CALL OF THE JERSEY DEVIL is going to appeal to a wide range
of potential audience members; it may just as easily
horrify or disgust the same number, and that is part of its
appeal. The genre defies description. The book is promoted
as a Horror Parody, but it is so much more than that. It
has a Young Adult flow, but much of the language may not be
what every parent wants his or her child emulating---even
though kids really do speak that way. The action is
splatter-style adventure movie, but it has more depth and
sensitivity to all of its characters, even the over-the-top
ones (and they are all over-the-top ones), for such a
superficial reading. Aurelio Voltaire, musician, humorist,
writer, internet personality, has had his mind firmly
entrenched in a particular youth subculture for years, and
this representation, though as hyperbolic at times as his
lyrics, does the characters and the emotions justice.
CALL OF THE JERSEY DEVIL is, on its surface, a coming-
of-age quest of five "mall rats," each representing a
different approach to personal style and how that style
helps him or her make it through each day, combined with an
aging Goth singer who just needs another paycheck. Of
course, nothing -and no one- is at it seems. Amid the bon
mots, gruesome sex jokes, and layers of unbelievable, yet
realistic, plot development, Voltaire depicts the
interiority of humanity and the ways humans cope, react,
interact, and persevere. However, this is no Homeward Bound
tearjerker with puppies and kitties. Even the most
stratospherically "out there" situation is realistic and
relentless. Pretty much, this work answers the
question "what would happen if teenagers and a Goth singer
had to save the world?" in an authentic and hilarious
fashion.
I had been looking forward to this work since Voltaire
announced he was writing it. It certainly lived up to its
expectations. I kept wanting to quote it to people, and
then I had to run the quotations through my mental filter
of "will this person find this comment funny because they
understand where he's coming from?"
Not to encourage stereotyping, but if you've got a niece or
nephew, or a younger sibling, or a friend, who wears a lot
of black, listens to music no one else understands, and
writes angst-filled poetry, this may be the perfect gift.
If you know someone who already listens to Voltaire's
music, this IS the perfect gift. However, the work should
appeal to the masses in a way that transcends stereotype
and genre. If you are a teacher, a parent, or just someone
who wants to read a book that defies description, but is
amusing and well-written in its entirety because it is so
authentic in so many places, this is the book for you. You
may be alternately laughing out loud, grossed out, and
thoughtful about the nature of darkness in everyday life,
but Voltaire wouldn't have it any other way.
Five suburban mall rats and a washed up Goth singer find
themselves stranded in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey where
they discover two horrifying truths: The Jersey Devil,
hellspawn of folklore and legend, is real; and New Jersey
(as many already suspected) is the gateway to Hell!
With the help of one lone witch, this small group must face
off against their deepest fears and the most unholy monsters
in a battle where their very souls, the world they live in,
and any chance of returning to Hot Topic in one piece is at
stake
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