The Book of Revelation

Weird title. Nothing to do with religion and no discernible revelations in the story. Incidentally makes it very difficult to find inpor a search engine. A better book than it promises at first. the kidnap and sexual torture which is at the core of the book is luridly fascinating flirting with the edges of distaste and even pornography. But it's spectacular well-written and the consequences are gripping and feel very real. A page-turner with insight into pain, confusion, loss of meaning, and even into the nature of ballet.

I can't even remember how I came accross this book, but I had heard of the movie before I knew it was a book. I thought the gender reversal was quite intriguing. The idea of women abducting a man, and dance the women and Daniel do, between rapists and victim, was very fascinating.

We are often confronted with the effects rape has on a woman, but the idea a man could be raped is often socially mocked and disbelieved. In fact, it is often a male fantasy. Many people believe if a man is physically responsive, then he is giving his permission.

This book delves into a familiar concept, abduction and rape, and does so from an unfamiliar angle. In doing so, the reader is off-balance and more sympathetic to the victim. The mental journey of a show more survivor is understood, and the reality that perpetrators are often survivors of abuse themselves is mentioned.

I understood myself better after reading this book. I reccommend this book to anyone who has experienced, or known someone who has experienced, abuse. Be aware, though, it is graphic. show less

I loved this book. The start: the first third of the book was enough to keep you hooked to the end. It is not a spoiler to say the main character - ex-ballet dancer and choreographer is kidnapped and sexually exploited by three unknown women. It reads like a thriller and the kidnap is an allegory for female rape and abuse (by men). It does run out of steam a little bit and would have been better if it was shorter. It is also frustrating, if I tell you why it would be a spoiler. If you want a great beach read, don't take a mainstream Thriller, take this instead, you will not only enjoy it more, you will learn a lot more as well. I cannot think of a book that both me and my partner have both read that has generated so much debate. There show more is also a clever device when the main character is kidnapped, when the POV shifts from the first person to the third, you will see why that is clever if you read it. A thumpingly good read. Be fantastic for a book group. show less

I really, really enjoyed this book. It plays with gender roles and power, and reads quite realistically despite the outlandish premise of a group of female friends holding a male dancer as a sexual hostage.

Take a popular theme in sex fiction - woman kidnapped into sexual slavery - and give it a twist.

The male narrator is a professional dancer who is kidnapped and used as a sex toy by a group of women. Chained up, his body responds against his will.

A most interesting well written believable and disturbing novel

Maybe I have to read this again to understand why all the blurbs from critics on this edition rave about it because though I enjoyed it, I certainly didn't come away thinking it was anything earth shattering and realistically the narrators behaviour after the crime against him was verging on completely unrealistic.