Review: Funny and witty with a clever twist at the end
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 04 13, 2014
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for an honest review.I've had the pleasure of experiencing this author's work before and its clear this story is in dialogue with the other one I read since the same characters from the other book make a brief cameo. But I'm not quite certain which book comes first or if they're meant to be read in any particular order. What I will say is that this book is a delightful read and written with vigor and pomp. Without a doubt, this is certainly my favorite work by this author.The cleverness and wit is only outdone by the prose. With his very careful use of language, Mr. Partamyan proves to be a proficient wordsmith. His work is both contemporary and literary without all the pretentiousness of many similar attempts. In fact, I would compare reading his work as looking at a fine oil painting. I couldn't help but think that this tale is a kind of literary ode to Hector Berlioz's Symphony Fantastique. It's a humorous and nightmarish tale full of laughs and the macabre.In the Proposition, the Devil offers a man the chance to have any wish he desires come true, so long as he is willing to submit the Devil's terms. Having nothing to lose, the man accepts this Faustian offer and becomes the Devil's entertainment. What follows is a series of encounters between the man and the Devil that leads to some unexpected, but intriguing misadventures.This book is full of a lot of symbolism and cultural references, alll meant to take an introspective look at life and the world. Although some of the subject matter is serious, the delivery is tongue-in-cheek. Despite the danger he is in, the protagonists shows no hesitation to make parody of himself, his situation, or the devil himself. This leads to many humours moments throughout the story. The final twist at the end of the story catches us by surprise and is masterfully done.Overall, this is an excellent tale and great for anyone who wants to read something outside of the box. A solid 4 stars.