Book Review: Up Jumps The Devil by Michael Poore
In a tale spanning centuries, Up Jumps The Devil offers a darkly hilarious perspective on Lucifer's fall from heaven and his subsequent descent into heartbreak and loss. In the modern world, the Devil (aka John Scratch) lives as a celebrity who runs a dangerous television show.
Before I delve too deeply into this review, allow me to mention my dislike of romances. I avoid both erotic and literary romances, preferring to stick to the wider genres of fantasy/science fiction/adventure/ comedy/anything else. While Up Jumps The Devil is, at its heart, a romance, I absolutely loved this book.
Perhaps the highest praise a reviewer can offer a novelist is that he finds his work original. Michael Poore's debut novel is exactly that—although I've seen the Devil woven into many stories, most of his commercial and literary representations are very one-sided. Up Jumps The Devil offers a portrait of Christianity's greatest villain as a dynamic, engaging character. More importantly, Poore's Devil has style; he plays the guitar and wears beaten leather, smokes dirty cigarettes and seals deals with chilling calm.
Normally, I'd take another paragraph to write about the negative aspects of this book. I suppose some people won't like the postmodern fluctuation of time, and maybe a few stragglers will take offense to the Devil's portrayal as a guy who isn't that bad. From my perspective, however, I loved these things and am looking forward to Michael Poore's next novel, whatever it might be.
Before I delve too deeply into this review, allow me to mention my dislike of romances. I avoid both erotic and literary romances, preferring to stick to the wider genres of fantasy/science fiction/adventure/ comedy/anything else. While Up Jumps The Devil is, at its heart, a romance, I absolutely loved this book.
Perhaps the highest praise a reviewer can offer a novelist is that he finds his work original. Michael Poore's debut novel is exactly that—although I've seen the Devil woven into many stories, most of his commercial and literary representations are very one-sided. Up Jumps The Devil offers a portrait of Christianity's greatest villain as a dynamic, engaging character. More importantly, Poore's Devil has style; he plays the guitar and wears beaten leather, smokes dirty cigarettes and seals deals with chilling calm.
Normally, I'd take another paragraph to write about the negative aspects of this book. I suppose some people won't like the postmodern fluctuation of time, and maybe a few stragglers will take offense to the Devil's portrayal as a guy who isn't that bad. From my perspective, however, I loved these things and am looking forward to Michael Poore's next novel, whatever it might be.
SCORE:
For more reviews:
0 comments: