carol 's Reviews > The Book of Daniel

The title initially made me angry and my intention was to denounce anything perverted or possibly pedophile linked to the seller in order to get it banned. I abhor abuse of children. What I find is an unfortunately named title that will put most readers off, yet borderline apt. What you get is a young child Daniel who is out of sync with the majority of his peers and adults alike. Who is told and so fears he is different to the point of in today's speak 'a child with special needs and learning difficulties'. In reality perhaps a slower learner or late bloomer but with a potentially high IQ who has difficulty processing things as literal and in many ways unable to deal with the abstract. This leads him to stand out from the crowd and a prime target for bullies both child and adult including teachers in authority who should never have been. A child who today may be even be seen to be within the wider spectrum of the autistic scale as a high achiever. Daniel seemed to crave love, acceptance and acknowledgment by his father, who sadly committed the most awful levels of emotional and corporal punishment abuse, yet this was common experience for many children from past generations until the change in society's mindset in recent years.
My empathy and compassion, my own experiences from childhood to parenthood, nursing and teaching were recalled and roused. In part I've been that child, experienced those bullies and abusers, had teachers good and bad like Daniel, worse seen colleagues in authority behave and treat other children in this way. I'm glad this child found a friend protector, educator, sponser, supporter and ultimately lover. These two boys were still children, one a little older but still a child, they are drawn to each other and there affinity eventually includes exploring and learning about their bodies, their awakening sexuality until consummation; It is about need, caring and love. There is something beautiful even nurturing about this growing friendship and love. Today it would be frowned upon, with the eldest denounced and maybe put on some sex offenders register. Yet it is a well written story that shows the naturalness of these boys emotions and growing sexuality including there normal sexual orientation at their age for them. I can't denounce it. I understand it. I was saddened by the events that overcame their friendship at that important time in their young
lives. I look forward to reading more from Patrick Notchtree. English is very good and a well written tale so just 5 stars.