Tosca Lee's "Demon: A Memoir" - I've read it now.

From advertisement of Tosca Lee's book on LifeWayStores.com, a retail outlet

I’ve completed reading Tosca Lee’s “Demon: A Memoir.” I wrote of it in an earlier blog. I do recommend it. Once again I found it offered free for the downloading. There’s a link on her website, under the “Acquire” tab.

Lee’s presentation of creation, disobedience and subsequent activities of a fallen angel compels us to read. Fortunately, that compulsion is broken into digestible portions by a current story line that also retains our interest. Otherwise, I would have been overwhelmed by the lack of hope the demon exhibits.

In all honesty, it would be a better read by those who do believe what the Bible tells us about God, creation and mankind. It helps to have some background, though this story does stand on its own. Tosca wrote:

"I have based Lucian's account of pre-fall bliss on a widely but by no means universally held understanding of Ezekiel 28:11-19. Some commentators view this passage as a literal lament or prophecy against the ruler of Tyre, a wealthy Phoenician city in what is now Lebanon. Others believe the prophet addresses the power energizing the throne of Tyre--Lucifer himself. Advocates of this second interpretation cite the fact that the king is referred to as having dwelt in Eden, been an anointed Cherub, been created (rather than propagated) and as having been blameless since his creation. This is the interpretation I chose to underpin my fictional imagining of Lucifer's pre-fall existence.

"I have supplemented my imagining of Lucifer's fall with a similar interpretation of Isaiah 14:12-14, wherein the 'son of the morning' states his intention to ascend to heaven with five famous 'I wills.' Again, this is a widely but not universally-held understanding of this passage, which on the surface laments the prophetic fall of the pagan king of Babylon, a contemporary of the prophet."

Here Lee touches on something non-Christians point to and say that we must be wrong. There are many instances in the Bible where there are not “universally held understandings.”

There are some universally held understandings within believers. First and foremost is that God created the heavens and the earth. The creation of mankind, his fall and provision of a savior are true. These are described in the book. And the demon really doesn’t like the idea of these lesser beings holding God’s attention.

The demon’s story is well told. I must admit some pity, for a time, for this creature that had so much and now was confined to remembering its past, sharing that remembrance with a being made from dirt. The demon views these creatures with great disdain, which makes us wonder why it is so intent on having its story told. What purpose can be achieved?

The answer should raise questions for each reader.

For those who do not believe in angels, heavenly or fallen, or for those who believe neither in heaven nor hell, perhaps the questions are easily ignored.

Yet, in this demon’s tale is seen the beauty of creation, the hope of eternity and the emptiness of its loss.

A thought-provoking book. Are you ready to think?