MILF fantasies and mental health

Howlan · Post by **Howlan** » 13 Feb 2020, 01:32

Tan TR wrote: ↑11 Feb 2020, 22:29 It was 100% for shock value. There are some things about the book that I honestly don’t know why it’s even there, because they don’t seem to actually be of any importance to the plot. The obsession Adam has for his mom, just shows shocks readers in the first chapters and then makes them continue reading. It feels like click-bait but for books.

Yes, clickbait but generally has the opposite effect for some people at least.

Corina Elena · Post by **Corina Elena** » 13 Feb 2020, 06:43

Howlan wrote: ↑13 Feb 2020, 01:30
corinaelena wrote: ↑12 Feb 2020, 18:09 I honestly think it was just...for shock value. I don't know, maybe it just wasn't for me though...
Yes a definite shocker of first ten pages..

I guess you must have a certain level of courage to include that in your book as an author, right?

vermontelf · Post by **vermontelf** » 13 Feb 2020, 09:52

I do not think that this was integral to the story, nor an interesting plot twist. I did appreciate that the reader was given a reason for it and able to empathize with Adam once we better understood his blood. However, this strand of the story is one of the reasons I would argue against most young adults reading the story. If it had been handled in a more muted way, it might be ok for a more general audience, but the author's style is to be graphic and shocking, ergo inappropriate for most YA readers.
While it does help to explain the strained father/son relationship and intense mother/son relationship, it really doesn't build the story.

Jocelyn Eastman · Post by **Jocelyn Eastman** » 13 Feb 2020, 10:30

I think it may have been in the story to illustrate how strong the serum was. For it to have kept JoAnn that young and to have had that much of an effect on Adam, it must be pretty strong.

They could have used another mechanism I guess, but no one will forget this element in the story, will they?

Breed22 · Post by **Breed22** » 13 Feb 2020, 11:25

Read the book. The author's justification for Adam's feelings toward his mother was that she was injected with a longevity serum to keep her youthful enough to raise Adam who is supposedly long-lived as well. The serum had the side effect that it gave off an essence which Adam, as a mutant, was extremely attracted to, hence his feelings toward his mother. It may have affected his mental health as well such that it caused him to kidnap Terry, who was a dead ringer for his mother.

Howlan · Post by **Howlan** » 13 Feb 2020, 11:48

corinaelena wrote: ↑13 Feb 2020, 06:43
Howlan wrote: ↑13 Feb 2020, 01:30
corinaelena wrote: ↑12 Feb 2020, 18:09 I honestly think it was just...for shock value. I don't know, maybe it just wasn't for me though...
Yes a definite shocker of first ten pages..
I guess you must have a certain level of courage to include that in your book as an author, right?

Definitely. with a genre of YA, the author is certainly bold enough.

Howlan · Post by **Howlan** » 13 Feb 2020, 11:50

Jocelyn Eastman wrote: ↑13 Feb 2020, 10:30 I think it may have been in the story to illustrate how strong the serum was. For it to have kept JoAnn that young and to have had that much of an effect on Adam, it must be pretty strong.

They could have used another mechanism I guess, but no one will forget this element in the story, will they?

Yeah, it was strong and effective. Also now she is another one on the wanted list of the Iksha, so another subplot could be dedicated in her rescue if she is ever caught by them.

writestuff · Post by **writestuff** » 13 Feb 2020, 13:55

Perhaps if Adam wasn't so disrespectful and moody, I could maybe see why he would act as he does. The impression I get though is that he is spoiled, dangerous and perhaps not redeemable.

Laura Lee · Post by **Laura Lee** » 13 Feb 2020, 15:54

Howlan wrote: ↑13 Feb 2020, 01:31 It generally has this effect on people. The story feels off in the beginning but has lots of twists and turns to get the reader going.

Did you find it harder to relate to a character that clearly had some mental health issues?

nfdoughe · Post by **nfdoughe** » 13 Feb 2020, 16:11

It was a bold choice, that's for sure. Ultimately, it was the key part in making Adam seem twisted and wrong. That was definitely there for the plot. However, the extremity of his behavior and revealing his worst thoughts was not entirely necessary for the plot. I'm not sure if it was worth it. Adam still gives me a creepy feel even if he was "redeemed" by the genetics part of it all.

Laura Lee · Post by **Laura Lee** » 13 Feb 2020, 16:13

nfdoughe wrote: ↑13 Feb 2020, 16:11 It was a bold choice, that's for sure. Ultimately, it was the key part in making Adam seem twisted and wrong. That was definitely there for the plot. However, the extremity of his behavior and revealing his worst thoughts was not entirely necessary for the plot. I'm not sure if it was worth it. Adam still gives me a creepy feel even if he was "redeemed" by the genetics part of it all.

That's a good assessment. Thanks for your comment!

Jocelyn Eastman · Post by **Jocelyn Eastman** » 13 Feb 2020, 19:39

Laura Lee wrote: ↑13 Feb 2020, 15:54
Howlan wrote: ↑13 Feb 2020, 01:31 It generally has this effect on people. The story feels off in the beginning but has lots of twists and turns to get the reader going.
Did you find it harder to relate to a character that clearly had some mental health issues?

I don’t think I found it harder to relate to him because of his mental health issues per se. I think what ultimately made it difficult for me to relate to him was his misanthropic attitude and the way he treated Carly. I think on some level I understood he was not well and that’s why I was able to stomach the first pages of the book.

Laura Lee · Post by **Laura Lee** » 13 Feb 2020, 20:06

Jocelyn Eastman wrote: ↑13 Feb 2020, 19:39 I don’t think I found it harder to relate to him because of his mental health issues per se. I think what ultimately made it difficult for me to relate to him was his misanthropic attitude and the way he treated Carly. I think on some level I understood he was not well and that’s why I was able to stomach the first pages of the book.

That's a good way to put it. This book helped clarify in my own mind that I prefer protagonists that I like or at least respect. LOL Thanks for your insightful answers. I enjoyed hearing your perspective.

Jocelyn Eastman · Post by **Jocelyn Eastman** » 13 Feb 2020, 20:18

Laura Lee wrote: ↑13 Feb 2020, 20:06
Jocelyn Eastman wrote: ↑13 Feb 2020, 19:39 I don’t think I found it harder to relate to him because of his mental health issues per se. I think what ultimately made it difficult for me to relate to him was his misanthropic attitude and the way he treated Carly. I think on some level I understood he was not well and that’s why I was able to stomach the first pages of the book.
That's a good way to put it. This book helped clarify in my own mind that I prefer protagonists that I like or at least respect. LOL Thanks for your insightful answers. I enjoyed hearing your perspective.

It’s definitely easier to read when you can relate to the protagonist of a story you’re reading!

There’s something to the ones you can’t seem to relate to also, where you try really hard to find their humanity. Sometimes that’s really hard. I think this was one of those stories where it was hard to find the humanity in Adam without Carly there to draw it out of him.

Howlan · Post by **Howlan** » 13 Feb 2020, 23:08

Laura Lee wrote: ↑13 Feb 2020, 15:54
Howlan wrote: ↑13 Feb 2020, 01:31 It generally has this effect on people. The story feels off in the beginning but has lots of twists and turns to get the reader going.
Did you find it harder to relate to a character that clearly had some mental health issues?

I generally do not find YA characters relatable, but as in this book, its outstanding revelations keeps me from putting the book down.