Chuck Tingle writes with a primary focus on message rather than plot or character, and it shows. The characters range from annoying to boring. The dialogue feels forced. I feel like I'm expected to care about the main character just because he's dealt with homophobia, but frankly, there are a lot more queer characters these days and I can't feel sympathetic for him when there's nothing else that makes him feel real. Since I don't care about him, I don't care about the story and the things happening to him.