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My Thoughts on "Slipway Grey" - book review - (spoilers throughout)
Posted on 10/18/13 at 4:22 pm
Posted on 10/18/13 at 4:22 pm
Last night I was randomly compelled to buy this novella (as it was written by two posters) and give it a quick read. The premise seemed simple enough, and the first few chapters quickly drew me in. I finished this quick read (roughly 100 kindle pages) last night and felt compelled to share my thoughts on it.
We learn quickly that Mandy is a psycho bitch. Her abusive step-father’s sexual advances and alchy mother’s neglect forced her to find comfort in her only friend, a bull shark she met and developed a special bond with as a kid.
From here, the book tells two stories (for the first half). One set in present day Pensacola about a group of (highly sexually active) high school friends and the outcast Luke, and the other set in a series of flashbacks showing the Dexter-esque attempts of Mandy’s empty shell trying to feel something (in her crotch) while making sure her only true friend keeps a full belly. The present day story revolves around a group of graduating high school kids and their attempt to have one final relaxing weekend before graduation at Mandy’s beach house. Except not everyone has the same idea of what relaxing entails...
About halfway through the book, the flashbacks stop and we realize that everyone in this circle of friends is a dickbag a-hole of titanic proportions as they begin to party in Pensacola and start their relaxing weekend. It turns out Mandy was using the vacation as an excuse to pull off her grand plan and kill off all the scumbags who did her wrong, feed her friend, and cum. From there, it is a lot of lies, killing, lesbians, skinny dipping, and more killing until the end. It was totally worth a read for $2.99. I give it a solid B, well, B- because of the ending.
We learn quickly that Mandy is a psycho bitch. Her abusive step-father’s sexual advances and alchy mother’s neglect forced her to find comfort in her only friend, a bull shark she met and developed a special bond with as a kid.
From here, the book tells two stories (for the first half). One set in present day Pensacola about a group of (highly sexually active) high school friends and the outcast Luke, and the other set in a series of flashbacks showing the Dexter-esque attempts of Mandy’s empty shell trying to feel something (in her crotch) while making sure her only true friend keeps a full belly. The present day story revolves around a group of graduating high school kids and their attempt to have one final relaxing weekend before graduation at Mandy’s beach house. Except not everyone has the same idea of what relaxing entails...
About halfway through the book, the flashbacks stop and we realize that everyone in this circle of friends is a dickbag a-hole of titanic proportions as they begin to party in Pensacola and start their relaxing weekend. It turns out Mandy was using the vacation as an excuse to pull off her grand plan and kill off all the scumbags who did her wrong, feed her friend, and cum. From there, it is a lot of lies, killing, lesbians, skinny dipping, and more killing until the end. It was totally worth a read for $2.99. I give it a solid B, well, B- because of the ending.
1
Posted on 10/18/13 at 4:22 pm to Displaced
****** Now I will give my thoughts containing spoilers ******
(Directed at the authors)
I have to start by saying that I much preferred the first half of the book to the second. I really liked how the chapters alternated from a funny (bordering hysterical) present day setting to a dark and creepy flashback which clearly showed that Mandy was seriously twisted. The flashbacks were erotic and dark while the other chapters were witty and written in a way where the jokes and funny moments sounded like a friend was telling a story. It created a good balance which really hooked me in.
I also like how you kind of kept me guessing as to how it would end by the flashback chapters. When I started it, I figured there could really only be 1 of 3 endings: A) the shark dies. B) Mandy dies and Luke lives. C) Mandy and the shark live and everyone else dies. After the flashback where you had Mandy kill the drifter teen from Memphis, it showed that you had no problem killing innocent kids Mandy has no conscience, so I really didn’t know how the book would end.
After we caught up to present time for good (mostly after truth or dare), though, the book started to slip a bit for me. The humor died down a lot, things stopped making as much sense, and the stupidity of these shitty, horny kids (which made me laugh) had me less interested that the first half. Even though all the killings were pretty similar, they were all entertaining. One of my gripes, however, is this: You expect me to believe that a bull shark can eat roughly 600-700 lbs of meat in an 8 hour period???
And then the ending... **serious spoilers follow**
What happened? When Glen escaped the shark and came back to the dock, i was like “haha, ok”.
When the only plan Luke could come up with was to use Glen as bait, i was like “but, but he was already holding the spear gun... kill Mandy then the shark...”
When Luke and Glen kill Mandy and then immedietally started cracking jokes even though they just found out 5 classmates had been murdered, i was like “yeah, that is totally a normal reaction.”
And then when the maid kills them and runs to mexico, i was like “well, that is a big frick me”
Then the epilogue...
This one had me confused. I thought we were led to believe that Mandy’s parents led her to be crazy and kill everyone and that she and the shark just had a friendly, mystical bond, but then in the epilogue we learn that the shark is like the house in the Amityville Horror and is “making” these girls into killers. It just seemed fishy to me (pun). Setting up for the sequel?
All-in-all, i thoroughly enjoyed the book. I would recommend to anyone who made it this far to give it a quick read (i read it in about 3-4 hours while juggling work). It is funny, erotic, creepy, and written by fellow TD.com-ers. This book is definitely not appropriate for young children. By the way, you guys did a great job making Mandy seem sexy in my mind. Well done boys!
(Directed at the authors)
I have to start by saying that I much preferred the first half of the book to the second. I really liked how the chapters alternated from a funny (bordering hysterical) present day setting to a dark and creepy flashback which clearly showed that Mandy was seriously twisted. The flashbacks were erotic and dark while the other chapters were witty and written in a way where the jokes and funny moments sounded like a friend was telling a story. It created a good balance which really hooked me in.
I also like how you kind of kept me guessing as to how it would end by the flashback chapters. When I started it, I figured there could really only be 1 of 3 endings: A) the shark dies. B) Mandy dies and Luke lives. C) Mandy and the shark live and everyone else dies. After the flashback where you had Mandy kill the drifter teen from Memphis, it showed that you had no problem killing innocent kids Mandy has no conscience, so I really didn’t know how the book would end.
After we caught up to present time for good (mostly after truth or dare), though, the book started to slip a bit for me. The humor died down a lot, things stopped making as much sense, and the stupidity of these shitty, horny kids (which made me laugh) had me less interested that the first half. Even though all the killings were pretty similar, they were all entertaining. One of my gripes, however, is this: You expect me to believe that a bull shark can eat roughly 600-700 lbs of meat in an 8 hour period???
And then the ending... **serious spoilers follow**
What happened? When Glen escaped the shark and came back to the dock, i was like “haha, ok”.
When the only plan Luke could come up with was to use Glen as bait, i was like “but, but he was already holding the spear gun... kill Mandy then the shark...”
When Luke and Glen kill Mandy and then immedietally started cracking jokes even though they just found out 5 classmates had been murdered, i was like “yeah, that is totally a normal reaction.”
And then when the maid kills them and runs to mexico, i was like “well, that is a big frick me
” Then the epilogue...
This one had me confused. I thought we were led to believe that Mandy’s parents led her to be crazy and kill everyone and that she and the shark just had a friendly, mystical bond, but then in the epilogue we learn that the shark is like the house in the Amityville Horror and is “making” these girls into killers. It just seemed fishy to me (pun). Setting up for the sequel?
All-in-all, i thoroughly enjoyed the book. I would recommend to anyone who made it this far to give it a quick read (i read it in about 3-4 hours while juggling work). It is funny, erotic, creepy, and written by fellow TD.com-ers. This book is definitely not appropriate for young children. By the way, you guys did a great job making Mandy seem sexy in my mind. Well done boys!
This post was edited on 10/18/13 at 4:23 pm
Posted on 10/18/13 at 6:03 pm to Displaced
Wow! What a beautiful review. Thanks so much for taking the time to not only read, but also write your thoughts.
Dane and I have no allusions on grandeur when it comes to writing. The greatest reward is entertains someone else and making them feel it was time and money well spent. And also to enjoy writing, because it should be fun for the author and reader.
We are in the process of getting a signing at Barnes & Noble set up, and when we do we hope you come out and say hello.
Again, thank you.
Dane and I have no allusions on grandeur when it comes to writing. The greatest reward is entertains someone else and making them feel it was time and money well spent. And also to enjoy writing, because it should be fun for the author and reader.
We are in the process of getting a signing at Barnes & Noble set up, and when we do we hope you come out and say hello.
Again, thank you.
Posted on 10/18/13 at 6:07 pm to LSUZombie
no problem! I really did enjoy reading it.
Doubtful as I live in TN
quote:
We are in the process of getting a signing at Barnes & Noble set up, and when we do we hope you come out and say hello
Doubtful as I live in TN
Posted on 10/18/13 at 6:10 pm to Displaced
quote:
Doubtful as I live in TN
Catch you on the Slipway Grey world tour then
Posted on 10/18/13 at 6:13 pm to LSUZombie
can you tell me your original thought on the epilogue? was the infinity mark on the shark something i missed early on (i remember it swam that way). I thought her craziness was attributed to her parents but it turns out it was the shark at the end, at least i felt that way. was this meant as a final twist?
Posted on 10/18/13 at 7:58 pm to Displaced
Epic review. 
Sorry to be brief, I'll expound more tomorrow. Mark and I are getting ready to do a radio interview.
A theme submerged in the book that is that the universe needed to remain in balance between good and evil. Grey was an instrument of the universe to keep that balance. For the evil side, not the good. The girl in the end was a kindred spirit. The two would team to create even more 'balance' (evil) in the universe.
Sorry to be brief, I'll expound more tomorrow. Mark and I are getting ready to do a radio interview.
A theme submerged in the book that is that the universe needed to remain in balance between good and evil. Grey was an instrument of the universe to keep that balance. For the evil side, not the good. The girl in the end was a kindred spirit. The two would team to create even more 'balance' (evil) in the universe.
Posted on 10/18/13 at 8:01 pm to Enadious
so sequel?
Posted on 10/18/13 at 8:41 pm to Displaced
quote:
so sequel?
Never say never. Mark and I always leave a door open on our work.
Posted on 10/18/13 at 8:46 pm to Displaced
quote:
When Luke and Glen kill Mandy and then immedietally started cracking jokes even though they just found out 5 classmates had been murdered, i was like “yeah, that is totally a normal reaction.”
I was careful to explain why Luke started cracking jokes immediately afterward.
Glenn says:
“Quit trying to mask the hurt, Luke. It’s too soon. I’ll help you through this all the way.” The two watched the shark head off into the deep of the Gulf.
Luke had been on a roller coaster ride of emotions. He was still rocking on the waves after Mandy's demise.
Posted on 10/18/13 at 8:51 pm to Enadious
Fair enough, i gues the "go Blow Yourself."
"believe me, i wish i could" just felt outta place
"believe me, i wish i could" just felt outta place
Posted on 10/18/13 at 8:56 pm to Displaced
quote:
Fair enough, i gues the "go Blow Yourself."
"believe me, i wish i could" just felt outta place
Hey, they're teenagers. What'd you expect?
:)
off to the interview.
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