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Meatworks
Desmond Poole is damaged in more ways than one. If he was an underachiever before, he’s entirely useless now that he’s lost his right hand. He spends his time drowning his sorrows in vodka while he deliberately blows off the training that would help him master his new prosthetic. Social Services seems determined to try and stop him from wallowing in his own filth, so he’s forced to attend an amputee support group. He expects nothing more than stale cookies, tepid decaf and a bunch of self-pitying sob stories, so he’s blindsided when a fellow amputee catches his eye. Corey Steiner is a hot young rudeboy who works his robotic limb like an extension of his own body, and he’s smitten by Desmond’s crusty punk rock charm from the get-go. Unfortunately, Desmond hasn’t quite severed ties with his ex-boyfriend, and Corey isn’t known for his maturity or patience. Meatworks is set in a bleak near-future where cell phone and personal computer technologies never developed. In their place, robotics flourished. Now robots run everything from cars to coffee pots. Taking the guesswork out of menial tasks was intended to create leisure time, but instead robots have made society dependent and passive. Desmond loathes robots and goes out of his way to avoid them. But can he survive without the robotic arm strapped to the end of his stump?
300 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2014
20 people are currently reading
795 people want to read
About the author
Jordan Castillo Price
138 books2,129 followersAuthor and artist Jordan Castillo Price writes paranormal sci-fi thrillers colored by her time in the Midwest, from inner city Chicago, to various cities across southern Wisconsin. She’s settled in a 1910 Cape Cod near Lake Michigan with tons of character and a plethora of bizarre spiders. Any disembodied noises, she’s decided, will be blamed on the ice maker.
Jordan is best known as the author of the PsyCop series, an unfolding tale of paranormal mystery and suspense starring Victor Bayne, a gay medium who's plagued by ghostly visitations.
Jordan is best known as the author of the PsyCop series, an unfolding tale of paranormal mystery and suspense starring Victor Bayne, a gay medium who's plagued by ghostly visitations.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 165 reviews
July 6, 2014
Truth be told this book won't be for everyone. It's not your typical M/M fare. If you're expecting a traditional romance, you won't get it here. It's not happy and sweet. It's honestly unlike anything I've read before. And I loved it…FIERCELY.
Your experience with Meatworks lies solely on how you take to Desmond Poole. Desmond is not a hero. Heck he's not even an anti-hero. He's, when you line up the facts on paper, a total loser.
He grew up with nowhere friends in a nowhere job with a nowhere dad and eventually led to his right hand being…nowhere. In an incident he barely remembers, he lost his appendage and thus became a "gimp"…with a robotic prosthetic.
He's a vodka-holic, he can't keep a job, he's struggling coming to grips with his handicap, he's grouchy, he's needy, he's inappropriate, he's unpredictable, he's a terrible communicator, he's lazy, he's self-destructive.
He's in love with two men (possibly three) and can't figure out if either is great or awful for him. The relationships are complicated and his feelings are conflicted. He doesn't always know what he wants or who he wants. He is clueless to what he needs.
There is absolutely no reason why I should like Desmond Poole. I LOVE DESMOND POOLE.
He is I-don't-give-a-fuck cool. And yet he does give a fuck.
And those glimpses of need, vulnerability, and desire drew me to him. I didn't root for him to suddenly embrace his handicap, become a contributing member of society, and find his HEA with one of his love options. I just wanted him to be ok. Aiming low? No…it's just…this book isn't a fairy tale.
It's a 1st person account of Desmond just trying to figure his shit out. Not a whole lot happens from page to page...but it feels monumental none the less. It's not taletelling. It's character growth. It's not action-packed. It's realizations small and sometimes unspoken even.
It's hard to categorize this book. It's got a touch of the sci-fi futuristic in it but it reads like a contemporary novel. It's dark and gritty and yet the dry humor cracked me up. It's got these romantic moments and hot sex but I didn't care who he picked at the end.
Being inside Desmond's head was a total trip and a ride I'm so glad to have taken. I wish I could stay in there forever.
And the writing? PHENOMENAL. A new side to JCP and it's so so good.
Easily one of the best books of the year in my opinion...READ IT!
January 8, 2016
eminently excellent.
once in a while JCP writes these characters who read like the kind of dudes who look like they smell bad. but her effortless talent for layering relatable and poignant details with the appalling consequences of their (usually hilarious) character flaws is unmatched in MM.
recommended.
once in a while JCP writes these characters who read like the kind of dudes who look like they smell bad. but her effortless talent for layering relatable and poignant details with the appalling consequences of their (usually hilarious) character flaws is unmatched in MM.
recommended.
August 30, 2016
5 stars and a new favorite for me.
I don't know what it is about JCP's characters that cause me to make all of these text-to-self connections (Vic and now Desmond) while reading, but they do. But me seeing many shades of myself in Desmond (anyone who knows me will likely be able to attest to this) is not the only reason I loved this book.
Despite being set in an alternate reality where robotics are part of daily life for most of society, it reads real. I can visualize where these guys live, the warehouse where Desmond lost his arm, (imagery confirmed in the About the Book section) and even his rank apartment with all of those discarded yellow envelopes from Social Services. I can see and understand how Desmond transitioned from a juvenile delinquent with a somewhat dysfunctional family to a heavy-drinking blue collar guy who can't fully forget the "friends" he grew up, and finally to the guy we meet. The guy who is like well fuuuuuck this, and stops trying to be functional after becoming a "gimp".
The thing about being a functional adult is that it only works insofar as you actually believe you are one. You could do all the things you're supposed to do (finish school, get a job, get your own place), but if you're still convinced that deep down you're NOT that way... it's really easy to toss that whole functional thing out the window once everything goes awry, and your life is irrevocably changed. Like losing your arm. Or finding out you have cancer. Annnd I'm text-to-selfing again. Sorry.
So, I've seen people say there is romance in this book and some people say there isn't, but I think there is. Just not the kind you may be accustomed to reading. Is it a romance in the sense that Corey rides in like a white knight and saves Desmond from himself with the right words (and the right cock), and shows him how to be a functioning human? No. And that would be unrealistic and my love for this book would have plummeted. That's not how it goes in real life.
But it is a romance in the sense that Desmond has a difficult and intense connection with two men in this book, and the threads of those relationships are fully intertwined with his character development arc. No one saves anyone else(even though his lovable, well-meaning, self-righteous, and somewhat condescending ex thinks he can save Desmond from himself and goes about it in all the wro...text-to-selfing again), and for Desmond to be shown the light by another person would prevent him from actually growing as a character. He had to identify his own problems and try to rise above them on his own before he can possibly have a working relationship with another human being.
This book may not be for everyone because it IS gritty, somewhat dark (but also hilarious), and has a romance element that you may not be used to. It also focuses on the down-and-out folks on government assistant and the derelicts of questionable moral fiber that most books tend to ignore or cast aside. So if you like your LGBT fiction PC and tidy, you might have a hard time. But the writing is so good and watching Desmond figure things out is so awesome that I think you should give it a shot despite your comfort level.
I don't know what it is about JCP's characters that cause me to make all of these text-to-self connections (Vic and now Desmond) while reading, but they do. But me seeing many shades of myself in Desmond (anyone who knows me will likely be able to attest to this) is not the only reason I loved this book.
Despite being set in an alternate reality where robotics are part of daily life for most of society, it reads real. I can visualize where these guys live, the warehouse where Desmond lost his arm, (imagery confirmed in the About the Book section) and even his rank apartment with all of those discarded yellow envelopes from Social Services. I can see and understand how Desmond transitioned from a juvenile delinquent with a somewhat dysfunctional family to a heavy-drinking blue collar guy who can't fully forget the "friends" he grew up, and finally to the guy we meet. The guy who is like well fuuuuuck this, and stops trying to be functional after becoming a "gimp".
The thing about being a functional adult is that it only works insofar as you actually believe you are one. You could do all the things you're supposed to do (finish school, get a job, get your own place), but if you're still convinced that deep down you're NOT that way... it's really easy to toss that whole functional thing out the window once everything goes awry, and your life is irrevocably changed. Like losing your arm. Or finding out you have cancer. Annnd I'm text-to-selfing again. Sorry.
So, I've seen people say there is romance in this book and some people say there isn't, but I think there is. Just not the kind you may be accustomed to reading. Is it a romance in the sense that Corey rides in like a white knight and saves Desmond from himself with the right words (and the right cock), and shows him how to be a functioning human? No. And that would be unrealistic and my love for this book would have plummeted. That's not how it goes in real life.
But it is a romance in the sense that Desmond has a difficult and intense connection with two men in this book, and the threads of those relationships are fully intertwined with his character development arc. No one saves anyone else(even though his lovable, well-meaning, self-righteous, and somewhat condescending ex thinks he can save Desmond from himself and goes about it in all the wro...text-to-selfing again), and for Desmond to be shown the light by another person would prevent him from actually growing as a character. He had to identify his own problems and try to rise above them on his own before he can possibly have a working relationship with another human being.
This book may not be for everyone because it IS gritty, somewhat dark (but also hilarious), and has a romance element that you may not be used to. It also focuses on the down-and-out folks on government assistant and the derelicts of questionable moral fiber that most books tend to ignore or cast aside. So if you like your LGBT fiction PC and tidy, you might have a hard time. But the writing is so good and watching Desmond figure things out is so awesome that I think you should give it a shot despite your comfort level.
December 21, 2014
The characterization of Desmond Poole in “Meatworks” by Jordan Castillo Price is some of the best protagonist work I've seen in a while.
Desmond Poole is a punk, a drunk, and a dirty asshole. He’s disabled and living off the government (though not well), and his ex, Jim, is his social worker.
At this point the faint of heart should probably put the book down. It’s not the rest of our problems if you thought you liked it gritty but then realized that you were a pansy.
If you do stick with it, then I promise that you’ll be in for a treat.
The truth is that Desmond isn’t that bad-assed. Sure, he scowls, smokes, and swears for fun, but so do a lot of people.
One of my first glimpses into the real Desmond Poole was when he freaked out at Corey because he realized that there was a possibility that a robo-finger could have gone up his ass. Desmond rolled to face the wall and told Corey to leave. That’s not the reaction of a bad ass. It shows him to be:
Vulnerable. Afraid. Depressed. Sporting an incredibly low self-esteem.
Later he mentions that he liked his ex to light up his cigarettes for him, and he wears a padlock around his neck belonging to said ex.
Romantic. Lonely. Likes to be cared for.
Desmond is incredibly relatable and authentic. Even though his favorite hang out is an abandoned warehouse where the shitter is broken and he does drugs and listens to loud music, he’s not a complete bastard. He just thinks he is.
JCP reveals Desmond’s light and dark parts with raw and bracing diction. He’s broken and beautiful. “Meatworks” is like an urban-style Grimm fairy tale with a happier ending, but not too happy. It may be make believe, but don’t let that fool you. It’s real, and if you read this book you’re going to fucking live it.
If you liked this review, check out Beth's blog:
http://www.bethbrockbooks.com
And fucking love it.
Desmond Poole is a punk, a drunk, and a dirty asshole. He’s disabled and living off the government (though not well), and his ex, Jim, is his social worker.
At this point the faint of heart should probably put the book down. It’s not the rest of our problems if you thought you liked it gritty but then realized that you were a pansy.
If you do stick with it, then I promise that you’ll be in for a treat.
The truth is that Desmond isn’t that bad-assed. Sure, he scowls, smokes, and swears for fun, but so do a lot of people.
One of my first glimpses into the real Desmond Poole was when he freaked out at Corey because he realized that there was a possibility that a robo-finger could have gone up his ass. Desmond rolled to face the wall and told Corey to leave. That’s not the reaction of a bad ass. It shows him to be:
Vulnerable. Afraid. Depressed. Sporting an incredibly low self-esteem.
Later he mentions that he liked his ex to light up his cigarettes for him, and he wears a padlock around his neck belonging to said ex.
Romantic. Lonely. Likes to be cared for.
Desmond is incredibly relatable and authentic. Even though his favorite hang out is an abandoned warehouse where the shitter is broken and he does drugs and listens to loud music, he’s not a complete bastard. He just thinks he is.
JCP reveals Desmond’s light and dark parts with raw and bracing diction. He’s broken and beautiful. “Meatworks” is like an urban-style Grimm fairy tale with a happier ending, but not too happy. It may be make believe, but don’t let that fool you. It’s real, and if you read this book you’re going to fucking live it.
If you liked this review, check out Beth's blog:
http://www.bethbrockbooks.com
And fucking love it.
November 17, 2014
Rating: 2.5 stars
So Desmond Pool is a 33 year old man who’s living with his newly acquired robotic arm after a near death experience months back. He’s pretty much bumming off of disability benefits and trying to avoid the requirements set forth by his ex-boyfriend/current social worker. Unfortunately for Desmond, there’s only so much he can avoid before his monthly disability check is cut off. And during one of his support group meeting, he meets a young man named Corey – a three year veteran and expert wielder with his robotic arm. The robotic arm that Desmond himself has refused to learn how to use.
Apparently, there’s debate whether or not this book should be considered a romance. In my opinion, there is romance, though it plays second fiddle to the whole “self-discovery” component to Meatworks. And in my further opinion, the book would have been a whole lot better if it didn’t even have that iota of romance. But more into that later…
So what was good about Meatworks? Even though Desmond wasn’t my idea of a great character, the author does a good job of making him a compelling one. He’s not a nice guy, but he’s certainly someone who eventually learns to face his fears. He comes off as sarcastic a bit of a jerk at times, but he doesn’t lay it too thick to the point of me disliking his personality.
The world building was also nicely done. It’s one that’s similar to our own (even making references to current pop culture), but with its own robotic twist. Desmond’s comments about the changes in robotics within the past decade is something I see myself assessing as well in our own world, which makes it all the more believable and Desmond someone we can all connect with (I mean, some kids get tablets from their school! And I certainly didn’t have a smart phone to play with as a kid when I was bored sitting at a restaurant with my family. Kids are so lucky these days. Just like the kids in this book)
Fortunately, I rarely ever read a book where a character I actually like ends up with someone I actually hate. Unfortunately, it happens with Meatworks. And let me say that I absolutely hate Corey, though as a disclaimer, I’m probably more biased than most for the reasoning. I’ve had exposure to working in an environment where people take advantage of a system meant to help others for their own selfish greed and laziness. I also currently work in a facility where such a thing happens, and Corey is a reminder of someone who does just that. He’s a young man (in his early twenties), who spends his time BUMMING it at home, doing absolutely NOTHING. He’s an expert with his robotic arm and is more than capable of going back to the work force. Instead, he milks and works the disability system so he doesn’t have to work, but still gets a paycheck every month. He even questions Desmond’s choice to go back to work at one point, which rubbed me completely the wrong way. And yet for some reason, Desmond is all heart eyes for this young man? A young man, who in my own eyes does nothing but throws tantrums and is a lazy bum, is the love interest to our main character? Puhleeeze. I would have prefer if there was absolutely no love interest here or that Desmond ended up back with his ex (though he did do some petty things himself, but at least he didn’t remind me of a ten year old refusing to do his chores).
My dislike of Corey was enough to make me skip all sex scenes and scenes of intimacy between the two towards the later half of the book. Without the romance, Meatworks is more of a self-discovery book where Desmond realizes the things he has to change in his life to get it back on track. This focus of the novel wasn’t bad, though there was one plot point that confused me in terms of its overall significance (I won’t mention it as it’s probably considered a spoiler to most).
But overall, I can’t say I enjoyed this novel. While I understand that Desmond has made many bad choices in his past, his relationship to Corey was something I couldn’t overlook and enjoy. However, I am probably in the minority with this opinion and advise readers to seek other reviews before deciding if this book is for you.
So Desmond Pool is a 33 year old man who’s living with his newly acquired robotic arm after a near death experience months back. He’s pretty much bumming off of disability benefits and trying to avoid the requirements set forth by his ex-boyfriend/current social worker. Unfortunately for Desmond, there’s only so much he can avoid before his monthly disability check is cut off. And during one of his support group meeting, he meets a young man named Corey – a three year veteran and expert wielder with his robotic arm. The robotic arm that Desmond himself has refused to learn how to use.
Apparently, there’s debate whether or not this book should be considered a romance. In my opinion, there is romance, though it plays second fiddle to the whole “self-discovery” component to Meatworks. And in my further opinion, the book would have been a whole lot better if it didn’t even have that iota of romance. But more into that later…
So what was good about Meatworks? Even though Desmond wasn’t my idea of a great character, the author does a good job of making him a compelling one. He’s not a nice guy, but he’s certainly someone who eventually learns to face his fears. He comes off as sarcastic a bit of a jerk at times, but he doesn’t lay it too thick to the point of me disliking his personality.
The world building was also nicely done. It’s one that’s similar to our own (even making references to current pop culture), but with its own robotic twist. Desmond’s comments about the changes in robotics within the past decade is something I see myself assessing as well in our own world, which makes it all the more believable and Desmond someone we can all connect with (I mean, some kids get tablets from their school! And I certainly didn’t have a smart phone to play with as a kid when I was bored sitting at a restaurant with my family. Kids are so lucky these days. Just like the kids in this book)
Fortunately, I rarely ever read a book where a character I actually like ends up with someone I actually hate. Unfortunately, it happens with Meatworks. And let me say that I absolutely hate Corey, though as a disclaimer, I’m probably more biased than most for the reasoning. I’ve had exposure to working in an environment where people take advantage of a system meant to help others for their own selfish greed and laziness. I also currently work in a facility where such a thing happens, and Corey is a reminder of someone who does just that. He’s a young man (in his early twenties), who spends his time BUMMING it at home, doing absolutely NOTHING. He’s an expert with his robotic arm and is more than capable of going back to the work force. Instead, he milks and works the disability system so he doesn’t have to work, but still gets a paycheck every month. He even questions Desmond’s choice to go back to work at one point, which rubbed me completely the wrong way. And yet for some reason, Desmond is all heart eyes for this young man? A young man, who in my own eyes does nothing but throws tantrums and is a lazy bum, is the love interest to our main character? Puhleeeze. I would have prefer if there was absolutely no love interest here or that Desmond ended up back with his ex (though he did do some petty things himself, but at least he didn’t remind me of a ten year old refusing to do his chores).
My dislike of Corey was enough to make me skip all sex scenes and scenes of intimacy between the two towards the later half of the book. Without the romance, Meatworks is more of a self-discovery book where Desmond realizes the things he has to change in his life to get it back on track. This focus of the novel wasn’t bad, though there was one plot point that confused me in terms of its overall significance (I won’t mention it as it’s probably considered a spoiler to most).
But overall, I can’t say I enjoyed this novel. While I understand that Desmond has made many bad choices in his past, his relationship to Corey was something I couldn’t overlook and enjoy. However, I am probably in the minority with this opinion and advise readers to seek other reviews before deciding if this book is for you.
July 9, 2014
This is interesting as a character study, more than it is romantic. Desmond is a somewhat difficult character to like. He lost his right hand in an accident he can't really remember, and since then he has drifted in a fog of pain and self-pity. He's repelled by the prosthetic arm he's been given, and has made no real attempt to learn to use it. This makes day to day living difficult, as he's reduced to doing everything with his non-dominant "meatworks" hand, and using the prosthetic as little more than an extension of his arm. He wanders through his days in a haze of alcohol and regret. His social worker is a man who was once his boyfriend, but even Jim's personal touch in letters and arrangements to help him can't break him out of his lethargy.
When the disability payments he lives on threaten to run dry, Desmond is forced to attend an amputees' support meeting. There he meets Corey, who is young, vibrant, much more comfortable with his own prosthetic arm. Corey is also interested in Desmond, at least on a physical level. Although Desmond has never gotten around to removing the padlock he wears around his neck as a reminder of Jim, he's not averse to spending a night with Corey. And gradually he comes to have an appreciation for Corey beyond just his talents in bed.
Throughout the book, Desmond bounces back and forth between Jim and Corey. Both men offer him caring and help, even when he alienates or uses them. He's sometimes blind to their feelings, and often clueless about his own intentions. Other times he rationalizes taking the easy route, or once again falling back on Jim and his endless willingness to try to smooth Desmond's path. Desmond's distress, his alienation from his own life, and a lurking backstory are real, but both Jim (always) and Corey (sometimes) feel too good for him. Corey of course has his own flaws, a total lack of ambition that sits oddly with his otherwise dynamic personality. Perhaps the intention is for Desmond to rehabilitate him in return, but at times they both feel like wastrels who despite serious disabilities are using the system, more so in the case of Corey, three years out from his loss.
Although Desmond does grow up some in the course of the story, he never quite succeeds in becoming a romance hero. But as you near the end you do discover a reason for his waffling, his inability to let go of any person he might cling to, while failing to commit to anything. And perhaps his inability to believe in himself. A youthful imperative, and a hugely painful moment, lurking in his subconscious, have Desmond mired in his life, and make him a more understandable character.
The background of Desmond's world is lightly sketched, but there's enough to feel plausible and do the job for the plot. In this near-future SciFi, robots and scanners are part of the indoor landscape, for identification, and ostensibly to make life easier. Desmond's anxiety over scanners and unwillingness to cooperate with the identification process added a dimension to the book. I was interested in how the story worked out, but I didn't develop real affection for Desmond, at least not enough to outweigh the times I wanted to smack him. And for once with this author the sex felt more perfunctory and plot-driven than heated and emotional, perhaps because Desmond himself has a rather flat affect. So if you like SciFi and psychological tales this should interest you, but if you are reading for the romantic emotions it may not appeal as much.
When the disability payments he lives on threaten to run dry, Desmond is forced to attend an amputees' support meeting. There he meets Corey, who is young, vibrant, much more comfortable with his own prosthetic arm. Corey is also interested in Desmond, at least on a physical level. Although Desmond has never gotten around to removing the padlock he wears around his neck as a reminder of Jim, he's not averse to spending a night with Corey. And gradually he comes to have an appreciation for Corey beyond just his talents in bed.
Throughout the book, Desmond bounces back and forth between Jim and Corey. Both men offer him caring and help, even when he alienates or uses them. He's sometimes blind to their feelings, and often clueless about his own intentions. Other times he rationalizes taking the easy route, or once again falling back on Jim and his endless willingness to try to smooth Desmond's path. Desmond's distress, his alienation from his own life, and a lurking backstory are real, but both Jim (always) and Corey (sometimes) feel too good for him. Corey of course has his own flaws, a total lack of ambition that sits oddly with his otherwise dynamic personality. Perhaps the intention is for Desmond to rehabilitate him in return, but at times they both feel like wastrels who despite serious disabilities are using the system, more so in the case of Corey, three years out from his loss.
Although Desmond does grow up some in the course of the story, he never quite succeeds in becoming a romance hero. But as you near the end you do discover a reason for his waffling, his inability to let go of any person he might cling to, while failing to commit to anything. And perhaps his inability to believe in himself. A youthful imperative, and a hugely painful moment, lurking in his subconscious, have Desmond mired in his life, and make him a more understandable character.
The background of Desmond's world is lightly sketched, but there's enough to feel plausible and do the job for the plot. In this near-future SciFi, robots and scanners are part of the indoor landscape, for identification, and ostensibly to make life easier. Desmond's anxiety over scanners and unwillingness to cooperate with the identification process added a dimension to the book. I was interested in how the story worked out, but I didn't develop real affection for Desmond, at least not enough to outweigh the times I wanted to smack him. And for once with this author the sex felt more perfunctory and plot-driven than heated and emotional, perhaps because Desmond himself has a rather flat affect. So if you like SciFi and psychological tales this should interest you, but if you are reading for the romantic emotions it may not appeal as much.
March 23, 2016
Me resulta muy complicado calificar esta historia, entran en conflicto lo que me parece como libro y lo que me gusta a mi cuando leo un libro.
Lo primero que sería oportuno decir es que para mi, en absoluto es un libro de literatura romántica. El libro es la evolución del personaje de Desmond a partir de la situación vital crítica en la que se encuentra al comenzar el libro, habiendo perdido un brazo y arrastrando un trauma por ello, con una relación acabada por sus malas decisiones y en definitiva con una desidia absoluta por seguir viviendo en un futuro distópico en el que los robots lo controlan todo, entrando peligrosamente en un rueda de autodestrucción. A lo largo de esa evolución la autora construye el personaje de una manera maravillosa, y aunque eres consciente de todas sus malas decisiones, pasadas y presentes, no puedes evitar sentir ternura hacia él y desear que todo le vaya bien.
La atmósfera que rodea al libro es increíblemente opresiva, más por lo que siente el personaje que por lo que le rodea, esa amargura y desesperación se traslada cuando estás leyendo y a veces la lectura no resulta muy agradable. Pero Desmond crece, evoluciona, para ello necesitará personajes secundarios y una nueva oportunidad de tener una relación más o menos sana, tanto como es posible para alguien como él, pero vuelvo a repetir, no es ni mucho menos esta relación el eje principal del libro, incluso lo es más su relación pasada. Realmente, ¿a quién quiere Desmond y con quién puede ser feliz?
Destacar algunos momentos de humor, he de confesar que comparto absolutamente el sentido del humor del personaje, en alguna ocasión me ha hecho soltar una carcajada.
Lo mejor del libro es el personaje principal, realmente él es el libro, lo peor la forma en que están construidas algunas de sus relaciones, queda un poco confuso, y desde luego su historia de amor muy difusa, con comportamientos que en ocasiones no me parece que que vayan con el personaje.
No sé si lo recomendaría, si buscas una historia de amor, desde luego no; si buscas otro tipo de historias y estás con humor..., es una buena opción.
Lo primero que sería oportuno decir es que para mi, en absoluto es un libro de literatura romántica. El libro es la evolución del personaje de Desmond a partir de la situación vital crítica en la que se encuentra al comenzar el libro, habiendo perdido un brazo y arrastrando un trauma por ello, con una relación acabada por sus malas decisiones y en definitiva con una desidia absoluta por seguir viviendo en un futuro distópico en el que los robots lo controlan todo, entrando peligrosamente en un rueda de autodestrucción. A lo largo de esa evolución la autora construye el personaje de una manera maravillosa, y aunque eres consciente de todas sus malas decisiones, pasadas y presentes, no puedes evitar sentir ternura hacia él y desear que todo le vaya bien.
La atmósfera que rodea al libro es increíblemente opresiva, más por lo que siente el personaje que por lo que le rodea, esa amargura y desesperación se traslada cuando estás leyendo y a veces la lectura no resulta muy agradable. Pero Desmond crece, evoluciona, para ello necesitará personajes secundarios y una nueva oportunidad de tener una relación más o menos sana, tanto como es posible para alguien como él, pero vuelvo a repetir, no es ni mucho menos esta relación el eje principal del libro, incluso lo es más su relación pasada. Realmente, ¿a quién quiere Desmond y con quién puede ser feliz?
Destacar algunos momentos de humor, he de confesar que comparto absolutamente el sentido del humor del personaje, en alguna ocasión me ha hecho soltar una carcajada.
Lo mejor del libro es el personaje principal, realmente él es el libro, lo peor la forma en que están construidas algunas de sus relaciones, queda un poco confuso, y desde luego su historia de amor muy difusa, con comportamientos que en ocasiones no me parece que que vayan con el personaje.
No sé si lo recomendaría, si buscas una historia de amor, desde luego no; si buscas otro tipo de historias y estás con humor..., es una buena opción.
November 18, 2014
Fucking brilliant.
Honestly, I am so glad Jordan Castillo Price writes the books she does, about characters like Desmond, in places like Riverside.
When I talk about JCP's books, I feel like I imagine an evangelist feels when moved by the spirit (or whatever, I'm not up on my religious-speak). I get so excited, so full of anticipation for someone else to read her books, to see what I see, to get that amazing connection to these...
Extremely ordinary people.
Oh, Corey the rudeboy in his Specials t-shirt and tight pants and hot-ass brogues? I'd have totally cruised him back in the day. And Desmond? With his anxiety and his PTSD and his classic car and his fondness for vodka and his love for fixing broken things and his fear of broken people? Well, let's just say I found him HIGHLY relatable.
This is a story about relationships--two in particular, but tangentially at least two or three more. It's also a story about technology and how it complicates our lives and our relationships. It's a story about things (and people) that break and how fixing them doesn't always go as planned. It's a story about desperation, and about longing, about holding on too long to things that are literally gone. It's also about social pressure to either shape up or get so utterly fucked up that you can't relate to society anymore. And how many of us have walked THAT particular tightrope? The haircut and the real job, and the making nice so your family and friends don't leave you or talk shit about you, or break your heart? And how much harder is it to walk the line when the world has been ripped out from underneath you and you're reaching for it with a stump instead of a hand?
There is so fucking much brilliance in this book, with it's moments of quiet loveliness interspersed with rage and remorse and a visceral sense that maybe Desmond doesn't have what it takes to make the world a safe space for himself, but that maybe, just maybe, he'll turn out to be stronger than he looks.
GAH.
Read it.
Honestly, I am so glad Jordan Castillo Price writes the books she does, about characters like Desmond, in places like Riverside.
When I talk about JCP's books, I feel like I imagine an evangelist feels when moved by the spirit (or whatever, I'm not up on my religious-speak). I get so excited, so full of anticipation for someone else to read her books, to see what I see, to get that amazing connection to these...
Extremely ordinary people.
Oh, Corey the rudeboy in his Specials t-shirt and tight pants and hot-ass brogues? I'd have totally cruised him back in the day. And Desmond? With his anxiety and his PTSD and his classic car and his fondness for vodka and his love for fixing broken things and his fear of broken people? Well, let's just say I found him HIGHLY relatable.
This is a story about relationships--two in particular, but tangentially at least two or three more. It's also a story about technology and how it complicates our lives and our relationships. It's a story about things (and people) that break and how fixing them doesn't always go as planned. It's a story about desperation, and about longing, about holding on too long to things that are literally gone. It's also about social pressure to either shape up or get so utterly fucked up that you can't relate to society anymore. And how many of us have walked THAT particular tightrope? The haircut and the real job, and the making nice so your family and friends don't leave you or talk shit about you, or break your heart? And how much harder is it to walk the line when the world has been ripped out from underneath you and you're reaching for it with a stump instead of a hand?
There is so fucking much brilliance in this book, with it's moments of quiet loveliness interspersed with rage and remorse and a visceral sense that maybe Desmond doesn't have what it takes to make the world a safe space for himself, but that maybe, just maybe, he'll turn out to be stronger than he looks.
GAH.
Read it.
March 19, 2015
22 days into 2015 and I think I've already read my book of the year.
June 24, 2014
Meatworks is not your standard romance. No burly saints here—rather two anti-heros stumbling toward love. They’re both deeply damaged, and not just because they’ve each lost a hand. Gritty realism, pathos, hard-edged prose—it’s all there. As Corey might say, I was gobsmacked by this story. Not for the faint of heart, this book isn’t like anything else you’ve ever read. I recommend it as a love story for the adventurous spirit.
May 28, 2015
3.5 stars
Desmond is not a hero to root for. He makes me so angry, and I want to shake him and get him to do, to see. Then I read the author's note and saw that that is how he was written. As a very fallible, quite fucked up guy. And I thought of the many loved ones I have who make me angry, who take wrong decisions, whom I want to shake till kingdom come and about whom I cannot do anything except just my little bit, because it is their life and their decisions and in this world there is free will and I do not have the power to dictate and would I really want to if I could. Am I so sure of what is right and what is wrong. Am I one who always takes the right decisions, who has never fucked up, or not procrastinated, or gave up on good things, or made do with the not perfect. So no, I do not have the perfect way forward, so should I really be so angry at Desmond for not being perfect or cute in his fuck ups. It's like being angry at myself for not being perfect and I had promised myself NOT to do that anymore.
So in a way accepting Desmond is like accepting the unperfect. This leads me to another point 'what is right, perfect, good?'. JCP puts forward a world of robotics and plays with the ramifications. Progress, current fashions - not adhering to these gets you to be left on the wayside. To be considered not part of the group, in this case because you do not have a home robot, but it might as well be just any other thing really. So the eternal questions of 'How to be to be?' raises up it's head. To exist should be part of the group as society dictates, do we have value outside the group. I vote yes we do, but it is a lonely road to thread.
This is not a romance which leaves you all happy, full of hope. But through writing my thoughts here I do see things which are worth of thought which might help me stop (or at least slow me) from judging people or from trotting over at the lift of an eyebrow so yes it is not a feel good read but it is a good one.
Just a quick BR with Irina.
Desmond is not a hero to root for. He makes me so angry, and I want to shake him and get him to do, to see. Then I read the author's note and saw that that is how he was written. As a very fallible, quite fucked up guy. And I thought of the many loved ones I have who make me angry, who take wrong decisions, whom I want to shake till kingdom come and about whom I cannot do anything except just my little bit, because it is their life and their decisions and in this world there is free will and I do not have the power to dictate and would I really want to if I could. Am I so sure of what is right and what is wrong. Am I one who always takes the right decisions, who has never fucked up, or not procrastinated, or gave up on good things, or made do with the not perfect. So no, I do not have the perfect way forward, so should I really be so angry at Desmond for not being perfect or cute in his fuck ups. It's like being angry at myself for not being perfect and I had promised myself NOT to do that anymore.
So in a way accepting Desmond is like accepting the unperfect. This leads me to another point 'what is right, perfect, good?'. JCP puts forward a world of robotics and plays with the ramifications. Progress, current fashions - not adhering to these gets you to be left on the wayside. To be considered not part of the group, in this case because you do not have a home robot, but it might as well be just any other thing really. So the eternal questions of 'How to be to be?' raises up it's head. To exist should be part of the group as society dictates, do we have value outside the group. I vote yes we do, but it is a lonely road to thread.
This is not a romance which leaves you all happy, full of hope. But through writing my thoughts here I do see things which are worth of thought which might help me stop (or at least slow me) from judging people or from trotting over at the lift of an eyebrow so yes it is not a feel good read but it is a good one.
Just a quick BR with Irina.
October 10, 2014
I have mixed feelings on how to rate this. The characterization and world-building is 5-star, but the first half moved a little too slow for me, so I'm bumping it to a 4/4.5 star. Did this take away from my love for Des? HELL NO!
This world is set in the future where robotics play a big part of everyday life. Don’t let the sci-fi/futurism scare you, because JCP created a realistic story set in a dark and gritty world. Everything from the descriptive setting to the authentic characters sucked me right in. I could picture everything, from the abandoned warehouses to the riverside flea market. She painted a bleak yet vivid picture.
Let’s get to Desmond Poole. He lost his arm in an accident and now he is drowning in self-pity. Not an attractive quality, I must say. He’s a character that many people will dislike. He’s depressed and he’s drinking himself to an early death. He’s rude, emotionally-stunted, constantly brushes off his responsibility, and hurts the people he cares about. He wants nothing to do with learning how to use his prosthetic arm and only cares about getting another bottle or another pack of cigarettes. Basically, he’s a major fuck-up. You can't blame his attitude on losing his arm because he was just as messed up before the accident.
For the most part I loved his voice. One minute I wanted to shake him and yell "get off your ass and grow up" and the next he had me laughing or got me all misty-eyed.
He's also in love with two men. Hi ex-boyfriend Jim, the social worker who is constantly getting him out of trouble and wants to save him from himself, and Corey - the lazy new boyfriend who's an expert at using his prosthetic arm and helps Des try to beat the system. The book doesn't focus on some messy love triangle or the romance, but it's these relationships that have an impact on Des, both negatively and positively.
Even with his multitude of flaws, there were flashes of hope for Des. JCP made me care for him. I needed him to pull through. Des starts to become aware of his own screw-ups, past and present. It's not a big "Aha" moment, but it occurs slowly. He begins to realize that he can have more, he can become more. He faces his past and his relationship with Jim and Corey. He finally takes some responsibility and makes decisions. He knows things won't be perfect, but that's not what he strives for. He's taking small steps and that's ok with him, and me :) It's not a transformation, but it's progress and he's finally moving in the right direction and that's what I loved most about this. His story was believable.
So, yes Des is a screw-up, but I still love him.
This world is set in the future where robotics play a big part of everyday life. Don’t let the sci-fi/futurism scare you, because JCP created a realistic story set in a dark and gritty world. Everything from the descriptive setting to the authentic characters sucked me right in. I could picture everything, from the abandoned warehouses to the riverside flea market. She painted a bleak yet vivid picture.
Let’s get to Desmond Poole. He lost his arm in an accident and now he is drowning in self-pity. Not an attractive quality, I must say. He’s a character that many people will dislike. He’s depressed and he’s drinking himself to an early death. He’s rude, emotionally-stunted, constantly brushes off his responsibility, and hurts the people he cares about. He wants nothing to do with learning how to use his prosthetic arm and only cares about getting another bottle or another pack of cigarettes. Basically, he’s a major fuck-up. You can't blame his attitude on losing his arm because he was just as messed up before the accident.
For the most part I loved his voice. One minute I wanted to shake him and yell "get off your ass and grow up" and the next he had me laughing or got me all misty-eyed.
He's also in love with two men. Hi ex-boyfriend Jim, the social worker who is constantly getting him out of trouble and wants to save him from himself, and Corey - the lazy new boyfriend who's an expert at using his prosthetic arm and helps Des try to beat the system. The book doesn't focus on some messy love triangle or the romance, but it's these relationships that have an impact on Des, both negatively and positively.
Even with his multitude of flaws, there were flashes of hope for Des. JCP made me care for him. I needed him to pull through. Des starts to become aware of his own screw-ups, past and present. It's not a big "Aha" moment, but it occurs slowly. He begins to realize that he can have more, he can become more. He faces his past and his relationship with Jim and Corey. He finally takes some responsibility and makes decisions. He knows things won't be perfect, but that's not what he strives for. He's taking small steps and that's ok with him, and me :) It's not a transformation, but it's progress and he's finally moving in the right direction and that's what I loved most about this. His story was believable.
So, yes Des is a screw-up, but I still love him.
October 29, 2014
My rating is all Desmond—because of what the author did with him.
I'm not very happy with how his relationship with Corey panned out, but this is Desmond's story and I'm happy with where he is at the end of the book so I'm willing to put my other issues aside.
This remains a great read by a skilled author who can create wonderfully flawed, three dimensional, multi-layered characters you can't but relate to and root for no matter how badly they've fucked up or keep fucking up. And that's no easy feat.
I'm not very happy with how his relationship with Corey panned out, but this is Desmond's story and I'm happy with where he is at the end of the book so I'm willing to put my other issues aside.
This remains a great read by a skilled author who can create wonderfully flawed, three dimensional, multi-layered characters you can't but relate to and root for no matter how badly they've fucked up or keep fucking up. And that's no easy feat.
Read
November 27, 2015Me and the marvellous Elisabeth Lane talked about this over at AAR:
AJH: This your first JCP isn’t it? How did you find it?
Elisabeth: Loved it. Loved the characters, loved the world-building, loved the dark humor. Loved it.
AJH: Oooh gosh. Yes. I find her a really … I don’t quite know the word is. Uncompromising writer? She’s never hesitates to take an idea and run with it. Or allow her characters to be deeply, deeply unsympathetic in often quite unglamorous ways (Desmond is definitely an example of this!). So her books always leave me sort of moved and thoughtful and impressed, all at the same time.
Elisabeth: Yes, Desmond is definitely not your typical romance hero. He’s an alcoholic. He’s depressed. He’s had this accident where he ended up losing his hand, but even that, well, it was sort of his fault? He was involved with not-great people and he wasn’t that ambitious or well-wrapped even before he got hurt. Personally, I couldn’t have anything but sympathy for the guy, but I understand why other readers might not particularly like him. He’s made some pretty epic mistakes.
AJH: He’s a difficult narrator to spend time with, that’s for sure. But I really like that he’s vulnerable and stupid and self-destructive in ways that romance heroes often just aren’t allowed tobe. And also I like that he’s allowed to get himself into a better place by the end of the book, just in this very low key way of coming to terms with who he is and the decisions he’s made, and making some new choices for his life. I mean, since we’re essentially dealing with a disabled hero here, it’s quite significant that he is not amazingly brave or saintly, but nor is he completely helpless and ruined. For me, he’s just very human. Robot hand included.
Elisabeth: Yes, and the whole plot is basically about his learning to manage his disability, both physically and mentally. It’s interesting to see the evolution he goes through between his ex-boyfriend/social worker, his new love interest Corey and the couple of counsellors he has to see in order to continue getting benefits. It’s this whole exploration of Desmond handling things his own way, even when that’s not necessarily what society’s script would have him do. Like, the therapy helps him, but not in any kind of direct way. It’s more like learning to cope with the mess the system makes that gets him back on track.
You can read the full thing here.
AJH: This your first JCP isn’t it? How did you find it?
Elisabeth: Loved it. Loved the characters, loved the world-building, loved the dark humor. Loved it.
AJH: Oooh gosh. Yes. I find her a really … I don’t quite know the word is. Uncompromising writer? She’s never hesitates to take an idea and run with it. Or allow her characters to be deeply, deeply unsympathetic in often quite unglamorous ways (Desmond is definitely an example of this!). So her books always leave me sort of moved and thoughtful and impressed, all at the same time.
Elisabeth: Yes, Desmond is definitely not your typical romance hero. He’s an alcoholic. He’s depressed. He’s had this accident where he ended up losing his hand, but even that, well, it was sort of his fault? He was involved with not-great people and he wasn’t that ambitious or well-wrapped even before he got hurt. Personally, I couldn’t have anything but sympathy for the guy, but I understand why other readers might not particularly like him. He’s made some pretty epic mistakes.
AJH: He’s a difficult narrator to spend time with, that’s for sure. But I really like that he’s vulnerable and stupid and self-destructive in ways that romance heroes often just aren’t allowed tobe. And also I like that he’s allowed to get himself into a better place by the end of the book, just in this very low key way of coming to terms with who he is and the decisions he’s made, and making some new choices for his life. I mean, since we’re essentially dealing with a disabled hero here, it’s quite significant that he is not amazingly brave or saintly, but nor is he completely helpless and ruined. For me, he’s just very human. Robot hand included.
Elisabeth: Yes, and the whole plot is basically about his learning to manage his disability, both physically and mentally. It’s interesting to see the evolution he goes through between his ex-boyfriend/social worker, his new love interest Corey and the couple of counsellors he has to see in order to continue getting benefits. It’s this whole exploration of Desmond handling things his own way, even when that’s not necessarily what society’s script would have him do. Like, the therapy helps him, but not in any kind of direct way. It’s more like learning to cope with the mess the system makes that gets him back on track.
You can read the full thing here.
June 12, 2016
It’s the week of discovering great new-to-me authors I think :-)))) Another winner, and so shortly after I did my first Voinov.
3 things I absolutely loved about Meatworks: the writing, the dystopian world, the protagonist(s)
Meet Des-mond Poole:
I approached my place from the wrong side of the street, without a burger in my hand, with no wrapper to throw over the fence. Which sucked, because I was keen on seeing how long it took the neighbor’s gardenbot to come out and clean up after me.
This just makes me smile. Desmond is a lovable ass. He’s a selfish, fucked-up, no-gooder and so charming despite of it. I couldn’t but root for him right from the beginning.
Which makes me remember… The first chapter? OMG. It was awesome. Such a strong start to a book. It pulled me right in, with a constant smirk on my face.
Desmond fucks up. A lot. I think it is absolutely amazing how JCP wrote him, that you can still kinda love him.
The dystopian world-building was absolutely terrifying and fascinating at the same time. I especially like that the robots don’t take over the world in an intelligent kinda way like you have it in your usual sci-fi thriller. No… The robots were just omnipresent. They were somehow pretty cool, but somehow you couldn’t do without them, which is so scary, too.
The writing… Another first person narration. My favourite <3
So the writing fits Desmond. It’s dirty and raw and down-to-earth.
The sex is just the same… Dirty, selfish, desperate, hot.
‘I miss you’ has never been said more romanticly, ‘Prove it’ has never been said more dirtily :-D Kidding. Not. I loved that scene!!!
Corey and Jim are great secondary characters. They both play a role and I like how everything played out. I get it. I do. It just fit.
So, I loved Meatworks, and I recommend it. 4.5 stars.
***
Buddy Read Discussion Thread
***
This book counts for my following reading challenges 2015:
- 100 books in total
- 20 books about a marginalised group
- 20 books, trying something new
- 20 buddy reads
3 things I absolutely loved about Meatworks: the writing, the dystopian world, the protagonist(s)
Meet Des-mond Poole:
I approached my place from the wrong side of the street, without a burger in my hand, with no wrapper to throw over the fence. Which sucked, because I was keen on seeing how long it took the neighbor’s gardenbot to come out and clean up after me.
This just makes me smile. Desmond is a lovable ass. He’s a selfish, fucked-up, no-gooder and so charming despite of it. I couldn’t but root for him right from the beginning.
Which makes me remember… The first chapter? OMG. It was awesome. Such a strong start to a book. It pulled me right in, with a constant smirk on my face.
Desmond fucks up. A lot. I think it is absolutely amazing how JCP wrote him, that you can still kinda love him.
The dystopian world-building was absolutely terrifying and fascinating at the same time. I especially like that the robots don’t take over the world in an intelligent kinda way like you have it in your usual sci-fi thriller. No… The robots were just omnipresent. They were somehow pretty cool, but somehow you couldn’t do without them, which is so scary, too.
The writing… Another first person narration. My favourite <3
So the writing fits Desmond. It’s dirty and raw and down-to-earth.
The sex is just the same… Dirty, selfish, desperate, hot.
‘I miss you’ has never been said more romanticly, ‘Prove it’ has never been said more dirtily :-D Kidding. Not. I loved that scene!!!
Corey and Jim are great secondary characters. They both play a role and I like how everything played out. I get it. I do. It just fit.
So, I loved Meatworks, and I recommend it. 4.5 stars.
***
Buddy Read Discussion Thread
***
This book counts for my following reading challenges 2015:
- 100 books in total
- 20 books about a marginalised group
- 20 books, trying something new
- 20 buddy reads
January 23, 2015
After GRL I was given a copy of this book, and it sat on my bookshelf until Kat said - lets read Meatworks, I still managed to slip a couple of other books in before I admitted defeat and we actually started to read it.
On one hand I'm glad that I did wait, because a lot of the buzz about it had died down,and it was wonderful to start 2015 off with such a truly good book; on the other having discovered how well JCP writes I could have been reading more of her's earlier.
When I was growing up there was bunch of guys at school who were the good bad guys, in and out of trouble, nothing really serious, charming and funny, usually drunk and/ or stoned. Sometimes I wonder what happened to them,Meatworks is about one of those guys. Desmond, frankly he's a bum who's got by on charm and wit until he looses his hand in an accident. The book is about his choices and the effects on his life over a short period of time.
JCP creates a dystopian world so cleverly, there is no...the robot wars of 1989 here, as you read the changes become apparent, cleaning done by hooverbots, scanning in and out but its so well woven into the story that you feel you know this world.
Des' journey takes him to meeting a new guy Corey, also with a prosthetic limb, at a self help group, annoying and irritating most people, including his ex, Jim, who is still involved in Des' life via starting to learn to deal with his issues.
Is it a love story - most definitely for me. Des and Corey, the anglophile rudeboy have a great chemistry. Jim, Des' ex both clouds and simplifies things - his desire to fix Des is something that I suspect so many people can relate to, as is Des' resistance to being changed.
There are no 'the magic cock turned my life around' moments here, but it is insighful, clever,humane writing at its best with characters that I really cared about.
And the Clash
On one hand I'm glad that I did wait, because a lot of the buzz about it had died down,and it was wonderful to start 2015 off with such a truly good book; on the other having discovered how well JCP writes I could have been reading more of her's earlier.
When I was growing up there was bunch of guys at school who were the good bad guys, in and out of trouble, nothing really serious, charming and funny, usually drunk and/ or stoned. Sometimes I wonder what happened to them,Meatworks is about one of those guys. Desmond, frankly he's a bum who's got by on charm and wit until he looses his hand in an accident. The book is about his choices and the effects on his life over a short period of time.
JCP creates a dystopian world so cleverly, there is no...the robot wars of 1989 here, as you read the changes become apparent, cleaning done by hooverbots, scanning in and out but its so well woven into the story that you feel you know this world.
Des' journey takes him to meeting a new guy Corey, also with a prosthetic limb, at a self help group, annoying and irritating most people, including his ex, Jim, who is still involved in Des' life via starting to learn to deal with his issues.
Is it a love story - most definitely for me. Des and Corey, the anglophile rudeboy have a great chemistry. Jim, Des' ex both clouds and simplifies things - his desire to fix Des is something that I suspect so many people can relate to, as is Des' resistance to being changed.
There are no 'the magic cock turned my life around' moments here, but it is insighful, clever,humane writing at its best with characters that I really cared about.
And the Clash
August 30, 2015
5 stars
What an amazing, quirky, emotional ride this was...
Meatworks stomps all over usual genre boundaries and tells a truly powerful story through mouth of an antihero if I ever read one.
I believe the biggest strength of this novel lies in the fact that it's multi-layered, it's written to work reader emotionally on several lines at once. It's a story about a guy who lost his arm and can't really deal with it. It's a story about a guy who has to overcome his biggest fear to be with a guy he likes. It's a story about "growing up" and "being adult". It's "you don't know what you've got until it's lost" story. It's a scifi story about restrictions that comes with society progress, which is paradox in itself... I don't know what or if any of this will resonate with you, but it sure gives it a hell of a try.
I can't say that your like/dislike of Meatworks will depend on weather you like Desmond. Desmond is not likable, he is not written to be. What I can say is that you'll like it hate it depending on how much you are liking reading Desmond's voice.
Let me tell you few things about Desmond. Desmond Poole is a monumental fuck up. And that didn't start with the loss of his arm. He is not just a failure, he is comfortable with being pegged as one. And true to his state of mind, he doesn't deal with issues or responsibilities, he puts them under a rug or a couch. He is like a fish that somehow found itself in murkiest, filthiest, muddiest waters and it's never going to try to swim to clear area,it's just going to stay there.*
But here is the thing with Desmond. He is so deeply flawed and for me, being in his head was captivating. I could have read 500pgs more of Desmond's thoughts and not be bored. When I started talking to him (well, my reader), even just to tell him that he is a wanker I knew I was 100% invested. He made me snort, he made me think, he made me facepalm and he made me cry (those sea-monkeys on his eyelashes has to be the saddest thing ever). I can deal with dark and depressing characters, but I need even the tiniest speck of hope, anything to grasp, something that tells me he's not a lost cause. And I got that from Desmond in the end which for me is the most important thing.
If antihero wasn't enough of a risk to take, JCP took it even further with uncharacteristic romance. I always say that, but JCP writes the best sex scenes in genre, imo. But, here is why they work for me- it's not about pulling my strings or descriptions...she brings the feel of it on the page and always manages to convince me that something is hot not because of gymnastics I read- it's sexy because it's exactly that guy from the novel doing exactly that to other mc... Hell, with Meatworks she really went out there and wrote something that's a serious kink and I thought it's incredibly hot.
If there was one thing that made me wary from reading the blurb, it was the dreaded love triangle. It's not that I hated every book with this plot device, but it's rarely done well. I also have to say that in most cases I liked it because love triangle really...wasn't one. And this is how I experienced Des/Corey/Jim thing. Desmond and Corey have enough chemistry to light up a city, they have intense sex, they have intense fights and they are really, really good together. I never doubted Desmond's feelings for that little firecracker. Jim though... Jim played a whole another role for me in this novel. Every thought, bittersweet memories, longing and feelings that Desmond share with us are so damn normal, guys... It's crying for opportunities wasted, wishing you played it differently, for the fact that you spent years with someone who is a good guy and it didn't work and for Desmond it means even more... Jim is another link to his pre-accident life and to his lost arm. Jim brings a lot to this book.
The dark, robotic, bot-world JCP created is very bleak and gritty. I don't want to dwell much about it- you will get plenty of social commentary from Des- but let me tell you this: when in the same week I read this novel and the article about Facebook emotions experiment, I found myself understanding his defiance and even cautiously agreeing on this with a guy whose only sustenance seems to be vodka. You know what... I grinned a little when in the final scene Desmond drives his Gremlin... he is still rebelling. :)
There you go, this book worked for me on so many levels.
Heh, it pushed all my buttons.
*sorry, metaphors are not my thing.
What an amazing, quirky, emotional ride this was...
Meatworks stomps all over usual genre boundaries and tells a truly powerful story through mouth of an antihero if I ever read one.
I believe the biggest strength of this novel lies in the fact that it's multi-layered, it's written to work reader emotionally on several lines at once. It's a story about a guy who lost his arm and can't really deal with it. It's a story about a guy who has to overcome his biggest fear to be with a guy he likes. It's a story about "growing up" and "being adult". It's "you don't know what you've got until it's lost" story. It's a scifi story about restrictions that comes with society progress, which is paradox in itself... I don't know what or if any of this will resonate with you, but it sure gives it a hell of a try.
I can't say that your like/dislike of Meatworks will depend on weather you like Desmond. Desmond is not likable, he is not written to be. What I can say is that you'll like it hate it depending on how much you are liking reading Desmond's voice.
Let me tell you few things about Desmond. Desmond Poole is a monumental fuck up. And that didn't start with the loss of his arm. He is not just a failure, he is comfortable with being pegged as one. And true to his state of mind, he doesn't deal with issues or responsibilities, he puts them under a rug or a couch. He is like a fish that somehow found itself in murkiest, filthiest, muddiest waters and it's never going to try to swim to clear area,it's just going to stay there.*
But here is the thing with Desmond. He is so deeply flawed and for me, being in his head was captivating. I could have read 500pgs more of Desmond's thoughts and not be bored. When I started talking to him (well, my reader), even just to tell him that he is a wanker I knew I was 100% invested. He made me snort, he made me think, he made me facepalm and he made me cry (those sea-monkeys on his eyelashes has to be the saddest thing ever). I can deal with dark and depressing characters, but I need even the tiniest speck of hope, anything to grasp, something that tells me he's not a lost cause. And I got that from Desmond in the end which for me is the most important thing.
If antihero wasn't enough of a risk to take, JCP took it even further with uncharacteristic romance. I always say that, but JCP writes the best sex scenes in genre, imo. But, here is why they work for me- it's not about pulling my strings or descriptions...she brings the feel of it on the page and always manages to convince me that something is hot not because of gymnastics I read- it's sexy because it's exactly that guy from the novel doing exactly that to other mc... Hell, with Meatworks she really went out there and wrote something that's a serious kink and I thought it's incredibly hot.
If there was one thing that made me wary from reading the blurb, it was the dreaded love triangle. It's not that I hated every book with this plot device, but it's rarely done well. I also have to say that in most cases I liked it because love triangle really...wasn't one. And this is how I experienced Des/Corey/Jim thing. Desmond and Corey have enough chemistry to light up a city, they have intense sex, they have intense fights and they are really, really good together. I never doubted Desmond's feelings for that little firecracker. Jim though... Jim played a whole another role for me in this novel. Every thought, bittersweet memories, longing and feelings that Desmond share with us are so damn normal, guys... It's crying for opportunities wasted, wishing you played it differently, for the fact that you spent years with someone who is a good guy and it didn't work and for Desmond it means even more... Jim is another link to his pre-accident life and to his lost arm. Jim brings a lot to this book.
The dark, robotic, bot-world JCP created is very bleak and gritty. I don't want to dwell much about it- you will get plenty of social commentary from Des- but let me tell you this: when in the same week I read this novel and the article about Facebook emotions experiment, I found myself understanding his defiance and even cautiously agreeing on this with a guy whose only sustenance seems to be vodka. You know what... I grinned a little when in the final scene Desmond drives his Gremlin... he is still rebelling. :)
There you go, this book worked for me on so many levels.
Heh, it pushed all my buttons.
*sorry, metaphors are not my thing.
July 3, 2014
If someone were doing a case study on the psychology behind self-destructive behavioral tendencies triggered by traumatic injury and subsequent dysmorphic issues, Desmond Poole would make for an interesting test subject. I just made that up. There’s probably no such thing, but that’s Des in a nutshell. Does it make him an unreliable narrator? Nope. If anything, I’d say he’s one of the most honest first person narrators I’ve ever read.
Des is the self-described asshole and antihero in Jordan Castillo Price’s latest novel Meatworks, a near-futuristic, sci-fi story in which robotics have become a norm designed to make life simpler for humans—until the machine turns on the man. Then, in Desmond’s case, those modern conveniences become a source of resentment and a reminder that he left a part of himself behind in a drunken accident at an abandoned warehouse less than a year before. Whether that most important part of himself was his right hand or his mental health, however, is anyone’s guess.
Self-sabotaging behaviors—refusing to learn how to manipulate his prosthetic, finding oblivion at the bottom of a vodka bottle, ignoring every bit of correspondence (except his disability checks) from his ex-lover/social worker Jim—make life for Desmond a sludgy dung heap of an existence. One of the things the author does so brilliantly in her portrayal of Desmond, though, is that all the while I should’ve been thinking he was a pathetic loser, I wasn’t. I was busy wondering how much lower Des could sink and still resemble a functioning human being because it would be at that point that he’d either die or decide to try and crawl out of the shit pile in which he existed to give life a whirl. And, let’s face it, I loved him.
I loved Desmond Poole, plain and simple. He was a man with one foot in a destructive past, one in a disillusioned present, and was eyeballing a potentially early grave. He couldn’t see beyond the next minute to imagine heading toward any sort of future. Not when he was screwing up the best thing that’d ever happened to him, not when he was slowly killing himself in an alcoholic stupor, not when he was wallowing in resentment of his disfigurement, not when he was resisting the help he needed, not when he’d finally met fellow amputee Corey Steiner and proceeded to mess that up too. Desmond was a man who never once expected to be liked, let alone loved, and it was this fractured humanity that made him all the more likeable to me.
Let me be very clear: Meatworks is not a romance. In fact, to say the book has a happy ending would be stretching the definition of the word happy to mean something along the lines of I’ll try my best not to FUBAR on this one, baby. This is also not a plot heavy novel, Meatworks is one hundred percent character driven, and Desmond is the one giving directions. We don’t even get to know much about Corey beyond what Desmond wants us to see. Nor do we get to see Jim as anything other than an amazing man who’d pitied and enabled Des right out of his life, which gave a truly poignant edge to the story and in the end, made it so right when Des and Corey finally clicked. I’d even go so far as to say that each and every character introduced in this book exposes more of Desmond Poole than is revealed about the characters themselves. It’s not the way those characters act and react to Des as much as it is a revelation of Des in the way he acts and reacts to them, and it worked to excellent effect.
To say that Jordan Castillo Price keeps surprising me is an understatement, and she didn’t stop doing so with Meatworks. There’s never a point in the story that Des tries to be anything other than who he is—he knows he’s screwed up, and he knows he’s an asshole (and is probably a little lot depressed), but rather than making excuses, he owns it and maybe he’ll just try not to be an asshole so often from now on.
This is another tick in the win column for JCP, and I can’t recommend Meatworks enough to anyone who loves a great antihero.
Des is the self-described asshole and antihero in Jordan Castillo Price’s latest novel Meatworks, a near-futuristic, sci-fi story in which robotics have become a norm designed to make life simpler for humans—until the machine turns on the man. Then, in Desmond’s case, those modern conveniences become a source of resentment and a reminder that he left a part of himself behind in a drunken accident at an abandoned warehouse less than a year before. Whether that most important part of himself was his right hand or his mental health, however, is anyone’s guess.
Self-sabotaging behaviors—refusing to learn how to manipulate his prosthetic, finding oblivion at the bottom of a vodka bottle, ignoring every bit of correspondence (except his disability checks) from his ex-lover/social worker Jim—make life for Desmond a sludgy dung heap of an existence. One of the things the author does so brilliantly in her portrayal of Desmond, though, is that all the while I should’ve been thinking he was a pathetic loser, I wasn’t. I was busy wondering how much lower Des could sink and still resemble a functioning human being because it would be at that point that he’d either die or decide to try and crawl out of the shit pile in which he existed to give life a whirl. And, let’s face it, I loved him.
I loved Desmond Poole, plain and simple. He was a man with one foot in a destructive past, one in a disillusioned present, and was eyeballing a potentially early grave. He couldn’t see beyond the next minute to imagine heading toward any sort of future. Not when he was screwing up the best thing that’d ever happened to him, not when he was slowly killing himself in an alcoholic stupor, not when he was wallowing in resentment of his disfigurement, not when he was resisting the help he needed, not when he’d finally met fellow amputee Corey Steiner and proceeded to mess that up too. Desmond was a man who never once expected to be liked, let alone loved, and it was this fractured humanity that made him all the more likeable to me.
Let me be very clear: Meatworks is not a romance. In fact, to say the book has a happy ending would be stretching the definition of the word happy to mean something along the lines of I’ll try my best not to FUBAR on this one, baby. This is also not a plot heavy novel, Meatworks is one hundred percent character driven, and Desmond is the one giving directions. We don’t even get to know much about Corey beyond what Desmond wants us to see. Nor do we get to see Jim as anything other than an amazing man who’d pitied and enabled Des right out of his life, which gave a truly poignant edge to the story and in the end, made it so right when Des and Corey finally clicked. I’d even go so far as to say that each and every character introduced in this book exposes more of Desmond Poole than is revealed about the characters themselves. It’s not the way those characters act and react to Des as much as it is a revelation of Des in the way he acts and reacts to them, and it worked to excellent effect.
To say that Jordan Castillo Price keeps surprising me is an understatement, and she didn’t stop doing so with Meatworks. There’s never a point in the story that Des tries to be anything other than who he is—he knows he’s screwed up, and he knows he’s an asshole (and is probably a little lot depressed), but rather than making excuses, he owns it and maybe he’ll just try not to be an asshole so often from now on.
This is another tick in the win column for JCP, and I can’t recommend Meatworks enough to anyone who loves a great antihero.
July 12, 2014
Review by The Blogger Girls.
From the very first JCP book, I fell in love with the covers. There is just always something about them that sets the tone for the story and character they portray that calls to me. The characters are usually on the gritty side, a bit damaged even, but still oh so sexy. At this point, I don’t even have to read the blurbs on one of Jordan’s books to know I want to read it. I can just tell by the cover.
I’m not generally a lover of anything sci-fi related, but that didn’t even cross my mind reading this. It is a futuristic world where people have allowed robotics to basically take over their lives, keeping track of everything they do in the guise of having them choose things based on their readings of any given individual. For example, they control the temperature of a room based on a person’s body temp, or choose music for them based on likes and dislikes.
While all of that is going on in the world surrounding Desmond, his main focus is trying to cope with the loss of his hand while accepting and gaining control of the robotic arm he now has in its place. Meatworks is the name used for the non-robotic limbs. Des is not a fan of robotics in any sense. He refuses to allow them in his apartment, won’t drive a new robocar when he has his sorely lacking old school Gremlin to rely on and has basically been in denial where his hand is concerned by not learning to use to his advantage.
Des lives on the money he receives from Social Services, but they are now making him jump through some hoops in order to keep the checks coming. One such hoop is attending group therapy, or Gimp Group as Des calls it. It is here that he meets Corey, a young man in full control of his own robotic arm who also fully knows how to work the system. The two hit it off, but there are quite a few obstacles in their way. I loved these two! They have such great chemistry, fabulous senses of humor and hilarious conversations. I laughed out loud more than once at one or both of them.
“Seven months.” Corey leaned in closer and pressed his mouth to my ear. In a whisper so quiet I felt it sizzling against my ear more than I heard it, he said, “I can’t wait to see how far you shoot.”
When Gimp Group doesn’t work out for Des, he has to attend solo sessions. These were hilarious.
“Fast-forward, Wednesday morning. Paperwork? Check. Clean underwear? Check. Disability card? Check.
Box of arm? Check.”
One of the funnier things that happens is that Des must care for a roboegg, without the use of his arm. He must care for the robobaby egg when it needs to be fed, held or coddled. There were so many great lines and funny moments with this.
“Exact same egg we had in Health Class,” Corey said. “I’ve heard some of the newer models have a diaper button, too.”
“Just what the world needs. Robotic shit.”
Really, I could go on and on. I have never enjoyed or wanted to remember so many quotes before in anything I’ve read. I absolutely loved Des’ dry sense of humor. I almost forgot to mention Des’ poor pet sea monkeys, or as Corey calls them, his pet plankton. Those little buggers just kept coming back to life!
There is one other thing at play here, well there are quite a few, but the most important was with his ex, Jim, who also happened to be his case worker and also the person behind the padlocked chain Des is still wearing. I liked Jim, but most of the way through this, I wasn’t sure what would happen with him and Des, or if Des would make things work with Corey, etc.
This was so different from anything else I’ve read, and I absolutely loved it! It is, by no means, a typical romance, which is, ironically, quite typical of JCP’s work. It was everything that I love about a JCP book, so very creative and well done. I remain a steadfast fangirl and highly recommend you give this or any of her other fabulous books a try if you haven’t already.
January 11, 2015
4.5 Stars rounded up!
I've read JCP before, and I've always liked her work a lot. If I had to choose a book to introduce her to any of my friends, this one would be the winner. One of the things I like the most about her writing is that she always finds a way to get the reader so involved into the story that you can see it all very clearly. I love her word build up, and I love how her stories flow.
In this particular case she took a topic that I thought I would hardly feel "related to", and turned it into something that felt real. I mean, there I was, touching my arm as I read.. if you know what I mean. (This was pointed out to me by my husband: does your arm hurt? ... umm).
Robotics are a huge part of this book, and Desmond (and most people around the time the book is set) knows this well.
Desmond is this thirty something guy that became a "gimp" after losing his arm in an accident. The thing about Desmond is that he is this very rude, kinda reckless guy, who refuses to "grow up", drinks himself to oblivion every night and most importantly, has become a pro at putting himself down. You'd think I hate him, but the truth is that I loved him. I loved how fucked up he was because the "road to recovery" felt real.
An important thing that you need to know about Desmond and his story is that he is in love with two men. His ex Jim, who kept trying to save him from himself and acted much like a parent sometimes, and his other great love, his current boyfriend, Corey, who is the total opposite of Jim. When I realized that there were two love interests involved (using that word in lack of a better one. I accept suggestions), I thought "ohhhh fuck!". I was pleased to see that this wasn't your typical love triangle. Or, at least, in my opinion it wasn't. It wasn't because the struggle that you see in the book isn't a love interest struggle. It's about a man who realizes that he can do/be much more than he thinks he is, and so the quest begins. The two men in his life, while very important, are just a HUGE part of his life, not his life. Desmond becomes his own hero, and that was a great thing to read.
The reason why I'm not giving it full 5 stars is because I wasn't entirely happy with Des and Corey's relationship in the end. I can't really explain it - it felt real to me, but not comfortable-real, if that makes any sense.
So, long story short. Is this a romance book? Yes. Is this your typical romance book? Hell, no. But you are also going to love it because of it.
Also, this book was a bit difficult for me to read because it reminded me a lot to a relationship I had in the past. At some point I realized that I had my Desmond... And of course, I was Jim. You can imagine how that ended.. :S. - I wonder if maybe that's why I felt uncomfortable with the way the story ended... Ha!. You never know. ;)
Great book! You should read it if you haven't.
I've read JCP before, and I've always liked her work a lot. If I had to choose a book to introduce her to any of my friends, this one would be the winner. One of the things I like the most about her writing is that she always finds a way to get the reader so involved into the story that you can see it all very clearly. I love her word build up, and I love how her stories flow.
In this particular case she took a topic that I thought I would hardly feel "related to", and turned it into something that felt real. I mean, there I was, touching my arm as I read.. if you know what I mean. (This was pointed out to me by my husband: does your arm hurt? ... umm).
Robotics are a huge part of this book, and Desmond (and most people around the time the book is set) knows this well.
Desmond is this thirty something guy that became a "gimp" after losing his arm in an accident. The thing about Desmond is that he is this very rude, kinda reckless guy, who refuses to "grow up", drinks himself to oblivion every night and most importantly, has become a pro at putting himself down. You'd think I hate him, but the truth is that I loved him. I loved how fucked up he was because the "road to recovery" felt real.
An important thing that you need to know about Desmond and his story is that he is in love with two men. His ex Jim, who kept trying to save him from himself and acted much like a parent sometimes, and his other great love, his current boyfriend, Corey, who is the total opposite of Jim. When I realized that there were two love interests involved (using that word in lack of a better one. I accept suggestions), I thought "ohhhh fuck!". I was pleased to see that this wasn't your typical love triangle. Or, at least, in my opinion it wasn't. It wasn't because the struggle that you see in the book isn't a love interest struggle. It's about a man who realizes that he can do/be much more than he thinks he is, and so the quest begins. The two men in his life, while very important, are just a HUGE part of his life, not his life. Desmond becomes his own hero, and that was a great thing to read.
The reason why I'm not giving it full 5 stars is because I wasn't entirely happy with Des and Corey's relationship in the end. I can't really explain it - it felt real to me, but not comfortable-real, if that makes any sense.
So, long story short. Is this a romance book? Yes. Is this your typical romance book? Hell, no. But you are also going to love it because of it.
Also, this book was a bit difficult for me to read because it reminded me a lot to a relationship I had in the past. At some point I realized that I had my Desmond... And of course, I was Jim. You can imagine how that ended.. :S. - I wonder if maybe that's why I felt uncomfortable with the way the story ended... Ha!. You never know. ;)
Great book! You should read it if you haven't.
February 13, 2015
I want Jim's story!
Will review it as soon as everybody on the BD is done with it.
Full review posted, as usual, also on Ellie Reads Fiction blog
Most of my GR friends and people whose opinion on books I value highly raved about this book so I decided to try it. Furthermore, I was intrigued by the dyspotian setting and the character(s) with disabilities.
It's an engaging, thought-provoking read, skillfully written, leaving a very memorable impression. Told from the first-person POV of Desmond is his tale of finding his place in a cruel/emotionless dyspotian world where robots serve the people as much as control them.
It started rather bleak and gloomy, too depressing for me. The world building was great and the future world portrayed was really distrubing. it's a story about Desmond's life with all his ups and downs, mistakes and the very, very few good things that happened to him. There is romance in the story but it's not the fantasy, all-chamging, saving tupe of love, rather this was raw and real, love-is-messy kind of story. None of the characters has it easy, even Jim, and consequently their feelings for each other were all over the place - love, lust, hatred, distrust, honesty, hope and desperation.
Desmond is not a nice person, yet the author did manage to make me care deeplty for him, to want him to find his happiness. His journey, his growth didn't erase his past mistakes but they did make him a better person.
Corey and Jim are sort of Desmond's past and his future. I liked the intricacies of the relationships between the three of them, they felt real. There is no magic way to deal with disabilitity, with disillusionment, with life (the good, the bad and all in between).
The story reminded me in a way of Alexis Hall's Glitterland, though the setting couldn't be more different. It's a story of love/life gone compeltely and irreversibly wrong, before finally going right. A trial by error journey for Desmond (and Corey, to some extend).
It's capativating story, not for the faint of heart. It's about the ugly and raw in life, the people who have lost themselves, yet they still have feelings and hopes and dreams and they deserve to be happy as much as anyone else.
Will review it as soon as everybody on the BD is done with it.
Full review posted, as usual, also on Ellie Reads Fiction blog
Most of my GR friends and people whose opinion on books I value highly raved about this book so I decided to try it. Furthermore, I was intrigued by the dyspotian setting and the character(s) with disabilities.
It's an engaging, thought-provoking read, skillfully written, leaving a very memorable impression. Told from the first-person POV of Desmond is his tale of finding his place in a cruel/emotionless dyspotian world where robots serve the people as much as control them.
It started rather bleak and gloomy, too depressing for me. The world building was great and the future world portrayed was really distrubing. it's a story about Desmond's life with all his ups and downs, mistakes and the very, very few good things that happened to him. There is romance in the story but it's not the fantasy, all-chamging, saving tupe of love, rather this was raw and real, love-is-messy kind of story. None of the characters has it easy, even Jim, and consequently their feelings for each other were all over the place - love, lust, hatred, distrust, honesty, hope and desperation.
Desmond is not a nice person, yet the author did manage to make me care deeplty for him, to want him to find his happiness. His journey, his growth didn't erase his past mistakes but they did make him a better person.
Corey and Jim are sort of Desmond's past and his future. I liked the intricacies of the relationships between the three of them, they felt real. There is no magic way to deal with disabilitity, with disillusionment, with life (the good, the bad and all in between).
The story reminded me in a way of Alexis Hall's Glitterland, though the setting couldn't be more different. It's a story of love/life gone compeltely and irreversibly wrong, before finally going right. A trial by error journey for Desmond (and Corey, to some extend).
It's capativating story, not for the faint of heart. It's about the ugly and raw in life, the people who have lost themselves, yet they still have feelings and hopes and dreams and they deserve to be happy as much as anyone else.
May 1, 2015
As an emotional person, I judge first of all, how the book made me feel. And Meatworks didn't leave me happy as a typical romance usually would. I disliked Desmond more with each chapter and by the end of the book, I've tried very hard not to judge him, reminding myself that he had to readjust his whole life and start anew. Still, as the author intended to portray him as an unlikable character, she'd managed beautifully.
Instead I admired Jim. He was the only person I loved here - solid, compassionate, loyal. The thing that bothered me was that I could easily feel the connection between Des and Jim, whereas with Corey it was too spontaneous, shallow and unconvincing. As much as Corey helped Des to get used to and accept his new body, I didn't believe in their romance. Friendship would've been more appropriate.
I also had an issue with Corey as a character. He's a guy who was injured in line of work and decided to live off his disability cheque for the rest of his life. I'm not sure how I feel about that. As much as I understand his point of view, it still rubbed me the wrong way, seeing how perfectly he could use his robotic arm. Maybe that idea with drums was the beginning of a better future for him.
I did find the world operated by every robot imaginable fascinating though. Kept thinking that perhaps, it will come to that in not so distant future. When Desmond burst in anger saying that he doesn't want some machine dictate what to watch/listen to, etc., I agreed. All this technology progress might make our lives easier to some extent, but it chips away some parts of us and our choices, devaluing our very existence.
***3.5 stars***
BR with Sofia - thank you!
Instead I admired Jim. He was the only person I loved here - solid, compassionate, loyal. The thing that bothered me was that I could easily feel the connection between Des and Jim, whereas with Corey it was too spontaneous, shallow and unconvincing. As much as Corey helped Des to get used to and accept his new body, I didn't believe in their romance. Friendship would've been more appropriate.
I also had an issue with Corey as a character. He's a guy who was injured in line of work and decided to live off his disability cheque for the rest of his life. I'm not sure how I feel about that. As much as I understand his point of view, it still rubbed me the wrong way, seeing how perfectly he could use his robotic arm. Maybe that idea with drums was the beginning of a better future for him.
I did find the world operated by every robot imaginable fascinating though. Kept thinking that perhaps, it will come to that in not so distant future. When Desmond burst in anger saying that he doesn't want some machine dictate what to watch/listen to, etc., I agreed. All this technology progress might make our lives easier to some extent, but it chips away some parts of us and our choices, devaluing our very existence.
***3.5 stars***
BR with Sofia - thank you!
January 3, 2015
Other than being a gritty, visual and unflinchingly honest portrayal of a man and an era, this novel also somehow managed to awaken in me an empathy for its characters I hadn't expected to feel after reading some reviews.
Maybe it's because I'm kind of a shitty person myself, but... I get Desmond (who, btw, literally is Mr Sexy on the cover), I get Corey, and I love them both.
I really need to start letting less time pass between one JCP read and the next, because she just injects joy in my life - especially with her less explicitly joyous stories.
Maybe it's because I'm kind of a shitty person myself, but... I get Desmond (who, btw, literally is Mr Sexy on the cover), I get Corey, and I love them both.
I really need to start letting less time pass between one JCP read and the next, because she just injects joy in my life - especially with her less explicitly joyous stories.
September 21, 2015
I actually adored "Des-mond" the not so likeable, but still loveable looser and, I adored Corey just as much!
I went into this Meatworks Buddy Read (EE, Elena, Tara, Maya, and Mel) with some trepidation. I suggested initially I'd be happy being a lurker, because I really wasn't sure the book was going to do it for me. Maybe a bit too macabre or dystopian? How wrong I was! I'm pretty sure by 12% if not before, I was hooked. It is both macabre and dystopian in such a good way. It's also a bit dark in places too with lots of different themes going on, but what a throughly enjoyable read. 4.5 stars.
(Thanks for the BR girls!)
I went into this Meatworks Buddy Read (EE, Elena, Tara, Maya, and Mel) with some trepidation. I suggested initially I'd be happy being a lurker, because I really wasn't sure the book was going to do it for me. Maybe a bit too macabre or dystopian? How wrong I was! I'm pretty sure by 12% if not before, I was hooked. It is both macabre and dystopian in such a good way. It's also a bit dark in places too with lots of different themes going on, but what a throughly enjoyable read. 4.5 stars.
(Thanks for the BR girls!)
May 4, 2017
2017 re-read.
I have a soft spot for this book, it's nice to see i enjoyed this book as i did the first time, i discovered things i didn't see before and that i fully got to understand the nature of Desmond and Corey's relationship. Excellent book, definitely belongs to my tiny list of worthy books to re-read.
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What a fantastic book did i just read!
I've been wanting to read this book since last November and for one thing or other i couldn't get it, until now. I knew it was a good book though i didn't know what i expected exactly, i only know it didn't let me down.
The take in the sci-fi aspects are new to me, i'm not a sci-fi reader but i've read some books and watched enough movies to know futuristic worlds are mostly view as happy places with helping robots, etc. I like how in the eyes of Desmond the world he is in isn't that way. Robots aren't reliable in his mind, and it was such a novel POV in my sci-fi experience that i could totally understand Desmond's wariness around anything robotic that i could see myself being that way, hell...i love computers and some technology, but if Siri or Cortana talks to me it gives me hibbie jibbies, i don't like robots and if they start to being common in the world i would freak out, lol. So yeah, A+ to JCP for doing a near-futuristic worldbuilding seen throught the eyes of someone like Desmond.
This book is not your common romance, yes, there's love here, different kinds actually, but this book is dark, gritty, more realistic and deals with how Desmond works his way to accept his problems and finds a way to solve many aspects of his life, though not always with any success. The characters are rounded as you could expect in a JCP's book. The main character is not likeable but you grow fond of him throughout the story.
Many aspects of the story felt personal to me, specially characters like James Murphy, there were times i had to put the book down because some scene hit home and reminded me of someone just like James fucking Murphy.
In resume, this book is about learning to cope with things you cannot undone and find hope your own way.
I have a soft spot for this book, it's nice to see i enjoyed this book as i did the first time, i discovered things i didn't see before and that i fully got to understand the nature of Desmond and Corey's relationship. Excellent book, definitely belongs to my tiny list of worthy books to re-read.
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What a fantastic book did i just read!
I've been wanting to read this book since last November and for one thing or other i couldn't get it, until now. I knew it was a good book though i didn't know what i expected exactly, i only know it didn't let me down.
The take in the sci-fi aspects are new to me, i'm not a sci-fi reader but i've read some books and watched enough movies to know futuristic worlds are mostly view as happy places with helping robots, etc. I like how in the eyes of Desmond the world he is in isn't that way. Robots aren't reliable in his mind, and it was such a novel POV in my sci-fi experience that i could totally understand Desmond's wariness around anything robotic that i could see myself being that way, hell...i love computers and some technology, but if Siri or Cortana talks to me it gives me hibbie jibbies, i don't like robots and if they start to being common in the world i would freak out, lol. So yeah, A+ to JCP for doing a near-futuristic worldbuilding seen throught the eyes of someone like Desmond.
This book is not your common romance, yes, there's love here, different kinds actually, but this book is dark, gritty, more realistic and deals with how Desmond works his way to accept his problems and finds a way to solve many aspects of his life, though not always with any success. The characters are rounded as you could expect in a JCP's book. The main character is not likeable but you grow fond of him throughout the story.
Many aspects of the story felt personal to me, specially characters like James Murphy, there were times i had to put the book down because some scene hit home and reminded me of someone just like James fucking Murphy.
In resume, this book is about learning to cope with things you cannot undone and find hope your own way.
March 28, 2016
3.5
This book is fantastic. But I'm still struggling with the fact of whether I actually liked reading it or not.
JCP is a phenomenal writer and much like with Vic from the PsyCop series, Desmond is an amazing character. Reading him was fast-paced and rough and in the end you root for him. But I suppose that I approached this book looking for a Romance and that wasn't at all what I got. Is there love in it? Of fucking course. From Jim and from Corey and from Desmond himself. But the book isn't a Romance. Not in a traditional sense of the genre and that bothered me, however stupid that may be, since real life works more like this.
I really couldn't get over the fact that by the time I was halfway done with the book Jim featured more prominently in it than Corey both in thought and in actual on page-scenes. When I got to the last fucking page of the book and that was still the case, I was pissed. Again, while being perfectly aware of the fact that the whole book is a most real reflection of a human being and how we work, I just wasn't in the mood for my HEA-feelz to be this soured. I felt that much of my personal hang-ups spoiled the reading for me.
The book is marvellous. But I don't think I liked it much.
This book is fantastic. But I'm still struggling with the fact of whether I actually liked reading it or not.
JCP is a phenomenal writer and much like with Vic from the PsyCop series, Desmond is an amazing character. Reading him was fast-paced and rough and in the end you root for him. But I suppose that I approached this book looking for a Romance and that wasn't at all what I got. Is there love in it? Of fucking course. From Jim and from Corey and from Desmond himself. But the book isn't a Romance. Not in a traditional sense of the genre and that bothered me, however stupid that may be, since real life works more like this.
I really couldn't get over the fact that by the time I was halfway done with the book Jim featured more prominently in it than Corey both in thought and in actual on page-scenes. When I got to the last fucking page of the book and that was still the case, I was pissed. Again, while being perfectly aware of the fact that the whole book is a most real reflection of a human being and how we work, I just wasn't in the mood for my HEA-feelz to be this soured. I felt that much of my personal hang-ups spoiled the reading for me.
The book is marvellous. But I don't think I liked it much.
September 6, 2016
I really don't know how Jordan manages to produce all the original ideas and excellent books she writes. For sure she doesn't cease to amaze me. Her newest example of amazing is ''Meatworks''. I suppose if I would have read a blurb with the exact description of a fucked up person like Desmond I wouldn't even have given it a try. But it is JCP, and obviously there is much more in him, and in Corey. Jim is also totally different from how we first imagine him according to the first thoughts about him by Desmond. Desmond notice this, just a bit later on. In fact, another great aspect of the book is the totally believable characters' development. I also appreciated the robotic aspect, and especially the implied critic of the electronic surveillance, which I totally share.
An absolutely recommended read, just not for people looking for something light and fluffy.
More interesting thoughts in the reviews by Susan or Santino Hassell.
An absolutely recommended read, just not for people looking for something light and fluffy.
More interesting thoughts in the reviews by Susan or Santino Hassell.
February 17, 2017
This was brilliant, and I'm surprised it's not rated higher. I expected this to be heavier on the sci fi/dystopian stuff, but it was more like a slightly different AU. The story focuses on Desmond figuring out how to be an adult, coping with the ways his life has changed after his accident, learning how to not rely on his ex, and his new relationship with Corey.
JCP's writing is excellent. The imagery was so vivid, and the world building was perfect. No one in this story was a white knight; everyone had big flaws. But they were also painfully relatable. The humor in this book was another thing I didn't expect. There were moments that reminded me a bit of The Fifth Element and others that had a feel similar to Santino Hassell's dystopian stuff.
The developing relationship between Corey and Desmond was sweet, sexy, and a little painful at times, but it felt just right. It was all written with such honesty. She somehow managed to walk that line of being un-PC yet still thoughtful. Her writing style doesn't hold back, and I love it.
Would recommend to anyone who likes a gritty story with a surprising dose of realism.
JCP's writing is excellent. The imagery was so vivid, and the world building was perfect. No one in this story was a white knight; everyone had big flaws. But they were also painfully relatable. The humor in this book was another thing I didn't expect. There were moments that reminded me a bit of The Fifth Element and others that had a feel similar to Santino Hassell's dystopian stuff.
The developing relationship between Corey and Desmond was sweet, sexy, and a little painful at times, but it felt just right. It was all written with such honesty. She somehow managed to walk that line of being un-PC yet still thoughtful. Her writing style doesn't hold back, and I love it.
Would recommend to anyone who likes a gritty story with a surprising dose of realism.
September 7, 2020
I didn't want to read this. I hate the fact that the guy on the cover looks like he has dirty fingernails. I hate the title. I hated the description - some alternative universe with robotic prosthetic limbs? All of it made me cringe. Then I read an excerpt and immediately bought the book. Lesson learned: Jordan Castillo Price is such a wonderfully descriptive, convincing writer that she can make me care about things I wouldn't expect to care about, make me enter worlds I didn't want to enter, and in the end make me empathize with someone who is a lot more than less than perfect. Desmond is deeply flawed, emotionally crippled at times, he's a shiftless, messy alcoholic who hurts the people around him constantly. And yet, after only a few pages in, I'm rooting for him.
Readers familiar with JCP's works will see the similarities between this and the PsyCop series. Like Vic, Desmond is an addict, and his addiction fuels his troubles, which are the reason for his addiction. Also like Vic, he has a government employee seeing to his welfare who cares deeply for him. And finally, like Vic, Des is stuck in a world where bureaucracy trumps commonsense, and as a result he gets a little left behind.
I can hear the war cry of certain readers at a distance. "But there are two love interests! I didn't know which one he really loved or was going to get with!" Get over it, people. Have you never seen Casablanca? Sometimes the hardest thing is being in love with and being loved by two people at once. That's Desmond's conundrum, and it isn't until the end of the book that it's clear which man will ultimately be better for him - the one who nurtures to the point of enabling, or the one who enables until Des pushes himself to change. Rest assured, the slighted third party finds his own happy ending.
If I have one gripe about this book, it's that Des never says any of the things he thinks, and so his friends, lovers, and care providers can only ever do what they think is best for him (which never is). But that's not a flaw with the writing. I appreciate how remarkably JCP has distinguished between Des' perception of the world and reality, especially given that the book is written in first person from his perspective.
Finally, I need to mention the wonderful author's notes and photographs included at the end of the ebook. There are some fantastic shots of rundown warehouses and abandoned buildings that inspired the book, as well as anecdotes from JCP's own childhood. An excellent coda to the story.
The moral of this review: just go read the book. Forget whatever you may think you want or need in a romance hero or in a narrative universe. You'll be pleasantly surprised.
Readers familiar with JCP's works will see the similarities between this and the PsyCop series. Like Vic, Desmond is an addict, and his addiction fuels his troubles, which are the reason for his addiction. Also like Vic, he has a government employee seeing to his welfare who cares deeply for him. And finally, like Vic, Des is stuck in a world where bureaucracy trumps commonsense, and as a result he gets a little left behind.
I can hear the war cry of certain readers at a distance. "But there are two love interests! I didn't know which one he really loved or was going to get with!" Get over it, people. Have you never seen Casablanca? Sometimes the hardest thing is being in love with and being loved by two people at once. That's Desmond's conundrum, and it isn't until the end of the book that it's clear which man will ultimately be better for him - the one who nurtures to the point of enabling, or the one who enables until Des pushes himself to change. Rest assured, the slighted third party finds his own happy ending.
If I have one gripe about this book, it's that Des never says any of the things he thinks, and so his friends, lovers, and care providers can only ever do what they think is best for him (which never is). But that's not a flaw with the writing. I appreciate how remarkably JCP has distinguished between Des' perception of the world and reality, especially given that the book is written in first person from his perspective.
Finally, I need to mention the wonderful author's notes and photographs included at the end of the ebook. There are some fantastic shots of rundown warehouses and abandoned buildings that inspired the book, as well as anecdotes from JCP's own childhood. An excellent coda to the story.
The moral of this review: just go read the book. Forget whatever you may think you want or need in a romance hero or in a narrative universe. You'll be pleasantly surprised.
August 27, 2014
I don’t think I’ve ever agonized over a rating as much as I have for this book. Because those reviewers warning that this won’t be for everyone? They’re talking about me. I never would’ve read this book had it been written by anyone else. That cover pic & the blurb would normally send me running: not my kind of story. And it really wasn’t.
I can’t say I liked spending time in this gritty, grimy world where a day spent smoking & drinking on the couch is the biggest ambition. And Desmond was a screw-up even before he lost his hand so you can’t even blame that life-changing event for the way he behaves. I never got to like Corey much either. Other than a reveal about the true cost of losing his hand, I didn’t feel like we got to know him well enough to root for him. I have a soft spot for men so in need of some loving, but ultimately I was disappointed in the way the romance played out too.
But JCP’s writing is really exceptional here, even beyond her usual level of excellence. She managed to make me care about Desmond and whether he would get his life on track. Even from the beginning, we see a vulnerability and an awareness of how he’s screwed up that belies the ‘who cares’ attitude he shows the world, and there’s growth over the course of the book too. She’s also extremely good at painting a vivid picture of this “bleak near-future”. The visual style puts you right in Desmond’s world with him. I could see his dreary environment to the tiniest detail and I could feel the crushing ‘why bother’ apathy that permeates his life. It’s the reason my negative reaction was so strong: it’s not a pleasant place to be.
So how do I rate this? Do I go with my enjoyment level (3) or my admiration for the writing (5+)? I decided to average both for a rating of 4. I’m not entirely satisfied with this compromise, though, since this just doesn’t feel like my other 4-star reads; those books were easier to love.
I can’t say I liked spending time in this gritty, grimy world where a day spent smoking & drinking on the couch is the biggest ambition. And Desmond was a screw-up even before he lost his hand so you can’t even blame that life-changing event for the way he behaves. I never got to like Corey much either. Other than a reveal about the true cost of losing his hand, I didn’t feel like we got to know him well enough to root for him. I have a soft spot for men so in need of some loving, but ultimately I was disappointed in the way the romance played out too.
But JCP’s writing is really exceptional here, even beyond her usual level of excellence. She managed to make me care about Desmond and whether he would get his life on track. Even from the beginning, we see a vulnerability and an awareness of how he’s screwed up that belies the ‘who cares’ attitude he shows the world, and there’s growth over the course of the book too. She’s also extremely good at painting a vivid picture of this “bleak near-future”. The visual style puts you right in Desmond’s world with him. I could see his dreary environment to the tiniest detail and I could feel the crushing ‘why bother’ apathy that permeates his life. It’s the reason my negative reaction was so strong: it’s not a pleasant place to be.
So how do I rate this? Do I go with my enjoyment level (3) or my admiration for the writing (5+)? I decided to average both for a rating of 4. I’m not entirely satisfied with this compromise, though, since this just doesn’t feel like my other 4-star reads; those books were easier to love.
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