Review: Well Written Epic That Requires Patience
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 05 22, 2014
This book is well written. The sentences aren't long winded and it is easy for the reader to get into. However, this book requires patience and perserverance. It is a Southern Gothic modern take on the Greek tragedy, Oedipus. Which is a set of three plays that center on a family rooted in incest. Much like the Greek classic influence, LAZARUS has that same disturbing attribute.It is an epic that spans through generations and takes serious time to read. I personally am not a big fan of epics and I found myself confused when I was reading. The book is written in various character point of views and it does jump through time. For example, chapter four explains the small town setting and a little tidbit about a character, but chapter five is set many years before that chapter and centers on one of the children from the character in chapter four. You don't meet Lazarus, the titled character until later. That's what bothered me the most, I was unable to figure out what time I was in and who I was supposed to really sympathize for. That said, you should look at all the characters as separate entities and not take stock in one character alone.As I said before, it is a well written book. There is a depthness to it and the author does pull in other influences besides the Greek tragedy (though some of it probably went over my head). It is definitely a book for someone who has the time and patience to go through it. I may read it again, sometimes epics become easier to understand the second go. Right now though, I'm recuperating.