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The Other Side of the Pool
In the spring of 1995, Benjamin, soon to graduate from high school, and his father Richard spend a week in a resort in Egypt, where they meet Adam and Siobhan, a British couple. As the attraction between Benjamin and Adam quickly escalates, the four characters are led in the unfolding seven days to confront their past and their lies, their choices, fears and expectations
136 pages, ebook
First published February 3, 2015
18 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 8, 2023
The writing in this novel is much better than How Far Into The Trees. The sentence structure and adjective placement improve significantly.
It is a bit confusing to have other characters’ points of view—until the ending.
I love Ben’s openness and shamelessness in sharing all of his thoughts regarding his own sexuality. Quite brave.
The intimacy is steamy. It’s fascinating to see Ben's awakening.
On Ben’s last day in Egypt, he makes several genuine breakthroughs. He has actual thoughts about sex and life—rather than just acting on his urges. It’s refreshing, and suddenly the best part of the book comes alive.
Ben’s father is pretty cool. Interactions with him lead Ben to introspection. It’s great to see some growth and self-reflection in his musings. Ben was quite cruel in his youth. He didn’t understand what he was doing to Adam, a man he went out of his way to seduce.
This goes in really poignant directions when Ben ponders what it means to see people how you want them to be versus how they truly are.
“She might not share your cold rationality.”
“I don’t feel cold…I feel hotly rational, if that makes any sense.”
It is a bit confusing to have other characters’ points of view—until the ending.
I love Ben’s openness and shamelessness in sharing all of his thoughts regarding his own sexuality. Quite brave.
The intimacy is steamy. It’s fascinating to see Ben's awakening.
On Ben’s last day in Egypt, he makes several genuine breakthroughs. He has actual thoughts about sex and life—rather than just acting on his urges. It’s refreshing, and suddenly the best part of the book comes alive.
Ben’s father is pretty cool. Interactions with him lead Ben to introspection. It’s great to see some growth and self-reflection in his musings. Ben was quite cruel in his youth. He didn’t understand what he was doing to Adam, a man he went out of his way to seduce.
This goes in really poignant directions when Ben ponders what it means to see people how you want them to be versus how they truly are.
“She might not share your cold rationality.”
“I don’t feel cold…I feel hotly rational, if that makes any sense.”
August 17, 2022
Another frank novel from Ashton with a similar memoir style. This is compounded by having a character in the prologue be the narrator of the ensuing 'story' fleshed out from an episode of that character's life. I liked the structural device, partly because it gave a further insight into the subsequent tale and also because it wasn't over emphasized, just barely a ripple, yet there.
April 9, 2015
It's an addictive tale of seduction and a dark reflection on youth. It does cover familiar territory, but eschews the sappiness that usually goes with coming-out stories, which, in many ways, the book is actually not. It's erotic (very much so at times) but really moving, and it lingers with you after you're finished - as bit longer and a bit deeper than you'd wish, actually.
The author's name is wrongly spelled, though. His email is at the end of the book, so I've alerted him. There is another of his books here on GR.
The author's name is wrongly spelled, though. His email is at the end of the book, so I've alerted him. There is another of his books here on GR.
December 20, 2016
I really wanted to give this a higher rating, but it could have really used the help of a professional editor. There were numerous spelling mistakes and incorrect verb tenses.
Often I found the writing to be pretentious, using obscure words. Words I didn't believe a 17 year old would know, let alone use.
There was also way too much exposition, which was a shame because the author had a really good handle on the dialogue, and those parts of the story engrossed me and made me want to turn the page.
Often I found the writing to be pretentious, using obscure words. Words I didn't believe a 17 year old would know, let alone use.
There was also way too much exposition, which was a shame because the author had a really good handle on the dialogue, and those parts of the story engrossed me and made me want to turn the page.
April 21, 2015
It's upsetting, but in a good way. Beautiful people in a beautiful place doing all the wrong things with and to each other. It has moments of cuteness when it talks about family (a great Dad character), but it's really about teenage lust and cruelty. It's really excellent, even if the ending is a bit troubling.
April 22, 2015
better than I expected.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews