Fated

“It’s human nature to underachieve. To not live up to one’s full potential. Granted, there aren’t a lot of delusions of grandeur with Fate. You don’t get awarded a Nobel Peace Prize or become Stephen King. And when some one's future involves mental illness, drug addiction, or a career in politics, I can’t really expect any pleasant surprises.”

This excerpt seems to set the tone of the book. S. G. Browne has a fresh take on Fate and Destiny, and a quirky take on the Christian Myths in general. I really wanted to like the book, but unfortunately his main character makes things difficult.

Fate, AKA Fabio, seems to hate Humanity. They are disgusting things that eat too much, collect too much stuff, and cannot manage to do a thing right. Towards the end his attitude does get a bit more paternal and loving, but it is still pretty preachy.

I am very much an underdog kind of girl and Mr. Browne’s take on Fate does fit the bill. The reader gets the distinct impression that Fate has gotten a raw deal in life. Sadly it is more along the lines of the “big boned” kid at school that hates everyone because “everyone” is going to hate them. It makes our dear Fabio a real drag and rather unlikable. I want to sympathise with him, but I cannot really bring myself to do it.

I am unsure if it is just the character or the author’s particular style that is not working for me, but I did not enjoy Fated as much as I thought I would. S. G. Browne’s more recent offering, Breathers: A Zombie’s Lament, looks like more of a fun read so I think I will add that to my TBR pile in the interest of being fair. (I will probably have to grade that one on a curve because I don't really like zombies, but I did like Fido and Shaun of the Dead so it is not a lost cause.)