Mysterious Skin : A Novel

Rating:
Summary: Dark story from the heartland
Review: This story is not for the weak of heart or stomach. Once the reader gets hold of the fact that each chapter is told from the viewpoint of a different person, who become inter-related in time, the whole picture comes into focus and one can concentrate on the incredibly dark world the author portrays. It is a disturbing book, and not one for all readers; although the final resolution of the tale is telegraphed from the very beginning, the reader is still interested in trying to find out how the characters are going to reach this conclusion and discover what they need to. Some of the chapters are particularly shocking and even a hardened and unfazeable reader as I am can be moved by the graphic story woven by Heim. The story captures, in its essence, a sense of futility and almost hopelessness that seems to permeate our generation, yet at the same time does so without being heavy-handed or outwardly directing blame against the generation before ours. Dark, disturbing at points, but well worth the time invested in reading it. Recommended, but don't look for a happy ending. Instead, find the deus ex machina that ends the action in keeping with the Greek tragedy that is unfolded in the pages of this story.

Rating:
Summary: gets better as you go along...
Review: when i was first reading this book i was disgusted and i found it to be a book that i would dislike immensly. then, i kept reading and it started to really touch me, especially its brutal honesty regarding child abuse. i found the author to be quite brave in exploring some of the territory that he ventured into.

Rating:
Summary: Shocking,sad, and well written
Review: When i was reading this book, as i often do with the books I am reading, i was carrying it around with me. One of my guy friends asked me what it was about. when I told him he asked me why i would want to read something like this. So as I can assume from that converstation, describing this book does it no justice. It is a book you have to read for yourself. It will invoke various emotions inside you. Angre, sadness, happiness, confusion, amongst many others.
I would reccomond this book to anyone with some spare time to read a good book, and even more time just to think about what they just read. Whatever you do don't put it down, finish it, trust me it is worth it.

Rating:
Summary: When I read it I knew I wasn't the only one.
Review: When I went to High School in Kansas I soon learned that an author had gone to the same one as me. After a few years, I found Scott Heim's first book "Mysterious Skin". I read it and it was like a punch in the chest. The story takes place in my community and amongst the people I thought I knew. I also share the same sexuality as the main character. I found the book to be a sweet and painful release to the suffering I've gone through in this state of Kansas. The hurt and horror of this book was all to familiar. Heim's words and language, his graphic paintings of reality, and his twists of beauty and perversity pour out onto the pages of this unworldy novel. Don't expect to read it and pass it off. His books will live in your memory for a long time. To take his work to heart is to look at this world with wider eyes. Definately, this book is a must. Even though the book hurts so much to read and you will want to put it away, you can't. And in the end, through the horror, you will see the beauty of his work.

Rating:
Summary: When I read it I knew I wasn't the only one.
Review: When I went to High School in Kansas I soon learned that an author had gone to the same one as me. After a few years, I found Scott Heim's first book "Mysterious Skin". I read it and it was like a punch in the chest. The story takes place in my community and amongst the people I thought I knew. I also share the same sexuality as the main character. I found the book to be a sweet and painful release to the suffering I've gone through in this state of Kansas. The hurt and horror of this book was all to familiar. Heim's words and language, his graphic paintings of reality, and his twists of beauty and perversity pour out onto the pages of this unworldy novel. Don't expect to read it and pass it off. His books will live in your memory for a long time. To take his work to heart is to look at this world with wider eyes. Definately, this book is a must. Even though the book hurts so much to read and you will want to put it away, you can't. And in the end, through the horror, you will see the beauty of his work.

Rating:
Summary: Unusally powerful debut novel worth reading!
Review: While this book wasn't exactly what I expected I think Scott Heim shows great promise. I found the reference to alien abduction a bit distracting but overall thought the message of sexual abuse and the misuse of power by adults in authority to be very powerful. I've tried to explain the reflection in the spoon (on the cover) to many of my friends, none of whom get it. I was hoping that this was a tender love story but I wasn't displeased!