The Devil's Inbox

Rating:
Summary: A Fantastic Book for Our Modern Times
Review: Any reader of C. S. Lewis would enjoy this book. Provides a wonderful collection of emails to the tempter Termite, and we see indirectly how a young woman deals with modernity and the choices society and life offers. Laymon is humorous, insightful, and thought provoking. Every woman and man concerned with a Christian life or just our modern life should read.

Rating:
Summary: Useful information for eveyday life
Review: I found this book to be reminder of the spiritual battle Christians face in our everyday lives. I found myself having a "really bad day" with all kinds of things going wrong and saying to myself the devil is working hard against me today. Recognizing where some bad experiences come from, helps to win the battle! Thanks for reminding us. We have the power through Christ to win the battle.

Rating:
Summary: Useful information for eveyday life
Review: I found this book to be reminder of the spiritual battle Christians face in our everyday lives. I found myself having a "really bad day" with all kinds of things going wrong and saying to myself the devil is working hard against me today. Recognizing where some bad experiences come from, helps to win the battle! Thanks for reminding us. We have the power through Christ to win the battle.

Rating:
Summary: Just read Lewis
Review: It's obvious that Barbara Laymon has read her C.S. Lewis, because the basic premise of this book is very similar. A young demon, Termite, receive regular communications (h-mails) from her advisor, Anesthesia, as to the best way to ensare her "victim" as the woman progresses from college through adulthood, including marriage and motherhood.

The e-mail (excuse me) "h-mail" format works well, allowing for an immediate glimpse into the "victim's" day-to-day life, and her ongoing struggles with issues like her weight problem or a gossiping church group. The subtle infighting between Anesthesia and Termite is hilarious, as are the not-so-patient corrections Anesthesia makes of her young protege (who appears fairly thick) - through them, I found myself observing all of the tiny ways I get in my own way. The ending was especially great.

Although there were one or two subtle political sentiments I disagree with, this is still going on my gift list for those who are wrestling with what is core to a life of faith.

Rating:
Summary: Definitely derivative, but incredibly hilarious
Review: It's obvious that Barbara Laymon has read her C.S. Lewis, because the basic premise of this book is very similar. A young demon, Termite, receive regular communications (h-mails) from her advisor, Anesthesia, as to the best way to ensare her "victim" as the woman progresses from college through adulthood, including marriage and motherhood.

The e-mail (excuse me) "h-mail" format works well, allowing for an immediate glimpse into the "victim's" day-to-day life, and her ongoing struggles with issues like her weight problem or a gossiping church group. The subtle infighting between Anesthesia and Termite is hilarious, as are the not-so-patient corrections Anesthesia makes of her young protege (who appears fairly thick) - through them, I found myself observing all of the tiny ways I get in my own way. The ending was especially great.

Although there were one or two subtle political sentiments I disagree with, this is still going on my gift list for those who are wrestling with what is core to a life of faith.

Rating:
Summary: A modern day C.S. Lewis
Review: Modeled on the Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis, the Devil's Inbox tells a spiritually addicting story about one of Satan's agents who is assigned to corrupt an American woman. Throughout the course of the book, gnawingirl (Satan's henchman), broadsides our courageous protagonist hoping she will forsake God and give up hope. Our heroine faces devilishly designed obstacles such as relationship problems, career disappointment, mischeivous children, and battles with cancer. Throughout the book and with every new battle, the author provides amusing anecdotes as well as rich theological insights. For those of you who find meaning in the book of Job and are looking for a novel that is both a quick read and religiously enlightening, the Devil's Inbox is a must.

Rating:
Summary: A modern day C.S. Lewis
Review: Modeled on the Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis, the Devil's Inbox tells a spiritually addicting story about one of Satan's agents who is assigned to corrupt an American woman. Throughout the course of the book, gnawingirl (Satan's henchman), broadsides our courageous protagonist hoping she will forsake God and give up hope. Our heroine faces devilishly designed obstacles such as relationship problems, career disappointment, mischeivous children, and battles with cancer. Throughout the book and with every new battle, the author provides amusing anecdotes as well as rich theological insights. For those of you who find meaning in the book of Job and are looking for a novel that is both a quick read and religiously enlightening, the Devil's Inbox is a must.

Rating:
Summary: A worthy successor to Screwtape
Review: The Screwtape Letters was the first C.S. Lewis book I read, and it is a favorite of mine. After reading Narnia to my children when they were young, we reintroduced them to Lewis as teenagers via Screwtape. So, I was looking forward to reading the Devil's Inbox, but was tempted not to because of the very negative review it received from one reader. Gratefully, I read it anyway, and was not disappointed in the least. It was, in fact, more poignant, humorous and relevant than I had hoped it might be. I found myself on every page!

Some readers may have trouble with the female orientation of the book, but, as a woman, I loved that about it. Being human, I could cetainly relate to the male victim in Screwtape, but as a female I relate much more closely to the victim in Laymon's book. And, although human nature may not change, popular culture has certainly changed over the past fifty years. I think Laymon did an excellent job updating the devil's tactics to suit today's societal norms and expectations.

As far as the editing, I wanted a longer book, not a shorter one since I enjoyed every single page. In brief, Ms. Laymon's theology may or may not be identical in every respect to that of Mr. Lewis- I don't know. I do think whether you believe in MH (Mother Hen), you don't believe in MH, or you don't know if there is a MH, you will find plenty to laugh about and think about in the Devil's Inbox.

Rating:
Summary: Just read Lewis
Review: This book really needed an editor. Unlike Screwtape, which it imitates, Devil's Inbox has little sense of a an interesting plot; I didn't ever come to care what happened to the human being, nor did her journey make much internal sense. It was simply a string of events, excuses for Laymon to get to make comments on issues or situations in the church or society that interest her. Shortening the book by about a third and making sure all the emails are germane to clear plot development would have been helpful.

Also unlike Screwtape, this book does not display any real insight into the process of temptation; you won't learn much about yourself and why you fall. The most valuable thing about Screwtape -- its subtle insight into why people sin, how we deceive ourselves, how we twist our motivations -- is totally lacking here. You are merely a spectator to a series of events or trends in church life about which Laymon has opinions.

Also unlike Screwtape, Devil's Inbox is preachy - it is constantly trying to insinuate specifics on how you should read the Bible, how you should pray. Its true landscape is not the cosmic battle between good and evil, but the homey, small-groupy world of spiritual self-improvement - and thus, it wearies; it lacks drama. Rather than being caught up short by recognizing yourself in the human character, you can only think "I agree with that idea... I don't agree with this one..." - never all that useful a mode to get into, spiritually.

Another review mentions the the nods to political correctness, which I found only mildly annoying - the reference throughout to God as female, for example. I did have to wonder, however, if the redemption of the tempter at the end was a direct slap at Lewis' non-politically correct worldview.

In short, you'll get a lot more out of the original than out of this watered-down, over-long imitation. A book which helped readers understand and laugh at their own motivations for giving in to 21st century temptations would be very welcome, but this is not that book.