The Very Model of a Man

A smug novel that aspires to rip the lid off religious convention & conviction. Jacobson (Roots Schmoots, '94, etc.) tackles the Hebrew Scriptures in this new effort. Narrated by Cain, the 1st murderer & the founder of the 1st city, the life led by Adam & his family is far different than that portrayed by pious chroniclers. Tho the group has already been expelled from Eden, creation is far from complete. The Earth still vibrates with the energy of formation. To even stamp one's foot is to set in motion a chain of reactions that could lead to some bizarre new species & there's plenty of reason to stamp one's foot. The omnipresent deity is getting on humanity's nerves & any attempt to discuss the matter leads to divine punishment because He's decidedly thin-skinned. Adam abuses Cain because the boy is the only thing in the world that he's unafraid of. To top things off, the new baby, Abel, is getting all of Eve's attention, leaving Cain feeling deprived. The boy vows that, even tho he loves his brother, he'll nonetheless kill him. The novel bounces back & forth between this story & Babel, where an aged Cain is telling his tale in a kind of one-man show for the amusement of the cynical citizenry, who crave entertainment & lack both a theology & a sense of humor. Also related are the stories of the Exodus & of Korah, a cousin of Moses & Aaron who led a rebellion against their leadership & authority. Lurking at the edges of it all is the mysterious Sisobk the Scryer, a member of a Cainite cult that's grown up around the fratricide. Condescension & anachronisms mar what comes across as 2nd-rate Joseph Heller or Philip Roth. Jacobson looks into faith & sees only dark corners.-Kirkus (edited)