So You Think You Can Cheat the Devil?

By: Catherine Johann

Narrated by: Steven Ritz- Barr

Length: 10 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's summary

Taking refuge in a world of his own to escape the turbulences of his dysfunctional family loses its appeal when witty teenager Sky Buckers questions the purpose and meaning of his existence. It doesn’t take long for Sky’s cousin and accomplice Martin to join him in the quest for truth. From Los Angeles to Venice Beach, Malibu, and Tulum, their determination to unravel life's true identity will lead them to dare the unknown and face fears with iron fists.

©2019 Catherine Johann (P)2020 Catherine Johann

A Simple Tell Yet Not a Fairy Tale

Driven by adolescent Sky’s quest for meaning, the story navigates between the physical and the spiritual world through a va-et-vient between his inner reflections and outer experiences. Each chapter leads into deeper layers of Sky’s search, as he morphs his adolescent boredom into a spiritual adventure and ultimately journey, all depicted with keen perceptions and vivid realism.

A simple tell, yet not a fairy tale as no secret is easily revealed, it forces Sky to look within and come into his own power, first without, as at the pinnacle of the story, then within.

‘So You Think You Can Cheat the Devil’ is another signature metaphysical novel by Catherine Johann, which as its predecessor Befogged, induces an exploration of higher dimensions of existence, while remaining grounded in reality. It deserves to be read, enjoyed, and deeply felt.

I don’t know

So it took a while for me to get in to this. I didn’t understand Sky or his fascination with, well anything he became fascinated by, including Ohman. (Hope I’m spelling names correctly as I listened to this) You never learn his age and he appears at time to be 12 and other times closer to 17. There were parts I really enjoyed about this coming of age tale. I didn’t love it. It may be something a preteen or teen would like. If I could have found something more about the characters to relate to I would have enjoyed it more.
Narration was great by Steven Ritz-Barr.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

A MUST READ

PREVIOUSLY I READ BEFOGGED BY THIS AUTHOR, AND FEW CAN VISIT THE MIND OF CATHERINE JOHANN WITHOUT A JOLT , A REMINDER OF THE HIDDEN NUANCES AMONGST US. FROM VISUALS, PERCEPTIONS, SENSATIONS WE MIGHT FEEL AS MERE NUDGES, A VAGUE ETHEREAL BACKDROP, COME ALIVE UNDER THE SPELL AND EXPERTISE
OF JOHANN .

THIS WARMING TALE OF TWO ADOLESCENT MALE COUSINS, SKY AND MARTIN, WINDS THROUGH LANDS OF FIRST QUESTIONS TO THE LOFTIEST OF THEM, WHY ARE WE HERE AND ARE WE IMMORTAL ? THEIR STUMBLINGS AND TOUCHING URGENCY IN THE PURSUIT OF THESE AGE OLD QUESTIONS SHOW THE OPEN AND TENDER INNOCENCE OF YOUTH AND THE BRILLIANCE OF NEW MINDS CHURNING UP OLD GROUND .

JOHANN’S EXQUISITE , POETIC VOCABULARY SOARS ABOVE THEIR AGE, BUT SMARTLY FITS THE LOFTINESS OF THEIR SEARCH .
HER VISIONARY WORD RICH ACCOUNT, ALONG WITH HER SWEET AND DIRECT UNDERSTANDING OF TWO YOUNG MEN LOOKING FOR ANSWERS IGNITES A SIGH OF RECOGNITION IN THE READER .
A GLOBAL EXPLORATION IN THE VULNERABLE HANDS OF YOUNG SEARCHERS AND THEIR ENIGMATIC HOMELESS MENTOR, OHMAN .

SO WE HAVE THE BOYS, SKY’S DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY, AND OHMAN , A HOMELESS BUT GIFTED SEER INTO THE SPIRITUAL,THE UNKNOWN, AND MAYBE IF THE BOYS ARE RIGHT , IMMORTALITY .

THE EXQUISITE POINT MADE IS THAT THE LOWEST OF US CAN KNOW THE MOST AND THE YOUNGEST SEE BENEATH THE OBVIOUS .

I WAS LEFT WITH DEEP FEELINGS FOR EVERY CHARACTER, AND LONGING FOR A SEQUEL.