We are on good terms, always have been. He called me a sociopath when I first exited Mormonism but has apologized and changed his behavior considerably.

At the same time, I don't know him very well. He's been emotionally guarded but still very civil and interested in me and my family.

He recently published a horror/thriller novel which made me excited for him. So I read it, and it's absolutely terrible. It was basically an interesting idea lost in a hole-ridden, misanthropic, indulgent mess of incoherence. At best it is a ripoff of Jurassic Park and The Stand. Fine, not the best writer yet.

What bothers me is what it says about him as a person. The descriptions of violence are so unnecessarily graphic. A good one-third of the book is simply vivid descriptions of human carnage. The descriptions and interactions of characters are so shallow and unconvincing. He refers to children on a playground as a mass of skin and hair. A father chooses to stop looking for his kid and tries to leave the city. The language is gratuitous and depraved, including all the swear words; but he's careful to say "gosh" instead of God, and avoids any other reference to deity (as if it somehow makes it more wholesome.)

The characters are two-dimensional, reminiscent of the BoM. They lack any believable humanity. The only deep emotions described are fear and resentment. There is absolutely no character development. Even before dangers start occurring in the story,the characters are angry and irritable for no reason. In the book a character is obese (another general put-down since the weight given is much lower than the descriptions of her obesity). The woman in the book is a generally hated figure and undergoes a humiliating, violent death.

There are dozens of put-downs to general readers. He demeans industries such as advertising and insurance (he's in the superior field of medicine). He knows I meditate and goes out of his way to describe meditation as putting yourself into a stupor (sometimes a drunken one). He uses the book as an opportunity to criticize political views he knows I have, indicating I vote based on very shallow and uninformed reasons.

There's much more to be insulted by. I just wanted to vent and then forget about it. I'm amazed someone was willing to publish it. It's a sad reminder of what Mormonism does to someone's head. Natural feelings are bad, blood and guts is fine. Referring to god in a flippant way is bad, cruel interpersonal vitriol is okay. His toxic religion seems to suppress so much, and what his religion considers acceptable is what made it onto the pages. I honestly had no idea Mormonism had done such a number on him. I had recently considered asking if he would like to be my kid's godparent, but unfortunately this window into his soul tells me everything I need to know.

You make me want to read it and then review it on Amazon.

does it come in cheapo Kindle Edition?

Well give us hints and will look for it.

Like a Tale of Two Cities:
1. Cats, dogs &mice have one.
2. The number before 3.
3. Salt Lake _________.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/10/2014 07:55PM by wine country girl.

Gotcha.

A lot of e-books aren't "published" in the traditional sense, where they are vetted by a publisher and go through an editing process. Authors can download any self written work and Amazon acts as a vender.

Books are written to appeal to an audience. Those on the right will probably feel insulted after reading something like, to name one example, Robin Cook's "Toxin." That particular book came to mind because it's written by somebody in the field of medicine, but indulges in horrible stereotypes (including racist and corrupt rednecks, bought Republican politicians, etc.). Clearly, I was not part of the audience.

On the other side, you've got authors like Larry Correia or Sarah Hoyt, who write for very libertarian/conservative/action-hungry audiences. If I were a conventional liberal/progressive, I probably would walk away feeling insulted by the stereotypes portrayed therein.

To give yet another example, Orson Scott Card (a well-known Mormon author) has written several books that depict homosexuality as part of the human condition (such as "Songmaster"). Devout Mormons expressed serious reservations about how he could present homosexuality so humanely and yet hold onto LDS beliefs. At other times, Card has been adamantly opposed to gay marriage, thereby angering those on the left.

And so it goes. Don't judge an author based on what he or she has written. Oftentimes, writing is a way to explore concepts one is uncomfortable or unfamiliar with -- and many people go to extremes because they're not well-versed enough in the nuance of the topic they're describing to accurately portray it.

Also, don't take it personally if a character looks like you. Horoscopes enthrall millions every day, despite the fact that they're generic and designed to appeal to a mass audience. Book characters are the same way -- designed to appeal to an audience. Just because you share a similar belief or worldview to a character doesn't mean that the author had you in mind when he wrote it.

Finally, this sounds like it's his first work. Many authors struggle to get pen to paper, and oftentimes lack time for character development. The early 20th century was rife with "pulp fiction" -- stories so cheap they were printed on low-quality pulpwood paper in order to appeal to the masses. I wouldn't take it as a window to his soul. I habitually read underrepresented authors, some of whom I know personally, and many of them are fine family men who write dark stories about awful things.

Without outing yourself, I too would be interested in having a go at reading the book in question.

I understand what you're saying. But I'm not judging him based on the book, it sort of fills in the gaps in what I know from real life. I can't explain it, you would have to know him personally.

It's not just that it doesn't coincide with my worldview. Those were more insult to injury. It's misanthropic. I'm suggesting that it's anti-human. Also I don't think I'm off in taking it personally. He doesn't hide that some characters are based on real life. He actually uses exact first and last names of people we know.

Yes it is his first work, and I do hope he continues writing. It's not a completely poorly written book. I gave him sincere compliments and suggested other book genres he might excel in, based on the things I genuinely thought were well done.

I'm a member of a few writing groups. Forgive my elitism, please, but I am a good writer, from the mechanics up to character arcs, dramatic tension, dialogue, etc. Unfortunately, most people who show up at these are literary nincompoops. So often it is painful discussing their efforts.

That's why there are agents and editors, traditionally, to weed them out. But the downside of the internet is the likes of fan-fiction and self-published works: self-styled authors can see their drivel in virtual print. Horror story: think of what it would have been like if JS had the internet (gasp!).

The prospects for either improving his writing or his views and tastes are not good. At the very least, warn him about using other people's names, or even similar ones, lest he expose himself to a libel suit. Then just change the subject.

Oh god, yes, this.

I try not to tell people I've just met that I'm a professional editor because, inevitably, the wanna-be novelist finds his or her way to me and tries to get me to read their book and give them feedback. I am extremely judicious with whom I will volunteer to work for free.

I dated a guy who wrote each chapter without paragraph breaks. Just a wall of word vomit, and he, too, was a sick and twisted individual. I read a bit and suggested paragraph breaks. "Well, what's wrong with long paragraphs?" Nothing, I explained, if you keep to a single topic in each paragraph. You can have a ten page paragraph, but every time you change the subject or point of view, you start a new paragraph. He couldn't understand what I was talking about, especially in terms of structuring a fiction story and character development, so I stopped talking. What I despise more than being asked to work for free is, after I agree to offer professional feedback, the writer argues with me about it. Did you want feedback or not?

So, pro tip: Do not ask a professional for her or his professional opinion if you don't actually want to hear the feedback.

Whoa the details you described from the book really do seem to reveal disturbances in the author. The emotional/detachment/disgust with children & women.

Then again let's recall the literary works of Stephen King who wrote very disturbing stories. When interviewed King explained that his writing is a creative outlet, not an indication of behaviors he has in daily life. He pours it all out on the paper and goes back to his otherwise mundane life.

So let's hope that's the case with your brother. And TBM too! Now that is interesting and telling. Would love a glimpse into his mind while sitting sedately in church or in FHE with his family or while dutifully reading scriptures, home teaching, etc. what's REALLY going through his mind?

One of the unfortunate ends of LDS pop culture is it's lack of creativity. Children of the Promise (novels), seemed to me, to be a Band of Brothers rip off (along with being downright poor literature). Soldiers and Saints (?) a Saving Private Ryan abomination. When the soldier, at the end, snuck off with the Book of Mormon, I wanted to bang my head on the floor. Not to critisize anyone who served in WWII, regardless of their religious background (or lack of), we still owe them, but LDS pledgerism is not appreciated.

I don't doubt there are not a basketful of LDS artists who are talented and can hang with their peers, but criticism from the sheeple under the steeple keep them from consciously reaching their potential. When Kirby gets pummeled for being in a Bud commercial, it's time for him to move on.

Having typed all of that, is your brother named Dexter?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/10/2014 11:19PM by tensolator.

Spoiler alert!

Just kidding--I have no intention to read those books.

Sounds perfect to be next to the grocery store checkout. Will fit right in.

I just can't imagine a novel with all that gore and horrible stuff going on and a character actually saying "Gosh."
I'm sorry but with the story you have described, if I read that, I would probably start laughing....that is so out-of-place in a story like that. I would be thinking CULT CULT CULT! He is outing himself as TBM with this. A disturbed one at that.
I meditate too and it would certainly not hurt your bro to do so.
Come on, think about it. Your are reading all guts, blood, gore, body parts and someone says "Oh gosh." Really? That is hysterical.
Well GOLLY!

Good on him.
Come on. Google Saw, or Human Centipe.
Heck, you want messed up, listen to the @#$% that comes out of my wife's mouth

As Caffiend noted above, lots of people self-publish and I'm wondering if this is how your bother's "work" got into print. Who is the publisher? Is it an actual publishing house?

The book doesn't sound very good at all. But perhaps it is a niche market.

Sounds like a best seller.

Personally, I hate stuff like that. Authors and movie producers claim that the public demands violence, sex, excitement, and gore. They like to get an "R" rating on films, because it helps sell the movie.

I agree with all you said. It takes a sick mind. My brother was creative and sick that way, to the point that decent people didn't like to have a conversation with him. Our TBM parents didn't allow him to "take the Lord's name in vain," but he got away with beating me whenever he felt like it. He used to make verbal, very graphic, perverted sexual threats to me. When I told my parents, they thought I was making it up. I said, "Where would I learn these things? Where would I come up with these thoughts?" Garbage like that comes from a sick mind. Your brother must be an unhappy man--because of the world he imagines.

Hey, if they can sell "Twilight," they can sell anything.

I've been writing since I was a kid and there are a few things that I have found profoundly difficult: 1. Erotica (for some reason, anything sexy I try to write comes out sounding like a lousy Harlequin Romance -- bleargh! 2. Advertising copy - which is like learning to lie for a living. I'm just not that manipulative. And 3. Character development. Every time I give fiction a shot, all my characters come out sounding like me.

This sounds like a collection of projections from a guy who can't really express what he really thinks and feels and he can't be who he is, so he's taking it out on his characters. HE is two-dimensional and only feels two emotions. HE is numbed out by the brainwashing. How can you develop interesting and dynamic characters when the predominant culture around you is all mormons -- cookie-cutter characters who are two-dimensional and all portend to think the same way?

I feel sorry for him. He sounds perfectly miserable and I assume he's unwilling to do anything about it. And, he's apparently a mediocre writer. Bummer.

"How can you develop interesting and dynamic characters when the predominant culture around you is all mormons -- cookie-cutter characters who are two-dimensional and all portend to think the same way?"

I have a mormon friend who writes. I read his stuff and encourage him, but I get a real kick out of seeing him try to work around mormonism. I laugh more at that than the stories.

I read this with some humor. I am exactly the opposite way round. Being an Ex-Mormon who has written several books and one being a life history that sees me trying to come to terms with being a church member and serving as an anti-terrorist specialist in the war against terrorism.
I do not wish to tout my own book but I felt I needed to get a record of how my brother put me and my young family directly in the line of fire only to obtain a minor financial advantage. There is the added complexity that myself and my Brother joined the LDS church yet none of my other brothers did. This led to brothers fighting on different sides of this war.
My LDS brother is now dead to me and he is a complete piece of work with one of those snide superior attitudes. He even caused a big local news story because he judged as a Bishop that a vulnerable young girl was exposed to sexual assaults from her father for years until she gather the courage to go get real help from proper support organizations. Her father went to jail.
What happen to my brother the bishop? Well initially he was sacked overnight as the Bishop of that ward but that was the LDS churches way of suppressing the story. The church skipping and dancing around the facts to try to distance themselves from the incident. He has gone on to become not only the Stake President but also responsible as the overseer for the youth of that entire country. I really go to town on my brother recounting the newspaper articles verbatim in the book. The members in that stake are told that if they talk about this incident they will be disfellowshiped or excommunicated because they are speaking ill of the Lords anointed. I cannot see myself the Lord anointing a pedophiles assistant. Would love to name and shame but I don’t think it would be allowed here.
I think the whole book has an interesting slant because it is not about the typical American Mormons but Mormons living and fighting terrorism in Europe.
So from a completely opposite side of the fence I can see how Testiphony can see the writing between the lines. I just hope like you my brother can read between the lines because unlike you he is a complete ass. Testiphony just you write a book back at the twirp.

Has your brother experienced trauma in his life? That would be my first hypothesis.

Lenore Terr, a child psychiastrist, wrote about the after effects of childhood trauma. she noted that Stephen King had almost witnessed a friend being hit by a train. The trauma didn't make him a writer, but it may very well have set the theme for the horror stories, especially involving inanimate threats, like cars.

Rene Magritte, the artist, appears to be working out the trauma of his mother's suicide by drowning--lots of water in his paintings and the faces covered with shrouds. The trauma didn't make his a painter, but it seems to have set some themes.

He sounds passive aggressive in regards to you with what he writes, derisive of what's important to you. I most certainly wouldn't choose him for a child's godparent. Probably would hesitate to even leave a child alone with him.

As for someone being willing to publish it, there are so many awful books out there with little to no literary value at all. Just a story to try to make money off of non-discriminating readers. There are plenty of good books, of course, but his sounds horrid. Sorry about that!

TG