BR: The Divine Farce

Book review #2: “A tessellation, a giant unity. Love.”

I had never heard of The Divine Farce by Michael S.A. Graziano. It was just one of those books I found going down the rabbit hole on Goodreads review and it stuck out to me. The cover is haunting, and the premise even more so. Three people stuck together for eternity with nothing to eat but nectar dripping from the ceiling? Sounds like a summer read to me.

[I would insert the cover here, but seriously it’s graphic. Go Google it. If you dare.]

As soon as I read the first page, however, I could tell it was going to be more than a creepy book about three people trapped together forever. The book’s protagonist, Sage, is as thoughtful as his name. He is in a cramped space (cell or cocoon?) with Rose and Henry, two people he can only describe by touch, since they are in total darkness. They don’t even have room to sit down.

The premise sounds hell-ish, but what struck me was Sage’s interpretation of their situation:

”A person alone- hell. No matter how deeply reflective, no matter how self sufficient—eternal solitude—hell. Two people—as good as hell. Three people, a triangulated complexity, strife and forgiveness, alliance and conflict, a polyphonic piece of music sometimes dreadful in its dissonance, sometimes uplifting in its harmony—heaven.” (Pg. 13)

The question of the divine is a major theme throughout this book, and one that Graziano weaves in seamlessly throughout the crazy situations Sage finds himself in as the book progresses. As I was reading the book, my own definition of heaven or hell changed as Sage’s did. Is heaven really harmony and complexity, as Sage described from the start? In his seemingly permanent situation, does he have any other choice than call it heaven rather than hell?

I appreciate the way Sage’s poetic way of thinking enhances his brutal honesty. For as much as he talks about love, he talks about the reality of his life too.

“Then again, sometimes my soaring philosophy meant nothing to me[…] it is what it is. It isn’t heaven, it isn’t hell, it’s simply where we are, and it stinks.” (Pg. 15)

This dichotomy of philosophical thoughts vs reality checks feels so human. Sage tries to reason with himself through abstract thought, then crashes down to Earth when he realizes his shitty situation. Haven’t we all been in his place in some way?

As I quoted earlier, a common statement that resembles Sage’s learned helplessness at the start of the book is “it is what it is.” Until he learns that it doesn’t have to be. Without explicitly spoiling the book, Sage doesn’t necessarily “grow” in a traditional-character-arc sense— I’d argue he even regresses in some ways. It makes me think about what growth really looks like for a character, or even for people in general.

“Just like the purpose of a hammer is to hit things, I had no other way to relate to the substance around me except to do what was in me to do.” (Pg 42)

This self awareness is jarring, because again, its philosophy hints at the truth. We all make choices and move through the world with the idea that we are moving forward. But maybe we are just moving. We are just doing what is in us to do. But when we are not so focused on motion, we can better recognize, even love, the people around us.

Divine Farce, for all its crude commentary on the animalistic human condition, is ultimately about love and friendship. Because beyond the base needs of food, water, and sex, we need the love of others to grant us our worth, meaning, and vision.

★★★★★

Thank you for reading! Now go read this book if you haven’t! Lol