Lost Memory of Skin

I have very strong opinions about sex offenders, as I'm sure many people do. I tend to see this issue as very black and white, but Russell Banks' latest novel Lost Memory of Skin, illustrates that there can be shades of grey. The main character, "the Kid," is a recently paroled sex offender. Typically, I have no tolerance for sex offenders, real or fictional, but Russell manages to create a very human and very sympathetic character.

The novel's premise is based on the actual colony of sex offenders that had been living under a causeway in Miami, Florida. Having no where else to go after his release from prison, the Kid takes up residence in this colony under the causeway. Soon he meets "the Professor." The Professor is a sociologist who is studying sex offenders and takes an interest in the Kid. From the Professor's interviews with the Kid, we learn the Kid's history, how he came to be a convicted sex offender, and what his life is like now. Russell does a superb job of capturing the Kid's fears and loneliness. While I didn't necessarily like the Kid, I found myself feeling sorry for him and wishing he could catch a break. This novel raises so many interesting questions about sex offenders, homelessness, and the criminal justice system, I think this book would make an excellent choice for book discussions. Squeamish readers need not fear: there are no descriptions of horrible sex acts. There is a lot of discussion about porn and masturbation and some crass language, but as a squeamish reader, I found it tolerable.