Scan barcode
theskyboi's review
challenging
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Honestly, I had expected so much from this book. A man is battling with the devil, and he wonders whether he should be hospitalized for a psychotic episode. On the surface, the story seemed to be delivering a powerful, meaningful message, but I cannot help but wonder if I was the ideal audience member for this spectacle.
What I will commend the author for is the quality of the short stories interspersed within the novel; these are not at all directly related to the story, but they were so much richer and more well developed than any of the scenes starring the protagonist, Jacob. It seemed that there were too many storylines competing for my attention in order for me to truly enjoy this work.
Another portion of this book that did seem redeemable to me were the tales of Jacob's childhood, where he was raised by the women of the brothel that his mother worked at. Sad and tortured though it was, this story carried with it hope for a better future and the candid vulnerability of life seen through a child's innocence. Were the novel entirely based upon this, I feel it would have faired better.
Adding to the mix of fictional stories penned by Jacob, his life's retrospective, and his conversations with the devil are the memories of his lost family. First, he details how he lost connection with his mother, and later as an adult, he grapples with the devastating loss of his partner and his closest friends during the AIDS crisis. As powerful as this message should have been, it suffered the same fate as other portions of this busy book.
Least effective of all were the tales of Jacob's masochistic sexual exploits, which bordered on abuse, and the inclusion of various whimsical and somewhat queer interpretations of Christian saints for the devil to volley back and forth with as he determined what to do with Jacob's soul. I feel that these two gruesome and boring segments, respectively, were the final nail in the coffin, killing any chance of artistic impact.
To someone else, this novel might have served as some abstract experimentation of the written word, but to me, it was an unfinished draft that left me questioning whether the author had too many simultaneous ambitions for his own good. While I still had a good time with some of the aforementioned sections, I still wish I had not been dealt a string of unfinished books that were poorly stitched together.
What I will commend the author for is the quality of the short stories interspersed within the novel; these are not at all directly related to the story, but they were so much richer and more well developed than any of the scenes starring the protagonist, Jacob. It seemed that there were too many storylines competing for my attention in order for me to truly enjoy this work.
Another portion of this book that did seem redeemable to me were the tales of Jacob's childhood, where he was raised by the women of the brothel that his mother worked at. Sad and tortured though it was, this story carried with it hope for a better future and the candid vulnerability of life seen through a child's innocence. Were the novel entirely based upon this, I feel it would have faired better.
Adding to the mix of fictional stories penned by Jacob, his life's retrospective, and his conversations with the devil are the memories of his lost family. First, he details how he lost connection with his mother, and later as an adult, he grapples with the devastating loss of his partner and his closest friends during the AIDS crisis. As powerful as this message should have been, it suffered the same fate as other portions of this busy book.
Least effective of all were the tales of Jacob's masochistic sexual exploits, which bordered on abuse, and the inclusion of various whimsical and somewhat queer interpretations of Christian saints for the devil to volley back and forth with as he determined what to do with Jacob's soul. I feel that these two gruesome and boring segments, respectively, were the final nail in the coffin, killing any chance of artistic impact.
To someone else, this novel might have served as some abstract experimentation of the written word, but to me, it was an unfinished draft that left me questioning whether the author had too many simultaneous ambitions for his own good. While I still had a good time with some of the aforementioned sections, I still wish I had not been dealt a string of unfinished books that were poorly stitched together.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Sexual violence, War, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Confinement, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, Chronic illness, Cursing, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Islamophobia, Medical content, Medical trauma, Physical abuse, Rape, Religious bigotry, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Slavery, and Xenophobia
itsptaradactyl's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This was out of my normal genre but I found it amazing. A story about a schizophrenic man and his hallucinations trying to find the will to live a full life after the immense hurdles he’s had to live through. The changing POV and the non-linear timeline kept the story compelling.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Terminal illness, Death, Vomit, and Drug use
Moderate: Vomit, Sexual content, Sexual assault, War, Bullying, Addiction, Grief, Drug abuse, and Drug use
More...