Structure

The book maintains a primary structural focus on the traumatic events of Conley’s late teens as he struggles with the implications of his sexuality and the destructive effects of the intolerant culture in which he was raised. The book opens in June of 2004 when Conley arrived at LIA. As the book proceeds, it alternates back and forth between the narrative of Conley’s time at LIA and the narrative of the events leading up to Conley becoming a patient there. This structure allows Conley to create a narrative scope that encompasses many different sources of trauma, from the intolerant nature of his hometown community to the destructive effects of sexual reorientation therapy.

Within this narrative superstructure, Conley moves freely between relevant events and concepts as applied to his personal experiences and the traumas therein. For example, he narrative develops a few key people within his personal...