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A review by inkygirl
The Death and Life of Zebulon Finch, Volume One: At the Edge of Empire by Daniel Kraus
5.0
Whenever I start a big book (and at 642 pages, Zebulon Finch definitely qualifies), I cross my fingers and hopehopehope that the first few pages will pull me in right away. If they do, I can relax and settle in for what promises to be a satisfying long read. If they don't, then it's just going to be long.
Zebulon Finch had me from the beginning. I already knew the premise, which was what lured me to read the book in the first place: A 17-year-old gangster named Zebulon Finch is murdered in 1896 but is mysteriously resurrected only minutes later.
What I especially enjoyed, without giving spoilers:
- The narrative voice. Sample: "Death is a suicide dive off an incalculable cliff, a free fall of such pulverizing force that you become molten, brand new every instance." I felt like reading everything out loud, just to have the words roll around on my tongue.
- The wry wit. Zebulon Finch, despite being dead, still has a sense of humor that comes out in his observations about the people and events around him.
- The dark edge. I'm a longtime horror fan (I have a personal autographed note from Stephen King, hand-typed with liquid paper corrections!) and was fascinated by some of the macabre and nightmarish situations, the delving into what makes us afraid. Grossed out at times and had to skim paragraphs here and there, but was still fascinated. If the story had just been about the horror bits, I would have stopped reading early on...but there was SO much more.
- How Zebulon's relationships developed, both romantic and platonic. Don't want to say much more on this aspect for fear of spoilers, but I loved how some of his most meaningful relationships became inexorably woven into his life and way of approaching the world long after those people disappear from his life.
- Zebulon Finch, the main character. He can be selfish, hateful, tender, cynical, romantic. He is unlike any other immortal character I've ever encountered in a book....and I'd like more, please.
Which is why I'm SOOOOOO looking forward to the second volume!
Thanks to Simon & Schuster Canada for the ARC.
Zebulon Finch had me from the beginning. I already knew the premise, which was what lured me to read the book in the first place: A 17-year-old gangster named Zebulon Finch is murdered in 1896 but is mysteriously resurrected only minutes later.
What I especially enjoyed, without giving spoilers:
- The narrative voice. Sample: "Death is a suicide dive off an incalculable cliff, a free fall of such pulverizing force that you become molten, brand new every instance." I felt like reading everything out loud, just to have the words roll around on my tongue.
- The wry wit. Zebulon Finch, despite being dead, still has a sense of humor that comes out in his observations about the people and events around him.
- The dark edge. I'm a longtime horror fan (I have a personal autographed note from Stephen King, hand-typed with liquid paper corrections!) and was fascinated by some of the macabre and nightmarish situations, the delving into what makes us afraid. Grossed out at times and had to skim paragraphs here and there, but was still fascinated. If the story had just been about the horror bits, I would have stopped reading early on...but there was SO much more.
- How Zebulon's relationships developed, both romantic and platonic. Don't want to say much more on this aspect for fear of spoilers, but I loved how some of his most meaningful relationships became inexorably woven into his life and way of approaching the world long after those people disappear from his life.
- Zebulon Finch, the main character. He can be selfish, hateful, tender, cynical, romantic. He is unlike any other immortal character I've ever encountered in a book....and I'd like more, please.
Which is why I'm SOOOOOO looking forward to the second volume!
Thanks to Simon & Schuster Canada for the ARC.