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The Price of Dick
**This is an alternate cover edition of ASIN: B00KIT5RKQ**
His name is Richard but he'll say, "Call me Dick." He's a big, butch, brainy guy in an executive suit, hotter than spit on a skillet. The type of guy you can see fully dressed and imagine buck naked in the throes of an orgasm - every six-feet-two, muscular, sexually intoxicating inch of him. He's an ambitious freshman in a prominent brokerage firm who's figured out he can use more than his smarts to get ahead. He's perfected a surefire method to drive home a hard deal. No one can resist him. And he's got one really big secret. But that will cost you.
For photographer J.J. Johnstone, the price of Dick just might cost him everything.
Word Count: 105,000
His name is Richard but he'll say, "Call me Dick." He's a big, butch, brainy guy in an executive suit, hotter than spit on a skillet. The type of guy you can see fully dressed and imagine buck naked in the throes of an orgasm - every six-feet-two, muscular, sexually intoxicating inch of him. He's an ambitious freshman in a prominent brokerage firm who's figured out he can use more than his smarts to get ahead. He's perfected a surefire method to drive home a hard deal. No one can resist him. And he's got one really big secret. But that will cost you.
For photographer J.J. Johnstone, the price of Dick just might cost him everything.
Word Count: 105,000
291 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 22, 2014
19 people are currently reading
586 people want to read
About the author
Dan Skinner
20 books428 followersDan Skinner is a new author who hates writing bios. He lives in St. Louis, Missouri, and has been a book cover artist for seven years.
Visit Dan's deviantart profile for more works of art.
Visit Dan's deviantart profile for more works of art.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 134 reviews
July 20, 2014
3.5 stars. Review completed June 6, 2014. I need to explain my rating. Please scroll down.
If you are inherently a good guy, which I think I am, you instinctively want to help people even before you know what their problem may be. Which, as I examine that notion, makes good guys sound gullible. Con artists look for good guys because of that built-in gullibility. If they're con artists that come in a sexually alluring package, a good guy can become a brainless idiot. Allow me to introduce myself.
That's the crux of the matter: the good guy, J.J., served as a doormat and acted like a brainless idiot for many years and it's something I've had a very hard time to swallow. That and the Hollywoodesque ending are the reasons why I downgraded my rating to 3 stars.
What made the difference between Memorizing You and The Price of Dick? Both books provide excellent writing and compelling storytelling skills. Plus, I loved the MCs of Memorizing You and all that made for an absolutely outstanding and memorable reading experience. With The Price of Dick, however, I didn’t get THAT whole package. Yes, I did love the impeccable writing incl. the very entertaining narrative and some of J.J.’s deadpan lines were hilarious. Unfortunately, there's a 'but'. I not only hated and despised Dick and the bigoted and homophobic Mommy Fitch for that matter, I also ended up disliking J.J. I just couldn't believe it. Somewhere along the way I somehow lost my respect for him. Which leads me to my conclusion that my rating simply reflects the whole picture, how I felt about The Price of Dick in general.
Dan can write one hell of a story and I truly adore his writing skills but fact is, I can’t give a book a straight four or five-star rating when I dislike the good guy too. I expected to hate Dick but not liking J.J. came out of left field and bothered me greatly.
Favorite quote:
Do you fancy a description of Dick's character?
Manipulative bastard
Filthy swine
Despicable asshole
Narcissistic showoff
Vomit-inducing liar
Pathetic pretender
Abhorrent impostor
In short, Dick is a horrible dick.
(…)We could have formed a club. Dick's Anonymous.
J.J. was making endless concessions and he could practically sense the doom, but why-oh-why did he not put an end to his ordeal sooner? Is he a sucker for punishment? I get it, he’s an inherently good guy and very kind and helpful with a clear conscience but come on, Dick The Dick exploited him SHAMELESSLY AD NAUSEAM and used him as his own personal doormat. It’s the kind of exploitation that goes beyond money. Dick worked J.J. into the ground, emotionally and materially. J.J. went back into the closet for Dick at his convenience all the time, for Pete’s sake! Also, J.J. played along in a ridiculous charade, catering to Dick’s every need and ended up in a downward spiral that was beyond pathetic. I think J.J.'s gullibility and naïveté can't. Be. Outdone. Frankly, I couldn't believe my eyes and wanted to yell at him to wake up already but it was fruitless. He let himself be treated like a piece of s@it. Looking for shelter in a bottle isn’t the solution either, that’s for certain. This grade-A manipulation went on for years…YEARS! J.J. was so extremely focused on Dick and oh-so eager to please him in any way possible that he didn't realize how that asshole sucked the happiness out of him. For me, as a reader, that highly humiliating and manipulating treatment was so hard to absorb; I couldn't understand it. What hurt the most was the fact that J.J. pushed forty without having been in love for ages. After he realized that they would never be a loving couple he simply pined after Dick's friendship for years, although without success. Well, that came as no real surprise. I was disappointed in J.J. because he spent so many years being miserable without making any efforts to really change the status quo. This may sound a bit harsh but to be honest, I came to that specific point where I had a hard time to feel any sympathy for him. Where was his friggin’ self-respect, his backbone? If I had been in J.J.'s shoes, I would have called it quits after that nasty vacation "incident". But no, let's go our merry way to get dissed over and over and over and over again. It must be a great feeling. Sorry, that's me being sarcastic.
Finally, I must say the Hollywoodesque ending felt exaggerated and fairytale-like. It was the equivalent of a very huge gift, wrapped up with a glitter-sprinkled bow and some starry-eyed content. Oh well…
On a positive note, I really do appreciate the fact that we can't put Dan in a specific box. It's very important that authors write distinct characters and different stories because that's exactly what will keep me reading. I want variety and Dan delivers. It is very unfortunate, however, that The Price of Dick didn't quite hit the mark this time around. Regardless, it's a good read and if your frustrating tolerance is higher than mine, then chances are you'll end up loving it.
If you are inherently a good guy, which I think I am, you instinctively want to help people even before you know what their problem may be. Which, as I examine that notion, makes good guys sound gullible. Con artists look for good guys because of that built-in gullibility. If they're con artists that come in a sexually alluring package, a good guy can become a brainless idiot. Allow me to introduce myself.
That's the crux of the matter: the good guy, J.J., served as a doormat and acted like a brainless idiot for many years and it's something I've had a very hard time to swallow. That and the Hollywoodesque ending are the reasons why I downgraded my rating to 3 stars.
What made the difference between Memorizing You and The Price of Dick? Both books provide excellent writing and compelling storytelling skills. Plus, I loved the MCs of Memorizing You and all that made for an absolutely outstanding and memorable reading experience. With The Price of Dick, however, I didn’t get THAT whole package. Yes, I did love the impeccable writing incl. the very entertaining narrative and some of J.J.’s deadpan lines were hilarious. Unfortunately, there's a 'but'. I not only hated and despised Dick and the bigoted and homophobic Mommy Fitch for that matter, I also ended up disliking J.J. I just couldn't believe it. Somewhere along the way I somehow lost my respect for him. Which leads me to my conclusion that my rating simply reflects the whole picture, how I felt about The Price of Dick in general.
Dan can write one hell of a story and I truly adore his writing skills but fact is, I can’t give a book a straight four or five-star rating when I dislike the good guy too. I expected to hate Dick but not liking J.J. came out of left field and bothered me greatly.
Favorite quote:
Do you fancy a description of Dick's character?
Manipulative bastard
Filthy swine
Despicable asshole
Narcissistic showoff
Vomit-inducing liar
Pathetic pretender
Abhorrent impostor
In short, Dick is a horrible dick.
(…)We could have formed a club. Dick's Anonymous.
J.J. was making endless concessions and he could practically sense the doom, but why-oh-why did he not put an end to his ordeal sooner? Is he a sucker for punishment? I get it, he’s an inherently good guy and very kind and helpful with a clear conscience but come on, Dick The Dick exploited him SHAMELESSLY AD NAUSEAM and used him as his own personal doormat. It’s the kind of exploitation that goes beyond money. Dick worked J.J. into the ground, emotionally and materially. J.J. went back into the closet for Dick at his convenience all the time, for Pete’s sake! Also, J.J. played along in a ridiculous charade, catering to Dick’s every need and ended up in a downward spiral that was beyond pathetic. I think J.J.'s gullibility and naïveté can't. Be. Outdone. Frankly, I couldn't believe my eyes and wanted to yell at him to wake up already but it was fruitless. He let himself be treated like a piece of s@it. Looking for shelter in a bottle isn’t the solution either, that’s for certain. This grade-A manipulation went on for years…YEARS! J.J. was so extremely focused on Dick and oh-so eager to please him in any way possible that he didn't realize how that asshole sucked the happiness out of him. For me, as a reader, that highly humiliating and manipulating treatment was so hard to absorb; I couldn't understand it. What hurt the most was the fact that J.J. pushed forty without having been in love for ages. After he realized that they would never be a loving couple he simply pined after Dick's friendship for years, although without success. Well, that came as no real surprise. I was disappointed in J.J. because he spent so many years being miserable without making any efforts to really change the status quo. This may sound a bit harsh but to be honest, I came to that specific point where I had a hard time to feel any sympathy for him. Where was his friggin’ self-respect, his backbone? If I had been in J.J.'s shoes, I would have called it quits after that nasty vacation "incident". But no, let's go our merry way to get dissed over and over and over and over again. It must be a great feeling. Sorry, that's me being sarcastic.
Finally, I must say the Hollywoodesque ending felt exaggerated and fairytale-like. It was the equivalent of a very huge gift, wrapped up with a glitter-sprinkled bow and some starry-eyed content. Oh well…
On a positive note, I really do appreciate the fact that we can't put Dan in a specific box. It's very important that authors write distinct characters and different stories because that's exactly what will keep me reading. I want variety and Dan delivers. It is very unfortunate, however, that The Price of Dick didn't quite hit the mark this time around. Regardless, it's a good read and if your frustrating tolerance is higher than mine, then chances are you'll end up loving it.
September 9, 2016
Brilliant and unusual...
Could I afford the price of Dick?” – this is the dilemma that JJ has to deal with in this book. Because Dick is a dick but Dick is also JJ’s muse.
Ambitious executive
Sexy and intoxicating
Photographer
Secrets
Emotional roller-coaster
And new beginnings for JJ (or someone else... :)) who manages to grow his confidence and believe in himself while going through the obstacles to achieve this by choosing to share his life with his beautiful monster.
As JJ warns us himself not to repeat his mistakes, I can’t help but wonder - would JJ become the person he is in the end of the book without having had Dick in his life?
Fascinating read.
Loved.
It really should be in a movie adaptation.
Recommended.
Amazing BR here.
"… it is a documentation of how you can screw your life up when you think with your dick instead of your head."
Could I afford the price of Dick?” – this is the dilemma that JJ has to deal with in this book. Because Dick is a dick but Dick is also JJ’s muse.
Ambitious executive
Sexy and intoxicating
Photographer
Secrets
Emotional roller-coaster
And new beginnings for JJ (or someone else... :)) who manages to grow his confidence and believe in himself while going through the obstacles to achieve this by choosing to share his life with his beautiful monster.
"The lotus flower blooms most beautifully from the deepest and thickest mud."
~Buddist proverb
As JJ warns us himself not to repeat his mistakes, I can’t help but wonder - would JJ become the person he is in the end of the book without having had Dick in his life?
Fascinating read.
Loved.
It really should be in a movie adaptation.
Recommended.
Amazing BR here.
June 5, 2014
When I read this title for the first time, I wanted to read this book ASAP. The title itself left me intrigued. Being written by Dan Skinner, it could only be a great book, I thought! I was not mistaken, it is indeed a fabulous book, but not for the reasons that I thought it would be...
Let me tell you first that I was born, raised and educated as a Catholic. However, since I think for myself, I do believe on the existence of a superior force above us all, but I don't believe on religions, no matter what they may be. IMO, religions are the cause of the most atrocious events in human kind history. Wars, murderers, radicalism, prejudice and all forms of intolerance, are sometimes caused by religions.
So, reading this book, and being or not an autobiographical story, or even if there is or not some real events referenced in it, only accentuates my conviction that religions are sometimes a real bad thing.
Dick is a sick man. Crazy, sociopath, selfish, narcissist, but a very beautiful and attractive man! His mind is dominated by prejudice against homosexuality. He is gay, but he knows that he can't be gay. His mother would never allowed it. She's a devout Catholic, and for her, being gay is a terrible sin. She is also a psychological terrorist, and that was what her son learned best trough her.
JJ is a photographer and aspires to be a writer. He also wants Dick. He craves for that beautiful man! What he doesn't know is how much manipulated he will be by Dick's evil mind! He has dreams to chase but he is also so naive, that he will find himself on a terrible situation...
This is a very powerful and disturbing story! I will never forget it! How a man lets himself be completely dominated and manipulated by another person is very scary! I am glad that "JJ" found true love and I think that he learned a very valuable lesson!
This was a fabulous BR!
Let me tell you first that I was born, raised and educated as a Catholic. However, since I think for myself, I do believe on the existence of a superior force above us all, but I don't believe on religions, no matter what they may be. IMO, religions are the cause of the most atrocious events in human kind history. Wars, murderers, radicalism, prejudice and all forms of intolerance, are sometimes caused by religions.
So, reading this book, and being or not an autobiographical story, or even if there is or not some real events referenced in it, only accentuates my conviction that religions are sometimes a real bad thing.
Dick is a sick man. Crazy, sociopath, selfish, narcissist, but a very beautiful and attractive man! His mind is dominated by prejudice against homosexuality. He is gay, but he knows that he can't be gay. His mother would never allowed it. She's a devout Catholic, and for her, being gay is a terrible sin. She is also a psychological terrorist, and that was what her son learned best trough her.
JJ is a photographer and aspires to be a writer. He also wants Dick. He craves for that beautiful man! What he doesn't know is how much manipulated he will be by Dick's evil mind! He has dreams to chase but he is also so naive, that he will find himself on a terrible situation...
This is a very powerful and disturbing story! I will never forget it! How a man lets himself be completely dominated and manipulated by another person is very scary! I am glad that "JJ" found true love and I think that he learned a very valuable lesson!
This was a fabulous BR!
May 29, 2014
Dan, what did I just read? One of these days we need to have a quiet talk. I really want to hurt Dick. At the very least I hope he gets a lifetime of constant jock itch.
It makes me angry and hurt and then angry again. If that's what you were going for, you succeeded. I hope every SOB that comes anywhere near as close to being like Dick contracts the same lifetime jock itch and is handled the way that Karma should handle people like that.
Very unusual book. I'll probably add another star when I can get over how much I hate Dick.
MAY 29TH REVISION OF REVIEW.
I still hate Dick, but after I heard a few things I needed to hear, I knew I couldn't hold back that one star just because Dan made me hate Dick so much. I really hate that Dan makes me say that sentence over and over. LOL
I know that people have a hard time getting through this book solely because they really, really HATE Dick.You know when there is a character in a book and just having to read their name p*sses you off? Dick does that to me. But that is really brilliant because Dan made me hate a sort of fictional character enough that I had left a well earned star off of the review (JUST OVERNIGHT), BECAUSE OF FRIGGING DICK!
So, read the book. Dan did a really great job on making everybody HATE DICK. Come on! Get on the I HATE DICK bandwagon with the rest of is. We need tshirts made. Hugs, Dan!
It makes me angry and hurt and then angry again. If that's what you were going for, you succeeded. I hope every SOB that comes anywhere near as close to being like Dick contracts the same lifetime jock itch and is handled the way that Karma should handle people like that.
Very unusual book. I'll probably add another star when I can get over how much I hate Dick.
MAY 29TH REVISION OF REVIEW.
I still hate Dick, but after I heard a few things I needed to hear, I knew I couldn't hold back that one star just because Dan made me hate Dick so much. I really hate that Dan makes me say that sentence over and over. LOL
I know that people have a hard time getting through this book solely because they really, really HATE Dick.You know when there is a character in a book and just having to read their name p*sses you off? Dick does that to me. But that is really brilliant because Dan made me hate a sort of fictional character enough that I had left a well earned star off of the review (JUST OVERNIGHT), BECAUSE OF FRIGGING DICK!
So, read the book. Dan did a really great job on making everybody HATE DICK. Come on! Get on the I HATE DICK bandwagon with the rest of is. We need tshirts made. Hugs, Dan!
September 26, 2014
I have to preface this review by telling you that I edited this book for Dan. That in no way affects my honest assessment of the book's worth. Ask anyone who knows me. If I don't like something, I won't hesitate to tell you, even if you ARE a friend. I try to be nice about it though ;)
What do you get when you combine a narcissistic sociopath with the face and body of every cowboy you’ve ever dreamed about with a nice guy who wants to find happiness and believes there is good in everyone? The Price of Dick. This book is Dan Skinner’s second full length novel. And if you haven’t read his first one, Memorizing You, please do yourself a favor and do so immediately after you finish reading The Price of Dick.
Richard Fitch is Dick, and he lives up to that name and beyond. He is the soul of the devil in a thousand dollar suit. Evil personified masked with beautiful blue eyes and a chin coveted by millions of patients who consult with plastic surgeons annually. He is also the consummate conman. He could flash those baby blues and that smile, or that beautiful athlete's body and make you believe you really want to do that thing he just convinced you to do. You'll actually believe it was your own idea in the first place!
J.J. Johnstone hasn't had a great life thus far. He's got no family, but is just beginning to build a great reputation for himself as a photographer of romance novel covers. When he sees Dick, he jumps. He wants to be the one to go home with him. To be the chosen one among all the men and women who follow Dick around the gym like he's some sort of grifter Pied Piper. If you are unfamiliar with the original folklore surrounding the Pied Piper, he was a beautifully outfitted man who played his flute to lead children out of their village to never return. He was later rumored to be a rat catcher who, when the villagers refused to pay him, turned his magic flute on the children and used their disappearance as revenge against their parents.
This is, of course, legend, folklore, fiction. The Price of Dick is also a work of fiction. There are portions of the book that are loosely based on the author's own experiences. But for the most part, it is fiction. Imagine if you will, a Dick that is even more evil than the one artfully presented by Mr. Skinner. Make your skin crawl? It should. Pennywise the clown would be a less dangerous bed mate. Dan's skill comes into play in that the truth and fiction are seamlessly woven together. There is no way for the reader to tell the difference.
Dan Skinner is a photographer. He works with visual stimuli. So when he writes, his brain is able to transform his words into a picture for the reader. I have no idea how he does it without pages and pages of boring, "this looked like that, that smelled like this, the air was... blah, blah, blah." But he does. His unique voice and cadence create word pictures and leave the reader breathless. By the third time reading through this manuscript, it should have been boring. Instead, I kept finding layers of beauty and pain that I hadn't noticed before.
Almost from the beginning of The Price of Dick, the reader has a bad feeling about Dick. But we have faith in J.J.. Then somewhere along the story line, that bad feeling and faith turn into terror. Not the Pennywise kind of terror, but the terror one feels when they are seeing someone they have come to care about heading for certain disaster and can do not one little thing to prevent it.
I've read every review I could of this book. To a one, they all wanted to reach into the pages of the book and shake some sense into J.J. and choke the life out of Dick. But you have to just turn those pages as quickly as you can as the train comes blazing down the track. You don't dare look away while waiting for the inevitable.
There is sex. Anyone familiar with Dan's photography work (and if you aren't, why not?) knows that there is sex. The chemistry he creates in his photos is organic. It can't be faked. The sex is hot and well written. Again, Dan's giftedness comes into play. He writes some really raunchy stuff. But it doesn't feel dirty or lascivious when you read it or leave you feeling trashy afterward. It is just enough.
Alex. We all need an Alex. He is motivational in every sense of the word. Picturing his ass in those yellow shorts almost made me want to take up running. The stories he shares from his family made me melt. To avoid spoilers, I won't share anymore about him other than to say I hope that I, and every one reading this either has an Alex in their life, or meets him someday.
In The Price of Dick, Dan Skinner has created a most memorable character. The title is fitting whether Dick is taken as a formal name or as a slang name for a particular part of male anatomy. It works wither way. Or both.
While this book may scare you, it isn't the horror movie kind of scare, it's more like you are worried about someone because you know he's headed for the shit. The title may alarm you, make you think the book is porny. While there is gay sex in this book, it is not gratuitous. It is used in limited quantities to advance the plot and character development. The "Dick" in the title really is the name of one of the completely unforgettable MCs. Which direction your mind chooses to interpret it is your own thing.
None of that should stop you from reading The Price of Dick. Dan Skinner has taken "a wolf in sheep's clothing" to an entirely new level. It's alarming how well camouflaged a true sociopath is able to be. There may be one sitting next to you right now.
What do you get when you combine a narcissistic sociopath with the face and body of every cowboy you’ve ever dreamed about with a nice guy who wants to find happiness and believes there is good in everyone? The Price of Dick. This book is Dan Skinner’s second full length novel. And if you haven’t read his first one, Memorizing You, please do yourself a favor and do so immediately after you finish reading The Price of Dick.
Richard Fitch is Dick, and he lives up to that name and beyond. He is the soul of the devil in a thousand dollar suit. Evil personified masked with beautiful blue eyes and a chin coveted by millions of patients who consult with plastic surgeons annually. He is also the consummate conman. He could flash those baby blues and that smile, or that beautiful athlete's body and make you believe you really want to do that thing he just convinced you to do. You'll actually believe it was your own idea in the first place!
J.J. Johnstone hasn't had a great life thus far. He's got no family, but is just beginning to build a great reputation for himself as a photographer of romance novel covers. When he sees Dick, he jumps. He wants to be the one to go home with him. To be the chosen one among all the men and women who follow Dick around the gym like he's some sort of grifter Pied Piper. If you are unfamiliar with the original folklore surrounding the Pied Piper, he was a beautifully outfitted man who played his flute to lead children out of their village to never return. He was later rumored to be a rat catcher who, when the villagers refused to pay him, turned his magic flute on the children and used their disappearance as revenge against their parents.
This is, of course, legend, folklore, fiction. The Price of Dick is also a work of fiction. There are portions of the book that are loosely based on the author's own experiences. But for the most part, it is fiction. Imagine if you will, a Dick that is even more evil than the one artfully presented by Mr. Skinner. Make your skin crawl? It should. Pennywise the clown would be a less dangerous bed mate. Dan's skill comes into play in that the truth and fiction are seamlessly woven together. There is no way for the reader to tell the difference.
Dan Skinner is a photographer. He works with visual stimuli. So when he writes, his brain is able to transform his words into a picture for the reader. I have no idea how he does it without pages and pages of boring, "this looked like that, that smelled like this, the air was... blah, blah, blah." But he does. His unique voice and cadence create word pictures and leave the reader breathless. By the third time reading through this manuscript, it should have been boring. Instead, I kept finding layers of beauty and pain that I hadn't noticed before.
Almost from the beginning of The Price of Dick, the reader has a bad feeling about Dick. But we have faith in J.J.. Then somewhere along the story line, that bad feeling and faith turn into terror. Not the Pennywise kind of terror, but the terror one feels when they are seeing someone they have come to care about heading for certain disaster and can do not one little thing to prevent it.
I've read every review I could of this book. To a one, they all wanted to reach into the pages of the book and shake some sense into J.J. and choke the life out of Dick. But you have to just turn those pages as quickly as you can as the train comes blazing down the track. You don't dare look away while waiting for the inevitable.
There is sex. Anyone familiar with Dan's photography work (and if you aren't, why not?) knows that there is sex. The chemistry he creates in his photos is organic. It can't be faked. The sex is hot and well written. Again, Dan's giftedness comes into play. He writes some really raunchy stuff. But it doesn't feel dirty or lascivious when you read it or leave you feeling trashy afterward. It is just enough.
Alex. We all need an Alex. He is motivational in every sense of the word. Picturing his ass in those yellow shorts almost made me want to take up running. The stories he shares from his family made me melt. To avoid spoilers, I won't share anymore about him other than to say I hope that I, and every one reading this either has an Alex in their life, or meets him someday.
In The Price of Dick, Dan Skinner has created a most memorable character. The title is fitting whether Dick is taken as a formal name or as a slang name for a particular part of male anatomy. It works wither way. Or both.
While this book may scare you, it isn't the horror movie kind of scare, it's more like you are worried about someone because you know he's headed for the shit. The title may alarm you, make you think the book is porny. While there is gay sex in this book, it is not gratuitous. It is used in limited quantities to advance the plot and character development. The "Dick" in the title really is the name of one of the completely unforgettable MCs. Which direction your mind chooses to interpret it is your own thing.
None of that should stop you from reading The Price of Dick. Dan Skinner has taken "a wolf in sheep's clothing" to an entirely new level. It's alarming how well camouflaged a true sociopath is able to be. There may be one sitting next to you right now.
February 17, 2016
An epic story
5+++ The Price of Dick
Great self reflections. Awesome syntax.
I love the world of thought. A well full of vocabulary.
There are so many awesome sentences that I want to highlight
I loved the voyeuristic and exhibitionistic scenes, very steamy.
It was entertaining as hell, funny, witty, ups and down
I think it's a Dan thing but at 30% i thought i read a whole book. What can more happen... No there is more much more.... amaaaazing
Lots and lots of analizing
It was getting more and more crazy. Dick was a dick pur sang. Unbelievable manipulator, psycho but also 'endearing' in a convincingly way. Locked in a closet with a steel door and twenty locks on it. More a deep hole in the ground with a layer of cement over it.
Sometimes a wanted to slap JJ for a wake up. He was so captivated by Dick and hoped on progress.
Dick turns his back to him and it gets dirty
Then he meets Alex, the beautiful soul named Alex......
Karma does her work good!
An epic story
5+++ The Price of Dick
Great self reflections. Awesome syntax.
I love the world of thought. A well full of vocabulary.
There are so many awesome sentences that I want to highlight
I loved the voyeuristic and exhibitionistic scenes, very steamy.
It was entertaining as hell, funny, witty, ups and down
I think it's a Dan thing but at 30% i thought i read a whole book. What can more happen... No there is more much more.... amaaaazing
Lots and lots of analizing
It was getting more and more crazy. Dick was a dick pur sang. Unbelievable manipulator, psycho but also 'endearing' in a convincingly way. Locked in a closet with a steel door and twenty locks on it. More a deep hole in the ground with a layer of cement over it.
Sometimes a wanted to slap JJ for a wake up. He was so captivated by Dick and hoped on progress.
Dick turns his back to him and it gets dirty
Then he meets Alex, the beautiful soul named Alex......
Karma does her work good!
An epic story
May 20, 2016
No sé ni qué decir sobre este libro.
No lo dejo en una estrella porque es Dan Skinner y en algo se tiene que notar, pero siento que he perdido totalmente mi tiempo, y eso que me lo leí de un tirón anoche, creo que necesitaba ver hasta dónde era capaz de llegar todo... Decepcionante.
No lo dejo en una estrella porque es Dan Skinner y en algo se tiene que notar, pero siento que he perdido totalmente mi tiempo, y eso que me lo leí de un tirón anoche, creo que necesitaba ver hasta dónde era capaz de llegar todo... Decepcionante.
June 9, 2014
So I spent the better part of yesterday reading about a huge dick. Is there any other way to spend a Sunday??
My second Dan Skinner book and I loved it just as much as the first (Memorizing You). They are WORLDS apart as far as the subject matter, but they are on equal ground as far as how much I enjoyed them.
There will be SPOILERS my friends, so read with caution if you haven't read the book.
The story is told from JJ's perspective. As the book begins, you pretty much know that he's been screwed over by a dick because he was thinking with his. I will take the liberty in speaking for every male by saying that sometimes, the penis seems to make a really great argument and that might lead to questionable actions. It's possible I've been a victim of this from time to time, so I can relate to JJ. Let's face it, the penis wants what the penis wants, and sometimes it's like a magnet with a force that cannot be stopped.
In this case, the magnet was drawn to one Richard Fitch, but let's call him Dick. JJ and Dick meet at the gym after JJ has been stalking him for a number of days. Again, stalking is something that every gay male has probably stumbled on from time to time so I'm still with JJ at this point.
JJ and Dick form a friendship and the rest of the story is a twisty road of WTF.
Dick....where do I start? He is larger than life with a huge personality. You are immediately drawn to him as he seems like a great guy. As time progresses, little dents begin to appear in his armor and he is more 'get away from me' and less 'let's hang out on Friday'. He is a liar and a manipulator. He's totally gay, but so far in the closet that he can't even see the door. Not only does he excel in telling a web of lies, but he starts to pull JJ into those lies and JJ does nothing to stop him, because again, he's thinking sexually and not rationally.
I can't fault JJ entirely. When he would start to get angry and question himself about what he was doing, Dick would pull out all of the stops and do things that were incredibly generous and sweet. This would reel JJ right back into his web. It made him want to believe Dick even when he knew deep down inside that he shouldn't.
As I kept reading, I was floored by the things that were revealed. Good God, Dick was totally crazy...seriously! But with every crazy thing that was revealed, I read faster as I wanted to make sure the JJ was okay in the end. When you are dealing with someone with the level of crazy that Dick was, you just don't know what they will do if they are backed into a corner.
I'm not going to write more as it's really best to just read the book and see for yourself.
As much as I ended up hating Dick, I think I hated his mother about 100 times more. She helped form Dick into what he became. He loved her, but could never please her. Like I wrote earlier, he was gay. He knew it, and she knew it. But that didn't stop her from doing everything in her power to try and turn him into the perfect heterosexual. She constantly harped on him about dating and he was always trying to please her even though he bitched about her to JJ all of the time. He found comfort in JJ as he could be himself and JJ wouldn't judge him. What JJ didn't know is that Dick would lie to him as well.
I don't think Dick knew how to live any other way. He grew up denying who he was and had to maintain that lie to fit in with his family. I'm not saying that he took the right path, but I was able to sympathize with him as I was reading about his mother as she was a monster.
In a nutshell, this wasn't a romance novel by any stretch, but it was AWESOME! I was totally drawn in and could not be bothered with anything else. That writing was exquisite. I hated Dick, but couldn't stop reading about him as it was just so good.
Two thumbs up and a lifetime fan of Dan Skinner!
My second Dan Skinner book and I loved it just as much as the first (Memorizing You). They are WORLDS apart as far as the subject matter, but they are on equal ground as far as how much I enjoyed them.
There will be SPOILERS my friends, so read with caution if you haven't read the book.
The story is told from JJ's perspective. As the book begins, you pretty much know that he's been screwed over by a dick because he was thinking with his. I will take the liberty in speaking for every male by saying that sometimes, the penis seems to make a really great argument and that might lead to questionable actions. It's possible I've been a victim of this from time to time, so I can relate to JJ. Let's face it, the penis wants what the penis wants, and sometimes it's like a magnet with a force that cannot be stopped.
In this case, the magnet was drawn to one Richard Fitch, but let's call him Dick. JJ and Dick meet at the gym after JJ has been stalking him for a number of days. Again, stalking is something that every gay male has probably stumbled on from time to time so I'm still with JJ at this point.
JJ and Dick form a friendship and the rest of the story is a twisty road of WTF.
Dick....where do I start? He is larger than life with a huge personality. You are immediately drawn to him as he seems like a great guy. As time progresses, little dents begin to appear in his armor and he is more 'get away from me' and less 'let's hang out on Friday'. He is a liar and a manipulator. He's totally gay, but so far in the closet that he can't even see the door. Not only does he excel in telling a web of lies, but he starts to pull JJ into those lies and JJ does nothing to stop him, because again, he's thinking sexually and not rationally.
I can't fault JJ entirely. When he would start to get angry and question himself about what he was doing, Dick would pull out all of the stops and do things that were incredibly generous and sweet. This would reel JJ right back into his web. It made him want to believe Dick even when he knew deep down inside that he shouldn't.
As I kept reading, I was floored by the things that were revealed. Good God, Dick was totally crazy...seriously! But with every crazy thing that was revealed, I read faster as I wanted to make sure the JJ was okay in the end. When you are dealing with someone with the level of crazy that Dick was, you just don't know what they will do if they are backed into a corner.
I'm not going to write more as it's really best to just read the book and see for yourself.
As much as I ended up hating Dick, I think I hated his mother about 100 times more. She helped form Dick into what he became. He loved her, but could never please her. Like I wrote earlier, he was gay. He knew it, and she knew it. But that didn't stop her from doing everything in her power to try and turn him into the perfect heterosexual. She constantly harped on him about dating and he was always trying to please her even though he bitched about her to JJ all of the time. He found comfort in JJ as he could be himself and JJ wouldn't judge him. What JJ didn't know is that Dick would lie to him as well.
I don't think Dick knew how to live any other way. He grew up denying who he was and had to maintain that lie to fit in with his family. I'm not saying that he took the right path, but I was able to sympathize with him as I was reading about his mother as she was a monster.
In a nutshell, this wasn't a romance novel by any stretch, but it was AWESOME! I was totally drawn in and could not be bothered with anything else. That writing was exquisite. I hated Dick, but couldn't stop reading about him as it was just so good.
Two thumbs up and a lifetime fan of Dan Skinner!
June 9, 2014
Another Monday BR with my amazing friends ;D
Review
When I first saw the cover and the title of the book I thought it will be a humorous book! I was SO WRONG…
In a nutshell the book is all about this quote:
"… it is a documentation of how you can screw your life up when you think with your dick instead of your head"
There is a guy that is like a God … Dick, extremely beautiful … and sexy as hell!
But he lives a life of lies!! And J.J. is so credulous… he is so absorbed with Dick, manipulative talk… made me want to slap is face and say… wake up!!!
This author as a way of expressing, that blows my feelings, I loved this book, will never forget Dick and J.J. story, despite the ending, that I think was very fairy tallish, but it deserves nevertheless my 5 stars rating!
Review
When I first saw the cover and the title of the book I thought it will be a humorous book! I was SO WRONG…
In a nutshell the book is all about this quote:
"… it is a documentation of how you can screw your life up when you think with your dick instead of your head"
There is a guy that is like a God … Dick, extremely beautiful … and sexy as hell!
But he lives a life of lies!! And J.J. is so credulous… he is so absorbed with Dick, manipulative talk… made me want to slap is face and say… wake up!!!
This author as a way of expressing, that blows my feelings, I loved this book, will never forget Dick and J.J. story, despite the ending, that I think was very fairy tallish, but it deserves nevertheless my 5 stars rating!
February 3, 2017
***3.5 Stars***
Asshole characters exert a strange fascination on me. They are a weakness and a guilty pleasure. But they only appeal to me when there is lots of grovelling involved, until they finally redeem their selves. The Price of Dick didn’t turn out the way I wished. It’s not that kind of Romance. There was no grovelling, let alone redemption. Needless to say I was left disappointed. I’m blaming this on me though for having the pretension to assume that this story would be like many others.
JJ was a doormat and he knew it. He was a doormat infatuated with Dick and that is where my disappointment with JJ solely stands. Don't take me wrong, JJ wasn’t manipulative and bad as Dick but he had an agenda too. He could have kicked Dick out of his life at any time, but no. He liked sharing the bills, he liked having Dick around, he liked Dick’s charismatic act to recruit new guys and finally, he saw chance in Dick to up his game.
And Dick? Well, Dick was a DICK with all capital letters, a scoundrel. He did unforgivable things. Dick needed a place where he could stop the macho pretence, a place where he could let the barriers down and be gay. JJ was his golden ticket. Such a sweetheart.
It was a hard story to swallow. In my view, the fucked up situation was a mutual arrangement where both would benefit. And even though I was aware that the exploration was consensual by both parties I could not take it easily, because this deal was not well-balanced, JJ was always the weakest link. He couldn’t see it though; bloke was blind like a bat. It took too long for JJ to wake up and realize that he didn’t need that, that he could do much better.
I think I had a reverse reaction here. Instead of being mad at Dick I was mad at JJ for taking all that crap from Dick. One of the things that nagged me the most was listen to Dick make a pass at other guys with his bullshit I-am-not- gay speech in every fucking photo shoot,
Gawd, give me strength!
I am glad JJ found someone to give him a push. I don’t think he would have pulled his shit together on his own. Alex grounded JJ. Alex was the one who came up with the idea to transfer/back up the photos. Alex pushed him to find a new place. Alex opened JJ eyes about his financial situation and finally he was the one who thought about calling an attorney to fix that big mess. Summing it up, the grand finale was all down do Alex.
This book drove me mad! We really deserved that HEA.
I am not sure my kindle would survive, otherwise.
Asshole characters exert a strange fascination on me. They are a weakness and a guilty pleasure. But they only appeal to me when there is lots of grovelling involved, until they finally redeem their selves. The Price of Dick didn’t turn out the way I wished. It’s not that kind of Romance. There was no grovelling, let alone redemption. Needless to say I was left disappointed. I’m blaming this on me though for having the pretension to assume that this story would be like many others.
JJ was a doormat and he knew it. He was a doormat infatuated with Dick and that is where my disappointment with JJ solely stands. Don't take me wrong, JJ wasn’t manipulative and bad as Dick but he had an agenda too. He could have kicked Dick out of his life at any time, but no. He liked sharing the bills, he liked having Dick around, he liked Dick’s charismatic act to recruit new guys and finally, he saw chance in Dick to up his game.
And Dick? Well, Dick was a DICK with all capital letters, a scoundrel. He did unforgivable things. Dick needed a place where he could stop the macho pretence, a place where he could let the barriers down and be gay. JJ was his golden ticket. Such a sweetheart.
It was a hard story to swallow. In my view, the fucked up situation was a mutual arrangement where both would benefit. And even though I was aware that the exploration was consensual by both parties I could not take it easily, because this deal was not well-balanced, JJ was always the weakest link. He couldn’t see it though; bloke was blind like a bat. It took too long for JJ to wake up and realize that he didn’t need that, that he could do much better.
I think I had a reverse reaction here. Instead of being mad at Dick I was mad at JJ for taking all that crap from Dick. One of the things that nagged me the most was listen to Dick make a pass at other guys with his bullshit I-am-not- gay speech in every fucking photo shoot,
Gawd, give me strength!
I am glad JJ found someone to give him a push. I don’t think he would have pulled his shit together on his own. Alex grounded JJ. Alex was the one who came up with the idea to transfer/back up the photos. Alex pushed him to find a new place. Alex opened JJ eyes about his financial situation and finally he was the one who thought about calling an attorney to fix that big mess. Summing it up, the grand finale was all down do Alex.
This book drove me mad! We really deserved that HEA.
I am not sure my kindle would survive, otherwise.
November 26, 2016
Absolutely BRILLIANT!!!
November 28, 2016
The Price of Dick by Dan Skinner is one of those books that keeps you reading. Where you have to know what happens next, to know if the feeling of dread you have will be fully realised. If a friend was telling you this story you would be desperate to know what happens next.
Dick is a master manipulator, handsome, deeply closeted, truly vile in his treatment of everyone. I disliked him intensely, I don't think he had a single redeeming quality throughout the entire book. Photographer J.J. finds himself first making friends with and then living with Dick(head). Unfortunately J.J. gets slowly dragged into Dick's ploys and deceptions (be aware these go on for years) willingly at first but as time goes by he becomes more, and more reluctant to participate in Dick's shenanigans...Then along comes Alex and shows J.J. he can have something worthwhile, be more, expect better, and fall in love.
Does J.J. escape the dickhead? Does it all end in tears, is there a HEA, does Dick get his comeuppance? I'm not telling...however, if someone told me this was a true story I wouldn't be a bit surprised. It's a well written book, one realistic enough to be plausible. It certainly kept me entertained...
*5 Stars*
Dick is a master manipulator, handsome, deeply closeted, truly vile in his treatment of everyone. I disliked him intensely, I don't think he had a single redeeming quality throughout the entire book. Photographer J.J. finds himself first making friends with and then living with Dick(head). Unfortunately J.J. gets slowly dragged into Dick's ploys and deceptions (be aware these go on for years) willingly at first but as time goes by he becomes more, and more reluctant to participate in Dick's shenanigans...Then along comes Alex and shows J.J. he can have something worthwhile, be more, expect better, and fall in love.
Does J.J. escape the dickhead? Does it all end in tears, is there a HEA, does Dick get his comeuppance? I'm not telling...however, if someone told me this was a true story I wouldn't be a bit surprised. It's a well written book, one realistic enough to be plausible. It certainly kept me entertained...
*5 Stars*
November 21, 2014
This is not a romance. There is some lust, sex and love, but really this is a story about a man being manipulated and victimized by one of the slimiest villains I've read about in a while. JJ is not stupid, he's not weak, but he is trusting, compassionate and a good person who loses himself in the web Dick spins. Dick is a sociopath who masterfully manipulates JJ, among others, to further his own agenda.
JJ narrates this tale, with the benefit of hindsight, in a straightforward, sometimes humorous manner. Dan Skinner's writing style had me invested right from the start and you know the villain is written well when you are actively hoping for his painful demise halfway through the story. Knowing it was inspired by true events makes it all the more painful to read.
Dan Skinner has yet to disappoint me and I will be continuing to work my way through his stories. If you want a beautiful love story, read Memorizing You. If you want something on the darker side that will make you cringe, but keep you turning the pages Dick might just be for you.
JJ narrates this tale, with the benefit of hindsight, in a straightforward, sometimes humorous manner. Dan Skinner's writing style had me invested right from the start and you know the villain is written well when you are actively hoping for his painful demise halfway through the story. Knowing it was inspired by true events makes it all the more painful to read.
Dan Skinner has yet to disappoint me and I will be continuing to work my way through his stories. If you want a beautiful love story, read Memorizing You. If you want something on the darker side that will make you cringe, but keep you turning the pages Dick might just be for you.
February 19, 2015
Oh dear…it was not at all what I expected.
It was not better or worse. It was different.( Yes, I stole it from Dan Skinner, from this book and re-phrased it for my own purposes!
)What bookshelf should I add it to:
* autobiography/memoir?
* friends-to-lovers?
or do I need to add a new shelf like:
* WTF-FGS
or
* ruled-by-dick/no-blood-in-brain
or
*friends/lovers-to-enemies
or
*characters-I-want-to-kill
While I am still undecided, I'm convinced that The Price of Dick is something special.
I don’t want to waste my time on Dick, you can read about him in other reviews - if his character isn’t fictional and exists in reality, then he can be proud to evoke such strong feeling by every reader.
In meantime he has probably made it in the top 10 most hatred people in the world. Let talk about J.J, a narrator.
How autobiographical is this book? How many of J.J is in Dan Skinner? How many of Dan Skinner is in J.J? I found plenty of similarities. But I am only his fan and not his close friend, so let me say, that I hope that there are still SOME SUBSTANTIAL differences between Dan and J.J.
Just for this reason alone:
"I was soon to be forty-year-old man who had never kissed for love." (J.J)
This is a difficult book to review for me. I adore the first half of the book. And I felt a bit frustrated in the second part. But not only because of Dick, but because of J.J too!
The beginning was great-witty, sexy-I laughed a lot and when I had prepared myself for an easy-going-funny and sexy stuff, the things started suddenly to mess up, the story became very personal and my concerns, anxiety and confusion concerning the plot's development and how the events unfolded, kept on growing. But I couldn't put the book aside.
Even if I got my HEA, I can’t say I was perfectly happy at the end.
But I leave it to you to judge the plot and the characters.
Let focus on the pleasant aspects:
First of all, I love the author’s writing style. And I highlighted a lot in this book. I think Dan Skinner can release a telephone book, and even there I will find some poignant and beautiful quotes. So, if you enjoy his writing like me, you have to read this book even if it is not his typical young adult love story. Dan Skinner is a very adult in his prose here, inclusive sex scenes, and I'm simply impressed how versatile this talented author is. He can write heartbreaking, he can write hilarious, he can write hot, and he can keep reader's attention alert, from the first to the last page.
It’s not a love story.
Yes, it is about relationships, true and false friendship, family, acceptance and sex. And you'll get even kinda romance at the end, but it is in the first place a documentation of how you can screw your life up when you think with your dick instead of your head. J.J takes us through the ups and downs of the last two decades of his life. It’s about how a good guy can become a brainless idiot.(it's not from me, it is JJ's own words)
Thinking about HOW AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL is this book, I recalled what Sam Smith said at the Grammy Awards ceremony on 8 February 2015, where he won four categories, including best new artist and best pop vocal album:
"I would like to thank the man that this album is about. By breaking my heart, you won me four Grammys!”
So… Viva la muse!
Thank you, Dan, for sharing!
And yeah…FUCK you, Dick.
June 9, 2014
Great Buddy Read With The Girls!!
Well I ummed and arrred over this one, my thoughts about it and how I would rate it.
I mean how can you possibly top Memorizing You - that story touched my soul, one of the BEST books EVER!!
That being said Dan as always, evokes strong emotions from me!! In this case he got me hook, line, and sinker...with my hatred for Dick!!
In actual fact...I can now proclaim Dick as having 2nd place in my 'Most Hated Characters' Hall OF Fame....in My Book World (the crown going to Jean from Special Forces)!!
Yes that bad, he was a conniving, manipulative, self-centred BASTARD. He actually gave me the willies!!
And because of him I nearly DNF'd, as I didn't think I could stomach him much longer!!
But JJ our photographer, come writer..... kept me turning the pages. He was highly entertaining with his inner musings.
I found him funny as hell!!
To sum up JJ's story.....
I loved sweet Alex...He was my SWEET in my Sweet & Sour...no guessing who my Sour is!! and because of him I kept reading.
And finally.....you Dan Skinner are an amazin author...love the emotions you bring out in me when reading one of your books...lastly sending you a....
Well I ummed and arrred over this one, my thoughts about it and how I would rate it.
I mean how can you possibly top Memorizing You - that story touched my soul, one of the BEST books EVER!!
That being said Dan as always, evokes strong emotions from me!! In this case he got me hook, line, and sinker...with my hatred for Dick!!
In actual fact...I can now proclaim Dick as having 2nd place in my 'Most Hated Characters' Hall OF Fame....in My Book World (the crown going to Jean from Special Forces)!!
Yes that bad, he was a conniving, manipulative, self-centred BASTARD. He actually gave me the willies!!
And because of him I nearly DNF'd, as I didn't think I could stomach him much longer!!
But JJ our photographer, come writer..... kept me turning the pages. He was highly entertaining with his inner musings.
I found him funny as hell!!
To sum up JJ's story.....
.... it is a documentation of how you can screw your life up when you think with your dick instead of your head”
I loved sweet Alex...He was my SWEET in my Sweet & Sour...no guessing who my Sour is!! and because of him I kept reading.
And finally.....you Dan Skinner are an amazin author...love the emotions you bring out in me when reading one of your books...lastly sending you a....
October 28, 2016
This book was very interesting as a portrait of how one can move step by step into a co-dependent relationship with a narcissistic con guy. Photographer J.J. is alone, and getting older, and working a slow-growing career. When a deeply closeted hunk makes moves on him, offering a chance toward lust and friendship, the downside isn't immediately apparent. But, oh my, it will slowly rear its ugly head.
Dick provides J.J with company, fantasies, and financial support. His presence makes J.J. feel less alone, and his great looks and smooth talk add luster to the gay romance photo-shoots that J.J is becoming known for. Letting Dick pretend to be straight around his friends and family, especially his harpy mother, seems like a small price, for the good parts. But as time goes on, it's clear that Dick is conning and using everyone, from the model boys he pretends to let seduce the straight guy, to the girlfriends he picks up and romances and then dumps when their usefulness is over. J.J. excuses, and pretends not to see, and - as someone thrown out as a teen for being gay - understands the extremes of family pressures. But how do you trust, and live with, someone like Dick? What will J.J.'s price be?
The ending is happy, which was the only false note to me in the story. A bit too happy, too completely and too fast, to match the blunt realism of the rest of the book. It allows the story to nudge its way into gay romance, rather than just gay fiction, but it is the other 90% of the book that shines, showing the compromises we all might be willing to make, not to be alone.
Dick provides J.J with company, fantasies, and financial support. His presence makes J.J. feel less alone, and his great looks and smooth talk add luster to the gay romance photo-shoots that J.J is becoming known for. Letting Dick pretend to be straight around his friends and family, especially his harpy mother, seems like a small price, for the good parts. But as time goes on, it's clear that Dick is conning and using everyone, from the model boys he pretends to let seduce the straight guy, to the girlfriends he picks up and romances and then dumps when their usefulness is over. J.J. excuses, and pretends not to see, and - as someone thrown out as a teen for being gay - understands the extremes of family pressures. But how do you trust, and live with, someone like Dick? What will J.J.'s price be?
The ending is happy, which was the only false note to me in the story. A bit too happy, too completely and too fast, to match the blunt realism of the rest of the book. It allows the story to nudge its way into gay romance, rather than just gay fiction, but it is the other 90% of the book that shines, showing the compromises we all might be willing to make, not to be alone.
May 24, 2014
I am reviewing this novel as a work of fiction, but there seems to be a strong autobiographical element woven through this story. Which parts are true and which fiction, only two maybe three people will really know,
The writing in this novel is amazingly dense and well written, and although the author restrains the bitterness really well, this is a novel of catharsis of airing dirty linen and revealing, as Dan or rather 'J.J.' puts it,
Richard Fitch is the 'Dick' in question. He exhibits all the traits of a Sociopath or maybe a Psychopath for they are not all serial killers, but have traits that require them to be very charming, good looking and often highly sexed. They are also ruthless, selfish and totally without conscience or understanding. They are always innocent of all charges and decry how cruel the world can be to them, if things don't go their way. They are also inveterate liars. Dick uses his charm and good looks to their best effect,
Dick uses the fact that JJ is a nice guy, and obviously fancies him, to start grooming him for whatever game he is playing and JJ is well aware that he fell for his act hook line and sinker,
Sadly, Dick's game lasts for years and takes an awful toll. In this novel Dan Skinner creates two monsters worthy of the best Bond villains; Dick and his Mother, Mommy /Eleanor Fitch...
Occasionally I felt a little understanding for the way Dick was because his mother was truly terrifying and uncompromising. My empathy for him didn't last that long though, following the exhausting rampage of games and lies, which destroyed and hurt all in his path, I could do nothing but pray for his downfall. As JJ says,
There are so many quotes because Dan writes such wonderful prose and I wanted to share some. I really couldn't put this novel down I wanted to know...no I needed to know what would happen. This time he has written a novel as far from the pure and beautiful Memorizing You, as it is possible to get. This is an unburdening of venom and pain and betrayal.
However, it does include the rediscovery of love, kindness and the beauty of a spiritual nature. JJ is aided after years this awful maniac's closeted trap by someone. I don't want to say whom, as it will ruin it for readers though I suspect those who know Dan Skinner on social media and elsewhere may be able to guess who his saviour is.
This is a very brave book as the author lays himself bare not just by including, what may or may not be, autobiographical elements but by revealing his true feelings concerning politics, homosexuality, photography, friendship, love, religion and guns. I cheered when I read this paragraph,
I will not leave this review on a negative note though, as Dan does not leave his novel on one. JJ's saviour brings him back to life one bit at a time. He restores JJ's faith in himself and he imbibes JJ with the realisation that he deserves and can find love. He gives him mantras that inspire him to greater things...
or my favourite,
..."Words have power because they become thoughts,"...
This is one of the most powerful novels I've read in a while and one that ends with the most hope.
Full review on www.prismbookalliance.com
I've always been a very private individual. For a lot of reasons. But mainly one. The man I lived with for all that time. The monster in the closet who I protected.
The writing in this novel is amazingly dense and well written, and although the author restrains the bitterness really well, this is a novel of catharsis of airing dirty linen and revealing, as Dan or rather 'J.J.' puts it,
...my really big, fat, gay perverted soap opera
Richard Fitch is the 'Dick' in question. He exhibits all the traits of a Sociopath or maybe a Psychopath for they are not all serial killers, but have traits that require them to be very charming, good looking and often highly sexed. They are also ruthless, selfish and totally without conscience or understanding. They are always innocent of all charges and decry how cruel the world can be to them, if things don't go their way. They are also inveterate liars. Dick uses his charm and good looks to their best effect,
Knowing that somebody really wanted him. It gave him the sense of power that he craved...
Dick uses the fact that JJ is a nice guy, and obviously fancies him, to start grooming him for whatever game he is playing and JJ is well aware that he fell for his act hook line and sinker,
Amazing how a confluence of praise and lust can just make your defensive barriers collapse like Jell-O on a hot stove
Sadly, Dick's game lasts for years and takes an awful toll. In this novel Dan Skinner creates two monsters worthy of the best Bond villains; Dick and his Mother, Mommy /Eleanor Fitch...
I sensed more than recognised the sound of those skeletal knuckles on the door. I was too young for it to be Death, so it had to be his mother.
Occasionally I felt a little understanding for the way Dick was because his mother was truly terrifying and uncompromising. My empathy for him didn't last that long though, following the exhausting rampage of games and lies, which destroyed and hurt all in his path, I could do nothing but pray for his downfall. As JJ says,
How did he close off that part of his brain that tells someone they've harmed another soul?...Most frighteningly of all, are some of us born with no conscience at all?
There are so many quotes because Dan writes such wonderful prose and I wanted to share some. I really couldn't put this novel down I wanted to know...no I needed to know what would happen. This time he has written a novel as far from the pure and beautiful Memorizing You, as it is possible to get. This is an unburdening of venom and pain and betrayal.
However, it does include the rediscovery of love, kindness and the beauty of a spiritual nature. JJ is aided after years this awful maniac's closeted trap by someone. I don't want to say whom, as it will ruin it for readers though I suspect those who know Dan Skinner on social media and elsewhere may be able to guess who his saviour is.
This is a very brave book as the author lays himself bare not just by including, what may or may not be, autobiographical elements but by revealing his true feelings concerning politics, homosexuality, photography, friendship, love, religion and guns. I cheered when I read this paragraph,
...what could possibly go through someone's head to make them buy something as unnecessary and deadly as a gun? Guns killed things. That was their sole purpose. People could call them a hobby or sport or whatever. Guns were designed for one reason alone from the beginning of time. To end life.
I will not leave this review on a negative note though, as Dan does not leave his novel on one. JJ's saviour brings him back to life one bit at a time. He restores JJ's faith in himself and he imbibes JJ with the realisation that he deserves and can find love. He gives him mantras that inspire him to greater things...
"Today is a great day to make amazing things happen" or "Aspire Higher."
or my favourite,
..."Words have power because they become thoughts,"...
This is one of the most powerful novels I've read in a while and one that ends with the most hope.
Full review on www.prismbookalliance.com
June 12, 2014
I would have never believed that Dan Skinner could top "Memorizing You", but he did. Boy howdy did he ever!! He has proven to me with only 3 books that he is a powerhouse in the genre.
The Price of Dick is about living with a sociopath who is buried so far in the closet, if he opened the door he would be in another country. It's about lessons learned the hard way, but at the same time it is a life affirming snarkfest written with the eyes of a photographer. The best analogy I can come up with for Dan Skinner's writing, it was like reading a movie.
I loved this book, it made me angry, cry, laugh and love. I regret that I can not do justice to it in my review. I give it a selective focus full of stars.
Thanks to Rodney Adkins for the background song as I read.
"If You're Going Through Hell" {excerpt}
"Well you know those times when you feel like
There's a sign there on your back
That says I don't mind if you kick me, seems like everybody has
Things go from bad to worse
You think it can't get worse than that
And then they do
If you're goin' through hell keep on going
Don't slow down if you're scared don't show it
You might get out before the devil even knows you're there"
The Price of Dick is about living with a sociopath who is buried so far in the closet, if he opened the door he would be in another country. It's about lessons learned the hard way, but at the same time it is a life affirming snarkfest written with the eyes of a photographer. The best analogy I can come up with for Dan Skinner's writing, it was like reading a movie.
I loved this book, it made me angry, cry, laugh and love. I regret that I can not do justice to it in my review. I give it a selective focus full of stars.
Thanks to Rodney Adkins for the background song as I read.
"If You're Going Through Hell" {excerpt}
"Well you know those times when you feel like
There's a sign there on your back
That says I don't mind if you kick me, seems like everybody has
Things go from bad to worse
You think it can't get worse than that
And then they do
If you're goin' through hell keep on going
Don't slow down if you're scared don't show it
You might get out before the devil even knows you're there"
December 6, 2014
Fans of Dan’s work have been eagerly anticipating this novel, and the teasers he’s posted during chats on Fb and on his tumblr page (the knobgoblin, hehe), have only served to whet everyone’s appetite even more. I can tell you now that this novel does not disappoint in any way, shape or form, just as Memorizing You, my book of 2013, didn’t disappoint me or the hundreds of other people that read it. 5 million stars from me.
You can’t dream in the light, if you can’t live in it.
Is it autobiographical?? Well, I suppose some of it could be….but we’re never going to find out which parts…and what’s it got to do with us anyhoo, so we should all stop speculating (guilty as charged) and just enjoy the story. There are things going on in RL that Dan is definitely not happy about, but all we can do is give him our love and support in the hope that the end result will be similar to this novel….perhaps with a little ass kicking thrown in as a ‘side dish’...just saying.
I’ll start by saying that this is a classic good versus extremely evil scenario but obviously with a gay twist. Some of the lines made me laugh out loud (orthopaedic sneakers on cloven hooves for example), I uttered lots of rude words – which is completely unlike me, honest…and all in one person and his mother’s direction, and there was fist pumping AND happy dancing at the end….so what does that tell you??
JJ, a successful photographer of ‘romance’ covers, albeit mainly m/f romance, has decided to carve himself a piece of a new, burgeoning and lucrative market, snapping pics of delicious eye candy as covers for the wonderful world of m/m literature…obviously for gentlemen of a certain persuasion and we women who like to drool over said eye candy whilst trying (and failing miserably) to concentrate on what’s between the covers of the book for a change. He feels he can make a difference as to how gay people are perceived, and encourage more to come forward out of their closets and ‘into the light’, so quite the pioneer!!
As far as his personal life is concerned, JJ has broken up with his long-term partner and now has a couple of ‘friends with benefits’, and is reasonably happy with his lot, but hey, he’s single and not dead so when temptation in the form of Richard Fitch (henceforth known as Big Dick, and no, that’s not a compliment!!) visits the gym where JJ works out, he is completely blindsided by lust and a desperate urge to get into Dick’s pants…drawn to Dick like the proverbial spider to the fly. Now come on, hands up here readers…how many of us can say that we haven’t been in that exact same situation ourselves at some point in our lives??
From the start of JJ’s pursuit of Big Dick, there were things that didn’t sit well with me…Dick’s reluctance, indeed refusal to accept he was gay and the fact that he was very vocal and adamant about it, his insistence that his Mommy (Dearest) and the Catholic Church knew best, and his creepy little frat buddies. Unfortunately, as we discover, JJ was thinking with his ‘little head’ and not the one with his brain in, otherwise he would never have gotten mixed up with that closeted, manipulative, cold, calculating, controlling, egotistical, narcissistic lying bastard and run a million miles!! Dick’s only interest was self-interest, I absolutely loathed him!!
As this ‘car wreck’ waiting to happen starts to get a little more serious, or so JJ thinks, they’re supposedly partners, Big Dick mentions that as he’s in finance, he’ll take care of the money coming in and leave JJ to concentrate on his models, his shoots and everything else involved in running a business from home. Major alarm bells rang for me, and I’m sure will for other readers but I digress…Of course, the models that JJ uses are gay, so Big Dick runs his usual phoney spiel past them…he pretends to be straight, and they have to ‘persuade’ him to take part in whatever scenes are choreographed beforehand, and at the start, this is done with JJ’s blessing and the models are none the wiser, but eventually JJ knows that he’s being used and is, in effect, no better than a pimp. He is also being dragged into that closet alongside a man whom he is starting to realise he despises.
I’m going to leave this review here. Just let me say this novel includes some kick-ass models (in one instance quite literally!!), a trainer whom I would have loved to take home to meet my mother…except for the fact that he’s out and proud, I loved him to bits AND the type of old bag who should have been thrown out with the garbage many years ago!!
So worth the wait Dan, and thanks to everyone involved. You know who you are!!
You can’t dream in the light, if you can’t live in it.
Is it autobiographical?? Well, I suppose some of it could be….but we’re never going to find out which parts…and what’s it got to do with us anyhoo, so we should all stop speculating (guilty as charged) and just enjoy the story. There are things going on in RL that Dan is definitely not happy about, but all we can do is give him our love and support in the hope that the end result will be similar to this novel….perhaps with a little ass kicking thrown in as a ‘side dish’...just saying.
I’ll start by saying that this is a classic good versus extremely evil scenario but obviously with a gay twist. Some of the lines made me laugh out loud (orthopaedic sneakers on cloven hooves for example), I uttered lots of rude words – which is completely unlike me, honest…and all in one person and his mother’s direction, and there was fist pumping AND happy dancing at the end….so what does that tell you??
JJ, a successful photographer of ‘romance’ covers, albeit mainly m/f romance, has decided to carve himself a piece of a new, burgeoning and lucrative market, snapping pics of delicious eye candy as covers for the wonderful world of m/m literature…obviously for gentlemen of a certain persuasion and we women who like to drool over said eye candy whilst trying (and failing miserably) to concentrate on what’s between the covers of the book for a change. He feels he can make a difference as to how gay people are perceived, and encourage more to come forward out of their closets and ‘into the light’, so quite the pioneer!!
As far as his personal life is concerned, JJ has broken up with his long-term partner and now has a couple of ‘friends with benefits’, and is reasonably happy with his lot, but hey, he’s single and not dead so when temptation in the form of Richard Fitch (henceforth known as Big Dick, and no, that’s not a compliment!!) visits the gym where JJ works out, he is completely blindsided by lust and a desperate urge to get into Dick’s pants…drawn to Dick like the proverbial spider to the fly. Now come on, hands up here readers…how many of us can say that we haven’t been in that exact same situation ourselves at some point in our lives??
From the start of JJ’s pursuit of Big Dick, there were things that didn’t sit well with me…Dick’s reluctance, indeed refusal to accept he was gay and the fact that he was very vocal and adamant about it, his insistence that his Mommy (Dearest) and the Catholic Church knew best, and his creepy little frat buddies. Unfortunately, as we discover, JJ was thinking with his ‘little head’ and not the one with his brain in, otherwise he would never have gotten mixed up with that closeted, manipulative, cold, calculating, controlling, egotistical, narcissistic lying bastard and run a million miles!! Dick’s only interest was self-interest, I absolutely loathed him!!
As this ‘car wreck’ waiting to happen starts to get a little more serious, or so JJ thinks, they’re supposedly partners, Big Dick mentions that as he’s in finance, he’ll take care of the money coming in and leave JJ to concentrate on his models, his shoots and everything else involved in running a business from home. Major alarm bells rang for me, and I’m sure will for other readers but I digress…Of course, the models that JJ uses are gay, so Big Dick runs his usual phoney spiel past them…he pretends to be straight, and they have to ‘persuade’ him to take part in whatever scenes are choreographed beforehand, and at the start, this is done with JJ’s blessing and the models are none the wiser, but eventually JJ knows that he’s being used and is, in effect, no better than a pimp. He is also being dragged into that closet alongside a man whom he is starting to realise he despises.
I’m going to leave this review here. Just let me say this novel includes some kick-ass models (in one instance quite literally!!), a trainer whom I would have loved to take home to meet my mother…except for the fact that he’s out and proud, I loved him to bits AND the type of old bag who should have been thrown out with the garbage many years ago!!
So worth the wait Dan, and thanks to everyone involved. You know who you are!!
June 2, 2014
A review by The Blogger Girls.
This is one of those stories I absolutely hated to love. I hated having to read about something like this happening or that it happens more often than we realize. The main character here is so awful in so many ways, there were just very few times I wasn’t yelling in my head for JJ to run the other way and not look back. However, from the first page, I was riveted. The storytelling was absolutely amazing, and I was hanging on every word.
If you know anything about the author at all, you know that he is or could be JJ, without a doubt. Such a kind-hearted man who, even when things are at their worst, still tries to see the good in the situation. There are many similarities between what takes place in this story and what we have seen the author going through over the past year or so, and I found myself trying to connect dots on more than one occasion.
But, back to the story. I can’t begin to imagine what it must be like to have to hide to the extent that Dick did, but neither can I condone any of his actions in doing so. He becomes downright evil, hurting many people, men and women, in his path to keep up his front. Unfortunately, here, he has latched on to the good and kind JJ. He becomes so ensconced into his life, and to such a degree, that even the reader doesn’t see half of it coming. Was that his plan all along? You have to think it must be when the end results are finally brought to light.
There are many wonderful characters here, so it isn’t all gloom and doom with Dick, though all of it leads back to him. JJ has become a huge success in his own right, and while he believed it was Dick who helped him achieve that, no doubt it is his amazing skills and ability that truly bring his photographs to life. Thankfully, JJ meets a wonderful man who he barters for personal training. This man shows him the light, so to speak, bringing such a level of positivity and support to his life that undoubtedly played a huge role in turning things around for JJ.
Really, I could go on and on. This was my first time reading Mr. Skinner, although I’ve been told by many many friends that I must read his other book, which I have every plan on doing. This was such an amazingly told story that had me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. It felt a little like the movie The Truman Show where we watch the life of a man unfold as if we are right there a part of it. I loved every minute, even though I hated what was being told, but would read it again in a heartbeat and recommend everyone take a chance and do the same.
Overall Impression: It was amazing!
This is one of those stories I absolutely hated to love. I hated having to read about something like this happening or that it happens more often than we realize. The main character here is so awful in so many ways, there were just very few times I wasn’t yelling in my head for JJ to run the other way and not look back. However, from the first page, I was riveted. The storytelling was absolutely amazing, and I was hanging on every word.
If you know anything about the author at all, you know that he is or could be JJ, without a doubt. Such a kind-hearted man who, even when things are at their worst, still tries to see the good in the situation. There are many similarities between what takes place in this story and what we have seen the author going through over the past year or so, and I found myself trying to connect dots on more than one occasion.
But, back to the story. I can’t begin to imagine what it must be like to have to hide to the extent that Dick did, but neither can I condone any of his actions in doing so. He becomes downright evil, hurting many people, men and women, in his path to keep up his front. Unfortunately, here, he has latched on to the good and kind JJ. He becomes so ensconced into his life, and to such a degree, that even the reader doesn’t see half of it coming. Was that his plan all along? You have to think it must be when the end results are finally brought to light.
There are many wonderful characters here, so it isn’t all gloom and doom with Dick, though all of it leads back to him. JJ has become a huge success in his own right, and while he believed it was Dick who helped him achieve that, no doubt it is his amazing skills and ability that truly bring his photographs to life. Thankfully, JJ meets a wonderful man who he barters for personal training. This man shows him the light, so to speak, bringing such a level of positivity and support to his life that undoubtedly played a huge role in turning things around for JJ.
Really, I could go on and on. This was my first time reading Mr. Skinner, although I’ve been told by many many friends that I must read his other book, which I have every plan on doing. This was such an amazingly told story that had me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. It felt a little like the movie The Truman Show where we watch the life of a man unfold as if we are right there a part of it. I loved every minute, even though I hated what was being told, but would read it again in a heartbeat and recommend everyone take a chance and do the same.
Overall Impression: It was amazing!
August 10, 2016
4 Stars
That was one hell of a ride on the sociopath express. I found a lot of the moments in the book funny, some really sad, but a whole lot with WTF running through my head and dread in my stomach for what was to come. I really can't express how much I ended up detesting Dick, and how people like him are a cancer on society. This is a story of a truly awful human being who hustled, conned and lied his way into the lives of those around him, and how it personally affected one of those people. It's very entertaining, that is for sure! .
That was one hell of a ride on the sociopath express. I found a lot of the moments in the book funny, some really sad, but a whole lot with WTF running through my head and dread in my stomach for what was to come. I really can't express how much I ended up detesting Dick, and how people like him are a cancer on society. This is a story of a truly awful human being who hustled, conned and lied his way into the lives of those around him, and how it personally affected one of those people. It's very entertaining, that is for sure! .
dnf
September 18, 2014DNF at 3%
The constant narration of events is driving me nuts. I can't get into it and I'm feeling actively repelled by it with the Updike Rabbit, Run vibe of whiny middle-aged male. Thanks, but no thanks.
The constant narration of events is driving me nuts. I can't get into it and I'm feeling actively repelled by it with the Updike Rabbit, Run vibe of whiny middle-aged male. Thanks, but no thanks.
May 29, 2014
Ok, I am going to be absolutely honest with this review. I owe it to the author, Dan you rock! And I owe it to the future readers of this story. What can I say about The Price of Dick. Well, at first I must admit that I struggled with getting into the story. The reason for that was I spent most of my time wondering how the hell could J.J. not see right through that man? Was Dick that gorgeous and was he that lonely that he just ignored his internal warning system and fell for every slick word that oozed of the monstor's mouth. Pfft, I wanted to slap J.J. six ways until Sunday. Then the briliant author that Dan Skinner is, he sucked me right into J.J.'s mind and his thought processes and, Oh My Gawd...I wanted to climb into the book and wrapp J.J. in cotton and shoot Dick straight through the heart, the evil bastard. Now if you are aquainted with the author you will wonder if this story is an autobiography of sorts and if you knew a little bit of the author's story you will tear up and all your compassion for him will overwhelm you, or at least that was the way it was for me.
I went through a wide range of emotions with this book, disbeleif, derision, acceptance, compassion, angst, and of course, adoration. I found myself becoming annoyed when my life would interrupt my reading time and I bounced on pins and needles to get back to the pages of this piece of art. I loved this book; love is actually not enough to describe how I feel about Dan Skinner's tale. It has everything, a little naughtiness, and a lot of heart.
And on a final note, I just think that Dan Skinner is a brave soul to flay himself wide open like he has with this story. He made his opinions clear and his feelings on a wide range of subjects known. I can only say Bravo to him and compliment the strides he has taken with his breathtaking photographs, his soul searching stories as his selfless contibutions towards the fight for equality and LGBT rights. He is using his awe inspiring talents to let the entire world open their eyes and see that love is love, whehter it is heterosexual or homosexual, and that there is nothing wrong with it at all. Hats of you you Mr. Skinner. I am a fan for life.
I went through a wide range of emotions with this book, disbeleif, derision, acceptance, compassion, angst, and of course, adoration. I found myself becoming annoyed when my life would interrupt my reading time and I bounced on pins and needles to get back to the pages of this piece of art. I loved this book; love is actually not enough to describe how I feel about Dan Skinner's tale. It has everything, a little naughtiness, and a lot of heart.
And on a final note, I just think that Dan Skinner is a brave soul to flay himself wide open like he has with this story. He made his opinions clear and his feelings on a wide range of subjects known. I can only say Bravo to him and compliment the strides he has taken with his breathtaking photographs, his soul searching stories as his selfless contibutions towards the fight for equality and LGBT rights. He is using his awe inspiring talents to let the entire world open their eyes and see that love is love, whehter it is heterosexual or homosexual, and that there is nothing wrong with it at all. Hats of you you Mr. Skinner. I am a fan for life.
June 19, 2015
I went into this book blind. And quickly found myself experiencing it like no other read I've done before. As soon as I noticed pieces of Dan woven into the story and him sharing Walking Back From Zero, the read became more than a work of fiction. It became personal. It became real.
The Price of Dick according to our main character is a story of how you can screw up your life by thinking with the wrong head. For JJ the thinking with the wrong "head" started when he set eyes on a hot ambitious broker. Not knowing that that moment would change his life drastically. And as we follow JJ on this journey, we see how the choices one makes in life no matter how big or small they seem at the time lead us to our life experiences. Experienced that are not always hearts and flowers. Experiences that we can either allow them to break or strengthen us.
Thank you Dan for this book and for sharing pieces of real life with us. I walk away from it with two things:
1) That love and hope is a powerful thing.
"To love is a one thing. To be loved is another. But to be loved by the one you love...is everything."
-unknown
2) And that with positive people in our lives we can overcome ANYthing.
"The best kind of people are the ones that come into your life, and make you see the sun where you once saw clouds. The people that believe in us so much, you start to believe in you too. The people that love you, simply for being you. The once in a lifetime kind of people.
-unknown
The Price of Dick according to our main character is a story of how you can screw up your life by thinking with the wrong head. For JJ the thinking with the wrong "head" started when he set eyes on a hot ambitious broker. Not knowing that that moment would change his life drastically. And as we follow JJ on this journey, we see how the choices one makes in life no matter how big or small they seem at the time lead us to our life experiences. Experienced that are not always hearts and flowers. Experiences that we can either allow them to break or strengthen us.
Thank you Dan for this book and for sharing pieces of real life with us. I walk away from it with two things:
1) That love and hope is a powerful thing.
"To love is a one thing. To be loved is another. But to be loved by the one you love...is everything."
-unknown
2) And that with positive people in our lives we can overcome ANYthing.
"The best kind of people are the ones that come into your life, and make you see the sun where you once saw clouds. The people that believe in us so much, you start to believe in you too. The people that love you, simply for being you. The once in a lifetime kind of people.
-unknown
June 3, 2014
Pros:
I loved the writing style. The conversational tone was engaging and interesting. At first I had this feeling J.J. was a little smug, but it quickly became fascinating (and occasionally fun) to have a “conversation” with him throughout the course of the book.
There was a fantastic sense of build and foreboding with the story: I knew something was coming, and it compelled me to read on to find out what Dick would do next.
I hated Dick! He was the *ultimate* villain and just so well drawn. He came off as dumb and jock-like, so it was brilliant to have insight into his behavior by way of the supporting characters, including his brothers and the others he tried to form relationships with, like the models J.J. brought to the shoots.
Dick’s mother was an especially frightening and cunning character, too. She’s the mom you’re afraid you might end up becoming: extremely overbearing, bossy, mean/demeaning, unapproachable and just generally hated by all your friends for her helicoptering ways. Paging Mommy Dearest!
The thing I loved the most and that scared me the most was how thought-provoking this book was. I believe there really are people as delusional as Dick in this world: people who use and abuse and manipulate, and who lie, cheat and steal to get what they want and need, and that’s scary business. It made me pause and feel a little sad for all the victims of people like Dick.
I’m *intrigued* by the idea that this book may be autobiographical to an extent (and hella sad for poor Dan Skinner if so). It closely follows what appears to be his real-life career. If it is, congrats on making it out alive, Dan, sheesh!
Cons:
I thought J.J. should have been a little more...vulnerable and self-deprecating. He had a tendency to appear smug, especially early on, but I did like his tenacity. And the fact that he was able to pull himself out of his Dick-induced spiral (and away from drinking/back to exercising) was pretty awesome.
My biggest beef with the book was the ending. And the ending. Did I mention the ending? Because that ending. GAH. It was too neat, too tidy and too over-the-top. Without giving away plot details, all I can really say is that it annoyed me that characters sprang up to deal with plot issues. Need a lawyer? Boom, solution. Want a way to blackmail someone into submission? Plop, solution. (Kinda) .
Final rating: 3.5 stars
I loved the writing style. The conversational tone was engaging and interesting. At first I had this feeling J.J. was a little smug, but it quickly became fascinating (and occasionally fun) to have a “conversation” with him throughout the course of the book.
There was a fantastic sense of build and foreboding with the story: I knew something was coming, and it compelled me to read on to find out what Dick would do next.
I hated Dick! He was the *ultimate* villain and just so well drawn. He came off as dumb and jock-like, so it was brilliant to have insight into his behavior by way of the supporting characters, including his brothers and the others he tried to form relationships with, like the models J.J. brought to the shoots.
Dick’s mother was an especially frightening and cunning character, too. She’s the mom you’re afraid you might end up becoming: extremely overbearing, bossy, mean/demeaning, unapproachable and just generally hated by all your friends for her helicoptering ways. Paging Mommy Dearest!
The thing I loved the most and that scared me the most was how thought-provoking this book was. I believe there really are people as delusional as Dick in this world: people who use and abuse and manipulate, and who lie, cheat and steal to get what they want and need, and that’s scary business. It made me pause and feel a little sad for all the victims of people like Dick.
I’m *intrigued* by the idea that this book may be autobiographical to an extent (and hella sad for poor Dan Skinner if so). It closely follows what appears to be his real-life career. If it is, congrats on making it out alive, Dan, sheesh!
Cons:
I thought J.J. should have been a little more...vulnerable and self-deprecating. He had a tendency to appear smug, especially early on, but I did like his tenacity. And the fact that he was able to pull himself out of his Dick-induced spiral (and away from drinking/back to exercising) was pretty awesome.
My biggest beef with the book was the ending. And the ending. Did I mention the ending? Because that ending. GAH. It was too neat, too tidy and too over-the-top. Without giving away plot details, all I can really say is that it annoyed me that characters sprang up to deal with plot issues. Need a lawyer? Boom, solution. Want a way to blackmail someone into submission? Plop, solution. (Kinda) .
Final rating: 3.5 stars
March 3, 2016
“I guess the worst deception someone can perpetrate is on their own family. That takes a whole different breed of predator."
I do not know why, but I started this book thinking it would be a fun read. Jeez, was I mistaken. It was more a dark & angst read about psychological abuse. Dick was just an evil manipulator, who very cleverly (mis)used his mother's borderline Christianity & Republican-regime upbringing and his self imposed closeted gayness (is that a correct term?).
There were loads of times I really wanted to smack JJ, hard! Then again, evidently it probably is more likely to see flaws and errors from the outside. And JJ did get great pictures, but still...
I read somewhere on the internet that this book was based on DS's life story. If that's true I am really happy for him to have things turn out as they have.
A very beautiful written and great book that I highly recommend!
November 24, 2016
Wow. This was absolutely fantastic but what a roller coaster of emotions I experienced, and the angst in the last 20% or so nearly killed me. I felt so very sorry for what J.J went through with Dick, however it also frustrated me no end how he just accepted what Dick did and the position he put himself in again and again. I guess I understood it though, he was lonely and Dick always had an excuse. As much as I disliked Dick I also felt sad for him a fair bit of the time too. He always felt the need (because of his mom) to lead the life he did and treat others in such a dreadful way. Even at the end I still found myself feeling sorry for Dick. I would have liked to hear things from his crazy/messed up perspective.
June 2, 2014
I'm going to be controversial here...I preferred "Memorizing You," not to say I didn't enjoy this novel, it's just, well, rather dark....and graphic in it's sexual content, two elements of an M/M novel I don't usually look for.
I loathed Dick, which is the point, so well done Mr Skinner for writing a character I loathed.
The first 40% dragged somehow. I hated him, I know he's a wanker, move on...and Dan, moved on.
It's a great story, probably autobiographical, it certainly seems that way and if it is...Dan, I'm glad you have found LOVE.
The writing is amazingly good. Dan knows how to write without being over simplistic, overly emotional or overly graphic.
Loved it. A definite 4.5 star, rounded up, novel and read.
I loathed Dick, which is the point, so well done Mr Skinner for writing a character I loathed.
The first 40% dragged somehow. I hated him, I know he's a wanker, move on...and Dan, moved on.
It's a great story, probably autobiographical, it certainly seems that way and if it is...Dan, I'm glad you have found LOVE.
The writing is amazingly good. Dan knows how to write without being over simplistic, overly emotional or overly graphic.
Loved it. A definite 4.5 star, rounded up, novel and read.
June 10, 2014
The title of this book is what drew my attention; the hot pink isn't bad either. This is my first book by Dan Skinner although I've had Memorizing You for a while but just haven't gotten around to reading it. I will remedy that sooner than later now.
What can I saw about this book? Hmmmmmm. We have a despicable character in Richard "Dick" Fitch and a TSTL character in J.J. Johnstone. I read another review that alluded that this may be a semi-autobiographical work and that sorta gave me a cheap thrill as I was reading.
I don't normally like to read about people being taken advantage of or having the feeling of waiting for the other shoe to drop. Well when you're gonna be an accomplice to your own demise, I guess you deserve what's coming to you. So I got over myself and just tried to enjoy the story.
I think this is the best book I've read where a closeted character was so fucked up they would go to such extreme lengths to remain in the closet. Dick might be right up there with Amy from Gone Girl as one of the most fucked up characters I've ever read about (Amy got him beat ;-)
This book was just a tad bit too long. It was nice reading about how all these m/m covers come into existence but I have to ask if any of these models were ever in relationships because every single one of them succumbed to Dick's charms, even the thirty-something model. Well except Ran, my motherfucking superhero!!! I'm surprised J.J. didn't start recording some of this, he could have been huge in the porn industry. I started to skim just a bit with the scene in the country on the farm because it felt liked we'd already been there, done that.
The story really perked up for me whenever Dick's mother was on the scene. It was a fascinating relationship between mother and son. Towards the end I was on pins and needles wanting to know how the book would end that I even took a chance of sneak reading at work.
So how do I rate this?
Overall I enjoyed this book. When's the movie coming out? I'll go see it on opening day.
What can I saw about this book? Hmmmmmm. We have a despicable character in Richard "Dick" Fitch and a TSTL character in J.J. Johnstone. I read another review that alluded that this may be a semi-autobiographical work and that sorta gave me a cheap thrill as I was reading.
I don't normally like to read about people being taken advantage of or having the feeling of waiting for the other shoe to drop. Well when you're gonna be an accomplice to your own demise, I guess you deserve what's coming to you. So I got over myself and just tried to enjoy the story.
I think this is the best book I've read where a closeted character was so fucked up they would go to such extreme lengths to remain in the closet. Dick might be right up there with Amy from Gone Girl as one of the most fucked up characters I've ever read about (Amy got him beat ;-)
This book was just a tad bit too long. It was nice reading about how all these m/m covers come into existence but I have to ask if any of these models were ever in relationships because every single one of them succumbed to Dick's charms, even the thirty-something model. Well except Ran, my motherfucking superhero!!! I'm surprised J.J. didn't start recording some of this, he could have been huge in the porn industry. I started to skim just a bit with the scene in the country on the farm because it felt liked we'd already been there, done that.
The story really perked up for me whenever Dick's mother was on the scene. It was a fascinating relationship between mother and son. Towards the end I was on pins and needles wanting to know how the book would end that I even took a chance of sneak reading at work.
So how do I rate this?
Overall I enjoyed this book. When's the movie coming out? I'll go see it on opening day.
June 10, 2014
Welp....this was a 5 star book for me until around the 80% mark I did find most of the book fascinating and couldn't put it down, my only complain is the fairytale ending.
Dick was of course a deplorable human being but I didn't like JJ at all! I do feel bad for saying this because it appears that JJ is autobiographical so no offense meant to Mr. Skinner. JJ had a creepy & ridiculous obsession with youth and growing old JJ was also a total dishrag, had no backbone at all. He let Dick walk all over him and for that reason I wasn't feeling sorry for his ass when Dick went all crazy on him. But I loved reading about these two very flawed people, even though they both drove me crazy.
For me as deplorable as he was Dick was the star of this book. I really think Mr. Skinner created a fascinating character in Dick.....and call me crazy but I felt bad for him. His circumstances are just so tragic, he probably would have been an alright guy if he had been born to a different family.
The writing here is excellent and like I said had it not been for the ending I would have rated this 5 stars. I'm going to be thinking about Dick for a long while.....
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