Face Maskculinity

Lots of action and good writing

Reviewed in the United States on December 15, 2023

By Paul Lappen

Eric is a member of Congress, and a rising star in the national Democratic Party. The White House seems to be the next step, until an affair with Sue, another member of Congress, derails his political career. Sue is a satanist, and introduces Eric to satan. Why limit yourself to being President of the United States, when you can be dictator! For a while, Eric is married to Destiny, who he turns into his sex slave.

Robert is your average twentysomething living in Long Island. He lives with his mother, he doesn't own a car and he works a dead-end job at a local supermarket. He meets a woman named Destiny (the same one). After a night of sex, Robert is violently ill. He recovers, and discovers that he has incredible physical powers.

Eric's takeover of America, through a cult called Eye for an Eye, is complete. He and Sue are in the White House. Millions of people are dead. Robert and Destiny are the only ones who can stop him. Who is still alive at the end? (The author leaves room for a possible sequel.)

This is a really good story. It has lots of action and religion and sex. There is also lots of good writing. This book almost, but not quite, reaches the level of being an excellent book (it gets 4.5 stars). Yes, it is very much worth reading.

In Love with the Chimera

Worth reading 😎 

The couple that everyone spent screen time with suddenly aren't together, but the reality show continues to keep them at the forefront.

By Linda Besser

The three main couples in the story have backstories that are as complicated as they are varied adding personal history to each person's profile and challenges that each must overcome. These couples continue to evolve throughout the storyline until they become involved in a reality show. Christine and Adam are a professional couple having difficulties that explode one night. Terrell and Lin start to unravel after Terrell meets the new waitress at the bar. Jason and Kendal are siblings that are becoming successful in their own lives, until tragedy strikes. Then there is a deep dive into the celebrity lives of Jason and Sharon, who live the life of an uber-rich celebrity couple. The fairy-tale existence of Jason and Sharon is fading and after many tumultuous months the couple divorces. At this point, the genesis of the reality show "In Love with the Chimera", helps Jason to focus. He becomes directly involved in the creation and production and at the same time, he is the main subject of the show. Twenty-five women from all over the country vie to be Jason Jacobs's love interest. There are complications and an additional side plot to follow. The fast-moving and complex drama escalates, as all the characters' lives become entwined. 

This multi-layered story and the well-developed characters keep the reader's attention as the characters change and some surprises occur, intensifying the storyline. Some readers should be aware that there are many references to sexual innuendos and physical violence throughout the book, as well as profanity. I believe the sexual references, the language, and some violence were an integral part of the characters' lives. I thought I knew the characters and storyline, however, I met with some surprises and distressing events that added even more to the suspense. The book is worth the read and I rated it 3/5.

Face Maskculinity

Worth reading 😎 

Paul Bailey is either insane, a prophet, or the best writer in America

By Ralph Burton

I’m a Christian. But as a Christian, I pick up or consume any Christian art with a heavy heart. It wasn’t always this way. Back in the renaissance era we had the agony and the ecstasy. Now we have lifetime movies. It’s kind of depressing. But, Christian themes do interest me, and there’s nothing more powerful than an evocation of the battle between good and evil with God and the Devil. 

Paul Bailey’s Face Maskculinity intrigued me from the off. “What a bizarre title,” I thought. “What on earth could this be about?” It turns out this book is, spoiler alert, about covid. At least a metaphor about covid with a masked superhero and a corrupt, satanist President of the United States. It’s the sort of book where gallons of blood are poured on the White House Lawn. It’s the sort of book where the villain meets Satan in the depths of Hell. When the main female antagonist has a realisation, it’s “she wasn’t in love with him, just his cock”.

Such a religious book makes Latin Chanting and Hellfire itself look subtle, but you have to surrender to it. This book burns with passion. Has its heart in the right place. It’s the shotgun blast the pro-mask movement needs to fire with when it comes to lockdowns and Covid safety. And by god, does this book fire with a shotgun. This book fires with a thousand shotguns. 

Paul Bailey uses sex in this book as a blunt, crude object that emphasises its ugly, practical nature; his writing reminds me in this aspect not only of Murakami but of early 2010s Kanye West albums. I personally can't stand Kanye now, but his religious musings in “Yeezus” and “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy” are not without merit. Kanye has/ had a sleazy playful side, though, which Paul Bailey evidently does not — the sex in this book, while tinged with religion, is brutal, blunt and in your face. I’m not talking Lady Chatterley’s Lover here or Fifty Shades of Grey but genuine upsetting carnality that recalls Bret Easton Ellis and the grimy, gungy back-chapters of American Psycho. 

I’m not going to lie. This book fires in all directions. The cowboy approach may not be for some and it goes without saying, this book is an acquired taste. But as a Great Man once said, “thou has seen, thou has believed, but there are those who have not seen and yet believed.”

In Love with the Chimera

Urgent

By Amanda Lewis

I just finished reading In Love with the Chimera, and I must tell you, it’s truly one of the most dynamic, gripping, and emotionally charged books I’ve ever read. The complexity of the characters, the interwoven lives, and the raw exploration of love, fame, and personal demons make this novel a masterpiece in its own right. From the first page, I was utterly captivated by the intricate worlds of Christine, Terrell, and Jason, each navigating their personal struggles while being thrust into the chaotic whirlwind of the reality TV world.

What struck me most about In Love with the Chimera is the depth you’ve given each character. Christine is much more than a reluctant contestant; she’s a woman who has endured abuse yet maintains her inner strength and dignity. Her journey from being an unwilling participant to a top competitor on the show is both empowering and heartbreaking. The way you’ve written her character allows readers to deeply empathize with her while cheering her on at every turn.

Then there’s Terrell—his story really adds another layer of intensity. I found his narrative so compelling, especially the way you balance his charm as a bartender with the dark shadows of his past. You’ve crafted a character whose choices are flawed but understandable, making him feel real and relatable. His personal conflict, and the way his past threatens to dismantle his present, had me on the edge of my seat.

And Jason Jacobs—what a character! His portrayal as the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world, whose life has been torn apart by ego, tragedy, and fame, is remarkable. His decision to host a reality dating show to stay relevant seems like an extension of his larger-than-life persona, but underneath it all, you’ve woven in such vulnerability. The hidden depths of his pain and inner turmoil made me see him as more than just a celebrity figure. He’s a man grappling with loss and trying to put on a brave face for the world, which many readers will deeply connect with.

What makes In Love with the Chimera truly exceptional is how seamlessly you blend the glamorous, high-stakes world of reality TV with profound emotional struggles. The reality show setting adds a layer of tension and excitement that keeps the reader glued to the page, but it’s the characters’ personal stories that elevate the narrative to something far more meaningful. The way you juxtapose the superficiality of the competition with the raw, real pain each character hides beneath the surface is brilliant.

The twists and turns in the plot were completely unpredictable, keeping me guessing about who was sincere, who was lying, and who would ultimately triumph—not just in the show, but in their personal battles. The psychological layers you’ve added to Jason’s character, particularly the secret he harbors in his mansion, kept me riveted until the very end. It’s a powerful metaphor for the burdens we hide from the world, and I found it both haunting and beautiful.

Your writing style is incredibly engaging, with a perfect balance of drama, emotion, and suspense. Every scene feels cinematic, like I’m right there in the mansion or behind the scenes of the reality show. The pacing is spot on—there’s never a dull moment, yet you give each character the space to grow and evolve throughout the story.

In my opinion, In Love with the Chimera is not just a great novel—it’s a bold, thrilling, and insightful exploration of love, ambition, and the human condition. You’ve written something truly special, and I have no doubt this book will continue to resonate with readers for years to come. I’m already excited to see what you’ll create next!