By Janet Evanovich
Published by St. Martin's Press
I have been a fan of the Stephanie Plum novels for years but have never been hooked on any of Evanovich's other series. Certainly, her novels are not high-brow literature. There is very little description or internal thoughts in her books. Instead, Evanovich is big on writing witty and acerbic dialogue which moves the book at a fast clip. At the same time, she can make you care for even the most quirky of characters. In time you find that the most outlandish of plot situations seem believable in the Plum universe.
Now we have a different series which focuses on the seven deadly sins: Superbia, Avaratia, Luxuria, Invidia, Gula, Ira, and Acedia (SALIGIA) for all you Latin scholars. For the rest of us, we know them as anger, greed, sloth, pride, lust, envy, and gluttony. These sins were considered deadly in the Medieval Roman Catholic church because they easily led one to breaking the big ten.
Wicked Appetite is all about gluttony.
The main character, Lizzy Tucker, discovers within the first few pages that she is actually an Unmentionable -- a human being with special powers. In fact, her powers are to be able to find and identity a particular item. The items needed are eight objects of power that, when combined, become a stone of deadly power. When all the seven stones are collected there will be a small problem concerning the end of the world. So, in comes the handsome Diesel to educate, protect and pretty much ruin Lizzy's life up to this point.
The writing is extremely fast-paced. The setting is the areas of Salem, Boston and Marblehead which interested me because I visited that area this past year. There is plenty of witty dialogue, crazy plot twists and impossible talents. You really have to suspend most logic when trying to understand the powers of the Unmentionables as well as the almost witch-like behavior attempted by some lesser characters. One good part is that, if you can just relax and go with all the incredible happenings and the reactions (or lack thereof) of the protagonists, you will be in for a fun ride and lots of laughs.
The part of Wicked Appetite that spoke to my own faith perspective is its' view of gluttony. Gluttony begins as simply overeating and storing up way more food than one person could ever eat. Then we are introduced to some other perspectives on gluttony. Gluttony for punishment. Gluttony for collecting and hoarding stuff, especially if the stuff being hoarded has no practical or logical value.
The book made me re-think about gluttony in my own life. Where have a tried to get too much of one thing? When have I wanted to collect more and more of something, even if it meant going into debt or doing without a necessity? What have I hoarded and kept to myself that really could be used for others in need?
Despite some very twisted plot devices, Wicked Appetite can make you re-think where one deadly sin may be hiding in your own life. I recommend this fun read.
Happy reading!
Amelia
Copyright 2011 Amelia G. Sims
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