Inexcusable
by Chris Lynch
*** stars
Keir Sarafian wants you to know that he’s a good guy. He comes from a good family, is a star football player and would never hurt anyone, especially not his childhood friend and longtime crush Gigi Boudakian. But, if all that’s true, why is Gigi screaming at Keir about how she said no?
Inexcusable is an incredibly brutal story about a guy who deludes himself (and the people who enable him) to the point where he tries to rationalize his more heinous misdeeds. He’s a good boy. He didn’t mean any harm. He was only following orders. He was just having fun. She could’ve said “no”. As you read, Keir’s mantra of “the way it looks is not the way it is” becomes eerily ironic.
Personally, I found this book hard to get through. Not because of the writing, (because it’s pretty easy to read) but because of the subject matter. Inexcusable is essentially a rape story told from the point of view of the rapist. It’s not just unsettling; it’s downright creepy. Nevertheless, it’s a story that needs to be told. Lynch writes so the reader can easily mistake rape for seduction, and that’s not a mistake. It’s meant to show just how blurred the lines can get if one just believes he’s a good person. All in all, the book should help you re-evaluate your crushes and obsessions. Are they really healthy or are you just lying to yourself?
7 comments:
Wow the book sounds interesting and I think it makes having the rapist tell his side of the story all the more better.
This does sound interesting, and would probably generate some great discussion. How about a book club for this book?
A book club for this book is great idea!
I read this freshman year! Nice review, it should be the next book club book. I remember that his attitude annoyed me, I did not like the main character.
this book sounds strange.. idk if i would like to read a novel in the point of view of a rapist.
I think the point of view from the rapist seems like a fresh idea compared to how most people think of a story like this from the victim's point of view.
I tried reading this book sophomore year, but the main character bothered me so much I had to stop after the first chapter. I'm glad that I actually stuck with it this time.
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