Camp Damascus

Rose Darling is, at 20 years old, a "good Christian girl." She attends Church diligently, follows the Four Tenets set by the Prophet, and participates in charity functions for those visiting Camp Damascus. But lately she has been experiencing an unexplainable sadness, triggered by titillating dreams of an oddly familiar young woman. So much that they start to feel like memories. Then, one night, while admiring the figure of a fellow party-goer, a pale woman with a rictus grin, unnaturally long nails and greasy hair appears, lurking in the shadows. Rose seems to be the only one who can see her, and her name is Pachid. But Rose has been "a cog in the machine" long enough, and realizing her truth makes her soul feel complete in a way that show more fear and violence cannot suppress. "I'm gay and there's a demon out there who really doesn't want me acknowledging it."

This one is from June, and despite the supernatural horrors it feels the most real. Amidst the more fantastical elements are lines like :"The stuff they believed...They're just the thousandth little twist on the exact same book... That's the scariest thing about them: they're not that special." It hits the nail square on the head. What's more, the author isn't just out to attack Christianity, as Rose maintains her faith. A Faith based in kindness and acceptance, not hate. Rose's introspective journeys into her repressed memories are a major plot point of the study but need stronger transitions. What's real and what's not is a bit confusing, but a truly amazing read and it's a new favorite! show less

I've never read a "Tingler", those self published books self published on Amazon that features gay dinosoars, butts, and other things that I've never had an interest to read. So when this book was a the library, I took a chance. I really wasn't expecting much. And to my surprise, its a really well written book, From the conservative Christian Family, to the people running Camp Damascus. It also manages to be something more than the stereotypes - Rose is autistic and she is written as thoroughly flawed person with sexual interests, rather as an emotionless robot, or very disabled.

As for the story, Mr. Tingler kept me guessing as to what Camp Damascus is and what happens at it, I had a number of theories, but it went to a place I wasn't show more expecting. The book isn't perfect, there is some weirdness and a few things that don't make sense - but as a reader, it kept me on feet, and the ending was very well done. show less

4.25 stars
Tell me you have religious trauma without telling me you have religious trauma Mr. Tingle. Wow! That packed a wallop! I wouldn't call this a horror, but it is absolutely a thriller and it's 100% traumatic if you've had to live through anything even close to what these kids have to live through. At first it felt like that one movie called Saved, when she was watching commercials for Camp Damascus, it felt a little campy and lighthearted. We'd had the flies but they were sort of easy to explain away (not really but if that happened to you, you'd want to believe anything to make it "Okay"), and some other weirdness (THE DOOR!), but still not sure what to think etc... Then it escalates and as Rose starts to see things, we start to show more see things. Although we should have already had our spidey senses screaming CULT, we don't always want to believe that, nor do we want to believe anyone can be that indoctrinated that they can't even fathom it. Thankfully, she gets there and honestly, I was impressed with how quickly she got there and flipped her devout switch. She still wouldn't swear (from someone what swears maybe too much, I thought it was funny), but you can't change everything at once, you have to gradually ease into the changes. I think facing the fact that your parents had you sent away to be reprogrammed so you aren't gay anymore (Jeez Louise it boils my blood that people to this day think that's a thing that can actually happen!!!) and then remembering you're a lesbian and you had/have a girlfriend (who is awesome by the way), is more than enough for one day. Anyway, this was great and I think we should be putting copies in all the Little Free Libraries we can before it gets banned (I'm sure it already is in Florida) because kids need to know that the very idea of conversion therapy is so ridiculous a horror/thriller book was written about it. show less

The fact that Chuck Tingle, an enigmatic author who’s been known chiefly an internet meme for years, wrote a “serious” book is surprising. That this book was deftly written, that the story was compelling, the characters relatable, the horror and the heart both present in spades, is nothing short of shocking.

A horror story based on a fundamentalist gay conversion camp is something of a niche genre at this point. I can specifically think of at least three other titles that cover largely this same theme. And no wonder, so called “conversion therapy” is more terrifying than anything to be found in the pages of a Stephen King or Clive Barker novel. But Camp Damascus may do it better than any other book I’ve read. Without veering show more into spoiler territory, Mr. Tingle, whoever he really is, has a keen sense for what makes conversion therapy, and religious fundamentalism in general, scary. He uses this insight, and flowing prose to spin a very fine yarn from beginning to end.

This book grabbed me from the first scene and propelled me on to finish it as fast as I could. I was intrigued, I was scared, I was entertained, and I may have teared up once or twice. I would encourage anyone who likes horror fiction, or just simply good storytelling to pick up this title. show less

A really great debut (as far as "feature-length" novels in hardcover go). An original idea, with lots of personal experience to pull from, and fun execution. This is a timely and effective lampoon of the LDS faith and others, as more folks are questioning the cultier aspects of widely accepted organized religion.

These complaints are entirely on me and my foibles and not on the work, and aren't really important. But if you're interested... Some of the language grated on me (why are we using "retort" instead of "reply", particularly when the conversation isn't even contentious or emotional??); and I'm not usually a fan of reading about people realizing/coming to terms with their sexuality - I prefer them to be confidently in it, and for show more the self v self conflict to be about something less sadgay - but it worked here, showing the instantaneous and stark difference in the before and after of our MC's life as affected by her family and community once she started really resisting the totalitarianism of their faith. At the same time, but only at first, it felt unrealistically simplistic, Rose's switch from devout kid to the 'me, gay?!', to 'yeah maybe I'm gay...', to 'oh ya I'm defs gay' attitude. But it worked! I think because she was recalling more than realizing, reclaiming rather than coming to terms with her identity. She had already gone through that by the time we joined her story. I also think her neurodivergence and general appreciation of fact and evidence could hold water as the reason she was able to accept her identity so easily. Also, when you know, you know sometimes. show less

Wow, this book was not what I expected and I mean that in the VERY best way! I was happily surprised that the story doesn't take place when a teen gets sent to a conversion camp. Instead this is an aftermath, queers get justice, kind of story.

Content warnings: religious and physical abuse of children and teens, family rejection, religious bigotry, demons, insects, vomiting, and some body horror.

Spoilers follow: This was such an original idea. It would take a lot to make the setting of a conversion therapy concentration camp more horror than it already is. If you didn't know, the 'treatments' given at many of those camps are legit torture methods. It isn't that far a stretch to imagine a real camp deciding to try demonic possession to show more 'cure' the gays.

It was a creative and entirely believable thought, the ultra religious deciding to use demons because "they would use all means possible to save your souls". Shudder.

I was worried that reading this book would be traumatic for me (being a queer person, myself), and I am not going to say that it's safe for all queer folks to read, but It felt GOOD to see a little family of queer folks tearing down the camp that tried to destroy them. show less

The mysterious and mischievous Chuck Tingle, author of such classic erotic short stories as [b:Space Raptor Butt Invasion|24453778|Space Raptor Butt Invasion|Chuck Tingle|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1421034254l/24453778._SY75_.jpg|44045722] and [b:Bigfoot Pirates Haunt My Balls|25318276|Bigfoot Pirates Haunt My Balls|Chuck Tingle|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1428458068l/25318276._SY75_.jpg|45050757], goes mainstream publisher (bless you, Tor) in a big gay horror way.

Rose Darling,* the story's narrator, is a devout member of the Kingdom of a fundamentalist Christian sect who slowly realizes her connection to the titular conversion camp. The book is show more marketed as a horror novel, and there is plenty of scary, gruesome, stomach-turning detail. But the real horror is Rose's discovery of the limitless capacity of people to do terrible things to each other in the name of God.

Tingle's prose is sparse but effective; there's no need to get flowery when the creepy stuff speaks for itself. Rose, like Tingle, is on the autism spectrum, which is portrayed primarily as an asset that helps her focus on the complex details that uncover the shocking truth. If I had one complaint, it would be that several of the key secondary characters are under-developed.

Tingle's enigmatic author description states his belief that "love is the most important tool we have when resisting the endless cosmic void." Camp Damascus terrifyingly but effectively portrays both of those forces.

*For Baby Boomers like me, the name may conjure up a Steely Dan song, whose chorus was "Rose darling my friend, with only you and what I've found, we'll wear the weary hours down." Once you read the book, the lyrics will feel eerily appropriate. show less