I found myself wondering why all the characters were so miserable that the only way they could express themselves was through four letter words. Some really big elephants are at play. Right now, you're the grass underfoot, soon to be ground into mud. If the idea doesn't appeal to you, grab hold of Uncle Sam and climb up for the ride. You'll be a lot safer.
Jade Island is a strange book.
I even wondered if it was authored by two different people. Unfortunately, what could have been one of the book's most fascinating elements is completely lost in the aforementioned morass. So after all this, if you're still inclined to read Jade Island , for heaven's sake wait for the paperback.