Sally’s Comments (group member since Mar 06, 2014)

Sally’s comments from the Maple/LexServ Book Group group.

Also, I read some of the book reviews here on Goodreads, and some of them claim that the character of Norton and the book itself are based on a real person, Daniel Carleton Gajdusek. Apparently, he was a medical researcher and Nobel Prize winner who adopted over 50 children from Micronesia and was later convicted of child molestation...

I actually enjoyed this book very much. It was really disturbing though. Norton, in my opinion, is a very nicely written anti-hero. I also hated him most of the time, but there were moments when I felt sorry for him. I agree that he was annoying in almost every way. The way he wouldn't take the blame for anything he'd done just made me roll my eyes. Not to mention how creepy he was... And that last chapter left a really sour taste in my mouth. I think the book would have benefited greatly if the author didn't include it at all. There'd be mystery which would lead to more interesting conversation if everything was left as ambiguous as it was throughout the book.
I liked the ambiguity. This book is a good example of things not being strictly black and white. You wish some of the things didn't happen or were different, but at the same time you kind of understand why they were the way they were.

I actually went back and forth between thinking he was guilty and innocent all the way to that last chapter of the book. In the beginning, when he was just accused, I believed that he did...something. These were serious accusations that would require a serious trial in order for him to be convicted. On the other hand, he was only sentenced for a very brief term, and that was why I thought that while something happened, it wasn't necessarily AS serious. Then he was going to "set the record straight," and I thought that meant he was actually innocent and there was some mistake that led to his conviction.

Then there was the island and the ceremony he witnessed and later that boy in the woods. So I changed my mind and thought him guilty, though maybe not of rape. I admit that while it disturbed me deeply, I didn't think it was a crime since it was part of the tribe's culture.

After that the only indications into his love life were his unresolved and unrequited feelings for Tallent and memories of that boy. So I let myself think that maybe he was innocent after all. Especially when he was adamant that Victor was the cause of all his trouble. I thought that Victor was actually retaliating and set Norton up somehow.

And then that last part happened...

I am honestly still struggling to finish this book. About 2/3 through, I am still looking for the plot. I do, however, see many crazy characters (actually all of them). The craziness was fun in the beginning, but it is getting old now. I find that I have to take this book in small portions to get through. Personally I prefer a story based on a plot rather than characters, and so far I see only characters, most of which leave me a bit dizzy. Better luck on the next one, I guess. :)