Review of Frustrating Fascination
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Naomi Njoki R
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Review of Frustrating Fascination
[Following is a volunteer review of "Frustrating Fascination" by Debra Mckenzie.]
Frustrating Fascination by Debra McKenzie follows the story of Sean, who is in denial of his wife’s divorce. To move on with his life, he will need to overcome the disdain he feels for homosexuals and transgenders.
At a cafe, Sean stops a fight between a homophobic customer and a barista whom he perceives to be gay. At work, he has to deal with Alex, a transgender employee, who is always late. Sean wishes to fire Alex but is afraid that doing so might be misinterpreted as anti-gay, which would put him at loggerheads with the authorities.
On his way home, Sean desperately wants to hide from Sebastian, the gay barista, when he accidentally bumps into a magical antique shop.
Sean anticipates himself in one of the mirrors at the antique shop and finds the mirror rather strange. However, he buys the mirror as a birthday gift for his mother. He hangs it on a wall in his bedroom and then prepares for an evening at a Jazz club with Bruce, his childhood friend who is also gay.
A fight ensues at the club and Sean is hit on the head. Bruce takes him home, undresses him, and lays him on the bed. Sean then wakes up with a fierce attraction to other men and is shaken by this new development. He also discovers that the wedding pictures of him and his ex-wife, which were always hung on the wall, had been switched, replacing his wife’s image with that of Bruce.
I liked how the author explored the theme of homosexuality from food myths associated with homosexuality, societal view of people with different sexual orientations, the stigma and discrimination against them, and the risk of violence they might come face to face with amidst communities that are not open-minded and especially in the rural areas. The theme has an organic feel to it, and the characters are authentic. The plot is fast-paced and makes the book an exciting read.
However, I found it difficult to understand Sean’s transition, which was somewhat abrupt and confusing. I also found the description of the coitus acts rather too vivid.
I did not find any misspelled words or grammatical errors within the book, which makes me believe
that the book was professionally edited. Frustrating Fascination gets five out of five stars for the creative ways in which the author captured the sensitive issue of homosexuality.
I recommend this book to all parents whose aim is to love their children despite any prevailing circumstances, and to everyone who struggles with the concept of sexual orientation. There is mature content in the book; hence, it's suitable for a mature audience.
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Frustrating Fascination
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Frustrating Fascination by Debra McKenzie follows the story of Sean, who is in denial of his wife’s divorce. To move on with his life, he will need to overcome the disdain he feels for homosexuals and transgenders.
At a cafe, Sean stops a fight between a homophobic customer and a barista whom he perceives to be gay. At work, he has to deal with Alex, a transgender employee, who is always late. Sean wishes to fire Alex but is afraid that doing so might be misinterpreted as anti-gay, which would put him at loggerheads with the authorities.
On his way home, Sean desperately wants to hide from Sebastian, the gay barista, when he accidentally bumps into a magical antique shop.
Sean anticipates himself in one of the mirrors at the antique shop and finds the mirror rather strange. However, he buys the mirror as a birthday gift for his mother. He hangs it on a wall in his bedroom and then prepares for an evening at a Jazz club with Bruce, his childhood friend who is also gay.
A fight ensues at the club and Sean is hit on the head. Bruce takes him home, undresses him, and lays him on the bed. Sean then wakes up with a fierce attraction to other men and is shaken by this new development. He also discovers that the wedding pictures of him and his ex-wife, which were always hung on the wall, had been switched, replacing his wife’s image with that of Bruce.
I liked how the author explored the theme of homosexuality from food myths associated with homosexuality, societal view of people with different sexual orientations, the stigma and discrimination against them, and the risk of violence they might come face to face with amidst communities that are not open-minded and especially in the rural areas. The theme has an organic feel to it, and the characters are authentic. The plot is fast-paced and makes the book an exciting read.
However, I found it difficult to understand Sean’s transition, which was somewhat abrupt and confusing. I also found the description of the coitus acts rather too vivid.
I did not find any misspelled words or grammatical errors within the book, which makes me believe
that the book was professionally edited. Frustrating Fascination gets five out of five stars for the creative ways in which the author captured the sensitive issue of homosexuality.
I recommend this book to all parents whose aim is to love their children despite any prevailing circumstances, and to everyone who struggles with the concept of sexual orientation. There is mature content in the book; hence, it's suitable for a mature audience.
******
Frustrating Fascination
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Odyssey of High Hopes by Cyrus A. Ansary
