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Jenny Rat
Jenny Rat
Michael, a shy, reclusive and desperately but unconsciously lonely man, works as a consulting engineer through his computing machinery and rarely ventures outside his isolated house. He is visited regularly by a sophisticated call girl, Jacquie, almost his only contact with other people.
On a stormy night he and the woman find an unconscious, filthy, fourteen year old girl dying in the gutter outside his gate. He carries her in, cleans and warms her and sends her to hospital, still breathing but no more. He is seriously disturbed by this experience.
Her identity is not known. In hospital he visits her and she speaks to him at last. Jenny has been betrayed, exploited, brutally assaulted and abandoned. She blames herself for the death of her father. Michael plays a crucial role in bringing her back from the brink of despair. Jenny reveals to him that she has powerful talents as an artist.
Physically recovering but still in need of material and psychological support, she chooses to live with him as his half-sister, a pretence that cannot be maintained for long. Might she become more than a sister? She, still desperate, certainly intends it so.
She has a passion for sculpture, which Michael encourages. With help from a sympathetic and unorthodox child welfare official, he comes to understand himself better. A repressed need within himself emerges. Jenny represents much more than can be explained by compassion or mere lust. He feels responsible for her, maybe like a brother, much more like a father. What happened to Jenny’s father?
What to do is not clear to Michael. The law is very clear about what he must not do.
He arranges for Jenny to enter a very unusual day school. This brings them both into a world with which neither of them has engaged before. She begins to show a strong and independent personality, though she remains in need of his support in various crises. As her artistic abilities develop, she sets out to re-shape him as she does her carvings. Chip, chip!
Through the school, she makes friends with other young people. Michael is persuaded to accept them although there are some frightening incidents of jealousy and panic.
At last, overcoming legal and unexpected medical difficulties, they become lovers. Further growth and change face them as they and their friends mature. The resolution of their problems is not easy. She can never remain content and is still not free of the guilt she felt about her father. Michael recognizes, in despair, that she will leave him, as she insists she must for both their sakes, not only for her own ambitions but to save him from her relentless chipping. They both must grow further and independently. That, after all, is what he explained to her when she was dying, that was why he saved her.
The last, unanswered, questions are, not merely what will become of Jenny but what will Michael do when he is alone again. Dragging himself out of near suicidal misery, he invites the most significant school friends and others to a party. Who will come?
Note: An earlier version was self-published through Exlibris in 2006 under a different title. No marketing was done and no sales resulted. The target audience is adult readers who enjoy offbeat literary fiction.
Michael, a shy, reclusive and desperately but unconsciously lonely man, works as a consulting engineer through his computing machinery and rarely ventures outside his isolated house. He is visited regularly by a sophisticated call girl, Jacquie, almost his only contact with other people.
On a stormy night he and the woman find an unconscious, filthy, fourteen year old girl dying in the gutter outside his gate. He carries her in, cleans and warms her and sends her to hospital, still breathing but no more. He is seriously disturbed by this experience.
Her identity is not known. In hospital he visits her and she speaks to him at last. Jenny has been betrayed, exploited, brutally assaulted and abandoned. She blames herself for the death of her father. Michael plays a crucial role in bringing her back from the brink of despair. Jenny reveals to him that she has powerful talents as an artist.
Physically recovering but still in need of material and psychological support, she chooses to live with him as his half-sister, a pretence that cannot be maintained for long. Might she become more than a sister? She, still desperate, certainly intends it so.
She has a passion for sculpture, which Michael encourages. With help from a sympathetic and unorthodox child welfare official, he comes to understand himself better. A repressed need within himself emerges. Jenny represents much more than can be explained by compassion or mere lust. He feels responsible for her, maybe like a brother, much more like a father. What happened to Jenny’s father?
What to do is not clear to Michael. The law is very clear about what he must not do.
He arranges for Jenny to enter a very unusual day school. This brings them both into a world with which neither of them has engaged before. She begins to show a strong and independent personality, though she remains in need of his support in various crises. As her artistic abilities develop, she sets out to re-shape him as she does her carvings. Chip, chip!
Through the school, she makes friends with other young people. Michael is persuaded to accept them although there are some frightening incidents of jealousy and panic.
At last, overcoming legal and unexpected medical difficulties, they become lovers. Further growth and change face them as they and their friends mature. The resolution of their problems is not easy. She can never remain content and is still not free of the guilt she felt about her father. Michael recognizes, in despair, that she will leave him, as she insists she must for both their sakes, not only for her own ambitions but to save him from her relentless chipping. They both must grow further and independently. That, after all, is what he explained to her when she was dying, that was why he saved her.
The last, unanswered, questions are, not merely what will become of Jenny but what will Michael do when he is alone again. Dragging himself out of near suicidal misery, he invites the most significant school friends and others to a party. Who will come?
Note: An earlier version was self-published through Exlibris in 2006 under a different title. No marketing was done and no sales resulted. The target audience is adult readers who enjoy offbeat literary fiction.
354 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 14, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
August 15, 2013
I believe there's a silent epidemic of great writers in Australia.
Mr Martin Simons is just another proof of it!
I'm struggling with words right now, because no matter what I say, I won't be able to describe the strong feelings this novel evocates in me. I will just tell you, this is a story you don't want to miss.
Jenny rat is very realistic, raw, gritty, brutal, terrifying and painfully honest story of self-discovery. This is a kind of book that will give you a healthy dose of realism. It has the kind of characters that will make you feel their struggle, frustration, anger, pain and happiness as if it was yours.
Gianetta Chinchinello or Jenny Rat is 14 years old street child prostitute. She is been dealing with a very difficult situation for more than a few years: she was in incestuous relationship with her father and she blames herself for his suicide. Because of that she reminds me a lot of Nabokov’s “Lolita.” It was hard to get past the fact that she let him do the things he did and still stayed with him and loved him. It was almost like she had a sort of sick fetish for it - but later on in the book, bits and pieces are revealed that helped me to view the situation differently. Her mother hated her because of that, and after fathers death she was raising her to prostitute her to child molesters. After her mother left her, she became a street prostitute, surviving rape on the streets, malnourishment and sickness.
Jenny was a very inspirational character. She has some kind of split-personality: one half is sweet artistic Jenny, and second half is rot and evil Dirty Little Rat, and her life is struggle all the time.
"There is Little Rat, and there´s Jenny, both. Like the restaurant woman, two of us. I´m tired. I can´t think properly. Can´t decide what to do."
"I am a little slut, a filthy rat. I´ve been spoiled, dirtied and I´m twisted inside. It´s all I am. Just used up and twisted. There´s only one thing I can do now, one thing I am good for. That´s all I have for you."
And than we come to Michael Ingram, or Michelangelo, Jenny´s personal angel and savior. He is consulting engineer and he´s living alone outside of town because he has some kind of agoraphobia. After he saves Jenny, he visits her in the hospital and she opens up to him so Michael grows closer to her, as if she were his responsibility, his daughter. She has no place to stay when she leaves the hospital, and Michael wants her to live with him. With the help of social worker, she ends up in his home...
They both are struggling to survive in a world with time on its hands. This book is full of sociological and philosophical issues. Characters are coping by discussing some of the key themes of Existentialist philosophy and literature, and briefly mentioning some of the main existentialist authors. Existentialist theories bored the hell out of me in my high school, but in this book I found it captivating.
It's difficult to take a serious problem like abusive relationships, incest, domestic violence, prostitution and homeless teens and convert them into a story that captures reality without going over the top drama, but this author did a fantastic job here.
Overall, this book blew me away. It truly truly did. It was an emotional ride from the very first page. Mr Simons was not afraid to show his readers that life and stories aren't always sunshine and roses. People hurt other people. Life events can break you. Some situations are nearly impossible to deal with. Sometimes fighting and surviving is the only thing you can do.
I highly recommend this book to everyone!
WARNING: Be aware of some violence, language, and sexual situations.
*I received a review copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley*
Mr Martin Simons is just another proof of it!
I'm struggling with words right now, because no matter what I say, I won't be able to describe the strong feelings this novel evocates in me. I will just tell you, this is a story you don't want to miss.
Jenny rat is very realistic, raw, gritty, brutal, terrifying and painfully honest story of self-discovery. This is a kind of book that will give you a healthy dose of realism. It has the kind of characters that will make you feel their struggle, frustration, anger, pain and happiness as if it was yours.
Gianetta Chinchinello or Jenny Rat is 14 years old street child prostitute. She is been dealing with a very difficult situation for more than a few years: she was in incestuous relationship with her father and she blames herself for his suicide. Because of that she reminds me a lot of Nabokov’s “Lolita.” It was hard to get past the fact that she let him do the things he did and still stayed with him and loved him. It was almost like she had a sort of sick fetish for it - but later on in the book, bits and pieces are revealed that helped me to view the situation differently. Her mother hated her because of that, and after fathers death she was raising her to prostitute her to child molesters. After her mother left her, she became a street prostitute, surviving rape on the streets, malnourishment and sickness.
Jenny was a very inspirational character. She has some kind of split-personality: one half is sweet artistic Jenny, and second half is rot and evil Dirty Little Rat, and her life is struggle all the time.
"There is Little Rat, and there´s Jenny, both. Like the restaurant woman, two of us. I´m tired. I can´t think properly. Can´t decide what to do."
"I am a little slut, a filthy rat. I´ve been spoiled, dirtied and I´m twisted inside. It´s all I am. Just used up and twisted. There´s only one thing I can do now, one thing I am good for. That´s all I have for you."
And than we come to Michael Ingram, or Michelangelo, Jenny´s personal angel and savior. He is consulting engineer and he´s living alone outside of town because he has some kind of agoraphobia. After he saves Jenny, he visits her in the hospital and she opens up to him so Michael grows closer to her, as if she were his responsibility, his daughter. She has no place to stay when she leaves the hospital, and Michael wants her to live with him. With the help of social worker, she ends up in his home...
They both are struggling to survive in a world with time on its hands. This book is full of sociological and philosophical issues. Characters are coping by discussing some of the key themes of Existentialist philosophy and literature, and briefly mentioning some of the main existentialist authors. Existentialist theories bored the hell out of me in my high school, but in this book I found it captivating.
It's difficult to take a serious problem like abusive relationships, incest, domestic violence, prostitution and homeless teens and convert them into a story that captures reality without going over the top drama, but this author did a fantastic job here.
Overall, this book blew me away. It truly truly did. It was an emotional ride from the very first page. Mr Simons was not afraid to show his readers that life and stories aren't always sunshine and roses. People hurt other people. Life events can break you. Some situations are nearly impossible to deal with. Sometimes fighting and surviving is the only thing you can do.
I highly recommend this book to everyone!
WARNING: Be aware of some violence, language, and sexual situations.
*I received a review copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley*
November 18, 2017
I’m not sure where to start with this read. It wasn’t an easy read in that I didn’t inhale it in one sitting.
Micheal an engineering consultant finds Jenny a fourteen year old almost dead outside his house. He stays with her and calls an ambulance. His quiet reclusive life changes that night. While visiting her in hospital he feels responsible and offers to let her stay with him. Jenny’s not had it easy. She’s had a really tough time and is alone in the world until Micheal saves her.
This is their story.
I found this to be a raw, emotional and really well written story. I’ll be looking to read more from this author in the future.
Micheal an engineering consultant finds Jenny a fourteen year old almost dead outside his house. He stays with her and calls an ambulance. His quiet reclusive life changes that night. While visiting her in hospital he feels responsible and offers to let her stay with him. Jenny’s not had it easy. She’s had a really tough time and is alone in the world until Micheal saves her.
This is their story.
I found this to be a raw, emotional and really well written story. I’ll be looking to read more from this author in the future.
August 15, 2013
Oh dear God!
Warning: The book is not for those who have a weak stomach and a weak heart!
It,s difficult to evaluate this kind of book ... book that talks about child abuse, both sexual and emotional, physical and psychological. Jenny has been exposed to sexual abuse by her father at age of twelve . Her mother after finding out blamed her "dirty slut"daughter. As punishment, she was forced into prostitution, and eventually left at the mercy of the streets and pimp ....
After being repeatedly raped and forced into all sorts of abominations she comes one step away from death.
Here into story enters Michael, who saves her life and whom she consider her guardian angel....
How to start a new life when inside of you is a rat who eats everything and poisons everything ? How to rebuild a life when you consider yourself scum and lowlifes?
If you want to discover the rest, read it yourself ... But if you expect the love story, this is not the book for you!
July 31, 2013
(nb: I received a review copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley)
Last summer, I had an abscess. It kept swelling and hurting until I finally went to the doctor. He had to cut into the damnable thing and drain out all the unholy junk inside it. This hurt a lot, but once it was drained, my pain was relieved.
Jenny’s life is very much like that. Martin Simons’s new novel “Jenny Rat” presents a young teenager whose life has been filled with pestiferous junk, and the shy 28-year-old recluse who tries to relieve her pain.
Michael is perfectly content living alone. He has a nice house well outside town, with a beautiful backyard, and a sizable home-office, from which he does building stress calculations for architects. He’s perfectly happy not seeing anybody for days or weeks at a time.
One stormy Sunday night, Michael finds his front ditch flooded, because something is obstructing the culvert. That “something” turns out to be a very sick, nearly dead girl named Jenny.
He takes her inside, tries to warm her and clean her up while waiting for the ambulance crew.
Jenny survives, and Michael feels strangely drawn to her, as if she were his responsibility since he found her. He visits her in the hospital. The girl has no family, no home, and no money, save what she makes turning tricks. She’s fourteen and looks younger. Life has obviously pounded this girl mercilessly—Michael can sense that. As the girl heals, and Michael grows closer to her, he learns some of her backstory. It becomes clear she has no place to stay when she leaves the hospital, and Michael wants her to live with him.
The girl walks out of the hospital and takes a cab to Michael’s house. She’s shaking with a panic attack. She has PTSD and agoraphobia, and only Michael can calm her down. She starts to improve under his loving care. As he helps Jenny drain away the poison inside her, she reveals more of her inner life to him. When she gets stronger, Michael teaches her his hobby, woodworking. Whereas Michael’s woodworking involves furniture making, Jenny becomes a sculptor. They talk of Michelangelo, and his quote that he doesn’t so much sculpt his creations as see what’s inside the marble, and chip away the excess till the figure reveals itself.
Jenny’s sculpting is the key metaphor here: she takes the tools that Michael gives her, and learns to find the girl—and the man—hidden inside previously shapeless blocks. The resulting figures differ from what the sculptor intended, but they are revealed as beautiful and strong and somehow perfect.
“Jenny Rat” is not always an easy book to read. Martin Simons writes beautifully, but Jenny’s revealed past is simply horrific at times, with cruel aftershocks that continue through her new life with Michael. There are growing pains for both of them—and they do fall in love—however the ultimate goal is for Jenny to be strong and independent.
This novel presents one literal hell of a journey. Jenny is so scarred, and Michael is so withdrawn, that it’s a miracle either of them survives. He helps Jenny feel safe and loved, and she coaxes him to lower his defenses.
By the end of “Jenny Rat,” the two are virtually unrecognizable compared to the early chapters. The growth has been slow but steady—a lot of carving has been done. In the end, we’re left with the impression that these two new creations, sanded smooth, will be just fine.
This novel goes on my “How the hell did the author come up with THIS?” shelf. The idea feels original, though with certain overtones of Nabokov’s “Lolita.” This seemed like an obvious comparison, and then a few of the characters begin discussing how Jenny and Michael could be like Humbert and Lolita. This touch—addressing the analogy—strengthens the plot in multiple ways I can’t reveal here, and it turns a potential flaw into a boon.
Action-wise, “Jenny Rat” wouldn’t be that hard to summarize in a paragraph or two, but action isn’t the point. What matters here is how Jenny and Michael grow, both in devotion to one another and toward individual strength. As a joint character study, “Jenny Rat” succeeds remarkably.
There will be some readers for whom “Jenny Rat” occasionally goes too far, and I admit there are some tough-to-read parts. This caveat aside, Martin Simons has written a beautiful, sadly triumphant novel, one of the best I’ve read in 2013.
Most Highly Recommended
Last summer, I had an abscess. It kept swelling and hurting until I finally went to the doctor. He had to cut into the damnable thing and drain out all the unholy junk inside it. This hurt a lot, but once it was drained, my pain was relieved.
Jenny’s life is very much like that. Martin Simons’s new novel “Jenny Rat” presents a young teenager whose life has been filled with pestiferous junk, and the shy 28-year-old recluse who tries to relieve her pain.
Michael is perfectly content living alone. He has a nice house well outside town, with a beautiful backyard, and a sizable home-office, from which he does building stress calculations for architects. He’s perfectly happy not seeing anybody for days or weeks at a time.
One stormy Sunday night, Michael finds his front ditch flooded, because something is obstructing the culvert. That “something” turns out to be a very sick, nearly dead girl named Jenny.
He takes her inside, tries to warm her and clean her up while waiting for the ambulance crew.
Jenny survives, and Michael feels strangely drawn to her, as if she were his responsibility since he found her. He visits her in the hospital. The girl has no family, no home, and no money, save what she makes turning tricks. She’s fourteen and looks younger. Life has obviously pounded this girl mercilessly—Michael can sense that. As the girl heals, and Michael grows closer to her, he learns some of her backstory. It becomes clear she has no place to stay when she leaves the hospital, and Michael wants her to live with him.
The girl walks out of the hospital and takes a cab to Michael’s house. She’s shaking with a panic attack. She has PTSD and agoraphobia, and only Michael can calm her down. She starts to improve under his loving care. As he helps Jenny drain away the poison inside her, she reveals more of her inner life to him. When she gets stronger, Michael teaches her his hobby, woodworking. Whereas Michael’s woodworking involves furniture making, Jenny becomes a sculptor. They talk of Michelangelo, and his quote that he doesn’t so much sculpt his creations as see what’s inside the marble, and chip away the excess till the figure reveals itself.
Jenny’s sculpting is the key metaphor here: she takes the tools that Michael gives her, and learns to find the girl—and the man—hidden inside previously shapeless blocks. The resulting figures differ from what the sculptor intended, but they are revealed as beautiful and strong and somehow perfect.
“Jenny Rat” is not always an easy book to read. Martin Simons writes beautifully, but Jenny’s revealed past is simply horrific at times, with cruel aftershocks that continue through her new life with Michael. There are growing pains for both of them—and they do fall in love—however the ultimate goal is for Jenny to be strong and independent.
This novel presents one literal hell of a journey. Jenny is so scarred, and Michael is so withdrawn, that it’s a miracle either of them survives. He helps Jenny feel safe and loved, and she coaxes him to lower his defenses.
By the end of “Jenny Rat,” the two are virtually unrecognizable compared to the early chapters. The growth has been slow but steady—a lot of carving has been done. In the end, we’re left with the impression that these two new creations, sanded smooth, will be just fine.
This novel goes on my “How the hell did the author come up with THIS?” shelf. The idea feels original, though with certain overtones of Nabokov’s “Lolita.” This seemed like an obvious comparison, and then a few of the characters begin discussing how Jenny and Michael could be like Humbert and Lolita. This touch—addressing the analogy—strengthens the plot in multiple ways I can’t reveal here, and it turns a potential flaw into a boon.
Action-wise, “Jenny Rat” wouldn’t be that hard to summarize in a paragraph or two, but action isn’t the point. What matters here is how Jenny and Michael grow, both in devotion to one another and toward individual strength. As a joint character study, “Jenny Rat” succeeds remarkably.
There will be some readers for whom “Jenny Rat” occasionally goes too far, and I admit there are some tough-to-read parts. This caveat aside, Martin Simons has written a beautiful, sadly triumphant novel, one of the best I’ve read in 2013.
Most Highly Recommended
June 11, 2015
I keep telling myself I need to read broader. Then I come accross something like this and I think, Oh Lord, please give me another sweet YA novel where the worst thing to happen is the bad editing.
Lets start at the start shall we. This is the first ever 1 * review I have ever given to an Indie author cause I know how hard they need to work.
The cover is not bad and when the cover and the title is seen as a whole it holds some appeal. So I requested a Netgalley copy.
The editing. Fine, although a content editor would have probably have been able to make some changes which might have gotten two stars from me instead of a reluctant one star. Seriously If I could I would give this book a 0 star rating.
The characters. Michael, sounds like a fourteen year old girl. Jenny sound like an 80 year old malicious Cruella De Ville... her daddy. Good riddence. Her M...Mother, and that M....Mother is through all of the book that I could force myself to read... by the way, her M...Mother is a tramp and should not have a child or anybody ever that she needs to look after. The social worker, lock her up. NOW. What she does is illegal, immoral and plainly stupid so at the very least please arrest her for being an idiot.
As far as characters is concerned the only one that made a lick of sense is the escort Michael used to pay for services every Sunday night. I kid you not, I hate Jenny, I hate Michael, I formed no link to any single character in this book.
The plot. Lolita and a Clock Work Orange without any grace, any cult classic appeal without much of a plot actually, girl seduces daddy. Sex is love, she seduces poor ole' Michael, ten year her senior cause no body loves him, everybody hates him, he wants to go eat some worms. Argh. The language is crude and crass. The world building non existant since I cannot trust a word from either of the main protagonists, so why would I see the world they see?
The writing, not AS big an issue as the toppic and plot line but still a doozy. Stocatto like, fractured sentences, a lot of the back story at the start filled with third person omnicient Jung like collective concious undetached voices. It drove me nuts especially when our very annoying week little twirp of a hero talks to a dr or a nurse and he uses this same weird technique to obtain answers.... seriously? The dialogue throughout as a matter of fact needs to be written more realistlically. When even Michael called Jenny, My love, my dearest my little sister I wanted to be sick. Apparently Michael is not used to any human contact and by 30% of the book I knew exactly why his daddy could not stand the sight of him. It was NOT the fact that he was a coward or a wimp or small and weak. His daddy so the pervert in making from the start of that I am convinced.
I never felt so much as an iota of sympathy for Jenny. Less for her daddy, none for Michael and I honestly hope I never meet any person in real life that even remotely sounds like any of these characters.
The goal of this book.... to show human depravity and how lust is sex and sex is lust and that is about it. Given, I am writing this on 68% and officially declare this as a DNF.
I cannot finish this book. I have no wish to finish it after reading a bit of the reviews here and I cannot think of a single person I would tell, hey you are a pedophile in training right? Read this book. You will like it.
Nope, not for me.
Lets start at the start shall we. This is the first ever 1 * review I have ever given to an Indie author cause I know how hard they need to work.
The cover is not bad and when the cover and the title is seen as a whole it holds some appeal. So I requested a Netgalley copy.
The editing. Fine, although a content editor would have probably have been able to make some changes which might have gotten two stars from me instead of a reluctant one star. Seriously If I could I would give this book a 0 star rating.
The characters. Michael, sounds like a fourteen year old girl. Jenny sound like an 80 year old malicious Cruella De Ville... her daddy. Good riddence. Her M...Mother, and that M....Mother is through all of the book that I could force myself to read... by the way, her M...Mother is a tramp and should not have a child or anybody ever that she needs to look after. The social worker, lock her up. NOW. What she does is illegal, immoral and plainly stupid so at the very least please arrest her for being an idiot.
As far as characters is concerned the only one that made a lick of sense is the escort Michael used to pay for services every Sunday night. I kid you not, I hate Jenny, I hate Michael, I formed no link to any single character in this book.
The plot. Lolita and a Clock Work Orange without any grace, any cult classic appeal without much of a plot actually, girl seduces daddy. Sex is love, she seduces poor ole' Michael, ten year her senior cause no body loves him, everybody hates him, he wants to go eat some worms. Argh. The language is crude and crass. The world building non existant since I cannot trust a word from either of the main protagonists, so why would I see the world they see?
The writing, not AS big an issue as the toppic and plot line but still a doozy. Stocatto like, fractured sentences, a lot of the back story at the start filled with third person omnicient Jung like collective concious undetached voices. It drove me nuts especially when our very annoying week little twirp of a hero talks to a dr or a nurse and he uses this same weird technique to obtain answers.... seriously? The dialogue throughout as a matter of fact needs to be written more realistlically. When even Michael called Jenny, My love, my dearest my little sister I wanted to be sick. Apparently Michael is not used to any human contact and by 30% of the book I knew exactly why his daddy could not stand the sight of him. It was NOT the fact that he was a coward or a wimp or small and weak. His daddy so the pervert in making from the start of that I am convinced.
I never felt so much as an iota of sympathy for Jenny. Less for her daddy, none for Michael and I honestly hope I never meet any person in real life that even remotely sounds like any of these characters.
The goal of this book.... to show human depravity and how lust is sex and sex is lust and that is about it. Given, I am writing this on 68% and officially declare this as a DNF.
I cannot finish this book. I have no wish to finish it after reading a bit of the reviews here and I cannot think of a single person I would tell, hey you are a pedophile in training right? Read this book. You will like it.
Nope, not for me.
October 4, 2013
I received this epub from Netgalley.
Synopsis:
Jenny, a young girl who has been sexually abused since childhood and now brutally assaulted, has been reduced to utter despair. She is saved by a reclusive, shy young man, Michael, twenty eight years old, who stumbles across her dying in the gutter outside his isolated house. He is a brilliant consultant engineer who works from home with his computers, rarely venturing outside. Profoundly shocked he gets her to hospital and visits her there as she struggles to recover. Mentally she is shattered. He is greatly shaken by the intrusion into his settled life but, full of compassion cannot abandon her. She recognizes in him a hope of refuge and determines to live with him. He welcomes her. They pretend to be sister and brother but this cannot last. She has great talents as a sculptor. He encourages her, providing tools and materials as she grows, constructs and reconstructs her works and her life. She begins to chip at him as she shapes her art. He is compelled to expand outside his self-imposed solitude. She attends school and brings friends to the house. A crisis develops which they overcome with difficulty.
______
I hated this book. I think I kept reading, not because I was enjoying it but because it was like a train wreck and I couldn't turn away.
This young girl is found by Michael in a gutter and he feels a responsibility to her and ensuring she gets well. He visits her in the hospital and starts to fall in love with her and combined with being her daddy figure.
It was disgusting. What was even more disgusting and mind boggling is the Child Advocate encouraged this creep to take her in and love her!
It just seemed like this was a Pro Pedophilia book. Gross.
Synopsis:
Jenny, a young girl who has been sexually abused since childhood and now brutally assaulted, has been reduced to utter despair. She is saved by a reclusive, shy young man, Michael, twenty eight years old, who stumbles across her dying in the gutter outside his isolated house. He is a brilliant consultant engineer who works from home with his computers, rarely venturing outside. Profoundly shocked he gets her to hospital and visits her there as she struggles to recover. Mentally she is shattered. He is greatly shaken by the intrusion into his settled life but, full of compassion cannot abandon her. She recognizes in him a hope of refuge and determines to live with him. He welcomes her. They pretend to be sister and brother but this cannot last. She has great talents as a sculptor. He encourages her, providing tools and materials as she grows, constructs and reconstructs her works and her life. She begins to chip at him as she shapes her art. He is compelled to expand outside his self-imposed solitude. She attends school and brings friends to the house. A crisis develops which they overcome with difficulty.
______
I hated this book. I think I kept reading, not because I was enjoying it but because it was like a train wreck and I couldn't turn away.
This young girl is found by Michael in a gutter and he feels a responsibility to her and ensuring she gets well. He visits her in the hospital and starts to fall in love with her and combined with being her daddy figure.
It was disgusting. What was even more disgusting and mind boggling is the Child Advocate encouraged this creep to take her in and love her!
It just seemed like this was a Pro Pedophilia book. Gross.
September 13, 2013
Review on my blog
This is the kind of book that won’t leave you indifferent because of the topics it brings up, which you can discuss over and over and not reach any conclusion at all.
Michael is an engineer; a 28 year-old boy who is very successful at work but not in his social life: he does his projects at home and rarely goes out, and the only relationship with a woman he has had happens every Saturday, when he sees a prostitute called Jacquie. One Saturday night when Jacquie is leaving, they find an unconscious, undernourished and probably drugged girl on the road; Michael looks after her while the ambulance is coming and the following days he feels worried about the girl, so he visits her in the hospital several times and they begin to fall in love with each other.
Her name is Jenny, she is fourteen and has had a really tough live: she had been sexually abused by her father, then he died and her mother abandoned her in the streets and she has been a prostitute mainly to get food and sometimes drugs until now. Michael feels guilty about having certain feelings towards a girl who is under-age, but it turns out that he is the only one who visits her and Jenny knows it, so she encourages him to keep on visiting and, eventually, take her to his house, which happens in the second part of the book.
What I liked about the book was two things. First of all, the relationship between Jenny and her father is rather complicated: it should have began as a child’s game of exploration at daddy’s bed – that her father didn’t discourage – when her mother went to work and ended up in a relationship between lovers in which Jenny was the dominant half and looked for it every morning, her father being the only one who felt guilty – sometimes. So Jenny never regrets it because for her it was normal, and remembers it as the best moments of her life.
This is so shocking. In fact, I have seen on Goodreads that many people gave up reading at this point, but despite the shock I think this is great for discussion owing to the controversy about what is normal and what is not in this Electra complex taken to the limit.
Besides, we have also the relationship between Michael and Jenny, which is also forbidden, but “less forbidden” than incest, and frustrates them since they feel like a couple but they have to avoid sex and they can’t explain their situation to others.
But the way the story is developed isn’t very good. The dialogues are terrible: I know that Jenny is a girl that hasn’t had an education and she has to speak like that, but Michael is an engineer; he must be used to talking with clients but every time he says something to Jenny or to the social workers he is monotonous and often ridiculous, so it sounds as if he has a mental age of ten. These dialogues make the read slow instead of adding some rhythm. On the other hand, I am really worried about the poor Australian children who are under the care of the social services of that country because, if the book is accurate, they can be left with the first stranger who seems to care for them, claiming that he loves a certain child and wants to began a relationship with her. This lack of responsibility of the social services is quite disturbing and makes the story a bit incredible.
So well, this is not a book for everyone because there is sexual content that might disgust some readers, but nevertheless this is precisely the thought-provoking part of the story. For the rest, I wouldn’t recommend it.
February 6, 2016
Jenny Rat
By Martin Simons
Summery courtesy of goodreads.com
Jenny, a young girl who has been sexually abused since childhood and now brutally assaulted, has been reduced to utter despair. She is saved by a reclusive, shy young man, Michael, twenty eight years old, who stumbles across her dying in the gutter outside his isolated house. He is a brilliant consultant engineer who works from home with his computers, rarely venturing outside. Profoundly shocked he gets her to hospital and visits her there as she struggles to recover. Mentally she is shattered. He is greatly shaken by the intrusion into his settled life but, full of compassion cannot abandon her. She recognizes in him a hope of refuge and determines to live with him. He welcomes her. They pretend to be sister and brother but this cannot last. She has great talents as a sculptor. He encourages her, providing tools and materials as she grows, constructs and reconstructs her works and her life. She begins to chip at him as she shapes her art. He is compelled to expand outside his self-imposed solitude. She attends school and brings friends to the house. A crisis develops which they overcome with difficulty. They become lovers. As they both continue to develop and grow, their relationship alters. At first he was the stronger, advising her to take control of her own life. She discovers in herself the power to do so and knows she is responsible for changing him too. As they grow further, more changes must be faced.
Review
Martin Simons has a real talent for world building, hes created a dark gritty plot whose characters drew me in - they were complex and broken, but together Michael and Jenny draw strength and confidence from each other and learn to live again in a normal and healthy way.
Jenny and Michael have both suffered through disturbing abuse and neglect.
Jenny is a survivor whose father was a twisted man who convinced her there was nothing wrong with the
incestuous relationship he had with her. Jenny's mother jealous and broken turns Jenny into a teenage prostitute where she once more is the victim of pedophiles. Alone and on living on the street Jenny is badly beaten and left for dead when Michael finds her and takes her to hospital.
Michael is a man who is a consulting engineer who lives alone outside of town because he has agoraphobia. Michael visits Jenny in the hospital and she opens up to him and tells him the sad story that is her life. Michael is drawn to Jenny, he really just wants to help her and show her that all people are not evil and untrustworthy,with the help of social worker, she ends up in his home...
Martin Simons has immense talent he has show cased social problems such as incest, domestic violence, prostitution and homeless teens in a real way that wasn't judgmental, but rather he shows the reader the sad progression that people in these situations can fall into.
This was a thought provoking read that gave me hope, it also made me laugh and cry, its a complex narrative that EVERYONE SHOULD READ ITS ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT.
A review copy was provided by NetGalley and Martin Simons in exchange for my honest review.
5 Stars
By Martin Simons
Summery courtesy of goodreads.com
Jenny, a young girl who has been sexually abused since childhood and now brutally assaulted, has been reduced to utter despair. She is saved by a reclusive, shy young man, Michael, twenty eight years old, who stumbles across her dying in the gutter outside his isolated house. He is a brilliant consultant engineer who works from home with his computers, rarely venturing outside. Profoundly shocked he gets her to hospital and visits her there as she struggles to recover. Mentally she is shattered. He is greatly shaken by the intrusion into his settled life but, full of compassion cannot abandon her. She recognizes in him a hope of refuge and determines to live with him. He welcomes her. They pretend to be sister and brother but this cannot last. She has great talents as a sculptor. He encourages her, providing tools and materials as she grows, constructs and reconstructs her works and her life. She begins to chip at him as she shapes her art. He is compelled to expand outside his self-imposed solitude. She attends school and brings friends to the house. A crisis develops which they overcome with difficulty. They become lovers. As they both continue to develop and grow, their relationship alters. At first he was the stronger, advising her to take control of her own life. She discovers in herself the power to do so and knows she is responsible for changing him too. As they grow further, more changes must be faced.
Review
Martin Simons has a real talent for world building, hes created a dark gritty plot whose characters drew me in - they were complex and broken, but together Michael and Jenny draw strength and confidence from each other and learn to live again in a normal and healthy way.
Jenny and Michael have both suffered through disturbing abuse and neglect.
Jenny is a survivor whose father was a twisted man who convinced her there was nothing wrong with the
incestuous relationship he had with her. Jenny's mother jealous and broken turns Jenny into a teenage prostitute where she once more is the victim of pedophiles. Alone and on living on the street Jenny is badly beaten and left for dead when Michael finds her and takes her to hospital.
Michael is a man who is a consulting engineer who lives alone outside of town because he has agoraphobia. Michael visits Jenny in the hospital and she opens up to him and tells him the sad story that is her life. Michael is drawn to Jenny, he really just wants to help her and show her that all people are not evil and untrustworthy,with the help of social worker, she ends up in his home...
Martin Simons has immense talent he has show cased social problems such as incest, domestic violence, prostitution and homeless teens in a real way that wasn't judgmental, but rather he shows the reader the sad progression that people in these situations can fall into.
This was a thought provoking read that gave me hope, it also made me laugh and cry, its a complex narrative that EVERYONE SHOULD READ ITS ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT.
A review copy was provided by NetGalley and Martin Simons in exchange for my honest review.
5 Stars
August 23, 2013
4.5 stars
"You have to create, construct, and re-construct yourself. Don't blame others for what you become."
Jenny was just a child who abused in every way and broken when she was found by Micheal. Michael was a shy man who kept to himself with only the company of a prostitute once a week. Michael had no clue what to expect when he found that girl battered on the floor but once he took care of her and sent her to the hospital, something changed in him. Against the warnings of others Michael just couldn't stay away from Jenny. Jenny was quite and scared and the only person who can bring her out of her shell was Michael. Determined to live with Micheal she jets from the hospital and seek refuge at his house. Its there that Michael tries to establish a normal sense of what home life is but there are times cross the border of what's right and wrong. Michael encourages Jenny to work on her art, while he signs her up for school to be around children her own age. As they grow feelings get stronger and both come out changed.
"Don't let people use you. Take charge of yourself, make yourself what you want to be. "
This book was originally for a book tour but there was a falling out for that and I had already signed up for this book on netgalley so I was interested in giving this book a chance. I never did read the description so I pretty much took a leap of faith and hoped for the best with this book. Sometimes it doesn't always work out well but in this case I enjoyed this book very much.
"Being is better than nothingness, isn't it?"
This book definitely is not for the faint of heart. It is complex, deep, intense, dark, but then hopeful. These two characters are from different worlds. Michael was an adult and Jenny was a minor and at times I felt like this was almost getting towards the book lolita but then again not. I couldn't help but chuckle to myself when I heard the Lolita was mentioned in the book because I was feeling the way the students who mentioned it. This book talks of mental abuse, sexual abuse, physical abuse, incest, and pedophila. There was so much cringe worthy moments in the books where I had to put the book down walk away and come back to it. I just can turn my back to a book and one like this I had to know how it turned out. Towards the end it was not at all what I had expected and I loved it all the same. I loved watching them both grow and change into better people. I loved that after all Jenny as been through she came out of it alive and well. My only problem was that sometimes I felt like the book dragged but thats about it. Overall I loved this book and Highly recommend you readers to check out this book!
"If we let things close in around us, cage us in, we will never achieve what is achievable."
"You have to create, construct, and re-construct yourself. Don't blame others for what you become."
Jenny was just a child who abused in every way and broken when she was found by Micheal. Michael was a shy man who kept to himself with only the company of a prostitute once a week. Michael had no clue what to expect when he found that girl battered on the floor but once he took care of her and sent her to the hospital, something changed in him. Against the warnings of others Michael just couldn't stay away from Jenny. Jenny was quite and scared and the only person who can bring her out of her shell was Michael. Determined to live with Micheal she jets from the hospital and seek refuge at his house. Its there that Michael tries to establish a normal sense of what home life is but there are times cross the border of what's right and wrong. Michael encourages Jenny to work on her art, while he signs her up for school to be around children her own age. As they grow feelings get stronger and both come out changed.
"Don't let people use you. Take charge of yourself, make yourself what you want to be. "
This book was originally for a book tour but there was a falling out for that and I had already signed up for this book on netgalley so I was interested in giving this book a chance. I never did read the description so I pretty much took a leap of faith and hoped for the best with this book. Sometimes it doesn't always work out well but in this case I enjoyed this book very much.
"Being is better than nothingness, isn't it?"
This book definitely is not for the faint of heart. It is complex, deep, intense, dark, but then hopeful. These two characters are from different worlds. Michael was an adult and Jenny was a minor and at times I felt like this was almost getting towards the book lolita but then again not. I couldn't help but chuckle to myself when I heard the Lolita was mentioned in the book because I was feeling the way the students who mentioned it. This book talks of mental abuse, sexual abuse, physical abuse, incest, and pedophila. There was so much cringe worthy moments in the books where I had to put the book down walk away and come back to it. I just can turn my back to a book and one like this I had to know how it turned out. Towards the end it was not at all what I had expected and I loved it all the same. I loved watching them both grow and change into better people. I loved that after all Jenny as been through she came out of it alive and well. My only problem was that sometimes I felt like the book dragged but thats about it. Overall I loved this book and Highly recommend you readers to check out this book!
"If we let things close in around us, cage us in, we will never achieve what is achievable."
August 13, 2019
Jenny Rat by Martin Simon
Pub Jan 2013
Australian Pub 2012
Rating: 3/5
Book is complimentary from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
The book title feels a bit uncomfortable and once I started reading I soon realized why. Sexual abuse and incest are far from topics to be considered comfortable. Despite the uneasiness of the topic and the manner in which the story unfolds, the novel grabbed my attention, wanting to be understood immediately. Initially, I didn't know what to make of my hesitancy regarding whether or not to like this book. The story is told from an unexpected angle in my opinion which heightened my interest. Upon reading, I felt as if I were reading someone's diary, something secret and scandalous.
Now that I have completed the book I remain with those same feelings finding it difficult to express a spoiler-free review! The two main characters are deeply flawed and like a diary expose foul and vulnerable parts of themselves that would be better off left unshared. The book is told with frequent references to ancient history and literature; Pygmalion and Lolita, for example and not by chance.
It was my hope that the characters would redeem themselves in someway. That's not to say they didn't; just not in the conventional manner in which I desired to fully tolerate the characters. Sadly, I found them rather loathesome and pathetic wanting desperately for someone "to pull them both out of the gutter." Ironically, since it was Michael who saved Jenny from the gutter helping her to rebuild her life.
In my opinion, the last chapter served no purpose except to confuse or serve as a prelude, I am fearful to even think, about another novel possibly about Michael. Without the last chapter the reader could be left with the option of considering that Michael desires to rebuild himself as he had helped Jenny.
Unfortunately, I felt it reopened Michael's "wounds" leaving him only partially revived. His past obsessions still seem too easily accessible for him.
Overall, I believe this book accomplished its goal with a deeply moving rather controversial story.
https://bookwormreviewblog.blogspot.c...
Pub Jan 2013
Australian Pub 2012
Rating: 3/5
Book is complimentary from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
The book title feels a bit uncomfortable and once I started reading I soon realized why. Sexual abuse and incest are far from topics to be considered comfortable. Despite the uneasiness of the topic and the manner in which the story unfolds, the novel grabbed my attention, wanting to be understood immediately. Initially, I didn't know what to make of my hesitancy regarding whether or not to like this book. The story is told from an unexpected angle in my opinion which heightened my interest. Upon reading, I felt as if I were reading someone's diary, something secret and scandalous.
Now that I have completed the book I remain with those same feelings finding it difficult to express a spoiler-free review! The two main characters are deeply flawed and like a diary expose foul and vulnerable parts of themselves that would be better off left unshared. The book is told with frequent references to ancient history and literature; Pygmalion and Lolita, for example and not by chance.
It was my hope that the characters would redeem themselves in someway. That's not to say they didn't; just not in the conventional manner in which I desired to fully tolerate the characters. Sadly, I found them rather loathesome and pathetic wanting desperately for someone "to pull them both out of the gutter." Ironically, since it was Michael who saved Jenny from the gutter helping her to rebuild her life.
In my opinion, the last chapter served no purpose except to confuse or serve as a prelude, I am fearful to even think, about another novel possibly about Michael. Without the last chapter the reader could be left with the option of considering that Michael desires to rebuild himself as he had helped Jenny.
Unfortunately, I felt it reopened Michael's "wounds" leaving him only partially revived. His past obsessions still seem too easily accessible for him.
Overall, I believe this book accomplished its goal with a deeply moving rather controversial story.
https://bookwormreviewblog.blogspot.c...
September 14, 2013
Hmm...there is so much to say about this book, and where to begin? I believe this book was skillfully written to manipulate readers into believing that it is possible for a child to sexually seduce a grown man and that the poor, weak, helpless man is utterly defenceless against her. It is absolute hogwash...and to be completely honest, I feel a little suspicious of the author's motives for writing this book. A child can be sexualized by a pedophile and taught to equate abuse with love, but it is ALWAYS the adult's responsibility to behave as an adult, and ensure that certain boundaries are never crossed. Period. No excuses.
I found it absolutely offensive to constantly read Michael's overdramatic, fawning terms of affection for Jenny such as "my darling, dearest", " my little one" or Jenny calling him "Daddy" and then next reading about Jenny stroking his penis. Michael was often portrayed as a sweet, gentle man who unselfishly sacrificed everything for Jenny, but Jenny is described as a slightly mad, creative, and relentlessly sexual temptress...and Michael is described as an "angel" but Jenny is a "filthy little rat." Wow...is this really about the author? Does he see the abused child as dirty and scheming, and the pedophile as a kind, gentle lover? OMG!!
Also, I am aware that this is an Australian book, but I really can't believe that a child services worker would place a damaged, vulnerable child to live with a man who has confessed that he has had sexual feelings for her. It certainly would not happen in my country and I doubt it would happen in Australia either. There were so many things that just did not ring true for me.
I hate what this book is sneakily attempting to put into readers' minds, and I believe that this story will also give pedophiles an excuse for their behaviour, or even encourage it. This book isn't much above those cheap, creepy, child porn novels that are available out there. I am a survivor of child sexual abuse, myself, and I am deeply offended by the message in this book. Sadly, the author has the potential to become a good writer, but after this experience I will never read anything else he writes.
I found it absolutely offensive to constantly read Michael's overdramatic, fawning terms of affection for Jenny such as "my darling, dearest", " my little one" or Jenny calling him "Daddy" and then next reading about Jenny stroking his penis. Michael was often portrayed as a sweet, gentle man who unselfishly sacrificed everything for Jenny, but Jenny is described as a slightly mad, creative, and relentlessly sexual temptress...and Michael is described as an "angel" but Jenny is a "filthy little rat." Wow...is this really about the author? Does he see the abused child as dirty and scheming, and the pedophile as a kind, gentle lover? OMG!!
Also, I am aware that this is an Australian book, but I really can't believe that a child services worker would place a damaged, vulnerable child to live with a man who has confessed that he has had sexual feelings for her. It certainly would not happen in my country and I doubt it would happen in Australia either. There were so many things that just did not ring true for me.
I hate what this book is sneakily attempting to put into readers' minds, and I believe that this story will also give pedophiles an excuse for their behaviour, or even encourage it. This book isn't much above those cheap, creepy, child porn novels that are available out there. I am a survivor of child sexual abuse, myself, and I am deeply offended by the message in this book. Sadly, the author has the potential to become a good writer, but after this experience I will never read anything else he writes.
August 23, 2013
Dark, gritty, raw, an emotional cesspool at times, and so frighteningly possible and/or probable in our society, that my revulsion level was peaking, Jenny Rat by Martin Simons is one of those books you love and hate at the same time with its powerful tale of abuse, uncertainty and insecurity.
In a world full of millions, two damaged and lonely people come together under the worst possible of circumstances, each finding something they need in the other, each giving back more than they knew they had to give. The world they created for themselves was private.
Jenny Rat is not a book to sit cozily down and “enjoy” in the sense that one enjoys a chocolate sundae. Martin Simons connects with his readers and almost dares us to keep reading. His ability to evoke strong emotion proves he can write, in a crisp and unembellished style, laying it bare, if you will, warts and all. Looking for something a little off the beaten track with fodder for thought and mental discussion, this is it!
A review copy was provided by NetGalley and Martin Simons in exchange for my honest review.
Original Publication: October 15, 2012/Current: January 8, 2013
Publisher: Martin Simons
ISBN: 9780987414304
Number of Pages: 354
Genre: Adult Fiction/Drama
My Rating: 4 Stars
Available from: Amazon / Barnes & Noble
For more reviews check out Tome Tender's Book Blog or find us on Facebook.
In a world full of millions, two damaged and lonely people come together under the worst possible of circumstances, each finding something they need in the other, each giving back more than they knew they had to give. The world they created for themselves was private.
Jenny Rat is not a book to sit cozily down and “enjoy” in the sense that one enjoys a chocolate sundae. Martin Simons connects with his readers and almost dares us to keep reading. His ability to evoke strong emotion proves he can write, in a crisp and unembellished style, laying it bare, if you will, warts and all. Looking for something a little off the beaten track with fodder for thought and mental discussion, this is it!
A review copy was provided by NetGalley and Martin Simons in exchange for my honest review.
Original Publication: October 15, 2012/Current: January 8, 2013
Publisher: Martin Simons
ISBN: 9780987414304
Number of Pages: 354
Genre: Adult Fiction/Drama
My Rating: 4 Stars
Available from: Amazon / Barnes & Noble
For more reviews check out Tome Tender's Book Blog or find us on Facebook.
flounced
August 12, 2013I got to about 40% and then skimmed the rest. The writing style did not work for me, and I questioned Michael's emotional maturity and common sense more than a few times. I also had a hard time believing the social worker's statements and was utterly horrified with Jacquie's attitude and the name-calling. I was also squicked out quite a bit when it became clear how old Jenny is, and how much older Michael is in comparison, knowing from the blurb how their relationship progresses.
Between the two of them, they both needed intensive therapy, and I had a hard time believing that the social system in Australia is really so hindering to a case like this. Perhaps that is true, but to this American, I was utterly appalled at the lack of initiative and concern on behalf of the social workers.
The blurb pretty much covers what this book is about. The book itself makes comparisons to Lolita, so be mindful of the subject matter.
I am marking this as DNF, without rating. This was unfortunately not a book for me.
Between the two of them, they both needed intensive therapy, and I had a hard time believing that the social system in Australia is really so hindering to a case like this. Perhaps that is true, but to this American, I was utterly appalled at the lack of initiative and concern on behalf of the social workers.
The blurb pretty much covers what this book is about. The book itself makes comparisons to Lolita, so be mindful of the subject matter.
I am marking this as DNF, without rating. This was unfortunately not a book for me.
February 18, 2015
In this book “Tell” and “Chip, chip” are words that signal something unavoidable is going to happen. In this extraordinarily perceptive and disturbing book Martin Simons takes us through the nightmarish early life of a 14 year old girl and then through the caring years she experiences with Michael, a reclusive 28 year old, who also had a traumatic childhood. Martin takes on the subject of Jenny’s being sexually abused with brutal frankness yet by objective and intelligent writing will leave many readers with just a touch of sympathy for the abusers. An extraordinary feat for a section of society we all would claim to abhor. This is a book of many layers and deserves a wide audience. By the time you finish it you will have read something about philosophy, stress engineering, educational methods, sexual abuse, the wisdom of children and the stresses of child welfare providers. Above all else it confirms that love and human kindness is essential to man and child alike.
August 22, 2013
I rarely give up reading a book, but this one I just couldn't get through. I received this book in exchange for my honest opinion in a review. When I couldn't finish it, I debated whether or not to write the review, but ultimately decided to do so as per the arrangement.
I did read several chapters (approximately 20% of the book )and found it to be very repetitive and slow moving. There was some foul language in it that I felt was quite unnecessary to the plot. The premises of the book is an interesting concept however. For me, this book was a bust. It is also very definitely adult fiction.
I give this book one star.
Disclaimer: I received a free review copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts are my own.
I did read several chapters (approximately 20% of the book )and found it to be very repetitive and slow moving. There was some foul language in it that I felt was quite unnecessary to the plot. The premises of the book is an interesting concept however. For me, this book was a bust. It is also very definitely adult fiction.
I give this book one star.
Disclaimer: I received a free review copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts are my own.
Did Not Finish
November 14, 2013I have decided not to finish this book. I almost truly can't describe how I am feeling about this right now other than completely and utterly skeeved out. The fact that the main male character was 28 and the main female character was 14 was really too far over the line for me. And then the descriptions of her sexual abuse as a child that she did not understand or feel was wrong were just on a whole other level of wrong for me. The adults that were charged to protect her failed. Absolutely failed...and really totally seemed to promote pedophilia. The social worker that let this happen...oh my goodness, made me so angry...and that is the point that I stopped reading. So...to each their own for this one. I don't know that my advice will be helpful to anyone, but there we are.
September 4, 2016
Jenny Rat tells the story of a young woman who has suffered throughout her life and has now come into the life of a socially inept man. The reader watches as Michael pulls Jenny from the hell that was her life and gives her hope and love. And how that love for Jenny - both from a parent perspective and from a lover's perspective - pulls Michael from his life of solitude.
Where is the line between right and wrong, friend and lover, parent and child? Who draws that line and who has the right to cross it? I found Jenny Rat to be an interesting and thought-provoking story that draws you in, making hope and dread where the story may lead.
Where is the line between right and wrong, friend and lover, parent and child? Who draws that line and who has the right to cross it? I found Jenny Rat to be an interesting and thought-provoking story that draws you in, making hope and dread where the story may lead.
August 20, 2013
I had a very hard time with this book. As such, I did not finish it.
I felt the main characters were very flat.
The story line was tedious and not well written.
I had a really hard time with the male protagonist who uses a prostitute weekly befriending a teen prostitute. He pulls her from the gutter and I just got queasy reading their interaction with each other.
I know Michael wasn't the type who could relate to girls, hence the reason he used a prostitute. And the teen prostitute was obviously a victim of incest and I just could not go on with the story
I felt the main characters were very flat.
The story line was tedious and not well written.
I had a really hard time with the male protagonist who uses a prostitute weekly befriending a teen prostitute. He pulls her from the gutter and I just got queasy reading their interaction with each other.
I know Michael wasn't the type who could relate to girls, hence the reason he used a prostitute. And the teen prostitute was obviously a victim of incest and I just could not go on with the story
Read
October 19, 2013I gave up.
There were elements that drew me into the story, but when she grabs his junk in the hospital, I was out. It's fairly obvious from the book description where this goes and I was still somehow hoping it wouldn't.
The dialogue was irritating... the hooker who says "eh?" at the end of every sentence (is she supposed to be a Canadian Aussie? it's still obnoxious), Jenny's speech...
I will say that the writing style around it seems really suited for sci-fi writing. His last book had a more sci fi flavor to it as well and was better than this one.
There were elements that drew me into the story, but when she grabs his junk in the hospital, I was out. It's fairly obvious from the book description where this goes and I was still somehow hoping it wouldn't.
The dialogue was irritating... the hooker who says "eh?" at the end of every sentence (is she supposed to be a Canadian Aussie? it's still obnoxious), Jenny's speech...
I will say that the writing style around it seems really suited for sci-fi writing. His last book had a more sci fi flavor to it as well and was better than this one.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews