3 STARS
SIXTEEN, SIXTY-ONE
A Memoir
by
Natalie Lucas
"If you carry on this search for a new, super, independent you...well then, Natalie, you will not swim: you will
drown."
- Paperback: 320 pages
- Publisher: Authonomy (June 6, 2013)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0007523556
- ISBN-13: 978-0007523559
SUMMARY
Sixteen, Sixty-one is the powerful and
shocking true story of an illicit intergenerational affair, in the vein
of Nikki Gemmell and Lynn Barber.
Natalie Lucas was just 16 when she began a close relationship with an older family friend. Matthew opened Natalie’s mind and heart to philosophy, literature and art. Within months they had begun an intense, erotic affair disguised as an innocent intergenerational friendship. They mocked their small town’s busybodies, laughing at plebs like her parents and his in-laws, all of whom were too blinkered to look beyond the shadows on the wall of Plato’s cave. They alone danced in the sunshine outside.
Or so Nat believed until she decided to try living a normal life.
Written with striking candor and a remarkable lack of sentimentally, SIXTEEN, SIXTY-ONE is more than an account of illicit romance; it is the gripping story of a young girl’s sexual awakening and journey into womanhood.
Natalie Lucas was just 16 when she began a close relationship with an older family friend. Matthew opened Natalie’s mind and heart to philosophy, literature and art. Within months they had begun an intense, erotic affair disguised as an innocent intergenerational friendship. They mocked their small town’s busybodies, laughing at plebs like her parents and his in-laws, all of whom were too blinkered to look beyond the shadows on the wall of Plato’s cave. They alone danced in the sunshine outside.
Or so Nat believed until she decided to try living a normal life.
Written with striking candor and a remarkable lack of sentimentally, SIXTEEN, SIXTY-ONE is more than an account of illicit romance; it is the gripping story of a young girl’s sexual awakening and journey into womanhood.
AUTHOR
Natalie Lucas currently lives in the North of England.
REVIEW
I had rather a hard time with this memoirs. Memoirs are usually hard to get into for me. I had a little trouble with the 44 year old age difference. Now that's something to think about. I know it happens but there is just something weird to me about it all. To me, it was rather a hard look at what can and does happen sometimes. This isn't about romance, this is about abuse.The author gives us an ELDERLY man (putting it nicely) taking his authority to the limit and using it as abuse to persuade an innocent girl into a relationship that to me is over the top.The is a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Natalie was right there in that wrong place. She was a typical teenager with all the problems and issues that go with that. Matthew caught on to that and helped her through the troubled times, being a friend.It needs to be said that there was never any force, it appeared to be love but I just find it a big NO NO. A few years maybe, but so many years difference? Doesn't that say there is something wrong here? It's like a big stop light. Go to jail and don't pass GO. The author wrote a coming of age story. Natalie grew up., went to college, studied and traveled to different countries. She constantly had questions about her sexuality, her self worth.
She was possibly saved by getting away from Matthew and going to America. Her eyes started to open real wide and she realized it must stop and stop immediately.We definitely had an OLD man, Matthew who had some majorly big problems which he sadly passed on to Natalie. I hope she turned out OK. But what will happen down the road when she goes for a real relationship with a man she truly loves? Will she be OK with that?. Sadly to say this started out with a really sick old man. The author wrote a real life story that rather read like fiction. Could have just been me, but I would only give this 3 STARS. It just wasn't for me.
Whenever you play with fire, someone gets burned.
(at least I think so)
I was given a complimentary copy of Sixteen, Sixty-One from the author, Natalie Lucas and Night Owl Reviews for my view of the book. No other compensation took place.
LINKS
www.authonomy.com
bemiown@yahoo.com
http://bemiown.blogspot.com
www.nightowlreviews.com
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