Beating Against the Current

by Kenneth Grimes

A successful British academic in the US, Jay is accused of sexual assault by a colleague—and he thought they were in love. In the shadow of the emerging #MeToo movement, he struggles with the enormity of the accusations made against him, and the agonized question of his responsibility.Torn between the man he thinks he is and the predator he’s now perceived to be, Jay is forced to re-examine his past. He makes a tortured journey back to the UK, battling demons that lay deep within his past since witnessing a traumatic childhood incident.

288 pages, Paperback

Published April 26, 2024

Reviews

[Robin Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

The novel starts as Jay Winston's life begins to fall apart. He's an English man living and working in San Diego. He's a University professor. A trusted man. Until suddenly he's not. At times his only confidant is Robbie, his dead brother, who offers advice from beyond the grave.
The author tackles some incredibly difficult and sensitive subjects with integrity and skill.
This is a novel about grief and learning to cope with it; and it's about marriage and learning to value one's intended life partner; and it's about coming to terms with addiction and learning how to move on; and it's about guilt and learning when it's relevant and when it's not - and ultimately it's a novel about finding oneself when all else seems lost.
The characterisation is first class. The various relationships evolve through subtle nuances to offer hope where once there was none. A reading experience that urges one to embark on a journey of self-discovery.

[Andy Hamilton · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, I need to disclose that Ken is a friend and fellow book club member. So I was prepared for, TBH, an underwhelming book. I’m happy to report I was kinda blown away. This is a legitimate treatment of the #metoo phenomenon. The book was hard to put down. I was drawn into the story, the ambiguity of Jay’s position, and how he dealt with the impacts of his actions on himself, his accuser, his employer, and especially his wife and family. The intertwining of Jay’s childhood trauma with his current situation was deftly handled. I thought the ending was a little too neat and tidy, with a full reconciliation with his wife and hints of a dismissal of the charges against him (resolution of the court case against Jay is left to the reader’s imagination). Also, while the writing quality still has a way to go, the story was so strong that I didn’t notice writing weaknesses much. Well done, Ken!

[B. Buckinchere]

Overview (spoiler-free):
This is a very unique novel, and is an easy read for people with ADHD. The fact that the novel discusses male issues by a male author from the perspective of a male protagonist was an immediate eye catcher for me.

It serves as a warning to cheating men everywhere, as to what could happen if you throw away something good for an opportunist who only wishes to get ahead.

Even if you are single, it is still a warning as to what could happen if you think it’s a good idea to carry on with trysts in the workplace where everyone is a shark, and only out for themselves.

And the fact that the novel is set during the #metoo era as Hillary Rodham Clinton was running for president against Donald Trump only served to further raise the stakes and drive the point home. It’s funny how in every feminist sob story, they always tell you about these “rapist pigs” who abuse their power at work.

And although men who abuse their power at work do exist, and women too (if we’re being honest), our hero was able to persevere against the current, defeat his inner demons that had haunted him for decades, change careers, and ultimately......

It also helps that Grimes is one of my fellow San Diego local authors and the very first of my local authors whose work I have read. I do believe that this is Grimes’s debut novel, and it has done extraordinarily well by setting the precedent for many of his future works.

Full Review (spoilers included): [https://thebuckincheretranscendence.w...]

[David Harpster · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jay Winston is struggling with addiction, he's haunted by a terrible childhood memory and his marriage isn't what it used to be. But the British sociology professor believes he has found his soulmate in Eve, a teaching assistant he is mentoring at the San Diego university where he works. But after a night of lovemaking at a San Francisco conference, his world begins to collapse when he's accused of forcing her to have sex in order to get a job on the faculty.

Deeply introspective, "Beating Against the Current" is a gripping chronicle of Jay's painful journey into his past as he tries to discover who he really is. I especially liked author Grimes' treatment of Jay as a flawed individual who makes cringe-worthy mistakes but desperately wants to embark on a path to redemtion and prove to the world, and himself, that he's not a monster.

Not only is the book populated with realistic characters, it also contains some beautiful imagery of the landscape, skies and buildings Jay encounters during his quest. Reading the book was a near roller-coaster ride, with lots of twists and turns, but with an ending that makes you glad you went on the emotional ride.

If I could, I'd give it 4 1/2 stars. Highly recommended.

[Dave Schumacher · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting storyline exploring sexual harassment and personal responsibility for both the man and woman involved. Well done!