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Paul's Reviews > Deposing Nathan
Deposing Nathan
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Real rating 1.5 stars, so rounding up to 2 stars. So... this book... I can't work out who this is for? The author has stated that "As a member of the LGBT community, his goal is to give a voice to marginalized young adults through gritty, morally complex narratives." but if I was a 'marginalized young adult' would I really want to read a rather depressing story about a teen in a really rather awful situation, or would I rather read something which would show the world as I would want it?
Now let’s talk about bisexuality. So, both MC's are revealed to be bisexual; yet neither one is written in a way that managed to convince me of their bisexuality. Cam feels like he would say things like 'Girls, love them boobs, there so boobie' while in a few years� time comes out as gay. Nate, on the other hand feels more like he's dealing with daddy issues rather than being bisexual. It's not a very convincing bisexual story. We also need to talk about Nate's aunt - if she had a moustache, she would be twirling it like an evil villain (it’s very 'Jerkbait' parents-esque). Not sure if I would recommend this to anyone.
Now let’s talk about bisexuality. So, both MC's are revealed to be bisexual; yet neither one is written in a way that managed to convince me of their bisexuality. Cam feels like he would say things like 'Girls, love them boobs, there so boobie' while in a few years� time comes out as gay. Nate, on the other hand feels more like he's dealing with daddy issues rather than being bisexual. It's not a very convincing bisexual story. We also need to talk about Nate's aunt - if she had a moustache, she would be twirling it like an evil villain (it’s very 'Jerkbait' parents-esque). Not sure if I would recommend this to anyone.
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Reading Progress
October 27, 2019
–
Started Reading
October 27, 2019
– Shelved as:
to-read
October 27, 2019
– Shelved
October 28, 2019
–
54.0%
October 29, 2019
–
68.0%
November 10, 2019
– Shelved as:
creepy
November 10, 2019
– Shelved as:
dull
November 10, 2019
– Shelved as:
glbt
November 10, 2019
– Shelved as:
jock-nerd
November 10, 2019
– Shelved as:
sadly-disapointing
November 10, 2019
– Shelved as:
ya
November 10, 2019
–
Finished Reading
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Nov 10, 2019 12:05PM
Uh-oh. I had hopes. But a Jerkbait comparison is guaranteed to bash them against the rocks. Until they're dead. And beyond all hope of resuscitation. :(
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I'm not having a lot of luck with queer YA this year :( Oh and the aunt is a bad as the jerkbait parents - maybe even worse.
This story is one of the most accurate representations if bisexuality you'll find in YA. Not very convincing? Maybe you need to check your own biphobia.
Bryant wrote: "This story is one of the most accurate representations if bisexuality you'll find in YA. Not very convincing? Maybe you need to check your own biphobia."Oh, for pity's sake. "Your reaction to the effectiveness of the writing wasn't the same as mine -- therefore you're a bigot. And I need to make sure you know I think that about you. Because the world is just too happy and carefree a place right now, and what we all need is more random, unprovoked lashing out at strangers. Yeah, that's the ticket! Petty meanness for the win!"
...And I get another one to block.
Calling someone out in their blatant biphobia isn't being petty 🤷♂� Saying a bisexual author's bisexual characters aren't bisexual enough, is definitely biphobia. As is telling someone who is bisexual what is and isn't biphobic 🙃
Bryant wrote: "This story is one of the most accurate representations if bisexuality you'll find in YA. Not very convincing? Maybe you need to check your own biphobia."This must be the best comment I've had in a while. Thank you for making me laugh. I have also read a lot of gay authored books with/about a gay protagonist and have called out ineffective writing or deeply problematic situations; does that make me a homophobe as well? I am sorry I didn't fawn over a book you have clearly enjoyed, on the other hand please remember "Opinions are like arseholes, everyone has one, but they think each other’s stink"
It's such a weirdly self-centered mindset to think that because an author succeeded in conveying something to you through their fiction, they must of course have successfully conveyed it to everyone. That's not how it works. As a bisexual myself, I am not automatically capable of writing fiction with convincingly bisexual characters -- or even convincingly human characters, if it comes to that -- because it requires a) a certain level of talent on the writer's part, and b) a meeting of minds between the writer and the reader, such that the latter gets swept up into the story and finds the characters realistic.If someone does not have the same reading experience you did, that doesn't call for throwing slurs around. It seems ridiculous to even have to say that, but here we are.
Here's some free advice for the world at large (and as they say, you get what you pay for): Consider *not* reading negative reviews of books that are special to you. For me there are two books that I will not read reviews of -- good or bad -- because those books mean so much to me that I know I can't assimilate alternative interpretations, much less stand to see them criticized. Once I accidentally ran across a (positive) review of one of them, and was flabbergasted at the sheer wrongness of the reviewer's interpretation. So to avoid getting myself unnecessarily worked up, and to avoid being tempted to critique other people's reading experiences, I diligently steer clear of those books' GR pages.
Cam is not gay. He's bisexual. I don't even get your problem with Nate because he spent a large part of this book dealing with his bisexuality and internalised homophobia due to his religious beliefs. I'm bisexual myself and I found that to be really relatable. I can sort of understand your complaint with this aunt, but I personally found her character arc to be subtle as she starts out as a strict parent but over the course of the book shows that she is just abusive. I feel like we read completely different books🤣
