ATONEMENT CAMP FOR UNREPENTANT HOMOPHOBES

In Corbin’s debut satire, a pastor feels lost in a world that accepts all sexual orientations.

At the opening of Corbin’s novel, a stunning archaeological discovery in Syria has upended religion and culture all around the world: The oldest copy of the Gospel of Mark reveals that Jesus ministered to a gay man and declared him “blessed among all people.” However, amid a wave of coming-out celebrations and “voluntary reparations programs,” not everyone is happy about the sudden shift to acceptance. Twenty-seven-year-old Pastor Rick Harris of Hickory, North Carolina, takes after his gruff father—who was pastor of their church before him—and delivers a fire-and-brimstone warning against anyone believing in this so-called “New Revelation.” But his elders inform him that times have changed, and Rick either has to attend an “atonement camp” in Virginia or lose his job. There to greet him at the airport are drag performer counselors Marilyn Man Hoe and the “indelible” Eileen Right, who pop champagne in the car as they welcome the square, disgusted Rick to a camp with luxurious 700-thread-count sheets, seminars on the AIDS crisis, and a troupe of shirtless, helpful pool boys (even though there’s no pool at the camp). Rick befriends other attendees, including his roommate, Jimmy Simons, and they set off on a wild investigation after Rick receives a mysterious note telling him the camp is not as it seems and that he must seek out the truth. At the same time, however, Rick can’t deny childhood memories that resurface or his growing, loving bond with Jimmy, which will challenge his beliefs.

Over the course of the story, Corbin offers readers a clever inversion of societal pressures that yields a wealth of possibilities for exploring themes of homophobia and self-acceptance. The author manages to find a wealth of gags in the topsy-turvy world he’s created in these pages, and he pits Rick against larger-than-life characters who deliver scathing takedowns alongside gentle messages of self-care. The book often goes in for obvious jokes, playing with gay stereotypes left and right, but its punchlines really hit home thanks to Corbin’s fast pacing and quick wit. Some of the standout moments along the way include a scene in which clueless straight people deduce that BDSM–related items are torture devices and Eileen’s delightful quips, such as “If all the gays are in Hell, Rick, I’m sure we’ve at least doubled the property value.” Rick’s flashbacks to his first love and his first real experience with shame are genuinely powerful as he remembers suddenly shifting from ecstasy to dread during a key encounter. There are more relatable, tender moments always bubbling under the surface of Corbin’s zany tale, but as it moves into the second act, there’s a madcap dash of secret societies, shifting alliances, surprising reveals, and conspiracies that run all the way to the highest levels. Much like Rick’s thoughts when he partakes in the camp’s bottomless mimosas, the plotlines and motivations become a bit fuzzy—but they’re certainly fun.

An outlandish novel that delivers wonderful laughs.