Friday, January 4, 2008

The Book of Joby - Review

I wanted to start off the new year with a book review, but I never expected that my first review would require me to reassess my previous post listing my favorite stand alone fantasy books. Surprisingly, Mark J. Ferrari's debut novel "The Book of Joby" did just that. I'd read a few glowing reviews of the book when it first came out, but for some reason I just couldn't get motivated to buy the book and start reading. I had a gift card to Barnes & Noble waiting to be used, though, and when I saw the trade paperback version, I broke down. Initially, I was still concerned with the biblical reference/background, as I'd never read the actual Book of Job but had heard that it wasn't a particularly enjoyable read.
A few days of voracious reading later, however, I was stunned. Ferrari takes a concept that I doubted could work and constructs a masterpiece. I haven't decided where on my list of favorites "The Book of Joby" will soon be placed, but it is undoubtedly near the top.
The premise of "The Book of Joby" is simple enough: Lucifer despises mankind and bets God that he can make an ordinary person choose to follow the Devil and exploit God's gift of free will. This same bet has taken place throughout history, and Ferrari does a great job of interjecting commentary on prior bet results. Ferrari's writing is wonderful, and the characters of The Creator and Lucifer are brilliantly drawn. While it would be easy to build these two characters in a simply "good/bad" caricature, Ferrari does his very best storytelling when he breaks down the long history of their relationship and the continuous cycle of "bets" they've made regarding mankind. Many of the supporting characters (especially the archangels and Lucifer's minions) are well-developed individuals who drive a great deal of the story as it develops around the protaganist, a young boy named Joby.
What was most fascinating to me (and most impressive) was Ferrari's blending of the Bible, the legends of Arthur and Camelot, and the modern world. Ferrari packs so much into the 600+ pages, but it all flows brilliantly and concisely. The perils which are brought down upon young Joby, and eventually upon the adult Joby as well, are dark and depressing. Much like the protagonist, I found myself reacting viscerally and emotionally to the tragic events that bombard him throughout the story, at the same time I found myself uplifted and encouraged by Joby's resilience and the character of his friends and others he meets along his way. In the end, "The Book of Joby" was thoroughly different than anything I've ever read, and its originality is only overshadowed by the poetic prose and shockingly well-developed characters created by Mr. Ferrari. I would never expect a book of this quality from any of my favorite authors, much less an author publishing his first book. Just an incredible literary achievement, and a wonderfully enjoyable book.
Rating: 9/10
Personal Ranking: Top 10 for sure, uncertain as to its final position.