Review: Original and witty - a pleasure to read
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 05 30, 2014
This book is fantasy at its best. Perfect escapism in the world of gods. I've always wondered how our solar system was created, and now I suspect Bernie my have had something to do with it.Bernie's predicament is simple: freshly off the benches of God School's building program, he gets a job, but in order to pass his probation he must impress his very strict boss. It wouldn't be an easy task on a good day. When Bernie's work is being sabotaged, it becomes impossible.This is just one of the layers of this story - the surface one - but dig deeper and you'll find there is so much more to Bernie as a person. Multiple factors influence his personality and convictions, and growing up fast isn't easy. Popular teenage themes wind around the main plot - self-confidence, social mingling, incipient attraction, a need to prove oneself, the youngster's place within his community - and all are treated with finesse and understanding. I wish I had a book like this to read when I was that age. But even now, I have enjoyed Bernie's story far more than originally anticipated.The narrator's voice is so smooth, I picture him as a wise old storyteller that may have seen the passage of many millennia, sitting in a rocking chair with a thick tome on his knees. Observations and dialogue are peppered with humor, and the whole blends together into this really satisfying package. In the end, everyone gets what they deserve.This book works on so many levels - it's suitable for youngsters and mature readers alike. If you like fantasy with a good dose of wit and originality, then this book is for you. Five shiny stars for Bernie. I'm certainly looking forward to a sequel. Will there be one?