MILF fantasies and mental health

Use this forum to discuss the February 2020 Book of the month, "Opaque" by Calix Leigh-Reign
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readerrihana
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Re: MILF fantasies and mental health

Post by readerrihana »

I think perhaps the author added it to draw peoples attention and to show that they are learned in things such as the Oedipus complex etc.

However, I think it's not really appropriate to the book or storyline and does not add anything, and obviously makes people uncomfortable, and especially for younger people so it could have been better without
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Sushan Ekanayake
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Post by Sushan Ekanayake »

It has included as a part of character development. But the used content may be intended to grasp a different kind of audience
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Post by Tars »

In my opinion whole this Oedipal complex stuff becomes overused cliche in modern pop culture. Everyone it seems relay on it to justify actions and motives, even when it seems really far fetched.
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Post by Jezebelle84 »

I think putting this element in the book presented an enormous opportunity for the author to deal with mental health issues. Instead, I felt like the author just waved it off with the explanation of the serum his mother had ingested. As other people have stated, this is an actual complex people possess. I don't think it added to the story in any way.
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Post by mama_ash »

I was so put-off by this in the beginning - of course, it came to make sense. I don't think it was totally necessary, but it added to the storyline and draws in the reader. I actually almost wanted to stop reading because it made me so uncomfortable, but glad I powered through.
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Post by Laura Lee »

Jezebelle84 wrote: 14 Feb 2020, 13:58 I think putting this element in the book presented an enormous opportunity for the author to deal with mental health issues. Instead, I felt like the author just waved it off with the explanation of the serum his mother had ingested. As other people have stated, this is an actual complex people possess. I don't think it added to the story in any way.
Have you taken a look at the next book in the series? I agree with your assessment that the book, and even the story arc, gives the author the opportunity to deal with mental health issues. I also agree that she didn't truly capitalize on the opportunity the way she could have. It will be interesting to see if she deals with it at some future point in another book. Honestly, though, at this point, I don't even like Adam. :roll:
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Post by Cristina Chifane »

In a strange way, Adam's obsession with his mother reminded me of Nabokov's Lolita and Humbert's dreams and fascination with the pubescent girl. For me, it could have added value to the book if the author hadn't had the tendency to fall into the trap of vulgarity and grossness.
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Post by Laura Lee »

cristinaro wrote: 15 Feb 2020, 04:56 In a strange way, Adam's obsession with his mother reminded me of Nabokov's Lolita and Humbert's dreams and fascination with the pubescent girl. For me, it could have added value to the book if the author hadn't had the tendency to fall into the trap of vulgarity and grossness.
Thank you. Very well said. The fact that the author did fall into that trap is largely why I think it was included more for shock value than anything else.
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Post by Jac-o-lantern »

I found it very off-putting and disturbing. I think that it was added for a shock value, because it is definitely different, and the author tried to make it more essential to the plot as a excuse for it. I personally would have preferred the author to take another route.
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Post by Nym182 »

Jac-o-lantern wrote: 15 Feb 2020, 10:09 I found it very off-putting and disturbing. I think that it was added for a shock value, because it is definitely different, and the author tried to make it more essential to the plot as a excuse for it. I personally would have preferred the author to take another route.
I agree! The author took a big risk using incest to show how the serum connects Adam and Jo and I think it fell pretty flat. They could have used another means to do so!
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Post by Nym182 »

Jezebelle84 wrote: 14 Feb 2020, 13:58 I think putting this element in the book presented an enormous opportunity for the author to deal with mental health issues. Instead, I felt like the author just waved it off with the explanation of the serum his mother had ingested. As other people have stated, this is an actual complex people possess. I don't think it added to the story in any way.
yesssss, I agree with this 100%!! I felt that the serum was such a weak explanation and did not satisfy me at all!
Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming “Wow! What a Ride!” HST
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Post by Howlan »

Jezebelle84 wrote: 14 Feb 2020, 13:58 I think putting this element in the book presented an enormous opportunity for the author to deal with mental health issues. Instead, I felt like the author just waved it off with the explanation of the serum his mother had ingested. As other people have stated, this is an actual complex people possess. I don't think it added to the story in any way.
It would have been to serious and dark for a YA novel if the author continued on that.
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Post by Howlan »

mama_ash wrote: 14 Feb 2020, 19:11 I was so put-off by this in the beginning - of course, it came to make sense. I don't think it was totally necessary, but it added to the storyline and draws in the reader. I actually almost wanted to stop reading because it made me so uncomfortable, but glad I powered through.
Yes, most readers have gone reading based on what-ifs...
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Post by Wordlessly »

The sexual attraction that was implied in the beginning almost made me put down the book but I continued out of sheer will. The curious part was that it wasn't even referenced properly later on and was brushed aside too lightly and the same with the weird, psychopathic cabin that belonged to Adam. So it does seem like it was used as an attention grabbing tool. But the story did turn out pretty decent in the end.
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Post by Howlan »

I think that the author did a rather good job if Adam the character was a source of such emotions. Negative emotions but still it was effective.
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