Welcome to Litsy!

You know that expression on Brian‘s face as he watches Allison construct her lunch? Not the one here, it‘s a bit more grossed out than this.

That‘s how it feels to peek inside Celeste Price‘s head reading this book. The story is a bad car accident that you can‘t help but show down to look at. When you think it can‘t get worse, it does.

And now I‘m realizing Brian Johnson is already too old for Celeste and I‘m disgusted all over again.

I struggled to understand the “point” of Tampa, but reading it was an interesting intellectual exercise all the same, analysing my own visceral reactions to it. Proceed with caution. (Of course, if you‘re anything like me, such a warning will only make you want to read it more – godspeed, but be careful!) Full review: https://keepingupwiththepenguins.com/tampa-alissa-nutting/

2.5 out of 5

This was a complex read. It‘s the most sensual book I‘ve ever read, but I felt gross listening as it‘s about a middle school teacher preying on students. The teacher‘s relentlessness is absolutely disturbing. I understand readers who couldn‘t make it through the material or who loathed this book thanks to the main character being despicable. I was absorbed by this, as it feels like a horror story that could happen in real life.

#bookspinbingo

On page 1 I realised I was reading a smutty sex story like the ones they used to print in Knave in the 70s. The blurb says “Lolita meets American Psycho”- It‘s not. It‘s just a shitty book that‘s in bad taste about a woman teacher‘s graphic descriptions of her attempts to groom a 14 year old boy. It‘s not erotic it‘s unsavoury. When I told wifey she laughed and said, no wonder, the cover is a vagina. Doh! Thank god I didn‘t read it on the train 😂

For today's #AdventRecommeds I give you...the book I refused to read when everyone was talking about it only to pick it up at random while it was less popular.

I HATE the cover. I can't use buttons anymore because it weirds me out now. The book? Was it tough to read? Yes. Is it triggering for some? Absolutely yes. Are there scenes I wish I never read? Scarred for life. Could I stop listening? Fuck No!

Was it worth it? Hell yes

@emilyrose_x

"Then she rubbed her nose with the back of her palm several times and squinted at the prosecutor as though his head was rapidly shrinking and she could hardly make out his face anymore."

"Two police cars were turning the street corner, approaching us but not seeming to slow down whatsoever. I knew I should produce a look of worry or strain, but habit prevented me from forming any facial expression that might aid in the development of fine lines."

My day was shit, but at least my dad has never hit on my teacher in front of me at the dinner table.

"The only bona fide nut who showed up was Frank Pachenko's mother, who introduced herself simply as Mrs. Pachenko, though I knew she was Frank's mother even before she spoke. The two of them had the same bulging eyes. Their resting expression was one of squeezed panic, like a ferret dressed up in a miniature corset."

"The feeling of my lips touching stubble brought an instant and dropping hotness to my bowels, a sensation I can only liken to a forced enema."

"Her abdominal bumpers extended out against the gear shift. When we began to drive, each time I went into third, my hand disappeared into the borders of her stomach."
???

Celeste is a local teacher who lets her personal car be seen parked for hours by her student's house, in full daylight, with the license plate uncovered, by all of her student's strolling neighbors. That's Patrick Bateman sloppy and impulsive, not Humbert Humbert neurotically cautious.

I waited too long to reread this. People always compare it to Lolita, but it reminds me more of American Psycho.

As much as I wanted to put it down, I didn‘t. I really went back and forth with whether or not it was just too detailed considering the pedophilic nature, but ultimately I feel like the details gave me a better understanding of the characters and power dynamic. Absolutely shocking, it made me physically nauseous. The ending was infuriating, but sadly realistic. Nutting is clearly a talented writer and I have to give it to her🤷🏻‍♀️

Well, I have officially found the first book I refused to listen to over the car speakers 🤣 I have a hard time reviewing this. There are a lot of inconsistencies in the book that I think get glossed over by the shock of the graphic sex and sexual thoughts involving a minor (seriously, it's pretty much every page). The sex didn't bother me as I think it was necessary to really show the darkness inside Celeste's picture perfect exterior ⬇️⬇️⬇️

I‘m not sure how to rate this.What did I just read?I don‘t think I could honestly recommend this book to anyone who doesn‘t like to be shocked and disgusted.Yet,I read the whole thing.I had to know what happened to this freak of nature woman!If you‘ve already read it, you know what I mean.The authors writing style was amazing.I think I read this book because I read a review similar to the one I am writing.This book was definitely disturbing!

I had to stop this book multiple times, sickening

I go back and forth with marking this as pick or so-so. The reason for that has nothing to do with the content--which is bizarre af--but with the editing oversights.
They changed her car 3 times in the book, once even within the same chapter. I believe she had a white Camaro to start and then she had a red Corvette which then became a red Camaro. Definitely a big difference between a Corvette and a Camaro, especially given the backseat sex scene

1. Well my dad is a minister, so Halloween growing up was spent going to whatever church-oriented substitute they were having. Honestly, it was probably more fun and definitely more safe.

2. Tampa by Alissa Nutting changed my perspective on “relationships” between female teachers and male students. Great book, but be prepared for graphic depictions of sexuality and violence.

3. Litsy! I also keep a list in the notes section of my phone.

#3Books that made me uncomfortable

1. American Psycho was rough on my weak stomach 🤢
2. Until I read Flowers In the Attic (I was about 11 years old the first time I did), I didn‘t know you could do THAT with someone you‘re related to 😲
3. In the interest of full disclosure, I had trouble thinking of a 3rd book. I own the tagged book but haven‘t read it yet, and I fully expect to raise my eyebrows, roll my eyes, and drop my jaw when I do. 👇🏻

Yay! I finally got my first bingo!

Also, I heard someone say that reading this book was like watching a car crash. It‘s horrifying to witness, but you just can‘t look away. I can relate. But it was DEFINITELY not for the faint of heart. It was crude, and unapologetic. Just a warning. I certainly wouldn‘t “recommend” this to anyone.

@TheAromaofBooks

That moment when you recommend an author to a literary critic/essayist who is looking for “brain candy” and the recommended author likes your Tweet and then follows you! #fangirl #geekingout

cringeworthy, disturbing, difficult to read, sociopathic, gross, hated it but couldn‘t put it down. these are all the reviews i‘ve read for this book and it‘s peaked my interest so it‘s going on my TBR lol i‘ve also read that the author writes truly bizarre and unique novels, a couple of her books i‘m interested in exploring.

I read this a while ago, but needed time to gather my thoughts about it. This book was profoundly disturbing in the way it takes you inside the mind of an unapologetic pedophile. Celeste was such an amoral, self-centered character, almost sociopathic, that it was hard to like anything about her. The writing was good, but the premise and the sex scenes....ewww. So-so rating because I‘m not sure I want to recommend to anyone, not due to low quality.

Since my dad has packed all my physical books, I‘m getting a little naughty on my iPad rereading a bit of this. 🤭🤫 certainly fits with #expressyourself @Cinfhen , but not #classywomen @Eggs 😬

#movember #namastenovember

This was also the exact reason my ex gave me for breaking up with me--JK! Happy #bannedbooksweek, the annual celebration of the freedom to read! 🔥📖🔥

#7days7covers. #Day2 #CoverCrush

#7covers7days #covercrush #day1

7 favorite covers in 7 days. No explanations.

So I couldn‘t put it down...and the whole time my face was in permanent cringe mode. It was like clicking on a disturbing article and not being able to stop reading because you had to see how far it went; hoping the sociopathic main character gets caught and justice served. And not only did I hate her because she was doing terrible things, she was in general a terrible person with an ugly personality. If dark and twisted is your thing, pick.

Reading has been nearly halted this last month due to life. My excuse, always, huh? Lol

In attempt to read something other than Percy Jackson this summer, I picked up this disturbing book....

I‘m 14 pages in and am already thoroughly shook. I could not imagine the mindset Nutting had to get into to create this.

This will be a mentally challenging one to get through...

Also, let‘s pretend that I remembered to post this on #TuesdayTBR, and not 4 days later 😂but here is my stack of #BannedBooks for this week. Some are also from the library, and I‘m sure I won‘t get through them all before the week is up, but hopefully before I have to return them.

See any favourites on here? Any must reads? Any you‘ve been dying to read? Any you didn‘t enjoy?

#maymadness @RadicalReader @TheReadingMermaid

In the Star Trek: TNG episode #Liaisons, three ambassadors are sent to the Enterprise to experience three of the seven deadly sins: wrath, gluttony, and lust/love that they don‘t have in their society. It‘s not, erh, one of the best episodes. Pictured is gluttony ambassador.

Tampa is the only book I‘ve read that incorporates all three, and probably all seven. Oh Celeste, you‘re crazy! I use this in every photo challenge! 😂😳 #StarTrekSummerMay

Stopped off at the thrift store today, and picked up a few books for #MayMadness. 2 are for #BannedBooks week, 2 for #NewtoYouAuthor week, and 1 just because. 😉

Celeste is anything but an #easylover in this book. I could not imagine doing anything like this, but I find Nutting‘s plot enthralling! #anglophileapril

I was tempted to post David Sedaris in Holidays on Ice pointing out Phil Collins to people in Macy‘s Santaland, but I‘ll leave that to someone else. 😉🤫🤩

#MrsRobinson | LOVE the cover, but unfortunately did not care for the book.

#marchintothe70s

#literaryluck @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @vkois88
#AwkwardReads

The cover of this book might get you a few questioning stares. I would read this one in public only on a Kindle or other electronic device.

Sooo #MyTown is the beautiful Tampa, Fl... I chose this book for obvious reasons however Im not necessarily recommending it to anyone lol
Difficult subject matter and a really disturbing read. The book is based on Debra Lafave- who the author went to high school with. Interestingly enough, I also taught at that same middle school about 10 years after the “incident” occurred... not the best publicity for the school lol
#anewchapter

Starting on this Ebook today.

Excited to be reading a little something out of my comfort zone

I literally covered up the cover so i wouldnt get weird stares on the train to work and frm coworkers 😧

Hmmmm. what a weird book. Very hard subject matter. Not sure what to say. Was a quick read and did keep my attention, but i cant tell you how grossed out i was. I guess all the buzz about this book was because of the "outrageous" subject matter.

Book 4 of 2019

About 1/3 in, this book is entertaining. Not for the easily offended or serious readers... 😂 #tampa #funread #buttonholeorvagina?

Well this should be an entertaining read !

Just finished this super icky book. However, I am probably one of the few that liked it. If you followed the Debra LaFavre story, you will remember that she was a teacher in Tampa that was super pretty but she had sec with one of her middle schoolers. I‘m sure this book is based on her. The thing I remember most about that time is that the media kept talking about how pretty she is and that “of course boys would want to have sec with her” 👇

Anyone else read this book and picture Debbie LaFave the entire time you are reading it??

Headed to Tampa this morning so I can run in a 15k in the morning. Decided to read this and hubby says, “Really? Now you match what you read with where we are going? That‘s ridiculous” 😂😂😂

Yikes! This disturbing, yet riveting book ejaculates on societal boundaries with total disregard. There are few books I've read that are this original or written with such abandon, and for that I give it much credit. I‘ll remember this one for a long time.