Many people will read this story and think it’s just a
story, made up by an author who writes fiction. But there are some of us who
will understand that bad stuff like this happens to kids. It’s not only in faraway
countries, it’s here, wherever you are it’s there and real! I think the best
thing Cody did in this book was not to make it Christy’s story but made it
Michael’s story. No good person would want to know what goes on in the head of
a person who lived the way Christy did. But Michael’s story wasn’t about all
the bad stuff that happened to Christy. It was about helping Christy live with
all the bad stuff that happened to him. My one thought when reading this book
was if anything in it is fiction, I hope it's not Michael. This book gave me a
goal. I will find a Michael! It's very important to know that this is real!
People like me have lived this and I will always live with it, but with help, I
hope to not live it. This book gives me hope that I will get better and that I
can be ok. I want to say thank you to Cody for writing this, for showing people
how hard life can be for people like Christy and me. I think everyone should
read this book even if you don’t like gay people. You should read this to
understand what kids go through all the time, but people try to hide it. ~Timmy
Omorphi by C. Kennedy
Read the first chapter of Omorphi
High school senior Michael Sattler leads a charmed life. He’s a star athlete, has great friends, and parents who love him just the way he is. What’s missing from his life is a boyfriend. That’s a problem because he’s out only to his parents and best friend. When Michael accidentally bumps into Christy Castle at school, his life changes in ways he never imagined. Christy is Michael’s dream guy: smart, pretty, and sexy. But nothing could have prepared Michael for what being Christy's boyfriend would entail.
Christy needs to heal after years of abuse and knows he needs help to do it. After the death of his notorious father, he leaves his native Greece and settles in upstate New York. Alone, afraid, and left without a voice, Christy hides the myriad scars of his abuse. He desperately wants to be loved and when he meets Michael, he dares to hope that day has arrived. When one of Michael’s team-mates becomes an enemy and an abuser from Christy’s past seeks to return him to a life of slavery, only Michael and Christy's combined strength and unwavering determination can save them from the violence that threatens to destroy their future together.
Timmy, I truly feel that it's books like Omorphi that give hope to you and others who have lived with horrific abuse. Cody did such a good job weaving the relationship between Michael and Christy. Michael is Christy's strength and we all need someone like that in our lives. We all need people who love us for who we are and for what we've been though. From the bottom of my heart I believe there is a Michael out there for you. Someday, sweetheart, you will find your Michael.
ReplyDeleteI'm profoundly grateful that you found Omorphi and Cody. I'm also profoundly grateful for authors like Cody Kennedy who write stories of such love and hope and healing.
Awesome review, my friend.
Thanks Sandy! I thank god daily for Cody and my new family. I am lucky to have such great people in my life now.
DeleteTimmy
Very nice review. I am glad it found a home, because it's to good not to have one. So proud of you Timmy.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad it found a home too! :) Thanks for reading Nancy
DeleteTimmy
Love your review, Timmy. I agree with your observation that this book gives hope. I told Cody I wish I'd had books like his when I was younger. One thing I can tell you is- it will get better. The road is bumpy but we reach our happy place. Stay strong friend <3
ReplyDeleteCody's book will help so many people. I hope to get it out in libraries.
Delete<3 Timmy
Great review, Timmy. Bless you, Timmy, you will find your Michael. And thank you, Cody, for telling the stories and shedding light on the trials some of our children suffer. <3
ReplyDeleteI will find my Michael! I have faith in that, and he will be everything I every dreamed of!
Delete<3 Timmy
Thank you for dropping by and commenting, PattieAnnie. More importantly, thank you for investing yourself in our children who do suffer. The world needs more like you. <3
Delete"People like me have lived this and I will always live with it, but with help, I hope to not live it." What a beautiful sentence! This is healing! Thank you Cody for the heartwarming book ... Thank you Timmy for the heartwarming review! Everyone can pick a part of this book that touches them personally. What great books do! Love you both from Alaska
ReplyDeleteI heal daily. There are set backs, but more and more often I recover from them quicker then the set back before.
Delete<3 Timmy
Thank you for reading Omorphi, Ann. More importantly, thank you for helping our children. <3
DeleteCody, I can see why this one is your favourite review. It's certainly the most important one. Timmy, you continue to amaze and inspire me. Not just with your wonderful reviews, but also with your insights and phenomenal strength. You have now found your true family and in time you will find your Michael, and he will love you for all that you are.
ReplyDeleteIt is important, Aniko. Thank you for saying so. <3
DeleteTimmy, I just discovered this review (and you, actually, because of your wonderful review of Theo Fenraven's Weatherboy). This looks like a tough book to read, emotionally, but I know it's gotten rave reviews, and because you've said 'everyone should read this', I'll read it. I haven't "met" Michael yet, but I can, without a doubt, assure you that the world is full of wonderful people - they don't exist only in fiction.
ReplyDeleteIt is a very emotional book, but it's so worth the tears I shed. There was laughter and good feelings as well. I'm glad you decided to read it. Please let me know your thoughts after you have.
Delete<3 Timmy
You've inspired me today to read more of your words and so it is I find myself back here - realizing I never told you what I thought of Omorphi. It's one of those books - it doesn't feel right to say, "I loved it," - but I will say "thank you" for saying everyone should read it - I'm glad I did. I'll just post my GR review below:
ReplyDeleteI have a dilemma. I need to go Christmas shopping. Christmas is in about a week but I have yet to start shopping. But… I also need to leave a review for Omorphi, because if I don’t do it now, I’ll forget. The problem is, this is such a big story that it’s hard to leave just a quick review, but I’m going to do my best because my husband is literally getting ready to go warm up the car.
This was not an easy book to read. If I had read the author’s notes at the end, I’d have probably not made it past the first chapter. The abuse that Christy suffered is beyond horrific. But Omorphi is NOT about the abuse – not at all. Omorphi is completely about Christy’s amazing strength and Michael’s devotion to him. I’ve never met a character with as much inner determination than Christy, but, that said, he still has his triggers and his weaknesses. That’s where Michael comes in. When Christy stumbles, Michael is there to pick him up and help him move forward.
I’m grateful that C. Kennedy introduced us to the abusive aspects of this story in the past tense. Had I had to “witness” it in the present tense, I don’t think I could’ve gotten past it – but it was very well done. By the time you realize what Christy went through, you already know him well enough to know he will overcome it with the help of therapy and loved ones.
There’s so much I want to say in this review, but it’s probably best I’m short on time because it would either get too personal or reveal parts of the story best left to the readers. Suffice it to say, this is a story that everyone should read – simply for the fact that every single person needs to be aware that while this is a fictional story, this stuff really happens.
Thanks for coming back and letting me know what you thought! Great review. This is a great book and I'm glad to see that you made the same recommendation for everyone to read it.
Delete<3 Timmy