Jenny Rat by Martin SimonS

Jenny Rat by Martin Simons

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Pub Jan 2013
Australian Pub 2012
Rating: 3/5

Book is complimentary from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

The book title feels a bit uncomfortable and once I started reading I soon realized why.  Sexual abuse and incest are far from topics to be considered comfortable.  Despite the uneasiness of the topic and the manner in which the story unfolds,  the novel grabbed my attention, wanting to be understood immediately.  Initially,  I didn't know what to make of my hesitancy regarding whether or not to like this book.  The story is told from an unexpected angle in my opinion which heightened my interest.  Upon reading,  I felt as if I were reading someone's diary, something secret and scandalous. 

Now that I have completed the book I remain with those same feelings finding it difficult to express a spoiler-free review!  The two main characters are deeply flawed and like a diary expose foul and vulnerable parts of themselves that would be better off left unshared.  The book is told with frequent references to ancient history and literature; Pygmalion and Lolita, for example and not by chance.  

It was my hope that the characters would redeem themselves in someway.  That's not to say they didn't; just not in the conventional manner in which I desired to fully tolerate the characters. Sadly, I found them rather loathesome and pathetic wanting desperately for someone "to pull them both out of the gutter." Ironically,  since it was Michael who saved Jenny from the gutter helping her to rebuild her life.

In my opinion, the last chapter served no purpose except to confuse or serve as a prelude, I am fearful to even think, about another novel possibly about Michael. Without the last chapter the reader could be left with the option of considering that Michael desires to rebuild himself as he had helped Jenny.

Unfortunately, I felt it reopened Michael's "wounds" leaving him only partially revived. His past obsessions still seem too easily accessible for him.

Overall, I believe this book accomplished its goal with a deeply moving rather controversial story.

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