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rachaelh79's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
myriahalice's review against another edition
1.0
So. Unbelievably. Boring.
I didn't really think that was possible. How could any story spanning all of time and space with the devil as the main character really be boring?
"Finally, the other side of the story." You know my name, not my story. Seriously read like a whiny teenager on myspace who blames the adults for everything, and all at once wants to be both badass and a victim. Poor me, but look at how hard I am.
It all felt made up. None of the stories were clever or enlightening, they just felt like someone had concocted them to shake things up, to try and surprise the readers. I wasn't surprised, I was just confused and underwhelmed.
Someone was trying so hard to be edgy, and they failed miserably.
Lucifer was a whiny, uninteresting, mess of a character. Completely inconsistent except for those things. There is nothing remotely compelling about him. I didn't get why he did a single thing, nor did I care. He wasn't even a good storyteller, I was so frustrated 'listening' to him beat around the bush to get to the fucking point. "Oh, you know... there..." Out with it man, you are not shocking anyone.
Awful. Absolutely awful.
I didn't really think that was possible. How could any story spanning all of time and space with the devil as the main character really be boring?
"Finally, the other side of the story." You know my name, not my story. Seriously read like a whiny teenager on myspace who blames the adults for everything, and all at once wants to be both badass and a victim. Poor me, but look at how hard I am.
It all felt made up. None of the stories were clever or enlightening, they just felt like someone had concocted them to shake things up, to try and surprise the readers. I wasn't surprised, I was just confused and underwhelmed.
Someone was trying so hard to be edgy, and they failed miserably.
Lucifer was a whiny, uninteresting, mess of a character. Completely inconsistent except for those things. There is nothing remotely compelling about him. I didn't get why he did a single thing, nor did I care. He wasn't even a good storyteller, I was so frustrated 'listening' to him beat around the bush to get to the fucking point. "Oh, you know... there..." Out with it man, you are not shocking anyone.
Awful. Absolutely awful.
tardycreative's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I liked this book a lot and thought it was going to be a 5 star, but then page 195 happened and pages after it; which looked to me like the author was getting bored of the plot and rambled on about things that didn't make sense to the plot.
The ending was rushed and disappointing too.
The ending was rushed and disappointing too.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, and Sexual harassment
aksel_dadswell's review against another edition
4.0
I found this both mind-blowing and underwhelming.
On one hand, Duncan's writing is as witty and lyrical and engaging as ever, and this is what elevates the book beyond the interesting conceit of Lucifer telling us a story - his side of the story, with multiple asides about various historical characters and the nature of God, the Fall etc - but that doesn't mean it never gets tedious or bogged down in its own solipsistic self-awareness. But in this I think Duncan's choice is deliberate. The style - Lucifer's style, with his constant tangents and italicisms(??) - is petulent and flamboyant and exuberant and gratuitous and I'm sure many other adjectively colourful terms, but it works because it perfectly reflects the character telling the story. I feel like my being underwhelmed at times is probably my fault for missing the point; the directions Duncan takes the narrative at times are unconventional. While some of the diversions with certain historical figures can be a distraction I wanted to rush through to get back to the main story, it's his work with the human characters that really shines, especially Lucifer's interactions with his host Declan Gunn's (see what he did there) female acquaintances. His dialogue is beautifully human and his observations of body language just exquisite. Speaking of exquisite, the descriptions of London and Lucifer's experience of abosrbing all this - the smells especially, the physical sensations - are some of the best I've read in a book, but then this kind of thing seems to come easily to Duncan, which for him has become a bit of a trademark.
This is, however, my least favourite Glen Duncan I've read so far. The Killing Lessons was one of my favourite books of the year and has a level of narrative sophistication and depth of character that I, Lucifer cannot match. However, the latter does work as much more than the gimmicky publicity stunt of a novel I thought it might end up being, and there are so many passages I had to re-read again and again for their sheer beauty and/or ingenuity of language. In this respect Duncan is up there with Mieville at the top of the wordsmith ladder.
On one hand, Duncan's writing is as witty and lyrical and engaging as ever, and this is what elevates the book beyond the interesting conceit of Lucifer telling us a story - his side of the story, with multiple asides about various historical characters and the nature of God, the Fall etc - but that doesn't mean it never gets tedious or bogged down in its own solipsistic self-awareness. But in this I think Duncan's choice is deliberate. The style - Lucifer's style, with his constant tangents and italicisms(??) - is petulent and flamboyant and exuberant and gratuitous and I'm sure many other adjectively colourful terms, but it works because it perfectly reflects the character telling the story. I feel like my being underwhelmed at times is probably my fault for missing the point; the directions Duncan takes the narrative at times are unconventional. While some of the diversions with certain historical figures can be a distraction I wanted to rush through to get back to the main story, it's his work with the human characters that really shines, especially Lucifer's interactions with his host Declan Gunn's (see what he did there) female acquaintances. His dialogue is beautifully human and his observations of body language just exquisite. Speaking of exquisite, the descriptions of London and Lucifer's experience of abosrbing all this - the smells especially, the physical sensations - are some of the best I've read in a book, but then this kind of thing seems to come easily to Duncan, which for him has become a bit of a trademark.
This is, however, my least favourite Glen Duncan I've read so far. The Killing Lessons was one of my favourite books of the year and has a level of narrative sophistication and depth of character that I, Lucifer cannot match. However, the latter does work as much more than the gimmicky publicity stunt of a novel I thought it might end up being, and there are so many passages I had to re-read again and again for their sheer beauty and/or ingenuity of language. In this respect Duncan is up there with Mieville at the top of the wordsmith ladder.
wenchamok's review against another edition
3.0
I kept hearing Tom Ellis’ voice (from the TV show Lucifer) in my head while reading this.
joxertd's review against another edition
2.0
I couldn't wait to finish this book. The premise was good, but he just rambled too much. I only knew half of what he was talking about at any given time.
beyadob's review against another edition
4.0
I found the book to be hilarious, and it was truly confident in its voice. The tone is very straightforward, though the narrator digresses quite a lot, and that's where the fun lies. The narrator--Lucifer--offers a very different take on the world and Biblical mythology we know. His views are preposterous yet insightful of human nature and the human condition.
It was an enjoyable read, though it became frustratingly slow at certain parts due to the digressive nature of the narrator. However, if you can overlook the narrator's unreliable and circumlocutory nature, then this book is a delightfully fun read.
It was an enjoyable read, though it became frustratingly slow at certain parts due to the digressive nature of the narrator. However, if you can overlook the narrator's unreliable and circumlocutory nature, then this book is a delightfully fun read.
cynt's review against another edition
1.0
Quite tedious, regardless of some nice language use and religious philosophizing. A bit of a shame, really. The concept of the book (the Devil gets to spend some time on earth) is not wholly original, but Duncan had a little twist up his sleeve to make it more interesting. Sadly he ended up dwelling too much on the lower aspects of human life.