There's a lot to like about this book--the imagination of the whole story setting, the minds of the animals, the magical "coincidences." But there's too much reliance on, almost an apologetic for, the pedophilia theme. Although we don't have to deal with graphic details of child sexual abuse, I nevertheless feel that Harington is using the whole book to "groom" the reader into an acceptance of large age differences between lovers. I mean, one of the central characters has a whole library of just Nabokov! Not only is there a child abductor who envisions an idyllic pedophilic paradise, but the prime suspect is a relative mildly guilty of entertaining those thoughts, and in his search/rescue efforts comes across another child-abduction scenario, and those aren't the only instances! Almost all these men are sympathetic characters, too. That alarms me.
There's more actual sexual detail than I'd like, presented in a kind of back-to-nature way, which also contributes to the author's suggestion that our sexual desires and practices are just natural and should be indulged, no matter the object. Paradise is a remote, well-supplied isolation from civilization, without civilization's basic mores.
So I enjoyed the book quite a bit, cringed at a lot of it, felt manipulated by an agenda, and won't be recommending it to my friends.
There's more actual sexual detail than I'd like, presented in a kind of back-to-nature way, which also contributes to the author's suggestion that our sexual desires and practices are just natural and should be indulged, no matter the object. Paradise is a remote, well-supplied isolation from civilization, without civilization's basic mores.
So I enjoyed the book quite a bit, cringed at a lot of it, felt manipulated by an agenda, and won't be recommending it to my friends.
I loved this book so much that I bought it for 3 people for Christmas the year that I read it. The story grabs you from the beginning and doesn't let go.
Where to begin. I liked this book a lot, but I think it could have been edited out more. Way too long.
The story of a middle-aged man who kidnaps a seven year old girl with intent to defile her and keep her as his wife. He takes her to a secluded mountain house in the Ozarks which has been deserted for many years. He stocks it with food and Jack Daniels to last forever, he thinks.
He never has sex with the little girl because his equipment doesn't work and slowly he realizes he is dying. He manages to teach her some survival skills before the girl shoots him. He provoked her.
She is left with a dog and s 'haunt' who lives in the barn. From this point on the story goes on about the young girl who collects a menagerie of animals, grows some of her own food, and gardens. She doesn't speak with an actual human for 10 years.
The story is far-fetched, but it draws you in. The chapters are told from the various occupants in the story.
What starts out grim ends as a love-story.
Like I said, my only negative is that it is longer than it should be. But that's just me.
The story of a middle-aged man who kidnaps a seven year old girl with intent to defile her and keep her as his wife. He takes her to a secluded mountain house in the Ozarks which has been deserted for many years. He stocks it with food and Jack Daniels to last forever, he thinks.
He never has sex with the little girl because his equipment doesn't work and slowly he realizes he is dying. He manages to teach her some survival skills before the girl shoots him. He provoked her.
She is left with a dog and s 'haunt' who lives in the barn. From this point on the story goes on about the young girl who collects a menagerie of animals, grows some of her own food, and gardens. She doesn't speak with an actual human for 10 years.
The story is far-fetched, but it draws you in. The chapters are told from the various occupants in the story.
What starts out grim ends as a love-story.
Like I said, my only negative is that it is longer than it should be. But that's just me.
