I really related to the character because I experienced something similar growing up. Though I wasn't raised completely hardcore Baptist like Craig was, I grew up Catholic and took it very seriously, mostly because I was told that it was real by my parents and adults at church. And why wouldn't I believe something my parents/adults in my life told me? After all, they are there to teach you. They're older, and to a little kid, they're always right.
I remember being so scared of sin; there was this one point that remember thinking I was going to Hell and crying to my mom. Growing older, sexuality was also terrifying. I didn't think of it as a beautiful human emotion, instead I was scared of it.
Craig seemed to experience the same struggles of taking religion/authority seriously. He was a very socially shy guy and his lust for Raina and his dedication to God seemed like they would never coexist. Each time they get closer he feels guilty and suppresses his desire for her.
Eventually he starts to get older and question what God actually was. After pushing the boundaries and finally letting loose he realizes that God wants him to enjoy his life and finally experiences being with Raina.
Some of the illustrations became so human to me; the power of guilt and fear of sin seem very blatant in some panels. The ones of Craig experiencing beautiful things that he felt he could not touch had so much built up emotion in each mark.
I really admired the attention to the female body as well. It was obvious that Craig was struggling with sexuality being a sin, but the way Rainas body was illustrated created a sense of righteousness in what he was experiencing. Instead of it being something dirty the illustrations create her body to be something very natural and beautiful.
The books ability to transform sin into something beautiful and natural, as well as a humans discovery of this thought process, really makes this book what it is.
