing anything meaningful. Brandon Tietz has earned a place among authors whose bravery paid off thanks to avoiding yet another book that descends into religion bashing or too much focus on religious people being horrified by any remote act of sex. Instead, we have a small town in America ‘hiding in plain sight,’ where the people often seem like hick/redneck stereotypes whose town has its own set of laws that they’ve decided on, but as their hidden lives come out and the reader gets to see what’s behind the mask, and like the protagonists Father Johnstone and Madeline Paige the reader is made to somewhat ‘compromise’ their judgement of the people of Pratt. It is not just religion that’s put under the spotlight in this book either, as even the men of science have to admit to a ‘grey area in between’ and question what they really believe because of what they see. We can think what we like about ‘Sunday Christians’ or fundamentally dedicated ones, but Good Sex Great Prayers is a book where people’s need for faith and why they stick with it even after big questions make them think twice is explored in an enjoyably twisted way. ‘Beware of false prophets’ is very much the name of the game here, and what constitutes a false prophet very much depends on which character’s perspective you get at any one time, and even characters lacking in morals or decency hold the attention.
Few characters in this book are sympathetic in any way, but a certain amount of understanding is created in how they are a product of their environment and are resistant to anything or anyone who rocks the boat. Father Johnstone is a priest almost stereotypically pious, conforming and possessed of a fear of all things sensual that religious people I know would probably tell me is greatly exaggerated and largely a product of fiction mocking religion. Yet despite never getting to like him or see him a representation of what men of the cloth are really like, I wanted to see where the big shake-up of his life took him in this story, largely through his relationship with Madeline - a poster character for anyone who likes the strong yet vulnerable female lead whose past becomes more and more fantastical and rooted in powers the readers sometimes wishes they could possess over people.
The page turning quality of Good Sex Great Prayers lay not so much in character development but in the gradual emergence of characters’ secrets and how they shaped a chain of events that brought a riveting climax in the last quarter, with a showdown worthy of any good horror writer and the kind of slow, slightly drawn out tying up of loose ends afterwards. To anyone familiar with certain narrative devices, the plot twists of this book are not so difficult to see coming, yet are still compelling enough thanks to the authorial craft behind them. Nothing comes out of nowhere - a statement of praise for a book in which fantastical powers grow more and more outrageous as the pages turn. Books that combine first and third person narratives sometimes come under criticism for the narrative switches spoiling the continuity, but Good Sex Great Prayers is another title I can add to my list of books that use it for the right reasons. (I’d love to be more specific, but no spoilers). The only parts I would have cut were the excerpts from ‘recipe’ books which although in some way relevant I didn’t really pay much attention to. They felt like filler because something was always needed between the 3rd person sections, but this is only a minor complaint.
When I picked this book up I did not expect it to be as long as it was, but this to me became a pleasant surprise. Once I got past asking myself ‘how can you get a book this long on these ideas?’ and just read the thing, I discovered how: Tietz had not gone for a style as minimalist as I was expecting, and I was quite happy to read this. I have sometimes said that the irony of minimalist styles is that they smack of too much effort. Good Sex Great Prayers has many beautiful one-liners, and the kinds of similes and comparative language in general that can only come from an author who has worked hard at their craft, but the narrative style built around it is unafraid of leaving meat on the bones rather than have it all stripped bare. Instead of striving for every line as an epiphany and flooding the reader with wow-effect until it becomes boredom-effect, Tietz uses these techniques more sparingly and with precision. I’m not usually a fan of alliteration, but I had to love the line about how someone was ‘blinder than a bat on a mug of moonshine.’ The speech of these characters is often captured in lines like that, with the author creating a wide variety of voices. As unpleasant as it is, the line ‘...he had a mean smile on him, that preacher did. Grinnin’ like a coon over a fish carcass’ is a great example of speech-style and character rolled into one.
Check this book out if:
- You enjoy the thrill of seeing how much twisted content you can tolerate
- You got on with the likes of ‘American Psycho’ by Brett Easton Ellis, ‘Haunted’ by Chuck Palahniuk and ‘Crash’ by J G Ballard (GSGP isn’t the same as any of them but the readership probably is)
- You like studying the craft of writing and want to read the sort of stuff that craft essays on horror and transgressive are often talking about
- You like reading books you don’t want your family knowing much about you reading and hope they never look at (okay so I’ve posted a review; my secret’s out now!)
- You like slightly longer than average books the makes you wait for the climax for a while and then reward you with a mountain of gold
- You’re not too worried about ‘sympathetic’ characters but are more interested in what they do and the possibility they might become sympathetic later
- You like books centred around small town politics and people who are a bit of a ‘law unto themselves’
Overall this was a really good read and even if you don’t fit into any of the above categories, it’s a good way to challenge yourself.
December 1, 2014
Copy provided by author in exchange for an honest review
This year has been full of truly original and entertaining horror novels and Brandon Tietz's latest, Good Sex, Great Prayers, definitely falls into that category. Focusing on the small town of Pratt, Tietz's novel tells the story of Father Johnstone, a devout pastor who finds himself losing his congregation after he begins exhibiting strange behavior that is seemingly out of his control. He dispenses vulgar marriage advice, delivers blasphemous sermons and finds himself in compromising situations that find him questioning his health and sanity. Things begin to escalate when Johnstone begins having nightmares, battling insomnia and finally passing out at the Pratt bake sale with blood pouring from his nose. Father Johnstone is a pillar of the community and his out of character behavior hints at a sinister force at work.
Madeline Paige is the town's newest resident and comes to Pratt after her reclusive aunt passes away and leaves her all of her possessions. Madeline is a young woman who is seen as an outsider and has already traveled around much of the world despite her young age. The men of Pratt are all infatuated with her and the women of the town are jealous of her adventures around the world, often stopping by for a glass of wine to listen to stories of her travels and share gossip. Despite Pratt's reluctance to fully embrace outsiders, Madeline seems to have a hold over the townspeople and seamlessly slips into the fabric that makes up the community. She develops a close relationship with the pastor despite their numerous ideological differences and it is clear that she has secrets that may just hold the key to who or what is hellbent on ruining Johnstone's life.
The book is broken up into various segments: The narrative that follows Father Johnstone and the events going on in Pratt, the inner monologues of a mysterious man who inflicts horrific violence on sex workers across the country, excerpts on fertilization rituals and sermons delivered by the truck stop preacher Billy Burke. The structure of the novel may seem a bit random at first, but every section is connected and that becomes clearer throughout the novel. The pacing of Good Sex, Great Prayers is what I would categorize as a "slow-burn". Tietz builds the tension and mystery that courses through the novel slowly, giving little hints here and there through the struggles that Johnstone faces and the history Madeline gives to Johnstone. However, once all of the sections converge and the reader makes the connection of how they all fit together, the novel hits full throttle and has an explosive conclusion that rewards close reading and is one of the most memorable I have read in awhile.
Tietz does an excellent job of building the setting of Pratt in this novel, and that is one of the most effective aspects of this novel. Tietz brings the town of Pratt to life and you feel like you actually know the town and its residents. Secondary characters are built up to an impressive degree and Good Sex, Great Prayers is one of the first novels that fully drew me in from a world-building standpoint since Stephen King's Under The Dome.
It is hard to talk about some of the major plot points of Good Sex, Great Prayers without spoiling the journey for readers as one of the strong points of the novel is the sense of mystery Tietz manages to build throughout the course of the novel. As a longtime horror fan, I have been exposed to just about every form of monster, ghost, creature, and other source of evil under the sun, so it is hard to genuinely be in the dark about the antagonist of a novel. Often times I at least have an inkling of who or what is responsible for causing havoc in a story long before reaching the final page, but Tietz's novel cleverly disguises the source of the evil destroying Pratt for most of the novel. What I can say is this - Tietz manages to take a pretty well known horror subject and offer a fresh spin on the mythology behind it.
While some people may not like the sexual or religious elements found in Good Sex, Great Prayers, there is no denying that Tietz is an extraordinary writer who can tell one hell of a story. I am definitely looking forward to reading whatever Tietz comes up with next, and I hope he has more horror stories left to tell because he could offer many new and fresh perspectives.
This year has been full of truly original and entertaining horror novels and Brandon Tietz's latest, Good Sex, Great Prayers, definitely falls into that category. Focusing on the small town of Pratt, Tietz's novel tells the story of Father Johnstone, a devout pastor who finds himself losing his congregation after he begins exhibiting strange behavior that is seemingly out of his control. He dispenses vulgar marriage advice, delivers blasphemous sermons and finds himself in compromising situations that find him questioning his health and sanity. Things begin to escalate when Johnstone begins having nightmares, battling insomnia and finally passing out at the Pratt bake sale with blood pouring from his nose. Father Johnstone is a pillar of the community and his out of character behavior hints at a sinister force at work.
Madeline Paige is the town's newest resident and comes to Pratt after her reclusive aunt passes away and leaves her all of her possessions. Madeline is a young woman who is seen as an outsider and has already traveled around much of the world despite her young age. The men of Pratt are all infatuated with her and the women of the town are jealous of her adventures around the world, often stopping by for a glass of wine to listen to stories of her travels and share gossip. Despite Pratt's reluctance to fully embrace outsiders, Madeline seems to have a hold over the townspeople and seamlessly slips into the fabric that makes up the community. She develops a close relationship with the pastor despite their numerous ideological differences and it is clear that she has secrets that may just hold the key to who or what is hellbent on ruining Johnstone's life.
The book is broken up into various segments: The narrative that follows Father Johnstone and the events going on in Pratt, the inner monologues of a mysterious man who inflicts horrific violence on sex workers across the country, excerpts on fertilization rituals and sermons delivered by the truck stop preacher Billy Burke. The structure of the novel may seem a bit random at first, but every section is connected and that becomes clearer throughout the novel. The pacing of Good Sex, Great Prayers is what I would categorize as a "slow-burn". Tietz builds the tension and mystery that courses through the novel slowly, giving little hints here and there through the struggles that Johnstone faces and the history Madeline gives to Johnstone. However, once all of the sections converge and the reader makes the connection of how they all fit together, the novel hits full throttle and has an explosive conclusion that rewards close reading and is one of the most memorable I have read in awhile.
Tietz does an excellent job of building the setting of Pratt in this novel, and that is one of the most effective aspects of this novel. Tietz brings the town of Pratt to life and you feel like you actually know the town and its residents. Secondary characters are built up to an impressive degree and Good Sex, Great Prayers is one of the first novels that fully drew me in from a world-building standpoint since Stephen King's Under The Dome.
It is hard to talk about some of the major plot points of Good Sex, Great Prayers without spoiling the journey for readers as one of the strong points of the novel is the sense of mystery Tietz manages to build throughout the course of the novel. As a longtime horror fan, I have been exposed to just about every form of monster, ghost, creature, and other source of evil under the sun, so it is hard to genuinely be in the dark about the antagonist of a novel. Often times I at least have an inkling of who or what is responsible for causing havoc in a story long before reaching the final page, but Tietz's novel cleverly disguises the source of the evil destroying Pratt for most of the novel. What I can say is this - Tietz manages to take a pretty well known horror subject and offer a fresh spin on the mythology behind it.
While some people may not like the sexual or religious elements found in Good Sex, Great Prayers, there is no denying that Tietz is an extraordinary writer who can tell one hell of a story. I am definitely looking forward to reading whatever Tietz comes up with next, and I hope he has more horror stories left to tell because he could offer many new and fresh perspectives.
May 28, 2014
A fabulously amazing and all kinds of other fancy words that mean awesome book. Good Sex, Great Prayers is full on religious transgression in every way. From sexual content to questions about the power and efficacy of prayer this book doesn't hold back. It's beautifully descriptive, even in the most horrific scenes you can't escape the authors delicious use of language. And there is horror, violence and gore. And sex, lots of really raw images of transgressive sex. The concept of sex and faith being the most powerful when they intersect is an interesting one, and one I imagine has quite a lot of people hesitant about this book. However, it's not anti-religion or Christianity, simply a new twist on how God Worship based religions and Earth Worship based religions could have evolved together. The underlying questions of power and corruption are depicted in an over the top way, but the lesson remains and I think at the end of the book, what you'll find is that power comes at a great price, but those who wield it for the good of others are blessed.
Readers should note, this is written in third person omniscient with the POV changing not only within chapters but sometimes within paragraphs. However, it was well done and clear who was speaking at all times. I didn't find this to be an issue.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
Readers should note, this is written in third person omniscient with the POV changing not only within chapters but sometimes within paragraphs. However, it was well done and clear who was speaking at all times. I didn't find this to be an issue.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
May 15, 2014
This is a wild, fun read with lots of darkness, lots of humor, and lots of action. The fiction/erotica classification on the back puzzles me a bit. I wouldn't call it either. There’s some graphic sexual content, and sex is certainly a theme throughout, but I wouldn't say it’s erotic. I might call the book rural fantasy—where old pagan rites meet midwestern bible-belt ideals in a terrible collision that kind of melts the two together. There are definitely elements of horror—so of course I enjoyed it.
Tietz has done some great worldbuilding for this book. The town is populated with fully realized characters with elaborate histories that all play a part in the wave of doom headed their way. The town itself almost becomes a character, by the end. The magic system that comes into play is interesting and complex. The baddies are terrifying.
The only dings against a more starry review from me: The POV shifts fairly often, sometimes mid-paragraph and this picks up in intensity as the story does. The climax was incredibly exciting, but I had to stay on my toes to keep track of whose eyes I was behind at any given moment. That pulled me out of the story a bit and made things a little hard to follow.
Overall, I definitely recommend this one. And I’ll certainly pick up whatever Tietz comes out with next.
Tietz has done some great worldbuilding for this book. The town is populated with fully realized characters with elaborate histories that all play a part in the wave of doom headed their way. The town itself almost becomes a character, by the end. The magic system that comes into play is interesting and complex. The baddies are terrifying.
The only dings against a more starry review from me: The POV shifts fairly often, sometimes mid-paragraph and this picks up in intensity as the story does. The climax was incredibly exciting, but I had to stay on my toes to keep track of whose eyes I was behind at any given moment. That pulled me out of the story a bit and made things a little hard to follow.
Overall, I definitely recommend this one. And I’ll certainly pick up whatever Tietz comes out with next.
August 25, 2014
I couldn't put this book down. It draws you in, wanting to turn away from the graphic details, but you can't help but keep wanting more. It will question your faith in God and open your eyes to a dark path that no one can see coming. Each page leaves more clues and questions, until finally it all comes together in a climaxing adventure that jumps out on each page in front of you. It's man's battle of good versus evil to bending the rules to remain pure and save himself and his people at the same time. His faith is tested way beyond what any Priest could imagine. It's temptation at its' finest and overall an enjoyable read. You can tell that Brandon did his research on different religions and cultures to bring this story to life with the in between chapters that tell of different ways to one sacrifices themselves to become pure. This is an adventure that I couldn't put down and read it in about 3 sittings. I can't wait to see what else is in store in the future!
March 18, 2014
Hear our complete review on our website: http://www.bookedpodcast.com/2014/03/...
February 23, 2015
It had really good potential, but the number of typos is directly related to my enjoyment of a book. Plus, it was about 50 pages too long, I think
October 1, 2015
Things are not as they should be atop Daisy Hill in the rural small town of Spratt. Travis Durphy and his wife Heather can't seem to consummate their wedding vows. Mr. and Mrs. Fairfax aren't attracted to each other anymore after many years of marriage. And Father Johnstone -- who has proven woefully ineffective lately in counseling his flock, including Travis and the Fairfaxes -- has suddenly developed the hots for the Widow Wright.
Such is the drama that begins the saga of Good Sex, Great Prayers. The book is a lengthy, though sometimes brilliantly written, recitation of the goings-on in Spratt, intercut with first-person glimpses into the mind of a man pathologically obsessed with sex and religion -- not necessarily in that order.
Much has been written in lengthy reviews of the book that tell the reader what an esoteric piece he's about to buy and/or read. Indeed, if you read long enough, you'll wonder if you're smart enough to read it -- or review it, for that matter. Nevertheless, I'll do my best to give you a taste of what you're in for.
"That Durphy boy would cut firewood with a butter knife before asking a friend for an axe."
"The bake-off has always been a breeding ground for the dramatic."
"He was bleeding and breaking out in a fever, falling apart in the arms of Jeremiah Will, and then Madeleine emerged from the crowd, squatted down and spoke into his ear: 'See you on the other side, Johnstone.'"
Such quotes raise this book well above the rank and file, all right, imparting pithy witticisms and general observations throughout, as well as the occasional well-placed foreshadowing phrase. Taken together, they combine to give the book an unexpected charm and tension-filled ambiance that will often titillate and, at other times, deeply disturb the reader.
Father Johnstone lands in the hospital for three days, though he has no memory of the events that put him there. After returning to his home to find it thoroughly vandalized and many other things eerily out of true, he contemplates something that would have been unthinkable for him only a week before:
"It wouldn't take two minutes for him to pack everything up in the trunk, stick Mary (his dog) in the passenger seat, and liberate himself from Pratt. He could disappear completely . . . they'd never find him."
For there's an unspeakable horror nibbling around the edges of Pratt -- but leaving the small town won't solve anything.
The author has done a fine job of weaving a spell-binding -- if overlong -- story here, and the reader can either read deep things into its pages, as some reviewers have suggested, or simply settle in for an absorbing read.
I give Good Sex, Great Prayers four stars -- for making what is essentially a tale of the supernatural into an unnecessarily complex and, at times, gross examination of the more base aspects of the human psyche.
Such is the drama that begins the saga of Good Sex, Great Prayers. The book is a lengthy, though sometimes brilliantly written, recitation of the goings-on in Spratt, intercut with first-person glimpses into the mind of a man pathologically obsessed with sex and religion -- not necessarily in that order.
Much has been written in lengthy reviews of the book that tell the reader what an esoteric piece he's about to buy and/or read. Indeed, if you read long enough, you'll wonder if you're smart enough to read it -- or review it, for that matter. Nevertheless, I'll do my best to give you a taste of what you're in for.
"That Durphy boy would cut firewood with a butter knife before asking a friend for an axe."
"The bake-off has always been a breeding ground for the dramatic."
"He was bleeding and breaking out in a fever, falling apart in the arms of Jeremiah Will, and then Madeleine emerged from the crowd, squatted down and spoke into his ear: 'See you on the other side, Johnstone.'"
Such quotes raise this book well above the rank and file, all right, imparting pithy witticisms and general observations throughout, as well as the occasional well-placed foreshadowing phrase. Taken together, they combine to give the book an unexpected charm and tension-filled ambiance that will often titillate and, at other times, deeply disturb the reader.
Father Johnstone lands in the hospital for three days, though he has no memory of the events that put him there. After returning to his home to find it thoroughly vandalized and many other things eerily out of true, he contemplates something that would have been unthinkable for him only a week before:
"It wouldn't take two minutes for him to pack everything up in the trunk, stick Mary (his dog) in the passenger seat, and liberate himself from Pratt. He could disappear completely . . . they'd never find him."
For there's an unspeakable horror nibbling around the edges of Pratt -- but leaving the small town won't solve anything.
The author has done a fine job of weaving a spell-binding -- if overlong -- story here, and the reader can either read deep things into its pages, as some reviewers have suggested, or simply settle in for an absorbing read.
I give Good Sex, Great Prayers four stars -- for making what is essentially a tale of the supernatural into an unnecessarily complex and, at times, gross examination of the more base aspects of the human psyche.
April 30, 2015
Brandon Tietz es un tipo al que hay que seguirle la pista.
"Good Sex, Great Prayers" es un bocadillo oscuro, dulce, amargo y sorpresivo que me recordó mucho a Stephen King pero que viene con su propia voz, potente y elegante.
Es difícil describir el argumento de la novela sin dar grandes "spoilers", no apto para lectores que ven el mundo en blanco y negro, este libro es gris a más no poder.
Tietz revela con esta historia el peligro de creer en cosas que nunca podrás entender. Brujería, prostitutas, pastores cristianos extremistas, drogas, paranoia y erotismo en un mismo saco, que llega muy profundo, Tietz no se conforma con rozar la superficie, su pluma busca cortar profundo.
Hay momentos en que los monólogos se vuelven repetitivos y confirman al final de la novela que se le fueron unas páginas de más, muchos recordatorios innecesarios para mi gusto.
A pesar de, la narrativa es excelente, llena de detalles pertinentes y a flor de piel, incluso en los momentos más gráficos no se puede escapar de sus encantos. Sexo, violencia y horror, con un toquecillo de humor, una receta con las medidas perfectas para una lectura vertiginosa y sumamente satisfactoria.
Brandon Tietz, has ganado un fan.
"Good Sex, Great Prayers" es un bocadillo oscuro, dulce, amargo y sorpresivo que me recordó mucho a Stephen King pero que viene con su propia voz, potente y elegante.
Es difícil describir el argumento de la novela sin dar grandes "spoilers", no apto para lectores que ven el mundo en blanco y negro, este libro es gris a más no poder.
Tietz revela con esta historia el peligro de creer en cosas que nunca podrás entender. Brujería, prostitutas, pastores cristianos extremistas, drogas, paranoia y erotismo en un mismo saco, que llega muy profundo, Tietz no se conforma con rozar la superficie, su pluma busca cortar profundo.
Hay momentos en que los monólogos se vuelven repetitivos y confirman al final de la novela que se le fueron unas páginas de más, muchos recordatorios innecesarios para mi gusto.
A pesar de, la narrativa es excelente, llena de detalles pertinentes y a flor de piel, incluso en los momentos más gráficos no se puede escapar de sus encantos. Sexo, violencia y horror, con un toquecillo de humor, una receta con las medidas perfectas para una lectura vertiginosa y sumamente satisfactoria.
Brandon Tietz, has ganado un fan.
August 19, 2016
Sacrilegious is one word that comes to mind. Transgressive is another. This novel carries a lot of heat, mixed with epiphanies, regret, and disgust. But it is not without humor—the harsh truth lying just beneath the punch lines that coat the scarred surface. A strong voice that always entertains and never disappoints, GSGP is a wild ride, from start to finish.
July 23, 2016
Sex and sacrilege.
Brandon Tietz's epic rural horror novel about the town of Pratt where a pastor named Father Johnstone has functionally managed his flock smoothly for the past few decades. He notices things are changing and eventually with the help of a new neighbor, who happens to be a witch named Madeline Paige, discovers that he is cursed. While processing the discovery of the curse Madeline break the news to Father Johnstone that a much larger evil is headed to Pratt and seeks to destroy it. That evil is in the form of this crazy superhuman warlock dude named Pollux. Pollux is a sick fucker but he really is an awesome character. Pollux has recruited and old demon from Pratt as his side kick and is coming to destroy Pratt and everyone in it. It is up to Madeline and Father Johnstone to stop them.
The book is long but it goes by quickly. My only gripe is that I feel like some of it could've been cut especially some of the descriptions of Father Johnstone's faith but it really is a minor thing. Overall for a 400+ page novel Good Sex, Great Prayers is a serious page turner.
Tietz did a very interesting thing with the two characters from very different extremes. Pollux is this extremely violent and transgressive character while Father Johnstone is a pastor who is annoyingly fastidious in his Christian values. I thought the juxtaposition of these two characters worked well. I know this sounds like a bland compliment but Tietz is a great writer. Good Sex, Great Prayers was Stephen King meets Palahnuik to me. I would definitely recommend it to Palahnuik fans.
Brandon Tietz's epic rural horror novel about the town of Pratt where a pastor named Father Johnstone has functionally managed his flock smoothly for the past few decades. He notices things are changing and eventually with the help of a new neighbor, who happens to be a witch named Madeline Paige, discovers that he is cursed. While processing the discovery of the curse Madeline break the news to Father Johnstone that a much larger evil is headed to Pratt and seeks to destroy it. That evil is in the form of this crazy superhuman warlock dude named Pollux. Pollux is a sick fucker but he really is an awesome character. Pollux has recruited and old demon from Pratt as his side kick and is coming to destroy Pratt and everyone in it. It is up to Madeline and Father Johnstone to stop them.
The book is long but it goes by quickly. My only gripe is that I feel like some of it could've been cut especially some of the descriptions of Father Johnstone's faith but it really is a minor thing. Overall for a 400+ page novel Good Sex, Great Prayers is a serious page turner.
Tietz did a very interesting thing with the two characters from very different extremes. Pollux is this extremely violent and transgressive character while Father Johnstone is a pastor who is annoyingly fastidious in his Christian values. I thought the juxtaposition of these two characters worked well. I know this sounds like a bland compliment but Tietz is a great writer. Good Sex, Great Prayers was Stephen King meets Palahnuik to me. I would definitely recommend it to Palahnuik fans.
April 28, 2017
GSGP challenges the way you consider the conventional theories about what keeps the planet rotating. It does start off a bit slower than expected but ends in the whiplash pace that one might consider "signature Tietz". Fans of Brandon's work will recognize this novel as an important exhibition in his evolution as an author.
Overall, this is a great story that well worth the read!
Overall, this is a great story that well worth the read!
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