Some Sort of Normal is a realistic, confessional novel that shuffles between rationalizations and redemption of the protagonist, Mark Beetleman. Not since Vladimir Nabokov wrote his earth-shattering Lolita in 1955 has anyone attempted the topic of pedophilia on this level. After reading, Some Sort of Normal, no one will walk away without wondering what lurks in the dark shadows of their own family closet. This book will force you to analyze your perspective on forgiveness, redemption and mercy. You will never trust your child to be alone with a male ever again. In, Some Sort of Normal, Grove successfully fuses elements of literary realism and memoir styles into the difficult but socially relevant topic of pedophilia. Bravely and well written. Some Sort of Normal, is James Frey's, Million Little Pieces, meets Vladimir Nabokov's, Lolita.
Richard M. Grove otherwise known to friends as, Tai, born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada in 1953 is now a Brighton artist, writer, photographer and editor, living in Presqu'ile Provincial Park with his writer, editor, teacher wife, Kim where they run a writer/artist/birder B&B. Richard is the president of the CCLA - Canada Cuba Literary Alliance as well as the founding president of the Brighton Arts Council. He has had over 100 poems and essays published in periodicals around the world as well as having been published in over 30 anthologies. His first book of poetry titled "Beyond Fear and Anger" was released in 1997. His second book titled "Poems For Jack" was released in 2002 with "A View of Contrasts" soon after that. His book of digital paintings and poetry entitled "Sky Over Presqu=ile: Fragments of Time" was released in 2003. "Family Reunion", a collection of short stories / novella was published in 2007 and is now in its 3rd edition. "Psycho Babble and the Consternations of Life" was released in 2008 with The Importance of Good Roots and three Cuba travel memoirs fallowing in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013. He was an active member of the CPA - Canadian Poetry Association for almost ten years serving on the executive for seven years including five as President. Richard is also the founder of the Canadian Poet Registry, an archival information website that lists Canadian poets including biographical information, their book titles and awards. Richard has given speeches, readings and workshops on poetry, writing and publishing at literary festivals in Canada, Cuba, Germany and New Zealand. Since graduating from Ontario College of Art, in 1984, Richard/Tai has exhibited in more than twenty, solo and group exhibitions in Hamilton, Toronto, Boston, Calgary and Grand Prairie. He has his paintings in over thirty corporate collections across Canada. Having grown up with artist parents, visual art is at the core of his being. His book of digital paintings, "Substantiality", was published in 2006 with a book of photography entitled "Oxido Rojo" released in the fall of 2006 followed by a book of photography entitled "terra firma". His photographs were featured in a collaborative book with poet, James Deahl. "North of Belleville", in 2012 followed by "In This We Hear The Light" whith his photographs of Cuba and poems by John B. Lee published in 2013. His photography has been featured in numerous other books and on over 75 book covers.
Show moreSome Sort of Normal is a realistic, confessional novel that shuffles between rationalizations and redemption of the protagonist, Mark Beetleman. Not since Vladimir Nabokov wrote his earth-shattering Lolita in 1955 has anyone attempted the topic of pedophilia on this level. After reading, Some Sort of Normal, no one will walk away without wondering what lurks in the dark shadows of their own family closet. This book will force you to analyze your perspective on forgiveness, redemption and mercy. You will never trust your child to be alone with a male ever again. In, Some Sort of Normal, Grove successfully fuses elements of literary realism and memoir styles into the difficult but socially relevant topic of pedophilia. Bravely and well written. Some Sort of Normal, is James Frey's, Million Little Pieces, meets Vladimir Nabokov's, Lolita.
Richard M. Grove otherwise known to friends as, Tai, born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada in 1953 is now a Brighton artist, writer, photographer and editor, living in Presqu'ile Provincial Park with his writer, editor, teacher wife, Kim where they run a writer/artist/birder B&B. Richard is the president of the CCLA - Canada Cuba Literary Alliance as well as the founding president of the Brighton Arts Council. He has had over 100 poems and essays published in periodicals around the world as well as having been published in over 30 anthologies. His first book of poetry titled "Beyond Fear and Anger" was released in 1997. His second book titled "Poems For Jack" was released in 2002 with "A View of Contrasts" soon after that. His book of digital paintings and poetry entitled "Sky Over Presqu=ile: Fragments of Time" was released in 2003. "Family Reunion", a collection of short stories / novella was published in 2007 and is now in its 3rd edition. "Psycho Babble and the Consternations of Life" was released in 2008 with The Importance of Good Roots and three Cuba travel memoirs fallowing in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013. He was an active member of the CPA - Canadian Poetry Association for almost ten years serving on the executive for seven years including five as President. Richard is also the founder of the Canadian Poet Registry, an archival information website that lists Canadian poets including biographical information, their book titles and awards. Richard has given speeches, readings and workshops on poetry, writing and publishing at literary festivals in Canada, Cuba, Germany and New Zealand. Since graduating from Ontario College of Art, in 1984, Richard/Tai has exhibited in more than twenty, solo and group exhibitions in Hamilton, Toronto, Boston, Calgary and Grand Prairie. He has his paintings in over thirty corporate collections across Canada. Having grown up with artist parents, visual art is at the core of his being. His book of digital paintings, "Substantiality", was published in 2006 with a book of photography entitled "Oxido Rojo" released in the fall of 2006 followed by a book of photography entitled "terra firma". His photographs were featured in a collaborative book with poet, James Deahl. "North of Belleville", in 2012 followed by "In This We Hear The Light" whith his photographs of Cuba and poems by John B. Lee published in 2013. His photography has been featured in numerous other books and on over 75 book covers.
Show moreRichard M. Grove otherwise known to friends as, Tai, born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada in 1953 is now a Brighton artist, writer, photographer and editor, living in Presqu'ile Provincial Park with his writer, editor, teacher wife, Kim where they run a writer/artist/birder B&B. Richard is the president of the CCLA - Canada Cuba Literary Alliance as well as the founding president of the Brighton Arts Council. He has had over 100 poems and essays published in periodicals around the world as well as having been published in over 30 anthologies. His first book of poetry titled Beyond Fear and Anger was released in 1997. His second book titled Poems For Jack was released in 2002 with A View of Contrasts soon after that. His book of digital paintings and poetry entitled Sky Over Presqu=ile: Fragments of Time was released in 2003. Family Reunion, a collection of short stories / novella was published in 2007 and is now in its 3rd edition. Psycho Babble and the Consternations of Life was released in 2008 with The Importance of Good Roots and three Cuba travel memoirs fallowing in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013. He was an active member of the CPA - Canadian Poetry Association for almost ten years serving on the executive for seven years including five as President. Richard is also the founder of the Canadian Poet Registry, an archival information website that lists Canadian poets including biographical information, their book titles and awards. Richard has given speeches, readings and workshops on poetry, writing and publishing at literary festivals in Canada, Cuba, Germany and New Zealand. Since graduating from Ontario College of Art, in 1984, Richard/Tai has exhibited in more than twenty, solo and group exhibitions in Hamilton, Toronto, Boston, Calgary and Grand Prairie. He has his paintings in over thirty corporate collections across Canada. Having grown up with artist parents, visual art is at the core of his being. His book of digital paintings, Substantiality, was published in 2006 with a book of photography entitled Oxido Rojo released in the fall of 2006 followed by a book of photography entitled terra firma. His photographs were featured in a collaborative book with poet, James Deahl. North of Belleville, in 2012 followed by In This We Hear The Light whith his photographs of Cuba and poems by John B. Lee published in 2013. His photography has been featured in numerous other books and on over 75 book covers.
What an accomplishment. In his new novel Some Sort of Normal, Richard M. Grove brilliantly weaves psychological, sexual, social, moral, cultural, spiritual and literary threads into a fine web. As name suggests, his main character, Mark Beetleman, preys on a small creature - his 12-year-old daughter Rachel. Beetleman is a selfish pedophile who is able to convince himself of man=s seeming natural instincts toward incest and the media=s role in promoting it. Grove skillfully spins dreams, therapy sessions, frank discussions with Mark's friend Frank and emails from family to produce a profile of a predator who captures readers and leaves them to ponder the implications of Mark's childhood and what led to a sticky mess. Will he remain an insect, a caught bug hanging in the centre of a self-made trap? Or will Grove=s deft use of dialogue lead us through Mark Beetleman=s life cycle, allowing him to develop through the slow stages of metamorphosis?April Bulmer After reading Some Sort of Normal, most readers will put an imaginary exclamation point after the title. The author, Richard M. Grove, has obviously done a great deal of research on the subject of pedophilia, and though the phrase 'thought-provoking' is often overused, it's definitely called for in this case. The protagonist, Mark Beetleman, is guilty of incest, yet he remains oddly detached from his crime. He even tries to rationalize it by declaring it was an act of mutual desire with his older daughter. It takes a brave author to tackle such a forbidden subject. Mark Beetleman enjoys weekly meetings over coffee with his best friend Frank, to whom he confesses his sin. Because Frank senses that Mark is worth some sort of salvation, he stands by him, even though he is appalled by such behaviour.Mark Beetleman sees himself as a 'colorless' person and tries to escape that label by indulging in sexual conquests and one-night stands. He is unable to deal with real commitment, and has had three failed marriages as a consequence. Because Mark had never heard the word 'love' spoken between his parents, he is unable to use the word himself. In a pathetic attempt with one of his wives, he prints 'I LOVE YOU' on squares of toilet tissue rolled back out of sight, hoping she will see it later. If she does, she makes no comment. Mark's brother Harrison tries to keep in touch with him by e-mail, urging him to face up to his heinous behaviour and seek redemption by feeling and expressing remorse. Even though he sees a psychiatrist on a regular basis, Mark is slow in facing the truth. The conclusion in Some Sort of Normal is dramatic and strangely satisfying. Using a dream, play on the word 'metamorphosis' with the protagonist's surname, the author brings the story to a successful conclusion. Grove has handled a sensitive subject with great skill to create a novel well worth reading. Norma West LinderRichard Grove has written a complex and disturbing portrait of a man we suffer to know, a man who remains a stranger to himself. The eudemonia of well-being and self-realization will forever remain beyond his reach. In Beetleman's own words "I will never learn - I will never learn."John B. Lee
|
Ask a Question About this Product More... |
|
