Der Raffinierte Mr. Scratch (2014) - Plot & Excerpts
I got this book from one of the Nook 'Books under 2.99' promotions and read an excerpt. I was immediately taken with the writing that was both gritty and smooth at the same time. The Devil's origin story was unique an I enjoyed his perspective. The flow was so smooth I was finished with the book before I realize it, and I was very disappointed that it was. Finished it in one afternoon - and it isn't a small book. It's gone up in price now - rightly so - it's worth the price! "Up Jumps the Devil" tells a wildly bizarre and insightful story, packed with amateur philosophy and a very fresh take on the devil as a character, but the inconsistent tone, undecipherable genre, and odd pacing prevent this novel from reaching its true potential.One of my favorite things about this novel is rookie author Michael Poore's unique and refreshing take on the devil as a character. The devil in "Up Jumps the Devil" is portrayed less as a demonic manifestation of evil, and more as an aging wise-man renegade who passes his knowledge onto the people he encounters. This unconventional portrayal often makes the character interesting, humorous, and smart which adds a to the story a great deal and can even hide some of its many shortcomings.Of those shortcomings, perhaps the most glaring is the inconsistency in the novel's tone which does more to confuse the reader than anything else. From the first handful of chapters, I was convinced that "Up Jumps the Devil" was supposed to be a dark humor novel but the mood shifted back and forth so dramatically that I was never really sure. One chapter could be as lightheartedly silly as having the devil shapeshift into a bull so he could have sex with cows, while another chapter could be as coldly brutal as having the torture of a prison inmate described in vivid, terrifying detail. I understand that it isn't essential for a book to run with one consistent tone throughout the whole story, but I feel "Up Jumps the Devil" is so unbalanced that it weakens the emotions that it would otherwise elicit expertly if it had just narrowed the focus of the tone somewhat.Overall, the novel is a pretty decent read. There are things in it that I think need to be changed, but there are still plenty of redeeming elements to find.
What do You think about Der Raffinierte Mr. Scratch (2014)?
Interesting read. The Devil shown with human faults and fears was a creative twist.
—JJJ
An entertaining read. Fast and fun, though it won't leave a huge impression.
—Nicole
Very good, reminds me of American Gods by Neil Gaiman.
—desirae
