Without ongoing pain, could religion exist? That’s one of many unusual conjectures posited by the complex novel ATONEMENT CAMP FOR UNREPENTANT HOMOPHOBES by Evan J. Corbin. Odd yet interesting is a bio describing Corbin in a way that comes off perhaps even more intriguing than many of the characters in his very unique book. This “playboy socialite” who dabbles in “questionable life choices that always lead to good memories” has produced a work of fiction with a hugely clever premise: that there exists a long-hidden passage from the Gospel’s book of Mark in which Jesus supports LGBT people and condemns homophobia and that now the time has come to release it.
The much gay-friendlier world finally seems ready to receive such a thing, even though Pastor Rick certainly isn’t. Ever since the Pope came out of the closet, most people’s perspectives on gay folk have evolved, but Pastor Rick holds the New Revelation in scorn. His flock and church elders may have changed their opinions regarding morality, but 27 year-old Pastor Rick firmly states and believes that God has not. Though it is sadly true that his flock has been abandoning the church–built by Pastor Rick’s (also homophobic) daddy–in droves. While the adult Rick, along with many of the other quite extensive cast of characters in the book seem wooden and somewhat difficult to relate to or root for, Rick’s younger self is more fully fleshed out and alive. For readers already overly-familiar with Biblical rhetoric spewed against homosexuals, being subjected to pages of such hate may feel like an assault. However the plot does eventually twist to reveal that young Ricky himself was once in love with a wonderful boy named Garrett, and these scenes of the two of them wrestling and adventuring in scary drain pipes, kissing and getting secretly (and then forthrightly) turned on are some of the book’s most engaging sections. Also intriguing is the Atonement Camp Pastor Rick is sent to, a reverse immersion/indoctrination program for straight people who have a problem with gays; another highly novel idea. There’s also some kind of mystery afoot at this camp, a place which may not be all that it initially seems.
ATONEMENT CAMP FOR UNREPENTANT HOMOPHOBES by Evan J. Corbin is an exceptionally unique novel exploring the ravages of homophobia in society from completely distinctive angles.
~C.S. Holmes for IndieReader