The novel starts as Jay Winston's life begins to fall apart. He's an English man living and working in San Diego. He's a University professor. A trusted man. Until suddenly he's not. At times his only confidant is Robbie, his dead brother, who offers advice from beyond the grave.

The author tackles some incredibly difficult and sensitive subjects with integrity and skill.
This is a novel about grief and learning to cope with it; and it's about marriage and learning to value one's intended life partner; and it's about coming to terms with addiction and learning how to move on; and it's about guilt and learning when it's relevant and when it's not - and ultimately it's a novel about finding oneself when all else seems lost.

The characterisation is first class. The various relationships evolve through subtle nuances to offer hope where once there was none. A reading experience that urges one to embark on a journey of self-discovery.

Jay Winston is struggling with addiction, he's haunted by a terrible childhood memory and his marriage isn't what it used to be. But the British sociology professor believes he has found his soulmate in Eve, a teaching assistant he is mentoring at the San Diego university where he works. But after a night of lovemaking at a San Francisco conference, his world begins to collapse when he's accused of forcing her to have sex in order to get a job on the faculty.

Deeply introspective, "Beating Against the Current" is a gripping chronicle of Jay's painful journey into his past as he tries to discover who he really is. I especially liked author Grimes' treatment of Jay as a flawed individual who makes cringe-worthy mistakes but desperately wants to embark on a path to redemtion and prove to the world, and himself, that he's not a monster.

Not only is the book populated with realistic characters, it also contains some beautiful imagery of the landscape, skies and buildings Jay encounters during his quest. Reading the book was a near roller-coaster ride, with lots of twists and turns, but with an ending that makes you glad you went on the emotional ride.

If I could, I'd give it 4 1/2 stars. Highly recommended.

The author is a fellow book club member and I was prepared for an underwhelming book, but I’m happy to report I was kinda blown away. This is a legitimate treatment of the #metoo phenomenon. The book was hard to put down. I was drawn into the story, the ambiguity of Jay’s position, and how he dealt with the impacts of his actions on himself, his accuser, his employer, and especially his wife and family. The intertwining of Jay’s childhood trauma with his current situation was deftly handled. I thought the ending was a little too neat and tidy, though the resolution of the court case against Jay is left to the reader’s imagination. While the writing quality still has a way to go, the story was so strong I didn’t notice the writing weaknesses. 

Jay is at times exasperating, initially oblivious to the consequences of his actions, at work as well as at home. But the story pulls you along and creates a sense of dissonance in the reader’s mind. I was willing to give him a chance to grow and see how he gradually comes to take responsibility for his actions. Strong female characters occur throughout the book, all of whom had agency and control over their lives. There is a strong sense of place in the US and the UK, and the binational element provides an alternative angle on Jay’s life. As a baby boomer I enjoyed references to familiar songs embedded in the narrative. The author clearly enjoys the playfulness of language.

In 'Beating Against the Current (BATC)' frustrated Californian academic Jay Winston's life quickly implodes after a one-night fling with his protege Yvette, at a conference hotel. Later when he expects her to return a kiss in the staff lounge - she instead backs off, and then accuses him of sexual misconduct. Jay realizes he has torpedoed his idyllic life and nuclear family. The college where Jay works, he shoots and asks questions later. BATC is good as we follow the labyrinthine turns of the legal case against Jay evolve. Unfortunately, his early advice comes from Jay's wife (conveniently a lawyer), in a monotone fashion, subsequently we don't learn much more about the personal perspective of the aggrieved wife. Some other characters are too briefly sketched to surface from Jays inner monologue. The exceptions are Jay's sister and an old hippy friend - Bailey, whom we meet as Jay returns to Europe for his dying mother's last days, and some urgent soul-searching. Jay has a drink problem and survivor guilt over the death of a sibling in childhood. A violent interlude at Bailey's home where Jay finds his inner hero seems contrived. Jay learns too easily about an event in Yvette's past which pushes his case towards a settlement. Finally Jay's catharsis in BATC reunites him in the bosom of his family, and we are glad to hear it!

The book tackles a very difficult subject and story is strong enough, but the conclusion leaves the reader in limbo, which I found difficult to accept. Perhaps I missed nuances, but the last third of the book seems to conflict with the realism of the story. 

This book interested me, a licensed psychotherapist of more than 30 years. Through dialog and the narrator’s voice, it presents the stinkin-thinkin and disturbed conduct of an addict, a man daft to the interplay between the personal and political. I can imagine it stimulating provocative conversations. Get it, read it, talk through it.

Well-written and interesting account of a #MeToo situation, from the male point of view. It was hard to empathise with the protagonist, but the novel skilfully charts grey areas and shifting perspectives, as he struggles to achieve greater understanding and self-awareness. I wondered how long the 'happy end' would last.

An interesting storyline exploring sexual harassment and personal responsibility for both the man and woman involved, well done.