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I received this book for review thanks to Virtual Authors Book Tours. I choose it because it seemed to be a controversial love story and, you know, that’s my thing!
The main character is Julian Sane, an English teacher in his thirties, who is very passionate about his subject but a really asshole regarding his personal life: he is arrogant towards their colleagues and superiors, and his only interest about women is to have occasional sex with them. He has no concerns about his career because he has been working in the same high school for four years and is about to get tenure there, but I think he isn’t really satisfied with his life; old writings are hidden in the wardrobe, reminding him that he once loved to tell stories.
One night at the beginning of the summer, after drinking too much, Julian finds himself being taken home by a young lady he doesn’t know. Her name is Lily Carter, and despite she is a former student at the high school where Julian works, she has never been in his classes. They began to date and Julian suddenly realizes that he is in love with an eighteen-year-old girl in a too small town.
This is an uncommon love story because Julian is a character created for the reader not to like at the beginning, to find out later – at the same time as Julian does – that he has another side. The relationship with Lily is quite surprising for everybody, even for Julian, and has a lot of funny moments since he sees himself like a teenager again, including an odd scene when he goes to Lily’s house to take her out for dinner and Lily’s father appears at the door to tell him what time she has to be at home! I really found it tender; Lily makes him be in peace with himself.
I enjoyed Julian’s transformation, but then the story leads to an extreme situation that is a little bit implausible, even for a small town; a situation which threatens Julian career and, of course, his relationship with Lily. It would be understandable if Lily was younger, but she is eighteen, already an adult, and she hasn’t actually been a student of his, so from my point of view the situation is exaggerated. Nevertheless, what happens there got me hooked on the story, and it ends up in a momentous scene that I loved.
To summarize, I would have preferred the controversial part to be more justified, but I can say this is a story I enjoyed, and it’s told from a male perspective, for a change.
From Isi 
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Thank for taking part in the tour. I’m glad you enjoyed SINNERMAN. I agree that it wasn’t controversial for me however I can see how the situation could be blown out of proportion by others. In this case, the school board. There are a lot of unfair people out their that will create controversy out of something that shouldn’t be. To me, I think the book was honest in showing what can happen.
Thank YOU, Teddy!
I agree that there are people who just enjoy damaging others, but well, you know, this was more “institutional” and I thought it went out of proportion for this reason.
Anyway, I think it is a good read!
I do enjoy this type of story and I think it would be interesting to read it from a male perspective. Although it sounds like the drama is fabricated out of pratically nothing, it is still something I might check out. Your review has intrigued me!
hehe, it’s not “nothing” because there are people who live only to damage others, but in my opinion it was too much for the case. It is also true that in a small village things are different 😉
But the story was good; I really enjoyed how it is developed, and it is not sugarish 😛
So the book sounds really interesting, even though it has kind of a love story type of feel. Do you think it’s too “love story” for my taste or is there enough other stuff that I might like it?
This is not the kind of love story that you run away from, Rebecca, I promise 😉
It is not sugary; I think that because it is told from the perspective of the man in this case.
Okay, awesome! Thanks for the tip, Isi!
I like the concept of the main character being unlikeable and it being a romantic plot. Knowing that he discovers more about himself, via your review, is an advantage. Rather than a spoiler it makes the book more appealing.
Yes, we usually find “perfect” characters in the romantic books, but this is definitely not the case! As I said, it is a different story; I enjoyed it.
You know I’m not a fan of romance/love stories, however I did enjoy reading The Ruby Brooch with you. I think maybe this can be an interesting read, as you say, it’s different that it’s told from a male perspective. I have a feeling that I would be very annoyed with Julian in the beginning of the book 🙂
Nice review!
Yes, this is not the classic love story, so you might like it 🙂
Julian is very unlikable at the beginning; it’s strange because in other books you are supposed to sympathize with the main character but not in this one!
Thank you very much for your review! I’m really enjoying reading the different reactions people are having to my novel and seeing what they respond to!
Thank YOU, Jonathan. I enjoyed very much this book, and the main character’s feelings 🙂
Ooh, an unlikable character that we end up liking! Those books can be so much fun!
Yes! He is like the kind of boy you want to kick sometimes 😛
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