Scrap Metal by Harper Fox

[reviews_and_ramblings]

Scrap Metal is a very particular book, quite long in length if you consider recent standards, more than 300 pages, that doesn’t mean that is filled with action, on the contrary, the major feeling of the plot is of peace and learning to joy the basic element of life.

The setting is wonderful, the Isle of Arran in Scotland; I hadn’t the chance to visit this particular island, since it’s connected to mainland through a ferry service, but I did visit the Isle of Skye, and I think the feeling is probably similar, a place where you can still lose yourself in the moors, where everyone knows everyone else, in good and bad.

Nichol left the island to go to college in Edinburgh and he loved the experience; a gay boy with a closeted boyfriend, the freedom of Edinburgh was wonderful, but a tragedy forced him to come back home. Now he is the only help his more than 70 years old grandfather has to manage their sheep farm and sincerely things are not going well, they are almost at bankruptcy point. And then the luck of the farm comes back, in the form of Clover, a small black kitten, and in that of Cam, a drifter young man they found in the barn.

The love between Nichol and Cam is natural and passionate but it blossoms slowly and steadily. The passion is there since the first moment, but due to Cam’s reticence, they didn’t consume the physical side of their relationship if not later on. Actually Nichol is quite “sexual” in his expression, I felt like Nichol really needed the physical approach, maybe due to his self-imposed isolation; that is the reason why, before his relationship with Cam becomes real and important, Nichol will almost resume his former relationship with Archie, his closeted ex-boyfriend.

Language and setting are probably the most important points of this novel, they are both well researched and perfectly matched, giving the right poetic feeling to the whole story.

http://store.samhainpublishing.com/scrap-metal-p-6707.html

Amazon Kindle: Scrap Metal
Publisher: Samhain Publishing, Ltd. (March 27, 2012)

Reading List: http://www.librarything.com/catalog_bottom.php?tag=reading list&view=elisa.rolle

Comments

[manutwo.livejournal.com]

I think Harper Fox always gives an incredible sense of space and location to her books, and she writes so beautifully. I must admit I don't always agree with where she brings her plots, but her books sound always so different. I want to read this.

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

Location and language are probably her highest skills, and in this book they are perfect

[elena-62.livejournal.com]

Hi, Elisa! (Ciao, Manu!)

I would have liked a more enthusiastic review, because IMO ''Scrap Metal'' is a perfect story. I really love Harper's books. She is getting better and better.

Ciao

Antonella

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

Yes, I had the feeling my review was not enthusiastic, but it's not since I didn't like the book, it's that I'm really tired (jet-lag and all) and I'm not at my top in these days

[elena-62.livejournal.com]

Get better soon!

Hugs

Antonella