Tampa

De: Alissa Nutting

Narrado por: Kathleen McInerney

Celeste Price is an eighth-grade English teacher in suburban Tampa. She's undeniably attractive. She drives a red Corvette with tinted windows. Her husband, Ford, is rich, square-jawed, and devoted to her.

But Celeste's devotion lies elsewhere. She has a singular sexual obsession: 14-year-old boys. Celeste pursues her craving with sociopathic meticulousness and forethought; her sole purpose in becoming a teacher is to fulfill her passion and provide her access to her compulsion. As the novel opens, fall semester at Jefferson Jr. High is beginning.

In mere weeks, Celeste has chosen and lured the lusciously naive Jack Patrick into her web. Jack is enthralled and in awe of his teacher, and, most important, willing to accept Celeste's terms for a secret relationship - car rides after school; rendezvous at Jack's house while his single father works late; body-slamming encounters in Celeste's empty classroom between periods.

Ever mindful of the danger - the perpetual risk of exposure, Jack's father's own attraction to her, and the ticking clock as Jack leaves innocent boyhood behind - the hyperbolically insatiable Celeste bypasses each hurdle with swift thinking and shameless determination, even when the solutions involve greater misdeeds than the affair itself. In slaking her sexual thirst, Celeste Price is remorseless and deviously free of hesitation, a monstress driven by pure motivation. She deceives everyone, and cares nothing for anyone or anything but her own pleasure.

With crackling, rampantly unadulterated prose, Tampa is a grand, uncompromising, seriocomic examination of want and a scorching literary debut.

©2013 Alissa Nutting (P)2013 HarperCollins Publishers

American Psycho for the 21st Century

Oddly enough, the first book that I gave five stars to this year was My Dark Vanessa. Therefore, there is an odd bit of symmetry to giving five stars to Tampa, which stands as a sort of spiritual foe to the victim narrative. Tampa gives you the first-person perspective of a sexual predator, which may make the reader feel a sense of complicity in Celeste's transgressions, if they dare to push through the novel. Nonetheless, I am so glad that I gave this novel a chance.
Some things to know about Tampa, if you are tempted to give it a shot:
1) Like American Psycho, Tampa is a satire, and it is a damn funny novel, too. That said, like American Psycho, there is some content that may be tough for some readers to get through. Tampa is full of graphic sexual scenes between a 27-year-old woman and several 14-year-old boys, so if that is triggering for you, you might want to give this one a pass.
2) Celeste is truly a horrible human being with NO redeemable qualities. She is also a fascinating character with a wry sense of humor. If you are not offended by the novel's subject matter and enjoy dark comedies, Tampa might be right up your alley. Props to Alissa Nutting for making me laugh more than I wanted to while reading this novel.
3) This is not an action-packed thriller. That said, I was never bored by Tampa. This is a narrative about a sexual predator who is constantly manipulating everyone around her to get what she wants, giving the novel a confessional quality to it.
Tampa was brilliant, funny, and never boring. It was a breath of fresh air after reading so many slow-burn thrillers of late.

Disturbing book

Greag Narrator,but a dark book and very disturbing ,very gutsy of the Author fro writing this book.

Go Inside the Mind of a Female Sexual Predator

This book narrates the thoughts that display the psychological & emotional motivations that lie behind the aggressive sexuality of a female sexual predator of teenage boys. These urges lead to perilous situations that threaten the lives of all those involved. It’s a psychological high-wire balancing act of cravings and danger for those involved in these emotional & sexual situations.

woah

this is such a crazy story. although it describes some disgusting images.. it also brings to light that anyone can be a pedo in disguise.

Wonderfully messed up

Perfect for people who aren't disturbed easily and find feeling disgusting to be fascinating.

Great book

The author really gets in the head of Celeste, making her seem real. She’s not a likable character, but there are times I almost root for her. The narrator did a fantastic job as well.

So messed up.

This book gave me the ick on all levels but it made me aware as a mother. I rated it 5 stars because it was worth reading to learn that predators really are in the midst of us and not only men.

My draw was dropped the entire read

The narrator was immaculate. Love her voice.

The story was diabolical, Celeste was truly reprehensible. Amazing writing & prose.

twisted

the story is disturbing but beautifully written. it's hard to hear her delusions and not want to protect the boys as a mother.

Twisted but true read.

I couldn't help but keep thinking how well aligned this book was with reality. The twists and chaos kept me hooked. It was no doubt disturbing but the fact she got away with it and was able to continue to be a predator was insane. That was what aligned so well with the real world. A beautiful woman could never be guilty, how could someone like her do something like that? Makes you see the world in a different light. This book was well written and narrated. Want a book that makes you cringe but see women differently? this is the book for you.