From the Bookshelf of Q&A with Josh Lanyon…

Scrap Metal

Harper Fox

Start date: April 1, 2012

Finish date: April 30, 2012

Discussion: Book of the Month Club

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Book of the Month Club

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What Members Thought

Sep 08, 2012 Emanuela ~plastic duck~ rated it it was amazing

Shelves: contemporary, rainbow-gay, romance, glbt

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. There was something in this book that touched and moved my every emotional string. The writing made me cry for its beauty. Harper Fox is always able to convey a terrific sense of place, and here, more than in other books by her I've read, it's perfectly woven with the characters and what's happening to them and with the words. I'm so sorry for myself because I can't read Gaelic, it was something that made me almost suffer. I wanted to pack my bags and fly somewhere to learn it or make somebody r There was something in this book that touched and moved my every emotional string. The writing made me cry for its beauty. Harper Fox is always able to convey a terrific sense of place, and here, more than in other books by her I've read, it's perfectly woven with the characters and what's happening to them and with the words. I'm so sorry for myself because I can't read Gaelic, it was something that made me almost suffer. I wanted to pack my bags and fly somewhere to learn it or make somebody read it to me.

You can read Kate's excellent review for a more balanced opinion of the book. It is true, the writing and the setting are so majestic that they dwarf the characters, but it worked for me. Nichol might have tried to live a different kind of life, but the land is in his blood and it called him back. His talent for languages looks like a gift given to him to preserve the memory of the one language which risks of being lost. He is probably more a passenger than an agent in his life, but there's that one decision he makes - giving Cameron shelter - and dealing with all the consequences of it. I don't know if it's an act of defiance or rebellion spurred by compassion, but I liked how he delivered his own destiny into the hands of Cameron. I don't usually like passive characters, but it was beautiful in this book.

Cameron doesn't really stand out, it's as if he comes alive when he's in the spotlight of Nichol's attention. He is also so enveloped in grief and fear that it's as if he's paralized. He takes the chance given to him and he tries to make it right, to atone for what he feels is a terrible crime. He's lovely.

I think Harry, Nichol's grandfather, is more than a secondary character. I like to imagine the way this hardened man was shaped by the poetic language he speaks. Both Harry and Nichol are grieving in their own personal and maybe secret way, but I feel as if Harry was even lonelier than Nichol and even less equipped to deal with loss and mourning.

The beauty of the book though is that it's not drenched in gloom, there is often a spark of humor. Sometimes it's in the deadpan remark of an event, or in the supressed laughter in front of a misadventure, or in the meddling of secondary characters.

I've always been impressed by this author, but often complained that the plots became too big and implausible for my taste. In this book the external source of problems wasn't so overwhelming and I really appreciated. It made me stay on the island, for which I'm very grateful.

I don't know if this book is for everyone, but it surely was for ME. Sometimes I feel blessed and privileged of reading a book. I'll be opening it at random kindle locations and know I'll be back on Arran. ...more

9 likes · Like · see review

Apr 02, 2012 SueM rated it it was amazing

Shelves: m-m, contemporary-romance, mourning

A very good to excellent M/M romance novel set on a rugged island off the coast of Scotland.

Nichol, a linguistic student, forced by circumtsances to abandon his thesis, finds himself back at his family's farm, working long grueling hours under his grandfather's stern eye. Struggling to keep the farm financially afloat under harsh physical conditions and bottling up a year's worth of grief and pain, Nichol is at the end of his tether when Cameron, a young man clearly on the run from something, a ...more

8 likes · Like · see review

Mar 30, 2012 Josephine Myles rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary, 2012-reads

Loved it. This had everything I enjoyed about Harper's writing in Driftwood, but was somehow more accessible. The writing flowed smoother as I didn't keep getting distracted by the beautiful prose.

The characters are lovable, and the island really came alive. I'm a sucker for sheep farm stories, it would seem. ...more

4 likes · Like · see review

Apr 02, 2012 Antonella rated it it was amazing

Perfect. ((I hope this is not too short as a review ;-))

3 likes · Like · see review

Jan 04, 2015 Arch Bala rated it really liked it

Shelves: family, country-boys, accent, blue-collar, closet, farmer

After reading Tyack & Frayne Series and thoroughly enjoying it, reading another book from the author is just a must – like seriously, Harper Fox is a beast.

First thing you have to know about Scrap Metal is that it’s long. It’s only 258 pages but the tone will make you slowdown in absorbing every single detail.

Nichol Seacliff’s life went upside down when a family tragedy brought him back to Seacliff Farm and help his Granda tend the farm leaving Edinburg and his doctorate aspirations in Linguisti After reading Tyack & Frayne Series and thoroughly enjoying it, reading another book from the author is just a must – like seriously, Harper Fox is a beast.

First thing you have to know about Scrap Metal is that it’s long. It’s only 258 pages but the tone will make you slowdown in absorbing every single detail.

Nichol Seacliff’s life went upside down when a family tragedy brought him back to Seacliff Farm and help his Granda tend the farm leaving Edinburg and his doctorate aspirations in Linguistics behind. In a cold night during their lambing season, Nichol caught Cameron, an intruder in the barn who inexplicably touches something from within him thus giving him a place to stay instead of turning him away.

As they work together, Cameron found his way into Nichol’s heart. Even the farm’s matriarch was charmed by Cam especially with his abilities that set the farm back on its feet. Secrets from Cam’s past however were revealed and since Nichol was already in deep, he’s got to make the ultimate choice.

As per the author’s usual penchant for lyrical narratives, Scrap Metal lulls its reader into a song that will introduce you to its central character – Nichol who’s always been the second or even third best in the family. He’s the guy who gave up his life in the city to help their gloomy family estate. He’s the guy who loves with all his heart. Harper Fox definitely perfected the way to bring a character to life. Nichol’s description of the Seacliff Farm was vivid that you’d want to visit the place itself.

Cameron on the other hand was a gentle soul – Odd like the artist he is and more sensitive due to his unpleasant past.

Nichol’s Granda Harry with his Gaelic lingo was also a character you would hate but felt for as well. He’s old school but open-minded at the same time.
These characters perpetuate a beautiful story development that made Scrap Metal a good novel – lyrical, easy and sometimes even nostalgic. I would’ve given this a perfect five stars if not for that one tiny bit detail at the end that felt a wee bit forced. That’s just for me though, otherwise this book’s another masterpiece from the author.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
...more

1 like · Like · see review

Apr 16, 2012 Johanna rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, ebook, m-m, romance, jl-book-of-the-month, harper-fox

This was the first book I've read from Harper Fox and I do feel lucky to find an author with an ability to write such a touching story with such wisdom. I felt that the description of the land, the weather, the farm and the people in it couldn't have been written more beautifully.

I was totally charmed from the very first page. It happened exactly when Nichol was carrying the lamb through the rain and when the gust made the lamb's sour milk smelling and muddy ears flap into his face. :) And at ti ...more

4 likes · Like · see review

Mar 31, 2012 Autumn Roberts added it · review of another edition

Shelves: m-m-romance

Apr 01, 2012 Enny rated it it was amazing

Apr 06, 2012 Stephanie rated it liked it

Shelves: did-not-finish, 2012

Apr 07, 2012 Anne Barwell marked it as to-read

Apr 11, 2012 Anvesha marked it as to-read

Apr 27, 2012 Cally73 rated it really liked it

Jun 11, 2012 Venecia rated it really liked it

Shelves: already-lent-out, y-artist, y-hidden-identity, y-island, reads-4-25-stars, y-location-scotland, romance, mm-romance, contemporary, y-location-uk