THE DEVIL AND MAX LARGENT IS A WORK OF
philosophical wonder-blending Humor.
INSIGHT, AND HEART TO ILLUSTRATE THE
SPLENDOR OF THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE.
A humorous and ultimately sanguine story of a dying man who
finds himself on a journey of second chances and eventual closure.
Max is a 44-year-old loner who lives with his best friend, Rhett, a
loyal German Shepherd. After Max receives news that he has stage 4
cancer, he is visited by the Devil. The Devil has one request--he
wants Max to write a book for him using Max's life as an example of
everything wrong with the world today. As the Devil puts it, "You,
humans, are creating Hell on Earth and putting me out of a job.'
As Max starts writing the book, he reflects on his own life
while also planning a one-way trip to Hawaii so that he may take
in the beauty and wonder of the Big Island one last time. Despite
feeling content with the idea of leaving the world alone and iso-
lated, a surprise visit by a stranger makes
THE DEVIL AND MAX LARGENT IS A WORK OF
philosophical wonder-blending Humor.
INSIGHT, AND HEART TO ILLUSTRATE THE
SPLENDOR OF THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE.
A humorous and ultimately sanguine story of a dying man who
finds himself on a journey of second chances and eventual closure.
Max is a 44-year-old loner who lives with his best friend, Rhett, a
loyal German Shepherd. After Max receives news that he has stage 4
cancer, he is visited by the Devil. The Devil has one request--he
wants Max to write a book for him using Max's life as an example of
everything wrong with the world today. As the Devil puts it, "You,
humans, are creating Hell on Earth and putting me out of a job.'
As Max starts writing the book, he reflects on his own life
while also planning a one-way trip to Hawaii so that he may take
in the beauty and wonder of the Big Island one last time. Despite
feeling content with the idea of leaving the world alone and iso-
lated, a surprise visit by a stranger makes
Chapter 1
OH MY GOD!
“Max. Max Largent! Wake Up. Wake Up. NOW!”
Startled, I jerk up in bed. “Who’s there?” I shout, not know-
ing the source of my fear. I am sweating like a racehorse that just won the Kentucky Derby hauling a fat jockey. My head is covered in dampness, the pillow is soaked, and my tee-shirt is tangled and stuck to my body.
I must be dreaming. I want to be dreaming. Struggling to take in short quick breaths, I gulp and strain in a futile effort to be in control yet still fighting for air like a six-year-old trying to explain away his misdeed while every other word is a hiccup. I swivel my head left and right searching for the source of this strange voice and for a quick escape.
No presence to see or feel. Besides, if it is an immediate threat, then my best friend Rhett, an eight-year-old long-haired German Shepherd who nightly guards my bedroom door, would at least be howling or barking. Instead, he raises his big head, turns it down to the right, squints and looks at me like he’s asking, “Are you crazy?” In this way-too-early-in-the-morning predicament, I am so much closer to crazy than okay.
1
THE DEVIL AND MAX LARGENT
Does this chilling deep dark voice want to do me in for some past transgression? If so, it will have to get in a long, long line.
Don’t see or sense anyone, no shadow on the wall, no sheet with eye holes flying across my bedroom. Is God calling me home now? I thought I had more time. Wait a second. God doesn’t have to give you a heads up or scare the ‘BE-Jesus’ out of you to call you home. Amazing how many nonsensical thoughts you can have in a nanosecond when terror is present.
“Quit asking so many questions and listen,” the voice demands. I fumble with the bedside lamp, desperate that light will
frighten off whoever is there. Where are they hiding?
The room’s stone cold when I throw off the covers. Funny,
the last thing I do every night is turn the bedroom thermostat to 73 degrees. I wish this was funny.
Peeling off the damp clinging tee-shirt, I grab a robe from the bedside chair, throw it over my shivering shoulders, then bundle a wool blanket over myself like a kid building a fort. By feeling my face, I know the final verdict is in: Dammit. I am awake. All things considered, I would prefer being comatose.
Pleading in a sternly false bravado voice, I say, “What do you want? Who are you?”
“It’s me, the Devil.”
“Oh my God!”
“No dammit! The Devil! Why do humans always call out ‘Oh my
God’ when terrified or shocked? All you’re saying is, ‘Now that I am in deep trouble, I am screaming for God to be my God right now.’”
While attempting to slow a rapidly beating heart, I say, “Just a bad nightmare to go with the nightmare of a bad day.”
The mysterious voice announces, “Wrongful thinking dude, for I am not a dream, nightmare, or hallucination. I am greater than all those combined. I am Satan.”
2
MICHAEL TOMLIN
Every cell in my body demands I drop to the floor, land in a fetal position shouting, ‘It’s over.’
“Have you come to take my soul?”
“Maybe, but first I require you to write a book about me.”
Bewildered, bothered, and four beats from a stroke, all I can say is, “A book? Why a book about you? And why me, why now?”
Before he could respond, it hit me. After three days and nights of worrying incessantly about what my medical test will reveal, I need this like General Armstrong Custer needed more Indians.
The Devil wakes Max Largent and asks him to write a book for him. The Devil says he needs a book, using Max's life as an example of what is wrong today so that the world can be saved before it becomes dark and he is out of a job. Max can't quite figure out if he is dreaming or if this conversation is really happening! What the heck!
Max lives alone and has not been much of a people person. Rhett, his German Shepherd, has been all he has needed as a best friend. Unfortunately, Max has not been feeling well, and after taking medical tests, he discovers that he has stage 4 glioblastoma brain cancer and only has about three months to live. So Max decides to write the book for the Devil as he reflects on his life and also decides to take a one-way trip to Hawaii. Yet, unexpectedly, Max has a surprise visitor that significantly impacts his life before he dies.
It's been a while since I've read a sad book. To be honest, I usually avoid them. I don't know what I was thinking. Ok, I am freely admitting that I cried. I sniffled. The cat looked at me with concern. I hoped that no one walked into the room while I was reading this.
The Devil and Max Largent by Michael Tomlin covers just about every possible emotion that we humans have: regret, loss, joy, love and more. It is written in a compassionate and caring voice, with easy flow to the narrative and neat structure. I enjoyed the settings, including the descriptions of Hawaii, as it brought back memories of visiting there with my family. The characters were realistic and believable. It also emphasizes how important life is and to treat every moment like the last bite of cookie!
This book is definitely worth your time. It is just important to note that it is a bit of an emotional ride.