Description
Garth Hood has a PhD in physics, and has applied at labs and universities all over the country for two years. But the only job he’s found in that time is as gym coach at a high school, and his bench press got him there, not his education. Angry, but still determined to do his best, Garth throws himself into his new role as weight coach.
But one of his students, a Doberman senior named Evan Silvers, takes Garth by surprise. Evan is aggressive, alluring, and exactly Garth’s type. For the sake of his future, Garth resists. But as time goes by, the school pushes more and more on Garth, and his frustration ramps up. Will Garth be able to resist Evan’s advances, find a way to make a difference, and break out of his cage?
Written by Tagenar and featuring 11 interior illustrations by NuDog.
Author: Tagenar
Style: Literary Work
Content: Novel
Pages: 206
ISBN: 978-1-61450-265-4
Parental Rating: NC-17 – sexual situations
Publication Date: July 2015
sad_n_sleepy (verified owner) –
The following is a review and critique of sorts, featuring my opinion that may or may not be appreciated much. Oh, and a few SPOILERS!!!!!
The themes and criticisms on factory-style education systems, college-loan serfdom, predetermined decisions in modern ‘democracy’, and the soul-crushing difficulty to build a life from scratch post-Recession are very relevant. Garth’s *swigs drink* very relatable and sympathetic in this Kafka-like hell, even deconstructing the “bright-eyed graduate” and “inspirational teacher” tropes, before putting them back together with sheer his determination. I find Evan very interesting; surprisingly smarter and more mature than he lets on, the casual/social way he approaches sex, being an athelete in his own right, and a genuine interest in politics with Goverment studies (implied he did it at least once before) school council, and real aspirations for a higher office. I wouldn’t mind a sequel following Evan, now stoking the fires of rebellion after Garth’s *swigs* martyrdom, the school from the students’ prespective, the social circle he commands with his gigantic rod, supporting his new boyfriend however he can, the mystery of his homelife… there’s plenty potential for it.
The downsides: the prose is serviceable, but it could definitely use some more work. Garth’s *swigs again* name appears quite a few times on every page, and I think once every line at one point… little too drunk to remember which page, since I made a drinking game of it. Then there are the “[NAME] said” parts during conversations, which need a bit more elaboration on the tone and emotion in their voices, especially when Garth *swigs another one* and Evan start having deep conversations mid-sex. Maybe the only explanation I heard a few characters speaking in a calm monotone, is because Montgomery High’s designed by committee to crush the spirit out of it’s inhabitants… which now makes a terrifying amount of sense in retrospect. One disappointment is the wasted potential of Sasha Grace, fellow soul-sucked teacher and closest thing to a friend for Garth *swigs* in the faculty. I get she’s just as overworked as the rest of them, but she deserved some more character development.
Another bit of lost potential is the interior illustrations. Don’t get me wrong, I like NuDog and happy he made some fairly-recent stuff. It’s just that he could’ve made some more scenes in the book than just the sex-scenes and a few headshots. Garth and Sasha looking eye-to-eye being “welcomed to life”; Garth and Coach Terrence standing side-by-side to compare and contrast their physiques and outlook on life; Ms. Dover at her desk, way to happy to push more paper towards you; the Golden Halo vouchers; All of them powerful scenes that would resonate with the reader. And then there’s the misleading cover, which makes it look more like a romantic comedy, rather than a personal workplace drama that features classroom sex.
My advice before buying: you might come for the smut, but you will stay for the characters and their plights. If there’s a sequel planned, I’d read it in a heartbeat.
PHILIP HOPKINS –
This was clearly written by someone intimately familiar with the dysfunctional disaster that is the American education system. You can feel Hood’s mounting frustration as he tries to have a positive impact on students and winds up finding comfort and release in a sexually forward senior who is super hung and doesn’t care who knows it or sees it. The sex scenes are hot, as are the illustrations.
whitheredpetals (verified owner) –
I enjoyed the plot greatly. It felt like a never-ending one-sided battle against the pseudo-democracy that is the education system. I feel so bad for teachers who have to deal with crap on the regular, but at the very least Garth had Evan to help maintain his sanity (and Sasha too, for being the chillest coach besides Mister Hood, of course). The pacing was good, the sex was hot and I adored the art.