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3.46 AVERAGE
3.46 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It was a very interesting book, though, at parts, hard to read. I loved the dual perspective and the way the book was set up! However I still think you need to pay attention to what is going on, especially in the second part of the book since the narrator isn't trustwordy.
I don’t know what to make of this book. All I could think of to compare it to was the movie Fight Club.
Who is he that causeth the mole, from his secret path of darkness, to throw up the gem, the gold, and the precious ore?
Hogg should be better remembered. Justified Sinner is a dark revelation, one less gothic than psychological. The novel is a headbirth which ignores Lewis/Walpole/Radcliff and instead Babadooks from a nascent emotional realism, one like Fyodor's magic door where everything is tinged yellow and seizures lead to murder. Speaking of crows, I heartily endorse the subtext as being an opposition to fanaticism or any dogmatic approach to life or social order. (Please leave the room, Rick Santorum). The novel is two tiered, a found editor's investigation and a journal form the eponymous: the latter is vain, contradictory and doomed. Sorry for the spoiler: what else could you expect from an early novel where Old Scratch is the wingman? There are veiled thoughts on marriage and inheritance at play, poky pines towards Church imposition. That said, this proved an enjoyable bout with the more sinister angels of our nature.
Hogg should be better remembered. Justified Sinner is a dark revelation, one less gothic than psychological. The novel is a headbirth which ignores Lewis/Walpole/Radcliff and instead Babadooks from a nascent emotional realism, one like Fyodor's magic door where everything is tinged yellow and seizures lead to murder. Speaking of crows, I heartily endorse the subtext as being an opposition to fanaticism or any dogmatic approach to life or social order. (Please leave the room, Rick Santorum). The novel is two tiered, a found editor's investigation and a journal form the eponymous: the latter is vain, contradictory and doomed. Sorry for the spoiler: what else could you expect from an early novel where Old Scratch is the wingman? There are veiled thoughts on marriage and inheritance at play, poky pines towards Church imposition. That said, this proved an enjoyable bout with the more sinister angels of our nature.
Although it took me a little while to become engrossed in this book (possibly because of the changing narrators and the portions of difficult-to-read Scottish brogue), I did find it fascinating.
Robert is a young man led to believe that he was predestined to be one of God's elect, and that no actions on his part can keep him from heaven. The devil appears to him in the form of a man, who engages him in long, stimulating religious and philosophical conversations. Through much flattery and faulty logic, he carefully leads him down a path of self-destruction. Robert becomes convinced that he has been called by God to cleanse the earth of sinners. Eventually, the devil progresses from being his sought-after mentor to the tormentor he would do anything to escape
In a creepy twist, the devil can take on the features and voice if anyone he chooses. A very interesting tale about the dangers of self-righteousness and the need to choose one's companions carefully!
Robert is a young man led to believe that he was predestined to be one of God's elect, and that no actions on his part can keep him from heaven. The devil appears to him in the form of a man, who engages him in long, stimulating religious and philosophical conversations. Through much flattery and faulty logic, he carefully leads him down a path of self-destruction. Robert becomes convinced that he has been called by God to cleanse the earth of sinners. Eventually, the devil progresses from being his sought-after mentor to the tormentor he would do anything to escape
In a creepy twist, the devil can take on the features and voice if anyone he chooses. A very interesting tale about the dangers of self-righteousness and the need to choose one's companions carefully!
https://lyceum.org.uk/whats-on/production/confessions-of-a-justified-sinner
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Don't wring him, Wringhim.
Someone is saying prayers for me,
The grace I earn I never see,
In all things he do, I interferes,
All I know is trouble as soon as he appears.
Mister Wringhim, Mister Wringhim, Mister Wringhim. I'm gonna wring him.
When I say my prayers my character changes,
My whole mind and body rearranges,
This strange transformation takes place in me,
Instead of myself everybody can see...
Mister Wringhim, Mister Wringhim, Mister Wringhim. I'm gonna wring him.
When you see my brother, make sure it's not me,
I've got to the stage I can't tell who we'll be,
That loveable fellow who'll buy you a drink,
When he's drunk, I'll change in a wink into...
Wringhim, Mister Wringhim, Mister Wringhim, Mister Wringhim. I'm gonna wring him.
Someone is saying prayers for me,
The grace I earn I never see,
In all things he do, I interferes,
All I know is trouble as soon as he appears.
Mister Wringhim, Mister Wringhim, Mister Wringhim. I'm gonna wring him.
When I say my prayers my character changes,
My whole mind and body rearranges,
This strange transformation takes place in me,
Instead of myself everybody can see...
Mister Wringhim, Mister Wringhim, Mister Wringhim. I'm gonna wring him.
When you see my brother, make sure it's not me,
I've got to the stage I can't tell who we'll be,
That loveable fellow who'll buy you a drink,
When he's drunk, I'll change in a wink into...
Wringhim, Mister Wringhim, Mister Wringhim, Mister Wringhim. I'm gonna wring him.
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Kind of just meh. Couldn’t really connect with it but I do appreciate Hogg’s writing.
The content: fascinating. A churchman becoming the devil's henchman and thinking he's doing the right thing in this found narrative. Super important for Scottish literature. Yet, the form apart from the fun nested narrative situation: dense, hard to read, too detailed, as you might expect from an older book. Go give it a try nevertheless though and prepare for lots of details...