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Keir Sarafian #1
Inexcusable
I am a good guy.
Keir Sarafian may not know much, but he knows himself. And the one thing he knows about himself is that he is a good guy. A guy who's a devoted son and brother, a loyal friend, and a reliable teammate. And maybe most important of all, a guy who understands that when a girl says no, she means it. But that is not what Gigi Boudakian, childhood friend and Keir's lifelong love, says he is. What Gigi says he is seems impossible to Keir....It is something inexcusable -- the worst thing he can imagine, the very opposite of everything he wants to be.
As Keir recalls the events leading up to his fateful night with Gigi, he realizes that the way things look are definitely not the way they really are -- and that it may be all too easy for a good guy to do something terribly wrong.
Chris Lynch has written a no-holds-barred story about truth, lies, and responsibility -- a story that every good guy needs to hear.
165 pages, Hardcover
First published October 25, 2005
101 people are currently reading
3361 people want to read
About the author
Chris Lynch
61 books161 followersChris Lynch is the Printz Honor Award-winning author of several highly acclaimed young adult novels, including KILL SWITCH, ANGRY YOUNG MAN, and INEXCUSABLE, which was a National Book Award finalist and the recipient of six starred reviews. He is also the author of FREEWILL, GOLD DUST, ICEMAN, GYPSY DAVY, and SHADOWBOXER, all ALA Best Books for Young Adults; EXTREME ELVIN WHITECHURCH, and ALL THE OLD HAUNTS.
He holds an M.A. from the writing program at Emerson College. He mentors aspiring writers and continues to work on new literary projects. He lives in Boston and in Scotland.
He holds an M.A. from the writing program at Emerson College. He mentors aspiring writers and continues to work on new literary projects. He lives in Boston and in Scotland.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,197 reviews
July 29, 2014
****lots of spoilers in this review!***
This book is what happens between well-meant and extremely badly executed.
I guess the original intent of this dreck was to write a book about rape from the (unreliably narrating) mind of the rapist. Unfortunately what it comes across as and ends up being is a rape apology.
I want to shower just now, and I don't think even major scrubbing under scalding water would be sufficient to rid me of the bad aftertaste of this.
This was touted as being a companion book to the really excellent YA novel about rape, Speak. Keir, an older teenager just about to leave high school for college "narrates" how he came to cripple another teen during a football game, how that made him a liked jock and gave him a chance at a better college, and how or rather that he ended up raping a girl he believed to be in love with. The narration is "unreliable", insofar that Keir doesn't believe in having raped anyone "because he is a good boy". What he relates however is clearcut rape and another rape attempt.
So far so, well, not good. But it could have been interesting and it might have been insightful.
Instead this bloody story tries to tell us that this fucker has a discerning problem. It practically falls over itself to "mansplain" how the poor boy believes he can do no evil and misinterprets the whole situation.
Wrong.
WRONG!
The author of this story buys into the typical rape apologist fairytale that rape "just happens" and happens to boys who are somewhat addled about boundaries. On top Keir is written as such a complete walking idiot (going by the narrative his IQ has to be somewhere in the region of 60-70, at best!) that this book insinuates only intellectually challenged guys would rape a girl. No, the unreliable narration does *not* work. Instead it has painted Keir a mentally challenged youngster.
And that is... WRONG.
The vast majority of rapists in that age group are serial/repeat offenders. They know what they do, they WANT to do it, they get off on the power trip, they PLAN on doing it, and more than in any other age group they exploit substance abuse and drowsiness/sleep of the victim. That's by now quite well established in enough studies.
So, while a book (even an unreliably narrated one) from the rapist's point of view might have been a good chance to expose what's taking place there, this book was not only a full failure to do so, it *also* added injury to insult by painting teenage rapists simple-minded blokes who are too addled to know what they do and realise they harm only by accident and after a repeat attempt.
It does not at all astonish me that this book has been written by a male author. He should turn to writing something he actually gets.
November 17, 2010
I've seen this book recommended as a companion novel to Laurie Halse Anderson's Speak and really, the main character of Inexcusable, Keir, could have easily been IT.
The novel starts with Keir's friend, Gigi, screaming at him, accusing him of rape.
I am so sorry.
"What are you sorry for, Keir?" Gigi screams again, grabbing me by where my lapels would be if I had a jacket on, or a shirt, or anything. She can't get a purchase because I have no clothes, and very little fat, because I have been good about my health lately. She grabs, can't grab, scratches instead at my chest, then slaps me hard across the face, first right side then left, smack, smack.
"Say what you did, Keir."
"Why is Carl coming? Why do you have to call Carl, Gigi?"
"Say what you did, Keir. Admit what you did to me."
"I didn't do anything, Gigi."
"Yes you did! I said no!"
I say this very firmly. "You did not."
You see, according to Keir, the way it looks is not the way it is. How can he, an upstanding guy, a great son and brother, rape anybody? It's just impossible, because he is a good guy. Gigi must have gotten it all wrong, misunderstood him and he will do his best to convince her she made a mistake.
What follows is your (a)typical "unreliable narrator" story. When Keir starts describing some events of his senior year leading up to the fateful evening, we see that maybe he has a bit of a skewed image of himself, maybe even a lot skewed? Maybe his dad is not such a great role model? Maybe his sisters are not that supportive?
Inexcusable, it seems, gets some heat in the reviews for focusing on an unlikable main character who doesn't realize what is wrong with him. I never have a problem with this sort of thing. Such stories (The Spectacular Now and You) I enjoy, it's always interesting to get into a twisted person's head IMO. What I wish though is that the novel were a little longer. I think there is much more to explore in Keir's life and his relationships with his family and friends. Otherwise, it Inexcusable is a strong, thought-provoking, but not necessarily feel-good novel for young adults.
The novel starts with Keir's friend, Gigi, screaming at him, accusing him of rape.
I am so sorry.
"What are you sorry for, Keir?" Gigi screams again, grabbing me by where my lapels would be if I had a jacket on, or a shirt, or anything. She can't get a purchase because I have no clothes, and very little fat, because I have been good about my health lately. She grabs, can't grab, scratches instead at my chest, then slaps me hard across the face, first right side then left, smack, smack.
"Say what you did, Keir."
"Why is Carl coming? Why do you have to call Carl, Gigi?"
"Say what you did, Keir. Admit what you did to me."
"I didn't do anything, Gigi."
"Yes you did! I said no!"
I say this very firmly. "You did not."
You see, according to Keir, the way it looks is not the way it is. How can he, an upstanding guy, a great son and brother, rape anybody? It's just impossible, because he is a good guy. Gigi must have gotten it all wrong, misunderstood him and he will do his best to convince her she made a mistake.
What follows is your (a)typical "unreliable narrator" story. When Keir starts describing some events of his senior year leading up to the fateful evening, we see that maybe he has a bit of a skewed image of himself, maybe even a lot skewed? Maybe his dad is not such a great role model? Maybe his sisters are not that supportive?
Inexcusable, it seems, gets some heat in the reviews for focusing on an unlikable main character who doesn't realize what is wrong with him. I never have a problem with this sort of thing. Such stories (The Spectacular Now and You) I enjoy, it's always interesting to get into a twisted person's head IMO. What I wish though is that the novel were a little longer. I think there is much more to explore in Keir's life and his relationships with his family and friends. Otherwise, it Inexcusable is a strong, thought-provoking, but not necessarily feel-good novel for young adults.
September 28, 2007
I've been wanting to read this book since before it was published. It's about a high school boy whose girlfriend accuses him of raping her. He doesn't think he's capable of rape and he doesn't think that what happened really was rape.
I was hoping that this book would explore the gray areas and the differences in perspective when it comes to a girl's experience of rape vs. a boy's perception of it. I was hoping it would enlighten readers -- male readers especially -- that just because it doesn't happen in a dark alley, or just because it's between people who know each other, or just because there's no fighting and screaming doesn't mean it's not rape. Instead, we listen to the protagonist whine his way through the book, trying to convince us that nothing he's ever been blamed for was really his fault, so therefore this couldn't be either. Although it's painfully easy to see through him, you keep reading with the hope that he'll get his just desserts. But he's just as stubborn and out-of-touch on the last page as he was on the first. A protagonist who doesn't change over the course of the novel = disappointment.
I was hoping that this book would explore the gray areas and the differences in perspective when it comes to a girl's experience of rape vs. a boy's perception of it. I was hoping it would enlighten readers -- male readers especially -- that just because it doesn't happen in a dark alley, or just because it's between people who know each other, or just because there's no fighting and screaming doesn't mean it's not rape. Instead, we listen to the protagonist whine his way through the book, trying to convince us that nothing he's ever been blamed for was really his fault, so therefore this couldn't be either. Although it's painfully easy to see through him, you keep reading with the hope that he'll get his just desserts. But he's just as stubborn and out-of-touch on the last page as he was on the first. A protagonist who doesn't change over the course of the novel = disappointment.
July 6, 2023
We read this as part of my Human Sexuality course in college. Everyone else seemed to get really into it, but I couldn't stand this. It came off as a huge rape apology and I won't stand for that.
November 23, 2011
I'm finding it difficult to compile my thoughts on this one. On one hand, I found it to be a very interesting exploration of an unreliable and unconventional narrator, but on the other, I just felt like I needed something more in order for me to give a higher rating. Perhaps it was the shortness of the novel, I felt like there was so much that could have been developed and explored deeper, like the relationship between the protagonist and his father and sisters. But even just his own mind... we barely scratched the surface.
Anyway, the story is about Keir. He's a good guy. Or at least, he says he is. But some people seem to think differently, like Gigi who claims he did the unthinkable. It starts to become obvious that Keir might be lying, and not only to the reader but to himself as well.
I like these kinds of stories that are a bit different from the norm, that take on challenging characters and, through them, take us to new and unusual places. This is not a nice story, but I find that the most memorable stories rarely are and this is definitely the kind of book that makes you think about certain things and ask questions you wouldn't previously consider. As is written on the back of my edition:
Where does personal responsibility begin? How do we define ourselves? And are we all capable of monstrous things?
January 31, 2015
I really disliked this book. There's no other way to put it. Protagonist Keir is a whiny, self-indulgent twit who spends 165 pages telling the reader what a good guy he is, while chronicling some pretty appalling behavior. He is either delusional or a sociopath. This is a character who never has any growth or any true self awareness. Nor does he seem to suffer any consequences for his actions. (What does it say when you are actively pulling for the protagonist's downfall?) There was nothing redeeming in Keir and by the end he had not gained any understanding of his actions or wrongdoing.
After finishing Inexcusable my only takeaway is... what was the point?
After finishing Inexcusable my only takeaway is... what was the point?
May 21, 2008
After reading a lot of good reviews (from the likes of Hornbook, VOYA, Kirkus, and School Library Journal) I thought that this book was going to be amazing, but honestly I felt a little let down. It's true that hearing the "bad guys" point of view is refreshing, and the book is well-written, but half the time I just wanted Keir to realize already that he was making up excuses for himself and acting like a total jerk. Maybe that was the point, but I just didn't feel engaged. I think teen readers may also find that there isn't enough substance to really get them to root for Keir, and they may not appreciate the quirks of the good writing style. I was glad that the book is only 165 pages, and I kind of feel bad that I didn't like it, but I just think it is over-hyped.
January 11, 2017
2 1/2 stars. Look, I liked the theme behind this book. Lynch delivered an important message that should be heard by many people, especially college-aged young men. But when the only strong thing was the idea the author was trying to convey, and the actual story - the plot and characters - were weak and uninteresting, how could I give it a higher rating?
You might already have an idea of what this book is about and if you've read the summary on Goodreads, it's easily guessable. Still, I'm going to issue a SPOILER ALERT since the synopsis never directly states it.
This book deals with rape, which is always a tough subject. Our unreliable narrator, Keir, is a football player, lives with his father and two sisters, and is seen as a "nice guy" by everyone. He would never purposely hurt someone. So when Keir is violently accused of rape by his childhood friend, Gigi, it doesn't make any sense. Keir tells himself over and over that he could never do such a thing.
I'm going to say something controversial now - brace yourself. I don't believe in rape culture. I don't believe in the idea that in western civilization, rape is accepted or "normalized." You could argue there is a rape culture in the Middle East, where under the Sharia law a woman can't even testify in court that she was raped without four male witnesses. But in the western culture? Please.
If someone reports a rape, the police are not going to laugh in your face. They're going to treat it like the sick, disgusting crime that it is. Of course, they will probably question you for evidence, but that's because rape is a serious accusation not to be taken lightly. The idea of a civilized culture like America accepting rape is just ridiculous and way too many people are believing this quickly spreading theory. Oh, and also - catcalling is not rape.
However, rape sadly does exist in the western culture and it happens way too often. This book shows us how a seemingly nice guy like Keir can get mixed up in a horrible crime. Not every rape happens in a dark alley with a stranger; sometimes it's in a safe environment, with someone you trust. And I don't know about you, but that sounds a million times scarier.
While I did appreciate Inexcusable's theme, I wasn't a fan of the actual story. The writing and characters weren't well developed. Keir's personality was so flat I couldn't feel either sympathy or anger towards him. His only defining traits were that he was a football player and a nice guy. And the events leading up to the ending were your cliché high school story about parties and friends. I couldn't have cared less.
If not for the important topic and discussions Inexcusable opened up, I would have given it a lower rating. In the end, I did like how things turned out - the final sentence perfectly delivered the whole idea the author was trying to portray. But I think there are better YA novels about rape out there - All the Rage, Boy Toy, and Speak, to name a few.
You might already have an idea of what this book is about and if you've read the summary on Goodreads, it's easily guessable. Still, I'm going to issue a SPOILER ALERT since the synopsis never directly states it.
This book deals with rape, which is always a tough subject. Our unreliable narrator, Keir, is a football player, lives with his father and two sisters, and is seen as a "nice guy" by everyone. He would never purposely hurt someone. So when Keir is violently accused of rape by his childhood friend, Gigi, it doesn't make any sense. Keir tells himself over and over that he could never do such a thing.
I'm going to say something controversial now - brace yourself. I don't believe in rape culture. I don't believe in the idea that in western civilization, rape is accepted or "normalized." You could argue there is a rape culture in the Middle East, where under the Sharia law a woman can't even testify in court that she was raped without four male witnesses. But in the western culture? Please.
If someone reports a rape, the police are not going to laugh in your face. They're going to treat it like the sick, disgusting crime that it is. Of course, they will probably question you for evidence, but that's because rape is a serious accusation not to be taken lightly. The idea of a civilized culture like America accepting rape is just ridiculous and way too many people are believing this quickly spreading theory. Oh, and also - catcalling is not rape.
However, rape sadly does exist in the western culture and it happens way too often. This book shows us how a seemingly nice guy like Keir can get mixed up in a horrible crime. Not every rape happens in a dark alley with a stranger; sometimes it's in a safe environment, with someone you trust. And I don't know about you, but that sounds a million times scarier.
While I did appreciate Inexcusable's theme, I wasn't a fan of the actual story. The writing and characters weren't well developed. Keir's personality was so flat I couldn't feel either sympathy or anger towards him. His only defining traits were that he was a football player and a nice guy. And the events leading up to the ending were your cliché high school story about parties and friends. I couldn't have cared less.
If not for the important topic and discussions Inexcusable opened up, I would have given it a lower rating. In the end, I did like how things turned out - the final sentence perfectly delivered the whole idea the author was trying to portray. But I think there are better YA novels about rape out there - All the Rage, Boy Toy, and Speak, to name a few.
May 1, 2008
This was not exactly a good book...I tried to read it for quite awhile (thirty pages or so...way more than I should have given it) The main character, Keir, is having a fight with his girlfriend because he supposedly did something wrong and he doesn't remember. The book rambles on for about two hundred pages (or so I have been led to believe from the first thirty) and then gives a horrible ending. (I was too curious) I would never recommend this!
June 13, 2009
High school senior and football kicker Keir Sarafian brings the term "unreliable narrator" to a whole new level. His complete refusal to take responsibility for anything he does is beyond creepy. He denies reality and insists on viewing himself as a good guy, or a guy with good intentions, or a guy who couldn't possibly have done the things people say he's done (including crippling a rival school's football player, getting so drunk with his teammates he destroys a beloved town statue, hazing the soccer team in an especially cruel manner, and raping the girl he's "in love" with).
The amazing thing is, you believe his version of events at first, or at least you believe that HE believes it, and you even feel sorry for him on many occasions!! He's popular but doesn't have a single friend. His older sisters don't show up for his graduation, and it destroys him with pain. His dad (who's not your typical alcoholic, but a "pal") is clearly to blame for many of Keir's distorted outlooks. And yet Keir is also a total asshole, and it's sort of sickening to be inside his head for the entire novel.
I wasn't entirely sure if the last few sentences show him realizing what he's done or not. Either way, a fast read and memorable narration.
The amazing thing is, you believe his version of events at first, or at least you believe that HE believes it, and you even feel sorry for him on many occasions!! He's popular but doesn't have a single friend. His older sisters don't show up for his graduation, and it destroys him with pain. His dad (who's not your typical alcoholic, but a "pal") is clearly to blame for many of Keir's distorted outlooks. And yet Keir is also a total asshole, and it's sort of sickening to be inside his head for the entire novel.
I wasn't entirely sure if the last few sentences show him realizing what he's done or not. Either way, a fast read and memorable narration.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 6, 2016
Who are we? Are we how we see ourselves? How others see us? What if we think we're good people, and it turns out we've been lying to ourselves?
Kier couldn't have raped Gigi. He's a good guy and good guys aren't rapists.
INEXCUSABLE is a marvelous concept for a novel, with a terrible execution.
Chris Lynch could have written a much more memorable, important book. He started off with an unreliable narrator, not because Kier is a liar, which he is, but because Kier lacks almost all insight into his behavior and his impact on others.
INEXCUSABLE is a story without a real ending or any character growth. It's a story that needed to be told in a better way. Lynch just released a sequel, so perhaps the ending and growth comes later.
Kier couldn't have raped Gigi. He's a good guy and good guys aren't rapists.
INEXCUSABLE is a marvelous concept for a novel, with a terrible execution.
Chris Lynch could have written a much more memorable, important book. He started off with an unreliable narrator, not because Kier is a liar, which he is, but because Kier lacks almost all insight into his behavior and his impact on others.
INEXCUSABLE is a story without a real ending or any character growth. It's a story that needed to be told in a better way. Lynch just released a sequel, so perhaps the ending and growth comes later.
November 6, 2014
I was introduced to author Chris Lynch when I spotted his 2014 book Little Blue Lies on the library shelf. I'm a dork - it was January 2014, and the sticker on the spine said "New - Jan 2014." I turned to the copyright page, and it said "Copyright 2014." So I was like, Cool, it's barely 2014, and this can be my first 2014 book. So there was that, but Little Blue Lies was a paper-thin waste of (mercifully, not very much) time.
Anyway, I was introduced to Lynch's Inexcusable on the back cover of Lynch's Little Blue Lies. All the time I was reading that mediocre-at-best Lynch novel, there were a half-dozen starred reviews and praise blurbs screaming at me about how much better Inexcusable was, and why the hell are you reading the wrong book just because it came out this year? Sometimes those dust-jacket back covers know how to cut right to the heart of me.
A couple months later, I got down with Inexcusable, which is also a paper-thin novel but a much more substantive read. Though I will tell you - hang in there through the first 30 or so pages while you get used to the litany of run-on sentences from your rambling, stream-of-consciousness first-person narrator. Adjusting to the voice of the "protagonist," high-school senior Keir, is like getting used to the unfamiliar regional dialects of Snatch or Lock, Stock - way easier, of course, but similar.
Also, hang in there as the narrator starts laying out what seems to be a very obvious and constant formula of self-justification: I'm a good guy, I do good things. I can't possibly have done this bad thing this girl is accusing me of because I'm not a bad person. I'm a good guy, I do good things. Like how I apologized to this girl after I raped her--wait, no, I didn't rape her, I couldn't have. I'm a good guy, I do good things.
Yup, Inexcusable deals with the "ten foot pole" topic of date rape, acquaintance rape, whatever you wanna call it. And it's entirely from the perspective of Keir, the good guy who does good things, like not rape girls. Author Lynch trades off chapters of present-tense aftermath (Keir reacting to what just happened while the girl is still there with him) and senior-year back story.
There's a tiny bit of suspense during those first few rambling pages of back story, like maybe he didn't do it, but then Keir talks about how, during a junior-year football game, he accidentally crippled this kid from another school by tackling him just like he was supposed to. Just like a good kid who does good things would tackle a kid. And the crippled kid must be okay with everything because he sent Keir a card saying no hard feelings for taking away his below-waist mobility.
The crippling incident, incidentally (ha!), grants Keir access to all the trappings of football team popularity. The footballers in Inexcusable are the spoiled, brutish, oppressive characters of the book, while the soccer team kids are meek, mild and conscientious. Keir straddles the line - he does soccer to stay in shape for football, because he's a good kid, and I guess so he'll have someone to play chess with. The football kids all call him Killer (quickly adjusted to "Killeer," to rhyme with his name), and it's a nickname he eventually slides into.
I like the glimpses into Keir's home life. He has two sisters, both away at college, so senior year his house is a bachelor pad inhabited by him and his voluntarily clueless widower dad. The you-deserve-it attitude of the dad* leads to them binge-drinking together as bonding and to dad hiring an expensive limo driver to chauffeur Keir around town on Graduation Day, aka The Day The Rape(?[!]) Goes Down. Dad, throughout the book, only seems to bat an eye of concern when he finds out about the nickname Killer. He can't be a killer, thinks dad. He's a good boy who does good things. Why would his nickname even suggest otherwise?[!]
This book reads like a flash of lightning, of course, but its pace doesn't feel rushed or barrel you over. The two major back-story set pieces, prom and graduation, feel familiar and nonchalant, but the narrative slowly builds you into a quiet, wincing terror. Getting into Keir's head feels uncomfortable but authentic.
I had a friend for many years who was a pathological liar, just made up the most outlandish shit but would never break character and admit the truth. I'd wonder about the psychology of it, and I think it was similar to Keir in Inexcusable - I'm a good person, I'm telling the truth. If they don't believe me, it's their problem. This book isn't super-insightful, but it's definitely worth reading.
* = This dad character's attitude is in direct contrast to the dad in the very next book I read, A.S. King's Please Ignore Vera Dietz. The Dietz dad, also a voluntarily clueless single-parent divorcee, had a you-don't-deserve-it-because-your-mom-and-I-tried-it-and-fucked-it-all-up attitude.
Anyway, I was introduced to Lynch's Inexcusable on the back cover of Lynch's Little Blue Lies. All the time I was reading that mediocre-at-best Lynch novel, there were a half-dozen starred reviews and praise blurbs screaming at me about how much better Inexcusable was, and why the hell are you reading the wrong book just because it came out this year? Sometimes those dust-jacket back covers know how to cut right to the heart of me.
A couple months later, I got down with Inexcusable, which is also a paper-thin novel but a much more substantive read. Though I will tell you - hang in there through the first 30 or so pages while you get used to the litany of run-on sentences from your rambling, stream-of-consciousness first-person narrator. Adjusting to the voice of the "protagonist," high-school senior Keir, is like getting used to the unfamiliar regional dialects of Snatch or Lock, Stock - way easier, of course, but similar.
Also, hang in there as the narrator starts laying out what seems to be a very obvious and constant formula of self-justification: I'm a good guy, I do good things. I can't possibly have done this bad thing this girl is accusing me of because I'm not a bad person. I'm a good guy, I do good things. Like how I apologized to this girl after I raped her--wait, no, I didn't rape her, I couldn't have. I'm a good guy, I do good things.
Yup, Inexcusable deals with the "ten foot pole" topic of date rape, acquaintance rape, whatever you wanna call it. And it's entirely from the perspective of Keir, the good guy who does good things, like not rape girls. Author Lynch trades off chapters of present-tense aftermath (Keir reacting to what just happened while the girl is still there with him) and senior-year back story.
There's a tiny bit of suspense during those first few rambling pages of back story, like maybe he didn't do it, but then Keir talks about how, during a junior-year football game, he accidentally crippled this kid from another school by tackling him just like he was supposed to. Just like a good kid who does good things would tackle a kid. And the crippled kid must be okay with everything because he sent Keir a card saying no hard feelings for taking away his below-waist mobility.
The crippling incident, incidentally (ha!), grants Keir access to all the trappings of football team popularity. The footballers in Inexcusable are the spoiled, brutish, oppressive characters of the book, while the soccer team kids are meek, mild and conscientious. Keir straddles the line - he does soccer to stay in shape for football, because he's a good kid, and I guess so he'll have someone to play chess with. The football kids all call him Killer (quickly adjusted to "Killeer," to rhyme with his name), and it's a nickname he eventually slides into.
I like the glimpses into Keir's home life. He has two sisters, both away at college, so senior year his house is a bachelor pad inhabited by him and his voluntarily clueless widower dad. The you-deserve-it attitude of the dad* leads to them binge-drinking together as bonding and to dad hiring an expensive limo driver to chauffeur Keir around town on Graduation Day, aka The Day The Rape(?[!]) Goes Down. Dad, throughout the book, only seems to bat an eye of concern when he finds out about the nickname Killer. He can't be a killer, thinks dad. He's a good boy who does good things. Why would his nickname even suggest otherwise?[!]
This book reads like a flash of lightning, of course, but its pace doesn't feel rushed or barrel you over. The two major back-story set pieces, prom and graduation, feel familiar and nonchalant, but the narrative slowly builds you into a quiet, wincing terror. Getting into Keir's head feels uncomfortable but authentic.
I had a friend for many years who was a pathological liar, just made up the most outlandish shit but would never break character and admit the truth. I'd wonder about the psychology of it, and I think it was similar to Keir in Inexcusable - I'm a good person, I'm telling the truth. If they don't believe me, it's their problem. This book isn't super-insightful, but it's definitely worth reading.
* = This dad character's attitude is in direct contrast to the dad in the very next book I read, A.S. King's Please Ignore Vera Dietz. The Dietz dad, also a voluntarily clueless single-parent divorcee, had a you-don't-deserve-it-because-your-mom-and-I-tried-it-and-fucked-it-all-up attitude.
April 7, 2010
the book is about this guy named keir sarafian and he is a senior at high school. he is in love with a girl named Gigi but Gigi has a boyfriend. but keir and gigi are really good friends. so at the day of the graduation i believe keir goes to see his sister to college but gigi goes with him and since there was nobody and it was late they spent the night there. but supposevely keir raped gigi. it doesnt really has a lot of details in what really happened,so keir does not remember doing such a thing because supposevely he is a good guy and he is in honors class and he says that good guys dont do bad things and that he understands that no means no, and so he couldnt have done this since he is a good guy so gigi says that this is an inexcusable thing. at the end of the book is just keir telling what was happening and that gigi wasnt talking to him at all and the only thing she told him was that good guys arent rapist.
i honestly didnt like the book, because it needed more details and it kind of like was divided by parts like many events. so it was confusing because it started in the conversation that keir and gigi were having and so is the ending and in the middle of the books was talking about his family.. and friends and school so it was pretty boring. so i didnt like this book at all.
i honestly didnt like the book, because it needed more details and it kind of like was divided by parts like many events. so it was confusing because it started in the conversation that keir and gigi were having and so is the ending and in the middle of the books was talking about his family.. and friends and school so it was pretty boring. so i didnt like this book at all.
November 12, 2010
This book was incredible. The story was a very scary one, but I loved the book. It had a very unique way of telling the story. It was sort of flashback theme that eventually led up to present time. This made it hard to understand at first but once you got it everything just seemed to click. Books that do this are my favorite. I thought it was given in a very risky perspective but that’s what made the book what it was. It wouldn’t have been the same if we would have known that Keir had been lying to himself and everyone else. "The way it looks is not the way it is," he would say. This book was about rape, drugs, alcoholism, peer pressure, love, loneliness, and mostly self-accountability. It was about owning up to the choices we make. Even if they seem absolutely terrible and like something we would never do, choices have consequences. Sometimes they are even “inexcusable.” This book showed what a lot of teenagers go through. I found myself relating to Keir in certain ways throughout the book, and also Gigi. This was a frightening, powerful, and riveting book that I highly recommend to all teenagers and adults!
December 27, 2007
One of the most controversial and debated novels of 2005, this National Book Award finalist shows the awful results of passion that burns out of control. The narrator, Keir Sarafian, is a self-proclaimed "good guy" who describes his good life, loving family, and athletic success. But the reader slowly comes to realize that what Keir says and what the truth is are not always the same. The good guy persona melts away as Kier describes events that happen around him or to him, but they're never really his fault. These chapters of Kier's senior-year life unfold with alternating chapters of him in a room with the object of his passion, Gigi Boudakian. She's accusing him of raping her; he's denying it but surrounded only by those cold walls and weak lies. She knows better, and by that time, so do readers.
dnf
March 15, 2019You want to know what’s inexcusable? How badly written this book is... I mean seriously! I get that it’s trying to be in the mind of a teenage boy, but that was in the mind of a 7th grade boy. I wasn’t even interested in what this book had to say... What I say tho is oof.
May 1, 2020
[requires class reading] I wrote a 700 word discussion post on how problematic this book is. Please read more women.
January 6, 2021
Lire ce livre m'a mis dans une colère. L'idée d'écrire du point de vue d'un agresseur peut être intéressante si elle est bien exécutée mais le personnage principal de ce roman est tout simplement détestable. Déresponsabilisation totale et aucun regret face à ses actions, si ce n'est que d'avoir perdu la fille dont il était "follement amoureux". Ce livre a apparemment une suite mais il ne se retrouvera pas sur mes tablettes.
November 8, 2023
Inexcusable is a the store of Keir recounting the events leading up to that one fateful night, in order to uncover the truth. Did he or did he not rape Gigi?!
This book had me confused on so many levels. I didn't know how to feel. One moment I as so convinced that he didn't do it, then the next I was determined to uncover that he did do it. This isn't a fasted paced loved story, it's more of a who'd-done it. If that makes sense. This review wont be long and it wont be detailed because I feel like this book is one you need to go into with no preconceived notions.
The main character is (obviously) Keir, all other characters are just sub. Keir is such a puzzle. I have no idea if I loved him or hated him... Even after I finished it. This book took me down a path I had never been down. The way Lynch presents this novel too us by showing us both the light and darkness too each side of a story, is what will have you feeling something you haven't before. Inexcuseable is a novel I think I can't decide how to feel about. I don't know if I loved it or hated it. The riddler way it's written had me falling hard for it, but at the same time I felt that there was something else I needed to give this a higher rating.
How Chris Lynch could write such a short novel, say so little words, and yet leave you so bone chilled is beyond me...
This book will have you wondering if you sometimes see yourself as something other than what you really are.
A book that will have you guessing till the VERY end. I have no idea how I feel about this book, so pretty sure Lynch did what he set out to achieve. Inexcusable left me wondering what just happened to me and what the hell did I just read.
This book had me confused on so many levels. I didn't know how to feel. One moment I as so convinced that he didn't do it, then the next I was determined to uncover that he did do it. This isn't a fasted paced loved story, it's more of a who'd-done it. If that makes sense. This review wont be long and it wont be detailed because I feel like this book is one you need to go into with no preconceived notions.
The main character is (obviously) Keir, all other characters are just sub. Keir is such a puzzle. I have no idea if I loved him or hated him... Even after I finished it. This book took me down a path I had never been down. The way Lynch presents this novel too us by showing us both the light and darkness too each side of a story, is what will have you feeling something you haven't before. Inexcuseable is a novel I think I can't decide how to feel about. I don't know if I loved it or hated it. The riddler way it's written had me falling hard for it, but at the same time I felt that there was something else I needed to give this a higher rating.
How Chris Lynch could write such a short novel, say so little words, and yet leave you so bone chilled is beyond me...
This book will have you wondering if you sometimes see yourself as something other than what you really are.
A book that will have you guessing till the VERY end. I have no idea how I feel about this book, so pretty sure Lynch did what he set out to achieve. Inexcusable left me wondering what just happened to me and what the hell did I just read.
May 22, 2021
I’m not sure how I feel about this book. I understand the message and what it’s all suppose to mean and stand for but I feel like it could have been executed better. It’s just all didn’t sit well with me. I was just annoyed with Keir since the very beginning and maybe that played into how I felt about the book overall but I just wasn’t really feeling this read
May 17, 2021
I'd probably give this 3.5 stars if I was being perfectly honest. GoodReads, feel free at any point to add half star measurements!
I think some of the people who are giving this a low rating might be missing just how much of an unreliable narrator Keir is. Keir comes across like a dumb jock (hate to engage in stereotypes, but that's what comes to mind). Either that or he has a learning disability. His sentences are short, and clipped, and his vocabulary is incredibly small. He thinks things are either "good" or "bad." There isn't a lot of gray area for Keir, despite the fact that MOST of his life exists in the gray area (trending towards bad).
If you're a smart reader (most people are) you pick up on like the third page that Keir has been the recipient of some extremely poor parenting, that he sees things in terms of extremes, that he has trouble acknowledging nuance, that he almost never takes into account someone else's feelings other than his own.
Add all of these problems into the stew of Keir's life, and combine it was a SIGNIFICANT amount of substance abuse, and it starts to become really clear how Keir ended up having raped Gigi (at least once, with another attempt at the end.)
I liked reading this because I teach at an affluent all-boys school, and I struggle with how much I should articulate things about consent. I'm their history teacher, not their health teacher, and yet I'm one of the few female influences on these kids. Things that some adolescents think of as sexual predation and/or assault and rape are not the same as what other adolescents think (read: young men). That's a real problem for society. Young women KNOW what sexual assault is, what it feels like, what it looks like, and when it's happening to them. Young men sometimes do not KNOW when it is they who are perpetrating it. They have a whole structure in place (the patriarchy) that helps them excuse their behavior, or explain it away. I really like that Lynch sees this problem, and wrote a book trying to articulate it to YA readers. This book underlines the necessity of good, strong parenting, and of good role models, and of teaching empathy to young adults. (Keir seems pretty much devoid of empathy.)
I struggle to think of Keir as a typical adolescent--maybe I'm too hopeful, or worse, too naive, to accept that he represents the norm. I've encountered many young people who have a great deal more depth, and ability to recognize social nuance, and a more firm grasp of right vs. wrong. That's maybe where the book struggles the most, from my perspective. It's easy to see how a kid grows up thinking he's a good guy. It's a little more challenging to believe it about a kid as sociopathic as Keir.
Finally, some reviewers have said this book reads like "a rape apology/apologist." I'd disagree. It only reads that way if you believe Keir, which we absolutely should not. We should believe that HE believes he's good--but we know better, because we are adults, and we think through it, and can see the huge red flags waving out in the wind. I think this book is trying not to apologize for rape or explain how it happened, but to demonstrate how terrifying it is that someone can grow up as Keir has, and think he's "good" and requires no further reflection, growth or intervention. This book highlights a problem with a big, bright, neon yellow highlighter. It doesn't offer a solution.
(I read this in 2 sittings, each about 90 minutes long. It's short and fast, because Keir has no idea how to properly articulate his thoughts and feelings. It's important to note that Keir is not Chris Lynch.)
I think some of the people who are giving this a low rating might be missing just how much of an unreliable narrator Keir is. Keir comes across like a dumb jock (hate to engage in stereotypes, but that's what comes to mind). Either that or he has a learning disability. His sentences are short, and clipped, and his vocabulary is incredibly small. He thinks things are either "good" or "bad." There isn't a lot of gray area for Keir, despite the fact that MOST of his life exists in the gray area (trending towards bad).
If you're a smart reader (most people are) you pick up on like the third page that Keir has been the recipient of some extremely poor parenting, that he sees things in terms of extremes, that he has trouble acknowledging nuance, that he almost never takes into account someone else's feelings other than his own.
Add all of these problems into the stew of Keir's life, and combine it was a SIGNIFICANT amount of substance abuse, and it starts to become really clear how Keir ended up having raped Gigi (at least once, with another attempt at the end.)
I liked reading this because I teach at an affluent all-boys school, and I struggle with how much I should articulate things about consent. I'm their history teacher, not their health teacher, and yet I'm one of the few female influences on these kids. Things that some adolescents think of as sexual predation and/or assault and rape are not the same as what other adolescents think (read: young men). That's a real problem for society. Young women KNOW what sexual assault is, what it feels like, what it looks like, and when it's happening to them. Young men sometimes do not KNOW when it is they who are perpetrating it. They have a whole structure in place (the patriarchy) that helps them excuse their behavior, or explain it away. I really like that Lynch sees this problem, and wrote a book trying to articulate it to YA readers. This book underlines the necessity of good, strong parenting, and of good role models, and of teaching empathy to young adults. (Keir seems pretty much devoid of empathy.)
I struggle to think of Keir as a typical adolescent--maybe I'm too hopeful, or worse, too naive, to accept that he represents the norm. I've encountered many young people who have a great deal more depth, and ability to recognize social nuance, and a more firm grasp of right vs. wrong. That's maybe where the book struggles the most, from my perspective. It's easy to see how a kid grows up thinking he's a good guy. It's a little more challenging to believe it about a kid as sociopathic as Keir.
Finally, some reviewers have said this book reads like "a rape apology/apologist." I'd disagree. It only reads that way if you believe Keir, which we absolutely should not. We should believe that HE believes he's good--but we know better, because we are adults, and we think through it, and can see the huge red flags waving out in the wind. I think this book is trying not to apologize for rape or explain how it happened, but to demonstrate how terrifying it is that someone can grow up as Keir has, and think he's "good" and requires no further reflection, growth or intervention. This book highlights a problem with a big, bright, neon yellow highlighter. It doesn't offer a solution.
(I read this in 2 sittings, each about 90 minutes long. It's short and fast, because Keir has no idea how to properly articulate his thoughts and feelings. It's important to note that Keir is not Chris Lynch.)
January 28, 2015
True rating: 3.5
This book is definitely more of a novella? short story? instead of a book. The entire thing is 164 pages and a lot of it is shorter pages. I probably would have finished the whole thing in one sitting if I hadn't been at work when I started (that pesky job just gets in the way of my reading time!).
From the first page, you are thrown into a present day situation where Kier and Gigi are alone in some type of room, and Gigi is accusing Kier of raping her. Kier is pleading with her to calm down, that she had agreed and enjoyed it, and mostly for her not to call her dad, boyfriend, etc. From there on you mostly get flashbacks that serve as back stories. Everything is from Kier's POV so you have no idea how reliable it all is. He basically tells you about how he is a good guy, tells you about his childhood and family, about his time as a football star, prom... all leading up until his graduation day.
As the story goes on, you start to find out that Kier probably isn't giving the whole story to things and you are really only getting what he thinks happen, which may or may not be true. Several times something happens and then you find out later that it wasn't the way he portrayed it, but he tries to defend himself by saying how good of a guy he is and good guys don't do stuff like that.
Honestly, I thought this guy was looney toons from the get go. Reading his story was very disturbing, especially knowing it was all leading up to what you only got a glimpse of at the beginning with Gigi. Through the book, you find out about Kier's alcoholic dad, Kier's own problem with alcohol, Kier's drug problems, and how immature Kier is. I didn't feel sympathetic towards him at all, even when things were really down and bad for him. The entire time I pretty much kept the stance that this dude is nuts and he is a creep and he is one of those guys who does very bad things but can't possibly take responsibility for them. I also believe that Kier has some sort of mental illness, but the jury is still out on that since the author doesn't provide any information or detail on it.
I gave the book 3.5 stars because I thought it was an interesting read, albeit a disturbing read. I probably would have given it a 4 star rating if the ending would have been a bit better. It leads up and leads up, and then..... just sort of ends. I was reading and then was like "what? huh? that's it?"
I think I would recommend it if you are a fan of books such as Pretty Girl-13 by Liz Coley (the mental illness portion and unreliable narrator and the whole WTF is going on part) or The Collector by John Fowles (the crazy dude who thinks he is helping and loving the lady by kidnapping her). If you are looking for a filler book to read in between series or books, this one is a good one to pick up since it is very short and fast paced.
3.5/5 stars
For this review and more, visit my blog:
http://southernbredsouthernread.blogs...
This book is definitely more of a novella? short story? instead of a book. The entire thing is 164 pages and a lot of it is shorter pages. I probably would have finished the whole thing in one sitting if I hadn't been at work when I started (that pesky job just gets in the way of my reading time!).
From the first page, you are thrown into a present day situation where Kier and Gigi are alone in some type of room, and Gigi is accusing Kier of raping her. Kier is pleading with her to calm down, that she had agreed and enjoyed it, and mostly for her not to call her dad, boyfriend, etc. From there on you mostly get flashbacks that serve as back stories. Everything is from Kier's POV so you have no idea how reliable it all is. He basically tells you about how he is a good guy, tells you about his childhood and family, about his time as a football star, prom... all leading up until his graduation day.
As the story goes on, you start to find out that Kier probably isn't giving the whole story to things and you are really only getting what he thinks happen, which may or may not be true. Several times something happens and then you find out later that it wasn't the way he portrayed it, but he tries to defend himself by saying how good of a guy he is and good guys don't do stuff like that.
Honestly, I thought this guy was looney toons from the get go. Reading his story was very disturbing, especially knowing it was all leading up to what you only got a glimpse of at the beginning with Gigi. Through the book, you find out about Kier's alcoholic dad, Kier's own problem with alcohol, Kier's drug problems, and how immature Kier is. I didn't feel sympathetic towards him at all, even when things were really down and bad for him. The entire time I pretty much kept the stance that this dude is nuts and he is a creep and he is one of those guys who does very bad things but can't possibly take responsibility for them. I also believe that Kier has some sort of mental illness, but the jury is still out on that since the author doesn't provide any information or detail on it.
I gave the book 3.5 stars because I thought it was an interesting read, albeit a disturbing read. I probably would have given it a 4 star rating if the ending would have been a bit better. It leads up and leads up, and then..... just sort of ends. I was reading and then was like "what? huh? that's it?"
I think I would recommend it if you are a fan of books such as Pretty Girl-13 by Liz Coley (the mental illness portion and unreliable narrator and the whole WTF is going on part) or The Collector by John Fowles (the crazy dude who thinks he is helping and loving the lady by kidnapping her). If you are looking for a filler book to read in between series or books, this one is a good one to pick up since it is very short and fast paced.
3.5/5 stars
For this review and more, visit my blog:
http://southernbredsouthernread.blogs...
March 17, 2021
2.5* I'm not really sure about this one. It's definitely dated, it reads like a 90s/early 2000s contemporary YA when it was very much a genre solely written for teens. Maybe it's just a style I remember reading at that age.
I really liked the idea of this book. I thought it might be similar to Kate Mccaffrey's 'Saving Jazz', which had a similar style of piecing together an event from the perpetrator's perspective, ending with realization of the act and self awareness of their actions. The problem with this is that it didn't really have that character arc at all, and Kier lacked self awareness from beginning to end. The entire book is him detailing his own destructive, stupid, harmful behaviour from a weird state of denial that brushes it all off as 'I'm a nice guy and nice guys don't do bad things so obviously nothing I did was bad', which is just a really weird way to read it all.
He also seems very dim, and I was pretty frustrated at how stupid he was on many occasions.
His relationship with his father was the most interesting part of the book, because it was equal parts touching, heartwarming, and depressing, and then became a bit concerning when you realise the extent of Keir's shitty behaviour, and the ease with with his father convinces him that he's a good guy and everything is really fine. The relationship makes a bit more sense towards the end when Kier has a brief interaction with his sister Fran where she tells him how bad their father was for them all.
My main issue was the rape itself. It's portrayed from the start as a misunderstanding between them. That Kier remembered it one way, and Gigi another. I was fully expecting this book to walk the fine line between consent and an awful mistake, and address the different way in which a male might understand a pressured situation and reckless decisions. It wasn't that at all, it's not exploring the grey area as I expected, and which certainly makes stories like this more powerful. Instead, what is eventually described FROM HIS OWN PERSPECTIVE is straight up rape, no question about it. There isn't any miscommunication, there isn't any grey area, there isn't any moral dilemma. It is undeniably rape.
And that's pretty much where the story ends, with about a sentence implying that the horror of what he's done has dawned on him, making the whole book seem like an apology for a rape, rather than one exploring a new perspective/grey area/questionable situation.
It's an interesting concept, it just wasn't executed all that well, and I'm a bit confused about all the awards and high ratings it's recieved. I can only assume it was one of the first YA books to address the heavy subject matter of date rape from an alternate perspective, and was considered bold in that attempt to bring awareness to the consequences of one's actions.
I really liked the idea of this book. I thought it might be similar to Kate Mccaffrey's 'Saving Jazz', which had a similar style of piecing together an event from the perpetrator's perspective, ending with realization of the act and self awareness of their actions. The problem with this is that it didn't really have that character arc at all, and Kier lacked self awareness from beginning to end. The entire book is him detailing his own destructive, stupid, harmful behaviour from a weird state of denial that brushes it all off as 'I'm a nice guy and nice guys don't do bad things so obviously nothing I did was bad', which is just a really weird way to read it all.
He also seems very dim, and I was pretty frustrated at how stupid he was on many occasions.
His relationship with his father was the most interesting part of the book, because it was equal parts touching, heartwarming, and depressing, and then became a bit concerning when you realise the extent of Keir's shitty behaviour, and the ease with with his father convinces him that he's a good guy and everything is really fine. The relationship makes a bit more sense towards the end when Kier has a brief interaction with his sister Fran where she tells him how bad their father was for them all.
My main issue was the rape itself. It's portrayed from the start as a misunderstanding between them. That Kier remembered it one way, and Gigi another. I was fully expecting this book to walk the fine line between consent and an awful mistake, and address the different way in which a male might understand a pressured situation and reckless decisions. It wasn't that at all, it's not exploring the grey area as I expected, and which certainly makes stories like this more powerful. Instead, what is eventually described FROM HIS OWN PERSPECTIVE is straight up rape, no question about it. There isn't any miscommunication, there isn't any grey area, there isn't any moral dilemma. It is undeniably rape.
And that's pretty much where the story ends, with about a sentence implying that the horror of what he's done has dawned on him, making the whole book seem like an apology for a rape, rather than one exploring a new perspective/grey area/questionable situation.
It's an interesting concept, it just wasn't executed all that well, and I'm a bit confused about all the awards and high ratings it's recieved. I can only assume it was one of the first YA books to address the heavy subject matter of date rape from an alternate perspective, and was considered bold in that attempt to bring awareness to the consequences of one's actions.
September 19, 2023
If a student has read Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, this novel presents a similar issue (consent), but from the POV of the wrongdoer. I didn't particularly enjoy it because this big, heavy "thing" was settling over the plot, however, not only is it a perfect example of an unreliable narrator, but it's an eye-opening account of young, male privilege and the results of lack of consequences.
May 21, 2016
This is a hard book to review.
I liked what it was about: the unreliable narrator, who doesn't--at first--comprehend what he's done because he doesn't think he is a man capable of sexually assaulting someone. But I needed more. It was smart and heartbreaking, but it was missing something to truly move me or make me feel something extraordinary. I didn't have that feeling, ya know? That feeling you get when you finish a great book--great for sad reasons or great for happy reasons. This book lacked that.
Maybe it's because I wanted more of a resolution. It just sort of ends, which I like because it seems realistic, but I also don't like as human being who is (obviously) against sexual assault and wants to see people prosecuted for it. There wasn't a resolution for the other parts of his life either though, and I wish their would have been. Towards the end, it was revealed that Keir's view of this family relationships have been totally wrong, but I wish we could have known more about how and why. I wanted Keir's sister to explain, and show what was true compared to what Keir thought was true. Not because I believed Keir, but because I was curious and wanted more evidence to reinforce his unreliable narration.
I'm not sure what it was, but it just wasn't incredible like Laurie Halse Anderson's blurb made me think it would be.
I liked what it was about: the unreliable narrator, who doesn't--at first--comprehend what he's done because he doesn't think he is a man capable of sexually assaulting someone. But I needed more. It was smart and heartbreaking, but it was missing something to truly move me or make me feel something extraordinary. I didn't have that feeling, ya know? That feeling you get when you finish a great book--great for sad reasons or great for happy reasons. This book lacked that.
Maybe it's because I wanted more of a resolution. It just sort of ends, which I like because it seems realistic, but I also don't like as human being who is (obviously) against sexual assault and wants to see people prosecuted for it. There wasn't a resolution for the other parts of his life either though, and I wish their would have been. Towards the end, it was revealed that Keir's view of this family relationships have been totally wrong, but I wish we could have known more about how and why. I wanted Keir's sister to explain, and show what was true compared to what Keir thought was true. Not because I believed Keir, but because I was curious and wanted more evidence to reinforce his unreliable narration.
I'm not sure what it was, but it just wasn't incredible like Laurie Halse Anderson's blurb made me think it would be.
April 6, 2009
Inexcusable is about a senior in high school named Keir Sarafian who struggles to accept something he has done to his best friend/crush Gigi Boudakian. It switches from the events that occurred in the previous 24 hours to the aftermath of his impulsive actions.
Inexcusable has a very unique aura that surrounds it. Several components of the book left me disappointed, but the overall appeal of the book remains intact. For example, none of the characters showed drastic development, which disappointed me, but part of me thinks that the author might've done that on purpose (due to the crisp ending). Another thing is that the main character spent most of the book in a drunken haze - or his whole mentality was just kinda funked up. I felt that that gave the whole book a fresh presentation, but at times it felt too forced. And for the plot, I was slightly shocked that the ending left so much undiscovered, but that also added to the overall presentation of the book. This book would be good for someone who wants to understand the topic of rape a little better without reading a whole novel - because this book was a really quick read.
Inexcusable has a very unique aura that surrounds it. Several components of the book left me disappointed, but the overall appeal of the book remains intact. For example, none of the characters showed drastic development, which disappointed me, but part of me thinks that the author might've done that on purpose (due to the crisp ending). Another thing is that the main character spent most of the book in a drunken haze - or his whole mentality was just kinda funked up. I felt that that gave the whole book a fresh presentation, but at times it felt too forced. And for the plot, I was slightly shocked that the ending left so much undiscovered, but that also added to the overall presentation of the book. This book would be good for someone who wants to understand the topic of rape a little better without reading a whole novel - because this book was a really quick read.
April 7, 2011
Many years ago, I read an op-ed piece in the Times where a man said he was a rapist, but it took him a long time to realize it. He described what he remembered as a pick-up at a bar, his description making it clear that his partner had been unwilling, but as a young man, he had seen her as just needing convincing.
Sadly, I think a lot of men still buy into the old "she says no, but she means yes" way of thinking. Inexcusable looks at a young boy, Keir, who examines his own behavior in a number of instances.
I guess I would give this two and a half stars, if I could. I found the writing a bit stilted and the plot predictable, but I appreciated the story being told from the perspective of the young man.
Sadly, I think a lot of men still buy into the old "she says no, but she means yes" way of thinking. Inexcusable looks at a young boy, Keir, who examines his own behavior in a number of instances.
I guess I would give this two and a half stars, if I could. I found the writing a bit stilted and the plot predictable, but I appreciated the story being told from the perspective of the young man.
September 14, 2023
genuinely one of the worst books i’ve ever read. because the book is so poorly written, the whole thing comes across as a rape apologist book. if you want to make the point that the world isn’t black and white why make your made up character as big of a piece of shit as possible lol. i didn’t care about any of his backstory or characterization at all because he shows over and over that he’s a terrible person so the whole thesis of the novel is worthless and doesn’t play out. abysmal. like jesus. the actual writing like the prose is bad too. crazy
October 14, 2015
This is a novel told in flashback as a young man justifying himself to a girl he has just raped. The gist of it is, I couldn't have done this, because I'm a good guy. It's a disturbing book, but also helpful for the insights into the psyche of someone who commits a violent crime. I'm glad I read it, but also glad it was short, because it wasn't an easy read.
May 22, 2018
Was a little confused on how this book was written out. It starts out with the main character getting blamed for raping Gigi. Then the book goes back and forth on the before and after of the event. I found this story to be okay but I wanted more from the after and it was such a short book there could have been more. I know there is a part two. I don’t think I will be reading it.
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