Skillfully done, thought-provoking

June 24, 2014 by John Phiser on Amazon | 5.0 out of 5 stars

he&She by Wayne Clark is a truly fascinating story – from the prologue which simultaneously shocks and provokes sympathy the book follows the life of Kit Cayman as his world lurches from one disappointment to the next failure. Despite a promising university education he ends up working as a waiter, and eventually becomes a translator, though not of literary works as he’d dreamed, but translating management or technical documents day after day. In his relationships it’s a similar story, sexual frustration, disappointment, disconnection with the women he meets, until he discovers the Egyptian Princess – a dominatrix he finds online. They meet, and Kit’s life takes a positive turn – he feels fulfilled and can indulge his deepest sexual urges, stops drinking, even loses weight until his obsession takes over and he wants more than she will give. It’s all downhill from then on as Kit’s work dwindles, his drinking increases again and his health suffers, coming full circle. Clark very skillfully draws a detailed portrait of Kit and explores in depth the finer points of the tragic nature of this man’s struggle with himself and his self-centered existence. So compelling; a book that you’ll still be thinking about long after you’ve finished reading it.