Jon Raymond's new novel, titled 'God and Sex', pushes the limits of realism by exploring the themes of faith and lust amid human complexities. The narrative follows Arthur, a quasi-academic author, who experiences moments of existential doubt and grapples with questions of divine interference in his life. The book's title reflects its provocative nature, and despite lacking traditional romantic elements, it delves into the deeper challenges of human experience and belief. The foreboding narrative style signals a journey of introspection and uncertainty, characteristic of Raymond's works.
Raymond pushes further in this latest book, finding the bounds of realism in faith and lust. In these most extreme, animal moments of humanity, his characters pray that a God they don’t believe in will save them, and toil wondering if He has slighted them for their sexcapades.
I think that's a good place to write from, that sense of aporia or unresolvable doubt. Something that you have, legitimately, totally bifurcated opinions about, that's a good place to excavate.
Though before anything racy happens, Raymond's self-effacing narrator hangs this foreboding preface over the horny first act, wondering where he made a wrong turn: Maybe this was the moment the universe began talking to me, when the veil tore and the signs began coming through.
The movies are gorgeously upsetting. Sexy, not so much. Raymond's solo work tends to include a few more fireworks.
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