Description
Matt Duggan’s In Extremis follows the random exploits of an introspective protagonist in Los Angeles in both the 1990s and 2008. Though Jack Darmody is your average nice guy, he is not a good judge of character. First, he reluctantly goes along with the plan of an ambitious friend with a get-rich-quick scheme that could get him in trouble with the Russian mob. In a less dangerous incident, he gets the harsh taste of betrayal when he allows a friend into his home even after being warned against it. Thankfully, he gets saved from homelessness by Sophia the Aussie, who sees him just in time, as he is being evicted by the police.
Throughout the book, Jack Darmody is seen meeting several other characters, both the morally sound and the questionable ones. He tries out writing and acting and even contemplates arguments for and against religion. Ultimately, he lives his life like a science project, experimenting and trying out new experiences, even the not-very-smart ones.
As a philosophy enthusiast, I liked the protagonist’s intriguing conversations and the thought-provoking questions about religion and morality. One of my favorite questions states, “That goodness that resides in your soul. Where does that come from?” I appreciated seeing characters who have disparate views about religion since it doesn’t feel imposing like novels whose characters mostly lean to one angle.
In Extremis is the kind of book that keeps you clueless about what will happen next, which sometimes results in a very comical and playful atmosphere. For example, Jack goes against the rules in a movie-shooting scene and ends up being praised for it and given a better role. First, he’s told he might get sued then called the hero.
Unfortunately, the random nature of the story is also why it appears to lack continuity. I wished to see more of some characters like Daniel, the thief, and Julie, who argues for religion, but they only show up on a few pages. I wasn’t pleased with finding new characters and goals that seemed isolated and limited to a small part of the story.
The book transports readers to the 1990s era with interesting descriptions and historical information, such as the drought that started in 1986 and ended in 1992. Some other prominent themes in the book are writing, acting, friendship, self-discovery, and philosophy.
The fun-loving readers and creative, inquisitive minds will find the book’s core themes attractive. Protagonist Jack Darmody is an interesting character—one I could see myself having an engaging chat with. However, the book’s disjointed structure might be alienating for some.