Imagine a Devil whose main motivation is true love. Imagine
a Devil who wants to push mankind past their primitive
ideals and behaviors. Imagine a Devil who wants the world
to rival Heaven. Now meet John Scratch, aka the Devil, who
has done everything he can to win back Arden, his true
love, but Earth and its people are too primitive for her.
The wonders of Egypt and Rome couldn't tempt her to stay,
but maybe the new and promising land of America will. That
is if he can push this new Eden to the very heights of
civilization. What John doesn't realize is that he still
has much to learn about humans and not even the Devil
himself can predict the minds and hearts of man.
The story is darkly humorous, surprisingly tender, and not
as irreverent as you might think. Don't get me wrong, this
book will not be for everyone. There is plenty of behavior
some might find objectionable (unrepentant drug use,
rewriting some very famous American heroes, as well as the
bit with the cow), but the story is amazingly imaginative,
well written and with an overall positive message. I'm not
a fan of preachy books and as the Devil is the protagonist
of this story, I'm glad to say this doesn't fall into that
category, but it did make me stop and think and then think
about it some more the next day.
I was sucked into the story from page one, laughing out
loud in parts, near tears in others. The story jumps about
in time with glimpses throughout the centauries. While most
is from the Devil's point of view, Poore introduces three
individuals who sell their souls to the Devil in the late
1960's for fame, wealth, and the chance to make the world a
better place. Their choices really help showcase the
Devil's personality which is more complicated, multi-
faceted, and human than tradition allows. It's also their
choices that really show humanities positive and negative
aspects.
UP JUMPS THE DEVIL reminds me of Mark Twain's Letters From
the Earth. It made me think about this world and my place
in it all while I was laughing and cringing at mankind's
behavior. This is truly an excellent story and one that I'm
sure I'll reread over the years. Put UP JUMPS THE DEVIL on
your to-
be-read list.
A stunningly imaginative, sharp, funny, and slyly tender
novel featuring the Devil himself, John Scratch.
He's made of wood. He cooks an excellent gumbo. Cows love
him. And he's the world's first love story . . . and the
world's first broken heart. Meet the darkly handsome,
charming John Scratch, aka the Devil. Ever since his true
love, a fellow fallen angel named Arden, decided that Earth
was a little too terrifying and violent, John Scratch has
been trying to lure her back from the forgiving grace of
Heaven. Though neither the wonders of Egypt nor the glories
of Rome were enough to keep her on Earth, John Scratch
believes he's found a new Eden: America.
John Scratch capitalizes on the bounty of this arcadia as he
shapes it into his pet nation. Then, one dark night in the
late 1960s, he meets three down-on-their-luck musicians and
strikes a deal. In exchange for their souls, he'll grant
them fame, wealth, and the chance to make the world a better
place. Soon, the trio is helping the Devil push America to
the height of civilization—or so he thinks. But there's a
great deal about humans he still needs to learn, even after
spending so many millennia among them.
Overflowing with imagination, insight, and humor, rippling
with history and myth, Up Jumps the Devil is as madcap and
charming as the Devil himself.
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