The Saint of Bright Doors sets the high drama of divine revolutionaries and transcendent cults against the mundane struggles of modern life, resulting in a novel that is revelatory and resonant.
Fetter was raised to kill, honed as a knife to cut down his sainted father. This gave him plenty to talk about in therapy.
He walked among invisible devils and anti-gods that mock the mortal form. He learned a lethal catechism, lost his shadow, and gained a habit for secrecy. After a blood-soaked childhood, Fetter escaped his rural hometown for the big city, and fell into a broader world where divine destinies are a dime a dozen.
Everything in Luriat is more than it seems. Group therapy is recruitment for a revolutionary cadre. Junk email hints at the arrival of a god. Every door is laden with potential, and once closed may never open again. The city is scattered with Bright Doors, looming portals through which a cold wind blows. In this unknowable metropolis, Fetter will discover what kind of man he is, and his discovery will rewrite the world.
My Take
I had high expectations for this one given the many awards it was nominated for but it just didn’t do it for me. I liked Fetter but also found him an irritating blend of go-with-the-flow mixed with “oh, now I’ll be proactive when I have a really stupid idea.” It kept putting me to sleep and I found myself re-reading because I’d just drifted off mid-sentence. I did like the setting, a modern world blended with mythology, and I liked the supporting characters. The plot seemed to wander, much like Fetter. The fact that I read it during the US election probably impacted my response.
I just read a review that said the book might be better understood with a knowledge of Buddhism and Sri Lanka. I know little about either. I also read that the audiobook is excellent, for what it’s worth.