A review by ooohgoshtara
Devil Is Fine by John Vercher

challenging dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This book left me thinking for a while. It is a uniquely told story. I can’t say I’ve read anything like it. The unnamed narrator is a biracial man reeling from the tragic loss of his son. This is a story filled with grief and sadness. The narrator spends most of the novel having internal dialogue in his head speaking to his deceased son Malcolm. This whole thing has him “upside down”. In the midst of this loss the narrator receives word that he’s inherited a large parcel of land from his estranged grandfather. It was left to his son but now goes to him in his son’s death. Unbeknownst to him the land is a former plantation with a history rooted in slavery. There are supernatural elements which were very weird but interestingly done. It very much gives am I going crazy or is this really happening because I often wasn’t sure what was going on myself. I liked the way the author incorporated dry, dark humor into such serious social commentary. The narrator has a way of using jokes to get him through very uncomfortable situations which often make the situations even more awkward. There are many important themes discussed in this book grief, generational trauma, race, racism, identity, parental relationships, family legacy, addiction. It is a haunting story that is so well written. A story about healing and coming to terms with the past.