The Culvert by Clint Adams (2005-06-20) Paperback

This self published novel is riddled with typos and tediously padded with a lot of pointless narrative ie long digressions like "He did this and then he walked across the room and opened a drawer and did that then he decided to take a shower so he turned on the water" . As an example The author takes the better part of a chapter to describe the venue for a wedding reception. He also struggles mightily with dialogue which is not remotely authentic to any one who has ever known or been a 13 year old boy. Sadly the underlying story could have actually been pretty interesting. Handsome nerdy goody two shoes boy is set upon and sexually assaulted by a slightly older bully/sexual psychopath, becomes traumatized and finds a way to strike back after enduring a ridiculous amount of cliche psychobabble from the clueless adults around him. The ending is a let down and the author could have well cut back on his earlier padding and given us a final chapter or epilogue that closes loose ends. Be he didn't

Great book. I've read all 3 of Clint's books and found this one the most interesting. There are a number of typo errors,but if you're not a grammar nazi, you'll enjoy. I do believe that the author dictated this to an early version of talk-to-printed word software and there were some words that didn't pan out. Also, I think his editors should have done a better job proofing the work. That being said, there were some slow spots and many fast spots. The thought process of the main character, Will, is wonderful. He is molested by the school bully and goes through the mental anguish that any 13 year old kid might experience. Rather than strike out at the bully and his accomplices, Will works his way through what happened to him and how to stop the bully from continuing with his perverse activity. It's nice to read a story where the hero moves on, past his ordeal, to help others and to continue with a normal life. It's also interesting to read about how the adult world treats victims of sexual molestation. Mr.Adams did a remarkable job with the story and the plot. I highly recommend that this book is read by anyone who has been sexually molested and is struggling to see their way through it. The story ran from slow to steady to fast for pacing. There were a few spots that were dragging. On the other hand, there were spots that flew by. So, it's rather difficult to come up with 1 word. Mainly, it moved at a good clip and kept my interest through out. When I got to the end, I wanted more. I can see a sequel to this book and hope that Mr.Adams takes us into the next level of Will's life.In conclusion.....READ IT !!!! Don't get hung up on the typo errors. Read the story for what it is and don't correct it with a red pen.

A good story with a very likeable main character (and some very unlikeable secondary characters). I read the entire book in 2 days over the course of several hours. The writing is a bit amateurish and the typo's are extensive. I have never seen so many words misspelled or used in the wrong context (Champaign?, Waist vs Waste, the list goes on and on). This book, although I enjoyed it and DO recommend it, left me asking why they could not hire an editor for a book that cost $30. Way overpriced for a 277 page book with poor editing and writing that showcases an author who is far from his prime.

They say you should write about what you know. Apparently that is what Clint Adams has been doing in his three adult novels, "The Culvert," "Boarding School," and "Seventh Ritual." Each novel is about child sexual abuse. "Boarding School" is as sexually explicit as you can get, while "The Seventh Ritual" is almost incomprehensible. "The Culvert" is the more mainstream of the three, being about a boy standing up to a bully and his toadies who sexually abuse him in a culvert in the woods. It is a descent story, well told. You can't help but root for the main character. Though the writing style is a bit amateurish at times, the book is very readable.

ANOTHER BOOK FROM AMAZON WODERFUL DELIVERY AND WELL PACKED..THE CULVERT WRITTEN BY CLINT ADAMS, IS A POWERFUL STORY ABOUT ABUSE. FROM START TO FINISH IT HAD ME SITTING ON THE EDGE OF MY SEAT,NOT ABLE TO ANSWER MY PHONE OR GO OUT TO VISIT FRIENDS. THE BOY INVOLVED IN THIS VERY POWERFUL STORY WENT THROUGH HELL, AND BACK. AT TIMES I JUST WANTED TO JUMP IN THERE AND HELP HIM. THE WRITER KNOWS HOW TO MAKE THIS BOOK A GREAT EXPERIENCE.. THE ENDING MADE MY HEART BEAT FASTER AND FASTER, THE TEARS JUST FLOWED FROM ME, YES ITS SO VERY POWERFUL. THE ENDING IS SO GREAT, AND I SAID TO MYSELF, THANK GOD FOR THAT.. READ THIS BOOK.. YOU WONT BE SORRY.

The author is very talented. He takes you into the minds of these young boys. He describes the shame and the fear of facing their peers, after a sexual attack being forced upon them.I found this book very interesting and could not put it down, once I had started it.

This book should be on young teens school reading lists, as I am sure many youngsters go through their own hell, even if it not as extreme as Will's, and keep it to themselves. Written with much heart-searching, I am sure.

Harrowing tale of young adolescent boy named Will being bullied and ultimately being sexually molested by forced masturbation by the town bully who has this odd logic that if he jerks Will off through his underwear it means Will is gay.Says a lot more about the bully,Jake,than anyone else since Jake seems to enjoy this form of bullying.Great job of showing Will surviving and ultimately conquering this adversity,fun to read and a great story.