This Gorgeous Game

Apr 28, 2011 Nic rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Nic by: Nomes

Shelves: from-recs, favourites, tear-jerker, young-adult, romance-awww, powerful-stuff, read-in-2011, favourite-of-2011, swoon-worthy-read

Favourite Quote: But I have faith in the people that surround me now, and I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that they will catch me if I let myself fall. And so I do. I let myself fall.

Sometimes a book surprises you and that is the case with This Gorgeous Game. I thought it would be good but I never expected to love it as much as I did. There are just so many brilliant elements to this book like exceptional writing, a thought provoking plot and outstanding characters that makes this one of my f...more Favourite Quote: But I have faith in the people that surround me now, and I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that they will catch me if I let myself fall. And so I do. I let myself fall.

Sometimes a book surprises you and that is the case with This Gorgeous Game. I thought it would be good but I never expected to love it as much as I did. There are just so many brilliant elements to this book like exceptional writing, a thought provoking plot and outstanding characters that makes this one of my favourite reads.

17 year old Olivia wins a writing competition. Her prize is a scholarship for the summer to study a writing course and be mentored by Father Mark at the Holy Mary University. Olivia is super excited at first to be learning from her literary idol and also a well respected and adored priest. Father Mark showers attention and praise on Olivia. But soon his keen interest for Olivia turns into something more.

It is a intense read in a subtle kind of way. It explores such dark areas which such sensitivity. I would say it is emotional but never painful to read. And talk about a powerful story. It just lingers with you for days and days after you have finished.

The characters are impressive. Olivia had such an utterly convincing voice. You could really feel her excitement and joy turn to pain, confusion and a sense of helplessness. And Father Mark ~shudders~. The emotional pain he caused Olivia will definitely make you angry and creep you out a little.

However there are also plenty of moments in this book that will bring you happiness like Olivia's relationship with her family, friends and Jamie. Jamie is a guy Olivia meets at the University. There romance is absolutely beautiful. It was written in a subtle way that didn't take away from the important issues this story deals with.

Overall, This Gorgeous Game is a standout story for me. A real and honest read that will leaving you saying WOW.

Thanks Nomes for the rec.

Oh and if you want a visual for Jamie..... http://irresistiblereads.blogspot.com...(less)

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Dec 12, 2012 Holly rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Holly by: Angie

Shelves: contemporary, young-adult

Originally published at Book Harbinger.

Olivia Peters is in disbelief. Being called to the principal’s office in the middle of class can only mean one thing: that she won first place in the first annual emerging high school fiction writers’ competition. Her literary idol, renowned author Father Mark Brendan selected her story and delivered the news himself. Impressed and at times star struck, normally grounded Olivia is overjoyed. She can’t wait to attend his summer seminar and the one-on-one rev...more Originally published at Book Harbinger.

Olivia Peters is in disbelief. Being called to the principal’s office in the middle of class can only mean one thing: that she won first place in the first annual emerging high school fiction writers’ competition. Her literary idol, renowned author Father Mark Brendan selected her story and delivered the news himself. Impressed and at times star struck, normally grounded Olivia is overjoyed. She can’t wait to attend his summer seminar and the one-on-one revising sessions they will undergo before her story is ready to be published. Quickly the calls, letters, notes, emails, and text messages from Father Mark flood in, and Olivia basks in all the attention. But instead of abating after the revisions are well underway, the correspondence and demands from Father Mark to read this and attend that only increase. Suddenly Olivia is overwhelmed and repulsed by a man to whom she should be eternally grateful. Even with the support of friends and family, how can she escape the game Father Mark is playing?

The striking premise, cover, and title of Donna Freitas’ This Gorgeous Game never left the back of my mind after reading Angie’s review of the book over two years ago. Naturally though, I didn’t run out to buy or borrow a copy straightaway. I was hesitant to discover the abuse and victimization I’d find within. At the time, just reading Angie’s review and the publisher’s summary was chilling enough. Fast forward to this fall as I was gearing up to attend NCTE’s annual conference and lo and behold, Donna Freitas was scheduled to make an appearance on the religious YA panel. And while she ended up dropping out due to scheduling conflicts created by hurricane Sandy, it was the perfect excuse for me to finally read one of her books. And I have absolutely no regrets in doing so. This Gorgeous Game lives up to its author blurbs (Sara Zarr and Francisco X. Stork), its many glowing reviews, and its frightening but powerful cover and title, and as I type I’m currently in the middle of Freitas’ latest contemporary novel, The Survival Kit.

I adore books that hook me from the first page, and This Gorgeous Game did with its chilling Thomas Merton epigraph and prologue-style opening chapter. This chapter from the future stands in palpable contrast to the next chapter, which is the real beginning of the story, when Olivia is all smiles and happiness and Father Mark the saintly priest he appears to be. The change in their relationship happens so quickly, almost imperceptibly, that it felt very true to life, as it should. Freitas herself drew from her own experience. I could understand the justification and denial Olivia went through in her isolation and why she remained silent for so long. Thankfully the creepier moments of her relationship with Father Mark are intense but not unbearable. Olivia’s anxiety is tempered by her normal high school interactions with her supportive friends Ash and Jada and a slow-developing romance with cute college student Jamie, and for the novel’s slim length it is surprisingly well-characterized. But what I commend the most is how tautly written This Gorgeous Game is. Freitas rides the line between indulgence and restraint in her storytelling flawlessly. While I could foresee the consistency of the emotional subtlety, I didn’t see how empowering and absolutely perfect those concluding lines would be. There is also an evocative underlying message about the power of the written word and faith. Faith in God, faith in the people who surround you, and faith in the fact that you are never alone. Because of this and the above-mentioned qualities This Gorgeous Game is a YA contemp that will stick with me for a long time. (less)

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Jun 18, 2012 Reynje rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemp-or-realistic, read-2012

3.5 stars

On a purely analytical level, This Gorgeous Game ticked several boxes on my mental review checklist: good quality writing, well developed characters, a compelling premise, nuanced exploration of contemporary issues. It’s an accomplished, compact novel – deftly and efficiently handling a complex subject with the gravity it requires.

Yet, on an emotional/gut level – and friends, you well know I am nothing if not an emotional reader – something was lacking.

This Gorgeous Game is a story abo...more 3.5 stars

On a purely analytical level, This Gorgeous Game ticked several boxes on my mental review checklist: good quality writing, well developed characters, a compelling premise, nuanced exploration of contemporary issues. It’s an accomplished, compact novel – deftly and efficiently handling a complex subject with the gravity it requires.

Yet, on an emotional/gut level – and friends, you well know I am nothing if not an emotional reader – something was lacking.

This Gorgeous Game is a story about manipulation and obsession, mental and emotional exploitation, but Freitas’ unique riff on these topics is to examine them in the context of faith. By placing the perpetrator of these acts of unhealthy fixation in the role of benefactor, mentor and cleric, Freitas also opens up a complicated discussion on religious belief.

Raised and educated a Catholic, (though by her own admission one less staunch than her sister), Olivia must address an abuse of power by someone she regards with implicit trust and respect, even admires. Someone offering a once in a lifetime opportunity. And someone she believed spoke for God. It’s weighty subject matter, yet by keeping the focus tightly on Olivia’s personal experience and emotional journey, the novel remains accessible and relevant to a wider audience.

Stalking is not new territory for young adult literature. But rather than the all too frequent “I’m a paranormal romance hero and imma creep in your window tonight..” (which is a rant for another day), This Gorgeous Game deconstructs the nature of the obsession: the intimidation, isolation, harassment. Importantly, Freitas’ novel highlights the subtle development of Olivia’s increasingly unsettling situation – and how identifying the line between appropriate and inappropriate behaviour is not as clear-cut for the victim as it would seem to others. The insidious creep of psychological manipulation into the characters’ interactions demonstrates just how deeply Olivia’s ability to trust her own judgement has been undermined, and it makes for disturbing reading.

It’s difficult to talk about the writing style of the novel without giving away a major element of the book’s ending, so I won’t discuss it in great detail. Essentially, the first half of the novel didn’t work for me as much as the second. Something about the slow, ponderous tone of the opening chapters felt.. off to me, almost tediously self-conscious. In hindsight, they fit with the end result, but I found them difficult to engage with. Similarly, I experienced some disconnect with Olivia as a character until the story moved more deeply into her mental struggle. While a multi-dimensional character, I initially had no sense of investment in Olivia or her life, or a connection to her voice.

However, as the sheen falls away from the story, and the unpleasant reality of the situation is revealed, This Gorgeous Game became a much more compelling read. The unravelling of Olivia’s apparently perfect life feels authentic, her increasing anxiety and disconnection from her life is insightfully written.

I appreciate the particular angle from which Freitas approaches these themes - not shying away from difficult questions, while not delivering a heavy-handed message – yet I found it less of an emotive reading experience than I expected. Although an unsettling story, I’m not sure that I found it as “chilling” as I had anticipated, and I put this down to my lack of immersion in the characters.

Still, This Gorgeous Game is an important, thought provoking novel, and handles a complicated subject with grace and honesty.
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Mar 17, 2013 Erin rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: reality, young-adult

Well, first off I must say I really did like this book. If you are looking for a lightening fast afternoon read with a quick engaging, angst filled plot then this book will certainly fit the bill and I absolutely recommend it.
I read it in a couple hours of pure entertainment and it was a delightful (probably not the right word because of the subject matter...) way to past a lazy Saturday afternoon. The writing and plot was engaging and I didn't put this book done. The mentor- mentee relationshi...more

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Nov 12, 2011 Mark rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: relationships, young-adult-literature

"I am frightened. Father Mark frightens me. This is what is wrong.

This.

In this moment - this very particular moment, with me reddening and him smiling - I see something a tad sinister, in his eyes, calculating, measuring, appraising me like I am a bauble, a jewel with karats, clarity, cut, a possession. Something moves inside me, turns to ice, and a small, cold bead of warning lodges itself in the bottom curve of my heart and I think, How have I not noticed this before? and Maybe I didn't allow...more "I am frightened. Father Mark frightens me. This is what is wrong.

This.

In this moment - this very particular moment, with me reddening and him smiling - I see something a tad sinister, in his eyes, calculating, measuring, appraising me like I am a bauble, a jewel with karats, clarity, cut, a possession. Something moves inside me, turns to ice, and a small, cold bead of warning lodges itself in the bottom curve of my heart and I think, How have I not noticed this before? and Maybe I didn't allow myself to and Why did it take me so long to see?"

Olivia Peters is finishing her junior year at Sacred Heart, an all-girls Catholic school. She is bright and beautiful, so much so that she feels others often underestimate her because of her looks. Her world immediately changes, when she wins a high school fiction writers contest, one that will allow her to attend a summer seminar by a local priest/bestselling author, Mark Brendan. Olivia is excited, because she has idolized Brendan's work for years, and knows the opportunities that this will afford her. But as she begins to meet with Father Mark, she realizes that his interest in her work, and in her as a person, is becoming uncomfortable. Without even understanding how it has escalated so quickly, Olivia finds herself fearful of Father Mark, of his attention, and what he will do if she does not respond to him. With the help of her boyfriend, best friends, and her mother, Olivia must try to reconcile her deep Catholic faith, and her lifelong dreams of becoming a writer, with the fact that Father Mark's interest in her has become more than friendly.

An excellent book about an unhealthy teacher-student relationship, but also about a crisis of faith. Freitas, who teaches religious studies at Boston University, writes about Olivia and her situation with great understanding. I did find the plot line a little transparent, and I would have appreciated knowing more about why Father Mark felt so drawn to Olivia in the first place. Still, this is Olivia's story, not his, and the novel is very strong when it takes readers inside Olivia's mind as she grapples with what is happening to her. (less)

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Mar 24, 2011 Raina rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: psychological, realistic, ya

Read this in one sitting on a lazy day on the Oregon coast. In some ways, I wish the idea of the novel wasn't quite so transparent. The first 73 pages have one perspective on a character, and from then on, there's a very different perspective on the same character. And when you know the concept of the book, the first section is either transparent (and therefore kind of tedious), or ominous, depending on how you look at it. The romance and other relationships felt a bit underdeveloped, although I...more

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Jan 17, 2011 Jan rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: teenbooks, contemporary

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Summary: Seventeen year old high school student Olivia wins a creative writing contest and begins a mentoring relationship with Father Mark, an author and Catholic priest who has established the contest. At first she is thrilled, but as the relationship with Father Mark develops, he becomes increasingly intrusive and it becomes clear that he is obsessed with her. She feels that she cannot explain what is happening to her mother or friends and agonizes over what to do.

This psychological novel is...more Summary: Seventeen year old high school student Olivia wins a creative writing contest and begins a mentoring relationship with Father Mark, an author and Catholic priest who has established the contest. At first she is thrilled, but as the relationship with Father Mark develops, he becomes increasingly intrusive and it becomes clear that he is obsessed with her. She feels that she cannot explain what is happening to her mother or friends and agonizes over what to do.

This psychological novel is based loosely upon the famous monk, Thomas Merton, who began a romantic relationship with a young nurse when he was hospitalized during a long illness. He called his relationship a “gorgeous game.” Of course, the relationship that Father Mark craves with Olivia is not really about romantic feelings as much as it is about power. This abuse of power is the crux of the novel and I guarantee you that when you read this, you will want to shout at the book at certain moments, when Father Mark’s stalking gets really, really creepy. This type of abuse by a powerful mentor (priest, teacher, etc) is not an uncommon problem for young women, so an important theme, in my opinion.

Father Mark writes a story about his fantasies about Olivia and calls it The Gorgeous Game. He insists that Olivia read it, another example of his intrusive bullying. That is the last straw for her. She gives his story to her friends and mother and ends the secrecy that is killing her. She allows others to take on the burden of this. Although she is not sure if God is there for her, she knows that those who love her are.

The writing is, for the most part, well done and the plot is absolutely gripping and chilling. You really become emotionally involved with the characters, especially Olivia. Father Mark has a fairly one-sided portrayal, but then again, we are seeing him through Olivia’s eyes.
The only one who senses what is going on is a Sister June, nun. Perfect. And probably very true in many cases.

This is a gripping and powerfully story about a problem that is often minimized or swept under the rug…the sexual abuse of a minor by a powerful adult. We realize that abuse can be psychological as well as physical.

Weaknesses: prose is sometimes overwrought and too cutesy.. P.17 pink petals fall from the blossoms above when they are shaken by the breeze and make a scattered springtime carpet across the grass.”
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Nov 18, 2010 Lacey Librarian rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: at-library, realistic-fiction

In Donna Freitas, I may have found the author who best speaks to the experience of being a young adult and Catholic.

"This Gorgeous Game" opens with Olivia winning a scholarship and publication for a short story she's written. The benefactor of the scholarship is a well-known author who also happens to be a Catholic Priest (he reminded me a bit of a Father Greeley type figure in his literary prominence). Although Olivia is originally thrilled with the attention winning brings from her idol, Fathe...more

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Oct 31, 2010 Diane rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: religious-theme, washyarg, young-adult

Olivia has always wanted to be a writer. When she wins a contest with the prize of being mentored by a best-selling author, she is honored and excited. Her joy quickly turns to an uneasy feeling when the mentor/priest overdoes the attention he bestows and begins stalking her. The title comes from a Thomas Merton quote about his temptation to break his religious vows. He refers to the experience as “this gorgeous game”.
The tension builds slowly in this story. Olivia actually recognizes that som...more

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Oct 07, 2010 Cornmaven rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: high-school

I had a big problem with this novel, because of the time in which it is set. A lot of the trusting nature of Catholics towards priests was clearly a 1950s-1980s model, before the exposure of sexual abuse by priests. Yet, it is set in the here and now, and I had a real hard time believing that everyone was oblivious to Mark the narcissist and power guy stalking this poor high school girl. Freitas tries to explain away the acceptance with the father figure priests throughout Olivia's life, but how...more I had a big problem with this novel, because of the time in which it is set. A lot of the trusting nature of Catholics towards priests was clearly a 1950s-1980s model, before the exposure of sexual abuse by priests. Yet, it is set in the here and now, and I had a real hard time believing that everyone was oblivious to Mark the narcissist and power guy stalking this poor high school girl. Freitas tries to explain away the acceptance with the father figure priests throughout Olivia's life, but how often does that happen these days? That, too, is a 1950s-1960s model. Priests today are too darn busy to be visiting parishioners on a regular basis, unless the parishioner is a mover and shaker in the parish. And no priest today is stupid enough to try to take on a 'father figure' role unless they're in Opus Dei, and that is not the case in this novel.

While there is this discussion 3/4 of the way through by the staunch Catholics in Olivia's family about abuse accusers just wanting to drain the financial coffers of the Church, and a mention about Boston, this would have been a discussion held in 2002, not 2010. It almost seemed to me as if Freitas started this book in 2002 but didn't finish until now and didn't update it. What American Catholic in this day and age idolizes ANY priest or should idolize a priest, let alone some famous Andrew Greeley-type novelist? (And I think Andrew Greeley himself would whole heartedly agree)

As another reviewer has noted, it is a textbook description of a stalker, and I found the detail about a predator's process pf grooming and developing control of his objective to be of great value to teens so they know what to notice. The guy's so creepy from the get go that me as an adult wanted to jump into the book and rip his throat out.

I was gratified by the ending, thankful that Olivia asked for help, and especially thankful for the character of Sister June. Few nuns are cowed by priests and she needed to be the knight in shining armor. Olivia's network of friends to take over for her - carry her- was a nice invitation to someone reading this who may need the same assistance (not necessarily being stalked by a priest).

I didn't particularly care for the juxtaposition of Thomas Merton's experience with an adult nurse and the novel's characters, as one is a teenage girl. It's not the same, although I will accept that Mark the narcissist had it in his mind that he was a Thomas Merton-like tortured figure. In 'reality' the guy was an insecure controlling abuser, who I don't think experienced much torture in his soul regardng the situation, other than the fact that he wasn't succeeding in his conquest as he had hoped.

I kind of wished Freitas had removed the Church/priest aspect and had just written a story about a famous novelist turned stalker. It would have lowered the complication factor.

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Sep 07, 2010 Sarai rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult-fiction

This book had an interesting concept, but after a while it started to drag on and the main character's thoughts became extremely repetitive to the point that I started skimming instead of reading until I got to something that was actual conversation.

I also was not sure when I started what direction the book would go in. The inside cover suggested perhaps a priest child molester kind of story, but as I started to read I thought maybe he was somehow tricking her into editing/writing his text becau...more

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Jul 03, 2010 Rachael rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Olivia Peters couldn’t be more excited when she wins a writing competition and gets to meet Father Mark D. Brendan, a priest and Olivia’s literary idol. Then Father Mark takes it upon himself to be Olivia’s personal mentor, and it seems like a dream come true. And at first, it is. But gradually, Father Mark’s attention starts to become too much. Olivia runs into him everywhere and is inundated with his constant phone calls, emails, and text messages. Olivia knows she should be thankful someone s...more

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Apr 29, 2010 Angie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: good-uns, ya

Prior to being contacted by Farrar, Straus and Giroux about whether I might be interested in reviewing THIS GORGEOUS GAME, I had never heard of Donna Freitas or the novel itself. This is actually Ms. Freitas' second book for young adults after her debut The Possibilities of Sainthood. And I have to say I wasn't sure whether or not the book was for me after reading the basic synopsis available over at Macmillan's site. But then I scrolled down and read the lovely blurbs by Sara Zarr and Francisco ...more Prior to being contacted by Farrar, Straus and Giroux about whether I might be interested in reviewing THIS GORGEOUS GAME, I had never heard of Donna Freitas or the novel itself. This is actually Ms. Freitas' second book for young adults after her debut The Possibilities of Sainthood. And I have to say I wasn't sure whether or not the book was for me after reading the basic synopsis available over at Macmillan's site. But then I scrolled down and read the lovely blurbs by Sara Zarr and Francisco Stork, as well as the always awesome Little Willow's review and I was sold. Thanks to those excellent encouragements, as well as one impressive and refreshingly heartfelt recommendation from my contact at Macmillan, I accepted a copy for review. And I am so very glad I did. Because this is a singularly impressive book and one that deserves to be passed around and read and shared and talked about.

Seventeen-year-old Olivia Peters cannot believe her good luck. The results of the writing contest she entered months ago (and has been hoping and wishing and praying she'll win ever since) have come through and first place is hers. Father Mark D. Brendan--the famous novelist and professor and priest--has chosen her story. And not only will she receive a sizable scholarship, but Olivia herself will be able to attend Father Mark's summer writing seminar at her local university and benefit from her idol's one-on-one tutelage. Her mother, her sister, and her two best friends are so excited for her and it is with barely contained joy that she ventures onto campus to register for the course. Once there, she even contemplates attending HMU in the fall as the campus is so lovely and the crop of attractive young college boys so charming, particularly one Jamie Grant--a young philosophy major who's trying to get into Father Mark's seminar and seems interested in getting to know Olivia just as much as she'd like to get to know him. And then Olivia actually runs into Father Mark outside the registrar's office. And he congratulates her once more on winning, wants to meet her for a drink to discuss her story before the seminar begins. And, flattered, she accepts. And, quietly, it begins.

The opening passage (from my uncorrected galley):

I know I know I know I should be grateful, I should be grateful to have his attention. To have him take such an interest in me.

I should. I know I should.

I will. No, you are grateful, Olivia, I tell myself as if I am my self's imaginary friend, sitting across the table, giving advice. Start acting grateful then, she begs.

I have a gift. I have a gift from God, he says. So rare he hasn't seen it in all his many years. I'm the real thing, he says. I'm a once in a liftetime, he says. I'm special and it's his responsibility to take me under his wing, to make sure I don't waste my talent. It would be a sin not to help me, he says. It would be a sin for me not to take his offer of help.

But I swear to God . . . no . . . scratch that . . . I'll not be swearing to God . . . I swear to Who Knows What that his latest demand, this pile of typewritten pages he hands me with a face that says, Please, Olivia, oh please don't be difficult and just do this for me, is staring, no, it's glaring at me from the coffee table like a monster that might eat me. I feel like if I touch it I will go up in flames or the pages might bite.

Am I making too much of this? Isn't it just a matter of grabbing hold of the stack and moving it in front of my eyes so my eyes will begin to scan those black marks on the page which will magically arrange themselves into words that my brain will recognize and understand and voila, I'm finished before I know it.

Then, when he asks, because he will ask, I'll be able to answer truthfully, "Yes, I read it. I did," and he will smile and I'll be Good Olivia again.

I wish I'd never won that stupid prize which is what got me noticed by him . . . no . . . what got my writing noticed by him which is what led to the initial introduction which somehow turned into communications and invitations and coffees and attending office hours and going to High Profile Events together--his words--even before the summer started.

He means well. He does. After all, what else could he mean?

That's right. That's how it starts. Well, if you're anything like me, there's no turning back after that little throwing down of the gauntlet. You turn the page and the narrative immediately jumps back to the beginning of the summer, to the moment when Olivia discovers she's won the contest, which is where it really all starts. And from that moment on the reader serves as a silent witness to the slow, but relentless unraveling of a young woman's life, to what happens when the person she thought she could trust turns out to be the kind of person she's afraid to put a name to. I really admire the incredibly restrained and subtle way Donna Freitas approaches this potentially horrific subject matter. Instead of taking it quickly and provocatively to the bad place, she keeps Olivia's tale tightly reined in and, as a result, we are able to absorb and reflect on her experiences as they happen. Which is not to say that it's a slow read. Nothing could be further from the truth. I read it through from cover to cover in one sitting, unable to take my eyes away from the page, partly because I had to see how it all played out and partly because I didn't want to leave Olivia alone for even a moment. The whole thing stays almost exclusively in her head and I was very much with her, aching for her, hoping she would be able to find both clarity and a solution and somehow emerge from this hunching shadow that has overtaken her life. I loved THIS GORGEOUS GAME. I loved the quotes before each new section and the short, poignant chapter titles (particularly the exquisite "On Dark Nights of the Soul"). It is a haunted, urgent, dreamlike, yet very real story and one that will not be leaving my thoughts for the foreseeable future. THIS GORGEOUS GAME is due out May 25th.

A note on the cover: I love the title. Once you've read the book it takes on a whole other level of meaning. The cover image itself is decidedly chilling and, though I think it is perfect, it's still hard to look at.(less)

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Jun 09, 2010 Trisha W. rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: my-books

This was a great book and one that I kept thinking of after I was finished with it. Stalking is a serious situation that a lot of people don't think about. Donna Freitas story, The Gorgeous Game gives us a look into the world of a person being stalked, it is quit a chilling story.
I really enjoyed the character of Olivia. She is a very smart, beautiful girl who enters her story into a writing competition and wins. She is over joyed when she learns that she won and that is going to be working with...more

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May 09, 2010 Chelsea rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Olivia Peters is thrilled when she learns she won first prize in an Emerging Writers High School Fiction contest. This means she gets a spot in Father Mark Brendan's writing seminar at Holy Mary University. She is so excited to be chosen and have the attention of an admired writer that she is quick to dismiss the sense that it may all be a little too abnormal. She has Father Mark lavishing praise on her writing, she's caught the eye of college boy Jamie Grant, and life couldn't be better. But th...more

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Feb 03, 2011 Megan rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Olivia Peters has a gift of writing. Such a gift that she is chosen to win the contest of famous writer and priest, Father Mark, who is also her literary idol. Olivia is over joyed and ecstatic when she finds out she gets to meet him. However, the joy doesn't last long when she starts noticing strange things about Father Mark. Like how he has weird mood swings, always trying to occupy every second of her free time, he gets very upset with her if she doesnt agree so his ideas and harrasses her c...more

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Sep 06, 2012 Caitlyn rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Olivia Peters is a talented writer who has just won a prestigious literary prize. She is introduced to the patron behind the prize, Father Mark. Father Mark is a good-looking, Catholic priest, who wants to make Olivia his new protege. Quickly, things between Father Mark and Olivia escalate, from the occasional hot chocolate to unexpected dinners with Olivia's family. Where does she draw the line between mentor and lover?

I don't know what I think about this book. I had trouble relating to the ins...more

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Mar 21, 2011 Zoë (In The Next Room) added it · review of another edition

Shelves: review-copy, young-adult

"I marvel how a single glance from my mother can feel like a shiny, protective shell all around me, as strong as the number 45 sunscreen I slather on my fair skin, the kind that won’t let any of the bad stuff in."

This Gorgeous Game by Donna Freitas is written from the perspective of Olivia Peters, a Catholic high school student who is incredibly excited when she wins a writing contest held by the successful novelist and local priest Mark Brendan who then offers to become her mentor. Things quic...more "I marvel how a single glance from my mother can feel like a shiny, protective shell all around me, as strong as the number 45 sunscreen I slather on my fair skin, the kind that won’t let any of the bad stuff in."

This Gorgeous Game by Donna Freitas is written from the perspective of Olivia Peters, a Catholic high school student who is incredibly excited when she wins a writing contest held by the successful novelist and local priest Mark Brendan who then offers to become her mentor. Things quickly escalate though, and it begins to seem as if Father Mark is interested in more than just Olivia's writing. Olivia is confused and afraid, wondering what kind of game Father Mark is playing and what his intentions really are.

I tend to shy away from books with religious undertones, and once I realized how Catholic Olivia and her family were- her sister refuses to kiss a boy until she is engaged, she attends a school with nuns- I was worried that This Gorgeous Game wouldn't have the same appeal for Non-Christians that it may for Christians. That I would feel distanced from the story or that it would be overwhelmed with religious agenda. This is completely not the case. Despite her religion, Olivia could be any teenage girl, and despite his affiliation, Father Mark could be any authority figure looking to take advantage of somebody who admires them. I loved Olivia's teenage writer voice, and how she seems to be talking directly to the reader, reflecting on her experiences. At one point she says:

"I think how if this were a scene in a story it would be the moment when the protagonist feels the world is made entirely and perfectly of love."

Already hinting at the darkness which is lurking as the novel progresses. That said, I did wish that the book had been slightly longer to give Freitas just a bit more time to develop the creepiness and fear that was beginning to permeate the story. I felt that compared to how time was spent on the introductory part of the novel, letting the reader get to know Olivia, that the ending was a bit rushed and I wasn't completely sold that Olivia had become so scared so quickly, and the time between her becoming scared and what she does next felt a bit too short for me.

I do feel Freitas dealt with an important but not regularly discussed issue which is what happens when an authority figure takes things too far- and where exactly that "too far" line is. The abuse of power that Olivia faces is an extremely important theme and it was great to read about it in a young adult novel. This Gorgeous Game was also very well-written, I found that Olivia was easy to relate to especially when it came to her feelings towards Father Mark. On one hand, she feels so lucky to have his attention, but on the other, she is creeped out by it. There were other characters that I wish I had been fleshed out a little more, such as Olivia's sister and friends as well as her mother, but as a main character Olivia was extremely strong in personality. The only thing I question about her is the fact that she is so perfect- she is beautiful, intelligent and a talented writer- and it just felt as if she needed a few flaws to make her more human.

Once you pick up This Gorgeous Game you won't be able to put it down. At only about 200 pages I read the entire thing in one sitting, captivated by Freitas' prose and ability to suck the reader into the story, paranoid about what is going to happen next. Freitas' talent means that you feel on edge the whole time you are reading the book, fearful of Father Mark and easily relating to Olivia's feelings about his attention. Although there were instances where I wished for more depth, This Gorgeous Game is a riveting read on an important subject in which Freitas tells a powerful and believable story.(less)

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May 15, 2010 Katie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arcs

I cannot begin to describe the powerful emotion that this book holds. Between that and the beautiful, almost poetic way that Freitas writes, This Gorgeous Game left me completely stunned.

Father Mark Brendan, Olivia’s favorite author and literary hero whom had picked her as the winning entry for a high school fiction contest, is one of the most scariest villains I’ve ever read; partly because he’s not really a villain. He’s terrifying because he’s real. His actions and emotions are real, and whil...more

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Oct 15, 2010 Lacey Louwagie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: theodora

Shelves: youngadult, religion

In Donna Freitas, I may have found the author who best speaks to the experience of being a young adult and Catholic.

"This Gorgeous Game" opens with Olivia winning a scholarship and publication for a short story she's written. The benefactor of the scholarship is a well-known author who also happens to be a Catholic Priest (he reminded me a bit of a Father Greeley type figure in his literary prominence). Although Olivia is originally thrilled with the attention winning brings from her idol, Fathe...more In Donna Freitas, I may have found the author who best speaks to the experience of being a young adult and Catholic.

"This Gorgeous Game" opens with Olivia winning a scholarship and publication for a short story she's written. The benefactor of the scholarship is a well-known author who also happens to be a Catholic Priest (he reminded me a bit of a Father Greeley type figure in his literary prominence). Although Olivia is originally thrilled with the attention winning brings from her idol, Father Mark, about halfway through the story the attention begins to feel like too much.

Freitas provides Olivia's first boyfriend, Jamie, as a foil to Father Mark and an anchor to Olivia's life as a teenager, along with her friends Jada and Ashley. Olivia's mother, sister, and sister's fiance represent those who are almost blindly devoted to Catholicism, but in a way that is somewhat sweet and innocent rather than dogmatic. Olivia's relationship with her religion is a little more nuanced, but still devoted enough that she struggles with her faith considerably as she comes to terms with the fact that Father Mark is stalking her.

What impressed me most about this book was how Freitas walked the line with Father Mark's attention to Olivia; I could really feel the suffocation of her situation, and yet also the helplessness of it because Mark never did anything that seemed overtly wrong (such as sexually assault Olivia, which is where I thought this book would take the topic). Although the pacing and prose feels uneven in places--especially around the middle--the strength of the ending and the sensitivity with which Freitas handles her topic make up for it. I appreciate the presence of an author who can write about the complexities of growing up Catholic and navigating Catholic scandal and injustice while doing justice to the allegiance one can feel to her faith in spite of it. AND, as an aside, I just found out that I'll be able to meet Donna when I go to this year's Call to Action conference! Too bad I don't own a copy of this book for her to sign.(less)

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Oct 09, 2010 Hannah Nikka Bryan rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: ages 13 and up, for language and mature themes and references.

Shelves: fiction, young-adult, 2010

The Plot:
From the inside cover: Olivia Peters is over the moon when her literary idol, the celebrated novelist and much adored local priest Mark D. Brendan, offers to become her personal writing mentor. But when Father Mark’s enthusiasm for Olivia’s prose develops into something more, Olivia’s emotions quickly shift from wonder to confusion to despair. Exactly what game is Father Mark playing, and how on earth can she get out of it?

The Bads:
I suppose I'll start with the bads first, 'cause it's a...more

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May 25, 2010 Lea (YA Book Queen) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This Gorgeous Game is simple, and slightly haunting.

When Olivia wins a writing competition, she's honored and excited to be taken under the wing of Father Mark Brendan. The talented writer helps hone her writing skills, and she begins to feel like she's the luckiest person in the world until Father Mark's attentions turn into obsession. He calls too much, writes too much, sends too many packages. Yet the one he wants her to read most of all, a story he's written, Olivia can't bear to read the w...more

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Jan 11, 2012 Skye rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: own

This review is also posted on my blog, In The Good Books.

Olivia wins a writing competition and the chance of a lifetime to not only meet her literary idol, but to have him as a mentor as she prepares her story for publication. His faith in her talent is encouraging and his attention is flattering, until it isn't anymore. There appears to be no escaping him when he calls and texts and emails and IMs and shows up around every corner.

This Gorgeous Game is a unique and personal look at an issue not...more

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Jul 29, 2011 Jacek rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jan 14, 2013 Zooey Riveria rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: adult, borrowed, melancholy, thriller-horror, young-adult

I don't know what to make of this book.

I even found myself having a hard time stretching my mouse over to the forth star, but I did it in the end. Two things that I did the moment I closed the book. One, threw it to my bedside table near me. I felt like I was holding a jar of ants that had no lid and the vicious ants were already all over my body. I couldn't risk getting anymore bites. Two, I grabbed my laptop and started typing this.

Donna Freitas's The Survival Kit was amazing. I was in the l...more

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May 22, 2010 Jennifer rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: own

Bottom Line – This story, in it's raw form, is about a teenage girl, whom is stalked by a priest, a person whom she trusts, respects and even loves in the beginning. While there's the use of symbolism, I did not feel like this book is in any way over the top religious, I felt like Father Mark could have been anyone, boy scout troop leader, teacher, guidance councilor, anyone in our kids lives they look up to, and trust.

The Gorgeous Game is powerful, and frankly alarmingly scary, it reminded me...more

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Mar 22, 2013 Bella rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I chose to read "This gorgeous game" written by Donna Freitas because France recommended it and gave it high praise.

This novel fits into the "a book that taught you about a culture" because of strong presence ties to the Catholic faith though out the text. I really enjoyed it because I am not a religious person nor do I believe in religion because it the thought scares me. It was really interesting for me to see how people’s lives are impacted by religion and so on.

My favourite character in th...more

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Jun 10, 2010 Tabitha Olson rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: recent-reviews

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I thought this story was a very effective portrayal about how it feels to be stalked, to have your life taken away one inch at a time.

Olivia was raised Catholic, and she draws comfort from her religion. She believes in its system - her father left when she was young, and the priests of her parish stepped in as father-figure. She has been brought up to believe that the priest is the symbol of God as human, and those in his parish are happy to do as he tells them because God speaks through him. A...more I thought this story was a very effective portrayal about how it feels to be stalked, to have your life taken away one inch at a time.

Olivia was raised Catholic, and she draws comfort from her religion. She believes in its system - her father left when she was young, and the priests of her parish stepped in as father-figure. She has been brought up to believe that the priest is the symbol of God as human, and those in his parish are happy to do as he tells them because God speaks through him. As a result, she trusts priests, respects them, and even loves them (at least on some level).

Because of this, I found her compliance with Father Mark completely understandable. On top of her regular feelings about priests, she's star-struck because he's her literary idol. Plus, she's content with her life and has no reason to question or rebel. It takes some time before she starts to question his behavior, which is also understandable because humans often choose not to see things that will corrupt the things we love. When she does begin to question, I think her reactions and feelings are spot on.

I also completely understand her need for help in the end. It's her way of drawing strength so she can deal with everything. In cases like these, it's nearly impossible to handle effectively on your own. It also takes a great deal of courage to go to friends and loved ones with a situation like hers, so I thought she came out of the story much stronger.

All that said, there was a large part of this story that just did not work for me, and that was Father Mark. I've been the victim of manipulation, and Father Mark wasn't the creative and creepy bad guy that he was made out to be. Manipulators use guilt to get what they want (as well as other things), and he didn't. He could have been far, far more creative in trying to get what he wanted. Also, there was a large piece missing from the end, which was really necessary to the story. And very necessary for Olivia.

SPOILER WARNING

We never find out how Olivia confronts Father Mark. Does she do it through her mother? Her school's principal? Publicly? And how does he react? Horrified? Guilty? Feigning innocence? Does he attempt to apologize, or does he try to manipulate his way out of the situation? Has he done this before (to other girls), or did his good intentions get way out of hand? These are all incredibly important details, because they directly affect Olivia and how she will begin to heal. Without them, I can't connect to Olivia because I don't know what she's feeling. I kind of feel cheated because I spent the entire story connected to Olivia, and then that was taken away.

Still, I enjoyed this book. It grabbed me and held me, right up until the end.(less)

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Mar 16, 2013 Wafiyah rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary-romance, interesting, romance, tragic

Beautiful, in a creepy way. I was repulsed by the actions of Father Mark and the way he persisted on being noticed by Olivia, and sadly, the way she saw him at the beginning of the novel, but I sympathized with her throughout and I was glad that her friends and family had her back while she dealt with him. I was so angry for her that I almost wanted to deal with the pastor himself, and the last straw came near the end, when she ran away from him. It was nerve-wracking, because Olivia obviously c...more

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Jun 03, 2010 Steph Su rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: best-of-10, own

THIS GORGEOUS GAME is one of those books that, try as hard as you can, you won’t be able to get off your mind after reading. It’s chilling and astonishingly well-written, and if you’re looking for a book that will disturb and move you, this should be the one.

Stalking is extremely difficult to discuss, because it’s personal, upsetting, and so subtle you don’t realize something’s wrong until it’s already happened. That’s why what Donna Freitas has accomplished in THIS GORGEOUS GAME is so impressiv...more

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