jezzah (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} zzah) wrote,@ 2009-05-27 09:20:00 |
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| Entry tags: | book, picture, review, the demon's lexicon |
Let me tell you about...
..one of my most favorite books in the history of ever.
The Demon’s Lexicon tells the story of sixteen year old Nick who is a busy enough boy, thank you very much. He keeps a constant battle against polysyllabic words; broken cars; and also against murderous magicians and their demons. But when his brother, Alan, becomes marked with a sign of death, Nick must confront the lies that make up his world, cope with the constant presence of the two Crawfords, and haunt the magicians who have always haunted his family.
(I tried very hard on that synopsis, you guys, but it still reads like the one on the back cover with splotches of other reader's better synopses on the internet. I wanted to write something titillating and positively original, but I just CAN'T! :O This is probably because of the fact that The Boards and My Future Career Rumination are dancing tango before my very eyes right now. But just trust me on this: THIS BOOK'S AWESOME.)
I think one of SRB's greatest talent is identifying the most cemented literary conventions, and trampling on them. In this book, heroes are not interested in doing the saving; girly girls are ruthless and efficient; crippled boys show cunning and genuine badass; and the villains are oddly sympathetic. After having my 2586th plot theory dismantled, I thought to myself, “Goodness, this woman is such a troublemaker.” And I do mean troublemaker in the best possible way.
The Demon's Lexicon made me laugh, cry, feel a hundred different emotions, think, and dream. Remember back in high school when we were taught the elements of literature? I distinctly remember that good literature should manifest a "universality of ideas". Of course back then I thought it was just fancily worded bull: I never really understood what it meant. I think I understand it a little better now.
Good books - good writing, in general - have the power to communicate the basic sameness of human beings. As the author presents the reasons for, the circumstances that shaped a character's personality and actions, the reader will have a moment of thinking, "Gundamn, of course he'll act like callous bastard, who wouldn't be a callous bastard under those circumstances?" When you think about it, underneath all the complexities and differences, people are pretty simple to understand.
The characters in TDL are well-developed and believable, the plot so richly layered it calls for repeated reading, the themes solid enough to make an epic series. It all becomes exponentially more awesome when you consider that we are speaking of a debut novel right here.
Debut authors are often treated with kind understanding. They’re still fumbling, yes, but they are valued for their potentialities.
Well, my friend, you better leave your kindness elsewhere and brace yourself for impact instead. There’s not just potential in The Demon’s Lexicon – there’s major kinetic.
This book makes me jump for joy!
The Demon's Lexicon will come out June the 2nd in the US and the UK, which means to say I have absolutely NO idea when it will reach our lovely Philippine shores. I'm hoping for no atrociously protracted (LOL this word reminds me of thesis days) delays. And also to the customs people who want to push through with the book tax (and are subsequently cutting the chances of debut books ever reaching this country), I wish you an eternity of reading nothing but Precious Hearts Romances.
