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The Untold Unlocking Of Secrets
“In an alternate reality I would probably be a murderer, and I feel no shame in saying I would be happy.” - The voice inside my head.
James was the Gullible child who practically grew up without a mother or father, letting his curiosity guide him.
Obsessed and hooked on sex by the age of eight before knowing what it was.
He received no affection from his father, who left Haiti before he was born, or his mother, whom he lived with but never took the time to know him. It's no wonder he let his curiosity guide him, at least he got answers when he had questions, even if they weren't always right.
As he got older, his smile became his greatest weapon. No one would ever think to accuse him of having something to hide if he could fake a smile better than a real one.
The Untold is an unusual and entertaining story to remember. Penetrating deep into the darkest and most disturbing corners of the Mind. James takes you inside the head of a boy who plays the role of his own father and mother and shows you what the outcome of finding things out on his own lead to.
James was the Gullible child who practically grew up without a mother or father, letting his curiosity guide him.
Obsessed and hooked on sex by the age of eight before knowing what it was.
He received no affection from his father, who left Haiti before he was born, or his mother, whom he lived with but never took the time to know him. It's no wonder he let his curiosity guide him, at least he got answers when he had questions, even if they weren't always right.
As he got older, his smile became his greatest weapon. No one would ever think to accuse him of having something to hide if he could fake a smile better than a real one.
The Untold is an unusual and entertaining story to remember. Penetrating deep into the darkest and most disturbing corners of the Mind. James takes you inside the head of a boy who plays the role of his own father and mother and shows you what the outcome of finding things out on his own lead to.
106 pages, ebook
First published October 14, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
September 19, 2015
The Untold-Unlocking of Secrets is gripping story of a young man’s coming of age at a very early age in his native Haiti. The topics of childhood abandonment, sexual addiction and suicidal thoughts are addressed in a raw and honest manner. The author does an excellent job of pulling the reader into his story through the voice of his younger self. The reality of his life is raw and difficult to face. His writing is clear and engaging and I definitely got the picture of what his coming-of-age was like. The cultural aspects were very interesting and added to the intrigue of the story.
As a reader I had some difficulty with the repetitive sexually explicit details and felt there should have been warning about that. In his defense, I do think he wanted to tell his story as authentically as possible and in that vein, he did accomplish this authenticity.
The main issue I had related to his story structure. I believe a memoir has to show redemption and leave the reader with a sense of satisfaction that the hero has overcome the obstacles. While he paints a very vivid picture of the obstacles, the ending fell flat and abruptly for me. I knew he had survived but I wanted to know a little more about that experience.
This story is important in shedding light on the impact of childhood abandonment and is well-written, I have to give it 3-stars due to multiple typos and what I felt as a reader to have an incomplete narrative arc. I would read other works by this author as I feel he possesses the ability to engage his reader and makes them want to know more.
As a reader I had some difficulty with the repetitive sexually explicit details and felt there should have been warning about that. In his defense, I do think he wanted to tell his story as authentically as possible and in that vein, he did accomplish this authenticity.
The main issue I had related to his story structure. I believe a memoir has to show redemption and leave the reader with a sense of satisfaction that the hero has overcome the obstacles. While he paints a very vivid picture of the obstacles, the ending fell flat and abruptly for me. I knew he had survived but I wanted to know a little more about that experience.
This story is important in shedding light on the impact of childhood abandonment and is well-written, I have to give it 3-stars due to multiple typos and what I felt as a reader to have an incomplete narrative arc. I would read other works by this author as I feel he possesses the ability to engage his reader and makes them want to know more.
October 20, 2015
The author gave me a copy of this novel in exchange for my review.
“The Untold Unlocking of Secrets” is uncomfortable to read. Told in a very matter of fact style, the narrator doesn’t gloss over the worst of the young subjects experiences. Jean-Pierre paints a landscape view of growing up in Haiti with a mother that raises her children with a mostly brutal hand and an absentee father who descends from his home in the US like a celebrity raining US $1.
Some of the anecdotal stories are really interesting. Jean-Pierre paints a solid picture of the Haitian superstition while underlining the practical nature. The narrator’s father is visiting when they hear an unexplained scratching. The father swears it’s a vampire but when he swings his machete in panic, it turns out to have been a cat. The purpose of the cat once dispatched is as food for the family though, to add a new tally mark to the narrator’s list of sins, he consumes the meat before it can be shared.
The narration style is inelegant but effective. Readers looking for a solid ending will be disappointed. There will clearly be future instalments in the telling of the narrator’s journey.
There are things people never talk about and usually for good reason. Jean-Pierre manages to bring those things forward giving them an explanation of sorts if never an excuse. If you like tales of authentic human lives, check this one out.
“The Untold Unlocking of Secrets” is uncomfortable to read. Told in a very matter of fact style, the narrator doesn’t gloss over the worst of the young subjects experiences. Jean-Pierre paints a landscape view of growing up in Haiti with a mother that raises her children with a mostly brutal hand and an absentee father who descends from his home in the US like a celebrity raining US $1.
Some of the anecdotal stories are really interesting. Jean-Pierre paints a solid picture of the Haitian superstition while underlining the practical nature. The narrator’s father is visiting when they hear an unexplained scratching. The father swears it’s a vampire but when he swings his machete in panic, it turns out to have been a cat. The purpose of the cat once dispatched is as food for the family though, to add a new tally mark to the narrator’s list of sins, he consumes the meat before it can be shared.
The narration style is inelegant but effective. Readers looking for a solid ending will be disappointed. There will clearly be future instalments in the telling of the narrator’s journey.
There are things people never talk about and usually for good reason. Jean-Pierre manages to bring those things forward giving them an explanation of sorts if never an excuse. If you like tales of authentic human lives, check this one out.
October 18, 2015
The untold unlocking of secrets was a very intriguing book . The depths and contents of this book spoke to me, it showed its utter naked truth. The complete rawness of this book left me flabbergasted, It was simply explicit. I feel the author executed every single chapter with such truths. My only critique would be the lack of emotions with the relationship with samone, it could have been expressed more in detail to show their profound love for one another.
June 22, 2020
Eh
It was easily readable, but no real meat to the story. And it ended really abruptly without resolution. Can’t say I’d recommend
It was easily readable, but no real meat to the story. And it ended really abruptly without resolution. Can’t say I’d recommend
October 5, 2016
While it was an interesting view of this person growing up and very much made the point of kids needing actual adults to guide them growing up, I can't say it was fun to read. Not that the material was difficult to stomach or anything, but the flow of language was more like how people talk which I find rough to follow in print.
February 21, 2018
I found some parts of the story disturbing. Actually quite disturbing.
April 10, 2016
In "Unlocking Of Secrets" the first book in a unique and gripping series that I won through Goodreads Giveaways, James Jean-Pierre paints the portrait of a Haitian boy abandoned by his father before birth and raised by an unaffectionate mother who grows up with no positive influence or moral compass in his life. Considered a troublemaker and hooked on sex at eight he moves with his mother to the United States and painfully comes -of-age facing his parents separation, being sexually exploited, intimidated and threatened by his mother's boyfriend, only to find betrayal and heartbreak with the girlfriend he loves.
With anecdotal stories the author brings to life a boy raised in the Haitian culture where there's no sex education except through curiosity and experimentation, and childhood stories of voodoo and unnatural deaths lead to the killing of a cat thought to be a vampire. James Jean-Pierre's style of writing is unconventional as he draws the reader into memories that are raw, gritty and often sexually- explicit. The mood is darkly oppressive as he explores themes of abandonment, abuse, sexual addiction, betrayal and suicidal thoughts which strangely make you root for the young man who sees only futility in his life and future. Yet perhaps the memoir is cathartic in nature and in future stories help will be found to heal this emotionally-depleted and vulnerable soul.
"Unlocking Of Secrets" is short, unusual but entertaining as a boy unfettered by conventional morality, abandoned and betrayed searches for his identity, a place in the world and even love only to flounder and look to death as a way out of his heartache. Without a definitive ending the story goes on and it will be interesting to see if James eventually finds love and hope with Samone, the only person willing to throw him a life preserver in the rough water of his life.
With anecdotal stories the author brings to life a boy raised in the Haitian culture where there's no sex education except through curiosity and experimentation, and childhood stories of voodoo and unnatural deaths lead to the killing of a cat thought to be a vampire. James Jean-Pierre's style of writing is unconventional as he draws the reader into memories that are raw, gritty and often sexually- explicit. The mood is darkly oppressive as he explores themes of abandonment, abuse, sexual addiction, betrayal and suicidal thoughts which strangely make you root for the young man who sees only futility in his life and future. Yet perhaps the memoir is cathartic in nature and in future stories help will be found to heal this emotionally-depleted and vulnerable soul.
"Unlocking Of Secrets" is short, unusual but entertaining as a boy unfettered by conventional morality, abandoned and betrayed searches for his identity, a place in the world and even love only to flounder and look to death as a way out of his heartache. Without a definitive ending the story goes on and it will be interesting to see if James eventually finds love and hope with Samone, the only person willing to throw him a life preserver in the rough water of his life.
April 11, 2016
`this was a goodreads giveaway winner book~
I read this book in one day. This book was very sad, disturbing and a uncomfortable book to read but I had to finish hoping it would get better. If you don't like detailed images of sexual content, this book is not for you. It is sad this little boy from Haiti was not cared for or had guidance from his parents or his family.
I read this book in one day. This book was very sad, disturbing and a uncomfortable book to read but I had to finish hoping it would get better. If you don't like detailed images of sexual content, this book is not for you. It is sad this little boy from Haiti was not cared for or had guidance from his parents or his family.
April 9, 2016
This is a Gooreads win review. This book as a most unique topic. It is a sad for me for to read about what this little boy from Haiti went through in his life. A mean mother and father he was pretty much left to raising himself. He became hooked on sex by age 8. I could not put the book down because I really wanted to know the end.
February 12, 2016
Interesting
This was an interesting read. I couldn't put it down because I wanted to know what happens next. I would definitely recommend.
This was an interesting read. I couldn't put it down because I wanted to know what happens next. I would definitely recommend.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews