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Fingernails by J Peters is a beautifully written part romance, part
biographical novel. Though the novel is short, its narrative has strict voice
and an amazing sense of intensity. After reading it in one sitting at night, I
woke up with a feeling that love is a delicate fabric, only those who care for
it can handle and deserve it.
Since the protagonist of the novel is a college
lad ‘Jacques’, I personally feel that the novel got a juvenile attitude towards
a tender feeling called love. It is right to reckon that the young lad screwed
up his love life owing to mean friends around and some mental instability
issues. From college guys, maturity cannot be expected overnight, thus I
understood why there were a lot of mood swings and disturbances when the lead
guy is chasing his girl Dorothea.
The story is
backdropped against a college in Freedomtown where the lead character Jacques
is all excited about his coming college years, especially when he gets into a
group of friends. Some of his roommates were slightly senior; however, when he
gets into second year things become too loud and chaotic for him. He is shy and
introvert and often seeks advice from one of his friends (Vito) to win heart of
the girl called Dorothea. Love in adolescence portrayed perfectly. Till midway
or until Dorothea goes away to London for higher studies, Jacques seemed
lusting after her. It was fun reading till then, especially the episodes where
his friend Mcdaggot beats him and cash on the opportunity to sleep with Dorothea.
Friends are not so loyal at college time – some are good like Shagwell but
others may play politics for girls and bread.
Without giving
away much, the novel is a good mix of adolescent desires, fun with friends,
college on campus & off campus events, drugs, and of course stints of love.
I hope the novel is fully fictional, so that I could say that the
characterization of Jacques was solid to an extent beyond my anticipation.
Overall, I liked the novel and now I am all set to his next one – University on Watch.
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