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The Devil is a Southpaw
A haunting, unforgettable novel of obsession, pride, and forgiveness, exploring the friendship and rivalry between two gifted boys in harrowing circumstances, from the acclaimed writer ofThe Removed
Milton Muleborn has envied Matthew Echota, a talented young Cherokee artist, ever since they were locked up together in a dangerous juvenile detention center in the late 1980s. Until Matthew escaped, that is.
A novel within a novel, we read here Milton’s account of the story of their childhood even as, years later, he remains jealous of Matthew’s extraordinary abilities and unlikely success. Milton reveals secrets about their friendship, their families, and their nightmarish, sometimes surreal, experience of imprisonment. In revisiting the past, he explores the echoing traumas of racial and institutional violence and the systemic injustices in our systems of incarceration and so-called reform.
Filled with Brandon Hobson’s trademark swirling yet visceral writing, The Devil Is a Southpaw is an ambitious, elegant, and propulsive novel in the spirit of Vladimir Nabokov and Gabriel García Márquez.
Milton Muleborn has envied Matthew Echota, a talented young Cherokee artist, ever since they were locked up together in a dangerous juvenile detention center in the late 1980s. Until Matthew escaped, that is.
A novel within a novel, we read here Milton’s account of the story of their childhood even as, years later, he remains jealous of Matthew’s extraordinary abilities and unlikely success. Milton reveals secrets about their friendship, their families, and their nightmarish, sometimes surreal, experience of imprisonment. In revisiting the past, he explores the echoing traumas of racial and institutional violence and the systemic injustices in our systems of incarceration and so-called reform.
Filled with Brandon Hobson’s trademark swirling yet visceral writing, The Devil Is a Southpaw is an ambitious, elegant, and propulsive novel in the spirit of Vladimir Nabokov and Gabriel García Márquez.
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About the author
Brandon Hobson
14 books472 followersDr. Brandon Hobson is an American writer. His novel, Where the Dead Sit Talking, was a finalist for the National Book Award. He is an assistant professor of creative writing at New Mexico State University and also teaches at the Institute of American Indian Arts. He is an enrolled citizen of the Cherokee Nation Tribe of Oklahoma.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
April 18, 2025
I love Hobson for his vivid psychological writing that heavily relies on symbolism, the evocation of moody scenes, and a troubling uncertainty that keeps readers on their toes, and his latest effort is no exception - in fact, it takes what he's been doing all along way, way further, which makes for a rather demanding text. The three-part-novel revolves a group of kids who have to do time in a youth penitentiary in rural Oklahoma in 1988, an experience that will haunt them for the rest of their lives. For one, there is Brandon, a Cherokee who will later become an artist and is interviewed in part two by a certain Cherokee writer named... Sanbo Hornbond (just rearrange the letters and it will lead you to a Cherokee professor for literature who used to work with troubled youth and wrote the novel you are reading). Then, we have Milton Muleborn whose father is a pastor and who was raised by the standards of charismatic Christianity - he is the narrator for most of the text, dealing with his obsession with and envy of Matthew Echota, an aspiring Cherokee writer who steals his girlfriend (although Milton's depiction of Matthew is very contradictory and clearly shaped by his own emotions).
The first part, which makes up more than half of the text, is a hallucinatory fever dream that functions as an account of the teenagers in prison: The strict discipline, the drill sergeants, the councilor, the headmaster etc. The emotional states of fear, terror, anger, and helplessness are mirrored in violent visions, often mythological and biblical: It's raining frogs, there is the blood of Christ and a blazing fire, the Red Sea is parted, a torrential storm rages, nightmares abound - the effect is disorienting, an unsettling kind of psychological horror illustrating trauma. The short second part focuses on the (until then) minor character of Brandon. The third part is way more accessible and straight-forward than its mirror at the beginning of the novel and offers the backstory that reveals what really brought Milton and Matthew to prison, adding a lot of background to Milton's upbringing. In this last part, it's the construction itself that appears as an intricate puzzle, a rabbit hole of memory. Throughout, the book works with original artwork by Hobson, mostly charcoal drawings and one photo (check out in the text which of the kids do such drawings and photos!).
I was aware that in folkloristic beliefs, the devil is supposed to be left-handed, but here, the term "southpaw" is used because Matthew is the illegitimate son of a talented baseball player - both of them left-handed. The text also claims that "The Devil is a Southpaw" is a 1971 low-budget film that features John Wayne (good luck finding it), a manuscript that was sent to the fictional Brandon Hobson by an anonymous author, as well as a novel or a memoir (both genres are mentioned) by Milton - and yes, you could certainly think about how the book plays with Paradise Lost. Long-haired Matthew in his humble clothes is perceived as a "stutterer and silent saint" by Milton, almost as a Jesus-like prodigy, which provokes the mortal sin of envy in Milton, a sentiment that tortures him and is rooted in ascribed qualities, hence: mere interpretations, in itself. The novel adds even more text forms like poems and letters, and it hints at popular 80's TV shows as well as a variety of movies (the prison headmaster is called Strangelove), paintings (like van Gogh's Wheatfield with Crows), literary works (Milton's cousin is John Alberich, Inferno is mentioned etc.), video games, movies, etc.pp. And of course there are (indigenous and Christian) animal metaphors apart from the aforementioned frogs, namely birds, spiders, and owls, plus Native tricksters.
The drill sergeants Cole, Jackson, Lee, and Ambrose in a prison which incarcerates many Native Americans might refer to US soldiers: Cornelius Cole Smith fought in the Sioux Wars, James Jackson fought against the Plains Indians, Charles Lee participated in the French and Indian War, Ambrose Burnside fought the Apaches. Milton's and Matthew's love interest is Cassie Magdal (see Cassandra and Mary Magdalene), the prison counselor is Vlad Siren (see Vlad the Impaler, better known as Dracula and Greek sirens). Then, the kids' hometown is called Old Dublan, which could be a nod the the second-most Catholic capital in the world (although it would have to be New Dublin / Dublan in the States) or to Colonia Dublán.
I could go on and on, this book easily delivers material for several dissertations - and we haven't even talked about the references to other Hobson books (hello, Where the Dead Sit Talking). As mine is the first review I could find on the internet for the novel, I also expect that Hobson's interviews when the ARC is officially published will contribute greatly to my understanding of his motifs and themes - but I can already say that this is challenging, ambitious, intriguing literature.
The first part, which makes up more than half of the text, is a hallucinatory fever dream that functions as an account of the teenagers in prison: The strict discipline, the drill sergeants, the councilor, the headmaster etc. The emotional states of fear, terror, anger, and helplessness are mirrored in violent visions, often mythological and biblical: It's raining frogs, there is the blood of Christ and a blazing fire, the Red Sea is parted, a torrential storm rages, nightmares abound - the effect is disorienting, an unsettling kind of psychological horror illustrating trauma. The short second part focuses on the (until then) minor character of Brandon. The third part is way more accessible and straight-forward than its mirror at the beginning of the novel and offers the backstory that reveals what really brought Milton and Matthew to prison, adding a lot of background to Milton's upbringing. In this last part, it's the construction itself that appears as an intricate puzzle, a rabbit hole of memory. Throughout, the book works with original artwork by Hobson, mostly charcoal drawings and one photo (check out in the text which of the kids do such drawings and photos!).
I was aware that in folkloristic beliefs, the devil is supposed to be left-handed, but here, the term "southpaw" is used because Matthew is the illegitimate son of a talented baseball player - both of them left-handed. The text also claims that "The Devil is a Southpaw" is a 1971 low-budget film that features John Wayne (good luck finding it), a manuscript that was sent to the fictional Brandon Hobson by an anonymous author, as well as a novel or a memoir (both genres are mentioned) by Milton - and yes, you could certainly think about how the book plays with Paradise Lost. Long-haired Matthew in his humble clothes is perceived as a "stutterer and silent saint" by Milton, almost as a Jesus-like prodigy, which provokes the mortal sin of envy in Milton, a sentiment that tortures him and is rooted in ascribed qualities, hence: mere interpretations, in itself. The novel adds even more text forms like poems and letters, and it hints at popular 80's TV shows as well as a variety of movies (the prison headmaster is called Strangelove), paintings (like van Gogh's Wheatfield with Crows), literary works (Milton's cousin is John Alberich, Inferno is mentioned etc.), video games, movies, etc.pp. And of course there are (indigenous and Christian) animal metaphors apart from the aforementioned frogs, namely birds, spiders, and owls, plus Native tricksters.
The drill sergeants Cole, Jackson, Lee, and Ambrose in a prison which incarcerates many Native Americans might refer to US soldiers: Cornelius Cole Smith fought in the Sioux Wars, James Jackson fought against the Plains Indians, Charles Lee participated in the French and Indian War, Ambrose Burnside fought the Apaches. Milton's and Matthew's love interest is Cassie Magdal (see Cassandra and Mary Magdalene), the prison counselor is Vlad Siren (see Vlad the Impaler, better known as Dracula and Greek sirens). Then, the kids' hometown is called Old Dublan, which could be a nod the the second-most Catholic capital in the world (although it would have to be New Dublin / Dublan in the States) or to Colonia Dublán.
I could go on and on, this book easily delivers material for several dissertations - and we haven't even talked about the references to other Hobson books (hello, Where the Dead Sit Talking). As mine is the first review I could find on the internet for the novel, I also expect that Hobson's interviews when the ARC is officially published will contribute greatly to my understanding of his motifs and themes - but I can already say that this is challenging, ambitious, intriguing literature.
October 13, 2025
The Devil is a Southpaw is a cerebral, heart wrenching tale centered around two very talented but troubled teenage boys. The novel itself is multilayered, complex, and brilliantly written.
The book delves into the injustices the boys faced and how it impacted their entire lives.
Institutionalized oppression, systematic oppression, racism, education system, and generational trauma are just a few of the themes The Devil is a Southpaw covers which makes it a timely novel.
The first half which is Milton’s manuscript that he wrote as a child feels at time to be apart of a fever dream yet takes the reader inside the struggles of the young boys while they are incarcerated. The second part goes into more detail explaining the second part as well as answering the readers lingering questions.
The title is based on a fictional John Wayne film and references how the actor always killed indigenous people in his films. I loved the nods to classic literature from Milton, James Joyce, and Shakespeare. The nods to art and artists such as Salvador Dali and Frieda Kohl were a delight as well.
The Devil is a Southpaw is a solid 5 star read for me and is one I will not be forgetting anytime soon. I loved it just as much as I did The Removed and I highly recommend it to all.
The Devil is a Southpaw by Brandon Hobson will be available on October 28. Many thanks to Ecco Books for the gifted copy!
The book delves into the injustices the boys faced and how it impacted their entire lives.
Institutionalized oppression, systematic oppression, racism, education system, and generational trauma are just a few of the themes The Devil is a Southpaw covers which makes it a timely novel.
The first half which is Milton’s manuscript that he wrote as a child feels at time to be apart of a fever dream yet takes the reader inside the struggles of the young boys while they are incarcerated. The second part goes into more detail explaining the second part as well as answering the readers lingering questions.
The title is based on a fictional John Wayne film and references how the actor always killed indigenous people in his films. I loved the nods to classic literature from Milton, James Joyce, and Shakespeare. The nods to art and artists such as Salvador Dali and Frieda Kohl were a delight as well.
The Devil is a Southpaw is a solid 5 star read for me and is one I will not be forgetting anytime soon. I loved it just as much as I did The Removed and I highly recommend it to all.
The Devil is a Southpaw by Brandon Hobson will be available on October 28. Many thanks to Ecco Books for the gifted copy!
November 2, 2025
Hobson’s two previous novels are quite different from each other. Where the Dead Sit Talking is a grisly coming-of-age story about an orphan. A very grounded story, about the tragedy of the orphan systems of America, and how they are even more tragic in Native American cases.
Then, in The Removed, Hobson opened up with more themes, narrative perspectives, and writing styles, by creating a polyphonic novel centered around the Echota family. In this novel, he showed, in short snippets, a very experimental, intricate and poetic style, that was not present in the previous novel. This new style is more akin to what he seems to do in his short fiction (he’s been published in Conjuctions alongside many greats of dense, experimental prose: Gass, Wallace, etc.)
The jump between those two novels was great, but this present leap with The Devil is A Southpaw really seems like the novel he was meant to write.
The first half is a found manuscript, that weaves a tale of Cherokee traditions/stories, juvenile abuse, adolescent wonderment, and death, with comic elements, often coming from a surreal state.
The second half of the novel, becomes a more grounded explanation of the characters (their backgrounds and such) on a more ‘real/less surreal’ level, but, the second half may not enlighten the reader as much as they would expect. I think this is purposeful, as the first half, though often complex, and ‘trippy,’ seems to explain more than the latter half does.
One of the best novels of the year for sure.
Then, in The Removed, Hobson opened up with more themes, narrative perspectives, and writing styles, by creating a polyphonic novel centered around the Echota family. In this novel, he showed, in short snippets, a very experimental, intricate and poetic style, that was not present in the previous novel. This new style is more akin to what he seems to do in his short fiction (he’s been published in Conjuctions alongside many greats of dense, experimental prose: Gass, Wallace, etc.)
The jump between those two novels was great, but this present leap with The Devil is A Southpaw really seems like the novel he was meant to write.
The first half is a found manuscript, that weaves a tale of Cherokee traditions/stories, juvenile abuse, adolescent wonderment, and death, with comic elements, often coming from a surreal state.
The second half of the novel, becomes a more grounded explanation of the characters (their backgrounds and such) on a more ‘real/less surreal’ level, but, the second half may not enlighten the reader as much as they would expect. I think this is purposeful, as the first half, though often complex, and ‘trippy,’ seems to explain more than the latter half does.
One of the best novels of the year for sure.
Read
October 22, 2025I was really looking forward to this one, but unfortunately I'm not a good match for Hobson's style. I don't think there is anything wrong with using run-ons. But if they start getting too long or too frequently used, they can affect clarity for me. I'm running into that here and I can't follow what's being said from one page to the next.
DNF @ p20
Thank you to Brandon Dobson, Ecco, and NetGalley for an accessible digital arc of THE DEVIL IS A SOUTHPAW. All views are mine.
DNF @ p20
Thank you to Brandon Dobson, Ecco, and NetGalley for an accessible digital arc of THE DEVIL IS A SOUTHPAW. All views are mine.
November 4, 2025
For readers of Borges, Nabokov, Wallace. Lots of literary references here to James Joyce and others. Good to see a smart, fun, postmodern novel again in the U.S.
October 5, 2025
The synopsis describes Brandon Hobson’s writing as “swirling yet visceral” and I cannot think of a better description than this.
This sad, complicated story brings readers into the mind of Milton Muleborn, whose envy for a fellow artist he was once in juvenile detention with fuels the narrative. Through strange, dreamlike (nightmare-like?) prose, our unreliable narrator ensures that readers are just as haunted as he is.
I saw a few early reviewers complain about the challenging vocabulary the author used, but I think it’s important to consider that it is Milton telling the story, and he is indelibly marked by insecurity and a desperation to be seen; to be appreciated. There is actually an important line in the book regarding vocabulary. Unfortunately, I failed to mark it so I cannot quote it for you. Its essence, however, seems to both explain and poke fun at the complex use of language.
I read half of my physical ARC and then finished The Devil is a Southpaw off on audio. I can’t tell you which format is better, but I think you’ll want a physical copy close by if you do listen, as there are countless passages worth coming back to, and Hobson‘s artwork, which can also be described as swirling yet visceral, deserves a viewing. That said, Shane Ghostkeeper‘s audiobook narration is phenomenal.
The Devil is a Southpaw will be out on October 28, 2025.
Thank you Ecco Books and Libro.fm for my copies. All opinions are my own.
This sad, complicated story brings readers into the mind of Milton Muleborn, whose envy for a fellow artist he was once in juvenile detention with fuels the narrative. Through strange, dreamlike (nightmare-like?) prose, our unreliable narrator ensures that readers are just as haunted as he is.
I saw a few early reviewers complain about the challenging vocabulary the author used, but I think it’s important to consider that it is Milton telling the story, and he is indelibly marked by insecurity and a desperation to be seen; to be appreciated. There is actually an important line in the book regarding vocabulary. Unfortunately, I failed to mark it so I cannot quote it for you. Its essence, however, seems to both explain and poke fun at the complex use of language.
I read half of my physical ARC and then finished The Devil is a Southpaw off on audio. I can’t tell you which format is better, but I think you’ll want a physical copy close by if you do listen, as there are countless passages worth coming back to, and Hobson‘s artwork, which can also be described as swirling yet visceral, deserves a viewing. That said, Shane Ghostkeeper‘s audiobook narration is phenomenal.
The Devil is a Southpaw will be out on October 28, 2025.
Thank you Ecco Books and Libro.fm for my copies. All opinions are my own.
August 26, 2025
A refreshing throwback that delivers a beautifully rich, psychological literary experience.
Wow. So many thoughts…such little space 😅
You can tell from the start that this book is going to be something different. From the writing style to the unusual structure and dreamlike storytelling. The reader is firmly grounded in the author’s reality, place and time in a real and believable way.
The crux of the novel is obsession and insecurity, and how it manifests itself in the fictional author’s disjointed and allusive telling of his story. The inferiority complex shows up in the need to embellish or make up stories to impress, the pervasive use of “dictionary opening” vocabulary to appear intellectually superior, and the projection of himself and his thoughts onto the subject. Paired with a vivid imagination, he paints a portrait of his early life and the object of his envy in a thought provoking novel that leaves the reader with a scattered, abstract puzzle. Constantly questioning what is real.
The second part of the book is an introspective (and retrospective) look into the author’s thoughts and early life that is more grounded in reality, allowing the reader to put the puzzle together piece by piece along the way. A confessional that explains much of his craving for attention, recognition and acceptance, but leaves the reader with plenty to contemplate.
Overall, I loved this novel and would recommend it to anyone looking for a thought-provoking experience that keeps you guessing and leaves you pondering. Beautifully done 👏🏼
4.5/5 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ✨
- @hathmortal
Wow. So many thoughts…such little space 😅
You can tell from the start that this book is going to be something different. From the writing style to the unusual structure and dreamlike storytelling. The reader is firmly grounded in the author’s reality, place and time in a real and believable way.
The crux of the novel is obsession and insecurity, and how it manifests itself in the fictional author’s disjointed and allusive telling of his story. The inferiority complex shows up in the need to embellish or make up stories to impress, the pervasive use of “dictionary opening” vocabulary to appear intellectually superior, and the projection of himself and his thoughts onto the subject. Paired with a vivid imagination, he paints a portrait of his early life and the object of his envy in a thought provoking novel that leaves the reader with a scattered, abstract puzzle. Constantly questioning what is real.
The second part of the book is an introspective (and retrospective) look into the author’s thoughts and early life that is more grounded in reality, allowing the reader to put the puzzle together piece by piece along the way. A confessional that explains much of his craving for attention, recognition and acceptance, but leaves the reader with plenty to contemplate.
Overall, I loved this novel and would recommend it to anyone looking for a thought-provoking experience that keeps you guessing and leaves you pondering. Beautifully done 👏🏼
4.5/5 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ✨
- @hathmortal
July 8, 2025
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Such a great read involving loss, pride, and friendship. I love how as a reader, I learned of the past of these characters and I felt really connected to all of them. The undertones of jealousy were strong in this book which made it very relatable. I really loved the artwork illustrations that were included as it really made this novel come to life. Of course the incarceration theme of this book puts the reader in a place most of us haven’t been so we can better understand that environment. Stunningly beautiful and will read again!
October 29, 2025
I enjoyed Brandon Hobson's previous book The Removed so was looking forward to their newest novel. The Devil is a Southpaw is difficult to summarize, but is ultimately about the relationship between two boys locked up in a juvenile detention facility. The story is mostly narrated by Milton, who is jealous of the talent of Matthew, who is an artist. Their time in the facility is captured, though it is unclear how reliable a narrator Milton is. There are supernatural and fantastical components as well. For me, it was a challenge to follow and this ended up being a bit of a slog for me.
Additionally, I do not understand the author's choice of vocabulary throughout much of this novel. Perhaps I am in the minority, but if I have to look up the definition of multiple words when I think I have a pretty well-rounded vocabulary base, it is going to remove one from the plot. I mean, who uses the word "agathokakological"? There was at least one section where there was a run-on sentence that went over multiple pages with multiple unknown words scattered throughout. It left me frustrated enough that I almost did not finish this one.
Thank you to Ecco via NetGalley for the advance reader copy in exchange for honest review.
Additionally, I do not understand the author's choice of vocabulary throughout much of this novel. Perhaps I am in the minority, but if I have to look up the definition of multiple words when I think I have a pretty well-rounded vocabulary base, it is going to remove one from the plot. I mean, who uses the word "agathokakological"? There was at least one section where there was a run-on sentence that went over multiple pages with multiple unknown words scattered throughout. It left me frustrated enough that I almost did not finish this one.
Thank you to Ecco via NetGalley for the advance reader copy in exchange for honest review.
August 1, 2025
I was very excited to receive this advance reader copy from Ecco through Goodreads, many thanks for the opportunity!
The Devil is a Southpaw is a beautiful and surreal novel that follows two teenage boys, Milton and Matthew, and their experience in a juvenile detention facility in Oklahoma. Throughout the novel, reality and time are fluid, and the story moves between the truth of Milton and Matthew's experience and the magical realism lens of Milton's mind.
I loved the way this novel was written, and how the writing style changes slightly between each of the three parts. I will say that if you're not a fan of long sentences or tend to lose track, this writing could be challenging for you, especially in the middle chunk of the book. I found myself discovering many new and interesting vocab words that I'd never heard before, and I would definitely consider myself a dedicated reader. His prose and descriptive writing is immersive and gets under your skin, even if you do have to stop and look up a word here and there.
For me, this book brought to mind authors like Stephen Graham Jones and Ken Kesey, so if you love their work I would highly recommend checking this one out. If you enjoy surrealist and dark novels that are also heavy on prose, this is the novel for you.
The Devil is a Southpaw is a beautiful and surreal novel that follows two teenage boys, Milton and Matthew, and their experience in a juvenile detention facility in Oklahoma. Throughout the novel, reality and time are fluid, and the story moves between the truth of Milton and Matthew's experience and the magical realism lens of Milton's mind.
I loved the way this novel was written, and how the writing style changes slightly between each of the three parts. I will say that if you're not a fan of long sentences or tend to lose track, this writing could be challenging for you, especially in the middle chunk of the book. I found myself discovering many new and interesting vocab words that I'd never heard before, and I would definitely consider myself a dedicated reader. His prose and descriptive writing is immersive and gets under your skin, even if you do have to stop and look up a word here and there.
For me, this book brought to mind authors like Stephen Graham Jones and Ken Kesey, so if you love their work I would highly recommend checking this one out. If you enjoy surrealist and dark novels that are also heavy on prose, this is the novel for you.
November 21, 2025
This is a brilliant multilayered story where you're left questioning whether anything you're reading is real or who even is narrating. There are so many circular references and nods to other art and literature outside of the book, which combined with the already intertwining jumble of narrative loops in it, leave you looking for a whiteboard and a red thread to connect the dots. I'm not one to write in books, but I've scribbled all over this one, from the first page to the last! (And not even for the playful vocabulary used!) Will be diving into some of the other titles referenced in this one, plus Hobson's other works, before returning to reread this one again! One read is not enough! Definitely my craziest read this year.
November 23, 2025
There is so much going on in this book that a summary will not do it justice. A novel within a novel written by one of the two main characters, Milton Muleborn, that delves into the years spent in a juvenile correctional facility in rural Oklahoma, set in the 1980s, with his friend and rival, Matthew. This is a story about childhood trauma, family dysfunction, loneliness, and envy. Both boys are smart and talented, and Milton is jealous of Matthew's artistry. The book contains some of the author's artwork throughout, which was very cool. The writing is florid, and I'm grateful for my Kindle's dictionary. A Salvador Dali doppelgänger who says the future is Duran Duran brings a smile to my face. This was a wild ride! I'm so grateful to NetGalley and Ecco for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review
October 18, 2025
This book offers a powerful and often unsettling dive into some pressing and difficult issues. What truly stood out to me were the deeply developed and complex characters. Each felt real and flawed, with backstories that were both compelling and emotionally resonant. The author does not shy away from hard-hitting topics—racism, mental illness, and the juvenile justice system are all explored with raw honesty and nuance, making the narrative feel important and timely.
That said, I did struggle with aspects of the book. The storyline felt overly convoluted at times, making it difficult to track the plot and fully grasp the narrative arc. I also found the language challenging—not in a poetic way, but in a way that sometimes pulled me out of the story. The frequent use of long, uncommon words made certain passages feel more like academic exercises than emotionally grounded storytelling.
Perhaps most frustratingly, I finished the book with a nagging sense that I was missing something—symbolism or deeper themes that went over my head. It left me feeling a bit inadequate as a reader, which isn’t the feeling I look for when I read fiction.
Overall, this book is clearly well-crafted and important, but it may not be for everyone. It’s a challenging read—intellectually and emotionally—and might be better appreciated by readers who enjoy dissecting layered symbolism and are comfortable navigating complex prose.
Thank you Ecco books for the complimentary copy.
That said, I did struggle with aspects of the book. The storyline felt overly convoluted at times, making it difficult to track the plot and fully grasp the narrative arc. I also found the language challenging—not in a poetic way, but in a way that sometimes pulled me out of the story. The frequent use of long, uncommon words made certain passages feel more like academic exercises than emotionally grounded storytelling.
Perhaps most frustratingly, I finished the book with a nagging sense that I was missing something—symbolism or deeper themes that went over my head. It left me feeling a bit inadequate as a reader, which isn’t the feeling I look for when I read fiction.
Overall, this book is clearly well-crafted and important, but it may not be for everyone. It’s a challenging read—intellectually and emotionally—and might be better appreciated by readers who enjoy dissecting layered symbolism and are comfortable navigating complex prose.
Thank you Ecco books for the complimentary copy.
gave-up
November 2, 2025Received as an ARC via my former employer Barnes & Noble. Started 9-25-25. Didn't finish it so I won't give it any stars. Just couldn't get into it.
August 25, 2025
This is the first time I have read this author. I struggled to get through this book. The esoteric writing had me keeping a dictionary nearby, as he used words this college education reader didn't know. It was a distraction from the storyline. As were the sentences, that just seemed to run on and on.
The writer seems obsessed with the dead - dead and rotting people, mutilated animals, etc. Obsessed also with nightmares and monsters and animals attacking. Milton is supposedly the writer, who has a strong obsession with his friend Matthew, this obsession existing since childhood. There was a lot of symbolism, but I never did figure out what was symbolizing what.
I didn't like the storyline, or the characters, and found no redeeming qualities in this book. I won't be reading anything else from this author. #GoodreadsGiveaways
The writer seems obsessed with the dead - dead and rotting people, mutilated animals, etc. Obsessed also with nightmares and monsters and animals attacking. Milton is supposedly the writer, who has a strong obsession with his friend Matthew, this obsession existing since childhood. There was a lot of symbolism, but I never did figure out what was symbolizing what.
I didn't like the storyline, or the characters, and found no redeeming qualities in this book. I won't be reading anything else from this author. #GoodreadsGiveaways
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 28, 2025
This has been quite a weird, surrealist year for me, mostly in movies, but clearly not lacking in books either. 3.5☆ rounded down, only because of my own shortcomings, lack of context and references. The book is not only difficult in terms of themes and symbolism, but also stylistically, with run on sentences that are at times a struggle to keep up with. The audiobook did a great job at keeping my attention slightly better than the text. The Devil is a Southpaw is an esoteric glimpse into the complicated world of envy and artistic rivalry, set on a backdrop of hardship and harrowing circumstances that the two main characters face.
The novel is split in three parts, the first and the last facing each other like a mirror image and only broken apart by the very short second part which provides an inkling of context. The first part feels like a wild hallucination, a nightmare full of visions and demons, where fear rules in the souls of the troubled youth. Milton's manuscript paints a vivid picture of their experience in the youth penitentiary, of how their struggles, their anger, fear, are represented through indigenous and biblical imagery. His obsession with Matthew is apparent since the beginning, in the way Matthew is presented almost as an inspiration, as constant competition. Milton's emotions cloud the text, being one of the most unreliable narrators I've had the pleasure to read all year.
The second part is short and provides the most context I would say, where the fictional Brandon Hobson is being interviewed and gives the most direct account of the juvenile prison experience. The third part focuses on Milton's reflection of how envy shaped him, how it drove him to addiction and how it influenced his art. The influence of surrealist painters is apparent in his writing too, and perhaps this is exactly why the real Hobson has chosen this style of writing, perfectly emulating the desperate attempts of Milton to raise to the imaginary standards set by Matthew's artistry. There is more insight in Milton's upbringing and the memories are hazy, if not downright confusing, as he still struggles to keep up with what is actually real.
The Devil is a Southpaw is challenging and rough, and is definitely a book that I would love to revisit, ideally with annotations and side-research, as I was very intrigued by the text despite how difficult it was to keep up.
The novel is split in three parts, the first and the last facing each other like a mirror image and only broken apart by the very short second part which provides an inkling of context. The first part feels like a wild hallucination, a nightmare full of visions and demons, where fear rules in the souls of the troubled youth. Milton's manuscript paints a vivid picture of their experience in the youth penitentiary, of how their struggles, their anger, fear, are represented through indigenous and biblical imagery. His obsession with Matthew is apparent since the beginning, in the way Matthew is presented almost as an inspiration, as constant competition. Milton's emotions cloud the text, being one of the most unreliable narrators I've had the pleasure to read all year.
The second part is short and provides the most context I would say, where the fictional Brandon Hobson is being interviewed and gives the most direct account of the juvenile prison experience. The third part focuses on Milton's reflection of how envy shaped him, how it drove him to addiction and how it influenced his art. The influence of surrealist painters is apparent in his writing too, and perhaps this is exactly why the real Hobson has chosen this style of writing, perfectly emulating the desperate attempts of Milton to raise to the imaginary standards set by Matthew's artistry. There is more insight in Milton's upbringing and the memories are hazy, if not downright confusing, as he still struggles to keep up with what is actually real.
The Devil is a Southpaw is challenging and rough, and is definitely a book that I would love to revisit, ideally with annotations and side-research, as I was very intrigued by the text despite how difficult it was to keep up.
November 5, 2025
First off, I have to preface by saying I thought this book was a work a fiction. Then the preface made me think it was a true—if stretched—story. After reading some articles about the book, I see it is a work of fiction. The inclusion of a character named “Brandon H” threw me off.
Regardless of whether I thought it was fiction or nonfiction, that confusing explanation sums up my experience reading this book. It was such in interesting tale interweaving multiple timelines, but there should have been more to signify that change chapter by chapter. I am able to keep up easily with a two-timeline story, but this book was in no way linear. I can tell you which parts are past and which are present (kinda), but I could not place them on a timeline.
“The Devil Is A Southpaw” was a mostly readable book. If you take each chapter as a separate entity. And if you are willing to use context clues to vaguely understand the insanely complex vocabulary. I consider myself to have an expansive vocabulary when it comes to general understanding, even if I don’t use it in every day life. I rarely encounter a word I have never seen before. Within pages, though, I encountered a handful of words that I eventually had to look up, thinking that there must be some spelling errors or something. Not the case. And more often than not, I couldn’t even figure out the definition from context clues.
Between the inconsistent timeline and grandiloquent vocabulary, I had a difficult time following the story for more than a chapter at a time. Surprisingly, though, I read this book quickly (when simply glossing over the seemingly archaic vocabulary, giving up on the dictionary early on). But I didn’t find myself wanting to pick it up. Without my subway commute, I fear it would have taken me significantly longer to finish than it ultimately did.
Overall, unfortunately, I feel that the writing style and extremely unreliable narrator took away more than it added to the story.
Special note, though, that there was a trickster Coyote story, which I loved, of course, coming off of a Salish ARC.
Thank you to the publishers for the ARC!
Regardless of whether I thought it was fiction or nonfiction, that confusing explanation sums up my experience reading this book. It was such in interesting tale interweaving multiple timelines, but there should have been more to signify that change chapter by chapter. I am able to keep up easily with a two-timeline story, but this book was in no way linear. I can tell you which parts are past and which are present (kinda), but I could not place them on a timeline.
“The Devil Is A Southpaw” was a mostly readable book. If you take each chapter as a separate entity. And if you are willing to use context clues to vaguely understand the insanely complex vocabulary. I consider myself to have an expansive vocabulary when it comes to general understanding, even if I don’t use it in every day life. I rarely encounter a word I have never seen before. Within pages, though, I encountered a handful of words that I eventually had to look up, thinking that there must be some spelling errors or something. Not the case. And more often than not, I couldn’t even figure out the definition from context clues.
Between the inconsistent timeline and grandiloquent vocabulary, I had a difficult time following the story for more than a chapter at a time. Surprisingly, though, I read this book quickly (when simply glossing over the seemingly archaic vocabulary, giving up on the dictionary early on). But I didn’t find myself wanting to pick it up. Without my subway commute, I fear it would have taken me significantly longer to finish than it ultimately did.
Overall, unfortunately, I feel that the writing style and extremely unreliable narrator took away more than it added to the story.
Special note, though, that there was a trickster Coyote story, which I loved, of course, coming off of a Salish ARC.
Thank you to the publishers for the ARC!
November 15, 2025
I rated this 2.5 on other platforms, but I can’t bring myself to give it a 2 because I think it’s ambitious and I like that about Hobson’s writing. However, I will never recommend this to anyone because Milton’s narrative voice is like being trapped in a conversation at a party with the most pretentious guy in your English class. You know the guy: quotes from his own (bad) poetry, uses a $10 word when $3 would’ve been more effective (but he wants you to know he knows those words), who only watches movies he thinks are obscure so he can judge you for your pedestrian tastes, etc etc. He’s insufferable, and he thinks he’s so profound, and he doesn’t get why he doesn’t get more attention. The audiobook means you’re listening to him for 8 hours lol what fresh hell is this. I honestly get what Hobson is doing here and I applaud the effort, but it’s mirthless and all tell and no show and it was really, really hard to care about Milton. I love an unlikable character but please make them at least entertaining!
November 15, 2025
A challenging but unexpectedly addicting read.
It feels like this novel should come with a disclaimer: Don’t expect to feel in control—let the narrator’s obsession and passion wash over you. The flowery, hypnotic language is part of the experience, not an obstacle.
Hobson strikes a sharp balance between visceral, propulsive prose and a plot that simmers in a dark, mysterious atmosphere. The result is a slow, immersive burn that echoes in your thoughts afterward.
4.25/5
It feels like this novel should come with a disclaimer: Don’t expect to feel in control—let the narrator’s obsession and passion wash over you. The flowery, hypnotic language is part of the experience, not an obstacle.
Hobson strikes a sharp balance between visceral, propulsive prose and a plot that simmers in a dark, mysterious atmosphere. The result is a slow, immersive burn that echoes in your thoughts afterward.
4.25/5
December 8, 2025
Audiobook
November 22, 2025
(4.5)
“The Devil Is a Southpaw” is a difficult read, and I can understand why it has such mixed reviews online. The frenetic approach put me in mind of a beat poet, a steam of consciousness style that will test your vocabulary (but for good, internally consistent reasons).
The narrator reflects upon his time stuck in an Oklahoma juvenile detention center in 1988, along with several other kids he has grown up with. In particular, Cherokee artist Matthew Echota, who he envies for his talent at their similar interests.
The book is a haunting condemnation of the violence inflicted upon children who don’t fit dominant society’s mold. While I quite liked this book, I would reserve recommending it only to folks with a taste for the literary.
“The Devil Is a Southpaw” is a difficult read, and I can understand why it has such mixed reviews online. The frenetic approach put me in mind of a beat poet, a steam of consciousness style that will test your vocabulary (but for good, internally consistent reasons).
The narrator reflects upon his time stuck in an Oklahoma juvenile detention center in 1988, along with several other kids he has grown up with. In particular, Cherokee artist Matthew Echota, who he envies for his talent at their similar interests.
The book is a haunting condemnation of the violence inflicted upon children who don’t fit dominant society’s mold. While I quite liked this book, I would reserve recommending it only to folks with a taste for the literary.
December 5, 2025
Tämä oli aivan täysin käsittämätön teos, joka piti allekirjoittaneen pihalla kuin lumiukon koko kestonsa ajan. Ensin hämmennettiin kirjalla kirjan sisällä, jonka juoni olikin valehtelijan sepittämää ja sitten jankattiin kaunosanaisesti sekopäisestä lapsuudesta, joka selittikin aikuisiän perseilyn. Lukijan paatoksellinen monologi oli tuskaa ihan alusta loppuun, kun jokaiseen lauseeseen uutettiin sieluntuskaa ja vihaa ilman pienintäkään nyanssia. Kertomuksen sekoilu ei vedonnut millään tasolla, vaan sai allekirjoittaneen toivomaan, että tämä kakku tulisi lusittua pikavauhtia...
Koko arvostelu: https://bookjester.blogspot.com/2025/...
Koko arvostelu: https://bookjester.blogspot.com/2025/...
November 20, 2025
I didn’t really know what to expect reading this book. The first part of the book I can definitely say I was very confused but entertained in a way. The book surprised me and I did get all my questions answered as I continued. I don’t think I have ever read anything like this and it’s very unique. I can say some of the huge and funny words in this book cause good laughs in my group. I would recommend to anyone with some patience, some curiosity and a dictionary to read this 😂.
November 4, 2025
DNF! I made it halfway, but I forced myself to that point. I have absolutely no idea what this book was about, what the author was trying to say, or how he was trying to say it. I could not follow the prose, the words, or any of it. I wanted to quit an hour in, but forced myself to the halfway mark —3.5 hours I won't get back.
November 11, 2025
what a punch to the gut. visceral, terrifying images, and a painful realization that the things that happen to us in a moment impact us for our entire lifetime. i'm still digesting this one.
November 23, 2025
This went on for longer than it should have. The second part just felt way too reminiscent of the first part
October 14, 2025
I’m cnjcjcjc
November 28, 2025
The only reason I powered through was because I was reading this for a Goodreads challenge: Native Voices and it started off good and by the time I was over it, I was 75 pages in and I just kept going.
I couldn’t tell if this what part of the “unreliable narrator” part of the book, but there was so much repetition. Descriptions of people and I’m like yeah you told us that before: ‘Strangelove resembled Dr. Strangelove from the Kubrick film (this is how I recall thinking of him), emphasized by the fact that he had unkempt hair and was in a wheelchair.’ - we’ve had this description to varying degrees multiple times by page 103.
This was clearly the vibe of the book but having A PARAGRAPH be one sentence was ingratiating and frustrating to read - example: ‘Matthew had run away once before. The first time the guards found him had been at the beginning of the winter, when frost covered the grass and icicles hung from tree branches after a recent ice storm, and he still walked away without even trying to hide as if he knew he was predestined to be caught and punished, which was inevitable in that dull, sleepy town called Old Dublan, where where most of us were born and raised.’ p7 This was the whole book.
I can understand why people would like this, but it just wasn’t for me. I kinda started liking it again in Part 3, but then the ending pissed me off.
‘… we remembered the nightmare Matthew had because we had them, too.’
‘Because he kept to himself and avoided eye contact, whenever Matthew looked at you, he had the desolate eyes of a sleepwalker in the shadows deciding the fate of the world, with an aura of premonitory silence and antagonism and stare, as if controlled by the cycles of the universe…’
‘He was condemned, he said, to die of love.’
‘The most treacherous kind of solitude was the time spent without access to a clock, never knowing the time or how long until the sun came up, shaken by the continuous, fearsome interrogators of our dreams, who dragged our bodies over the frozen ground and dumped us in deep rivers.’
‘We tried to remain positive in all our suffering, strong, and faith that working through the torment on torrential waters would bring us closer to our healing and salvation, but how was this possible?’
‘What didn’t mean to forgive ourselves, as so many people instructed us to do, and how is that supposed to make us feel better, heal less, like they said it would do, as we managed to accumulate all the guilt that led us to this horrible place, lost in the anechoic tunnel of incarceration and bitterness and instruction…’
‘His real name is Matthew Echota. I restrict myself from referring to him by any nickname, despite my feelings towards him, mostly due to his wild and ominous success over the years, an achievement that made me so jealous of her of all that obsessing on his success of me, eventually, to the bottom of an eternal hell. But I’ve recovered, even if slowly, and I’ve learned to understand the unfairness of life. So be it.’
‘Behold my guilt: it is obvious that my memoir that I created a fictional version of Matthew Echota in my own specific way, giving him a boring sobriquet, inflicting him with not only a speech impediment, but an aversion to confrontation, a sorrowful disposition, and ultimately death by drowning. Perhaps The Devil Is A Southpaw should be labelled fiction, I often thought during the writing, because I realized my imagination was taking over, people morphed into beasts, events were exaggerated, and Matthew never drowned.’
I couldn’t tell if this what part of the “unreliable narrator” part of the book, but there was so much repetition. Descriptions of people and I’m like yeah you told us that before: ‘Strangelove resembled Dr. Strangelove from the Kubrick film (this is how I recall thinking of him), emphasized by the fact that he had unkempt hair and was in a wheelchair.’ - we’ve had this description to varying degrees multiple times by page 103.
This was clearly the vibe of the book but having A PARAGRAPH be one sentence was ingratiating and frustrating to read - example: ‘Matthew had run away once before. The first time the guards found him had been at the beginning of the winter, when frost covered the grass and icicles hung from tree branches after a recent ice storm, and he still walked away without even trying to hide as if he knew he was predestined to be caught and punished, which was inevitable in that dull, sleepy town called Old Dublan, where where most of us were born and raised.’ p7 This was the whole book.
I can understand why people would like this, but it just wasn’t for me. I kinda started liking it again in Part 3, but then the ending pissed me off.
‘… we remembered the nightmare Matthew had because we had them, too.’
‘Because he kept to himself and avoided eye contact, whenever Matthew looked at you, he had the desolate eyes of a sleepwalker in the shadows deciding the fate of the world, with an aura of premonitory silence and antagonism and stare, as if controlled by the cycles of the universe…’
‘He was condemned, he said, to die of love.’
‘The most treacherous kind of solitude was the time spent without access to a clock, never knowing the time or how long until the sun came up, shaken by the continuous, fearsome interrogators of our dreams, who dragged our bodies over the frozen ground and dumped us in deep rivers.’
‘We tried to remain positive in all our suffering, strong, and faith that working through the torment on torrential waters would bring us closer to our healing and salvation, but how was this possible?’
‘What didn’t mean to forgive ourselves, as so many people instructed us to do, and how is that supposed to make us feel better, heal less, like they said it would do, as we managed to accumulate all the guilt that led us to this horrible place, lost in the anechoic tunnel of incarceration and bitterness and instruction…’
‘His real name is Matthew Echota. I restrict myself from referring to him by any nickname, despite my feelings towards him, mostly due to his wild and ominous success over the years, an achievement that made me so jealous of her of all that obsessing on his success of me, eventually, to the bottom of an eternal hell. But I’ve recovered, even if slowly, and I’ve learned to understand the unfairness of life. So be it.’
‘Behold my guilt: it is obvious that my memoir that I created a fictional version of Matthew Echota in my own specific way, giving him a boring sobriquet, inflicting him with not only a speech impediment, but an aversion to confrontation, a sorrowful disposition, and ultimately death by drowning. Perhaps The Devil Is A Southpaw should be labelled fiction, I often thought during the writing, because I realized my imagination was taking over, people morphed into beasts, events were exaggerated, and Matthew never drowned.’
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 11, 2025
Sbobet มอบความตื่นเต้นของคาสิโนสดแบบเรียลไทม์ ถ่ายทอดจากคาสิโนชั้นนำทั่วโลก ภาพคมชัด เสียงสมจริง และระบบเดิมพันที่ปลอดภัยสูงสุด
ที่อยู่: 313 ซอยสุขุมวิท 49/14 แขวงคลองตันเหนือ เขตวัฒนา กรุงเทพมหานคร 10110 ประเทศไทย
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ที่อยู่: 313 ซอยสุขุมวิท 49/14 แขวงคลองตันเหนือ เขตวัฒนา กรุงเทพมหานคร 10110 ประเทศไทย
โทรศัพท์: (+66)2-712-4598
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November 26, 2025
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.
Brandon Hobson’s The Devil Is a Southpaw is a haunting, layered novel that blends memory, rivalry, and surreal invention into a meditation on broken youth and the lingering scars of obsession.
🌀 Set against the backdrop of a juvenile detention center in Oklahoma during the late 1980s, the novel follows Milton Muleborn and Matthew Echota, two boys whose friendship and rivalry are forged in confinement. Matthew, a gifted Cherokee artist, escapes, leaving Milton behind to wrestle with envy, pride, and the weight of memory. Years later, Milton narrates their story in a meta fictional “novel within a novel,” blurring the line between recollection and invention.
This structure allows Hobson to explore how trauma reshapes narrative itself—how memory can be both unreliable and deeply revealing.
🎨 Obsession & Rivalry: Milton’s fixation on Matthew’s talent and success becomes the novel’s emotional core.
Identity & Survival: The Cherokee heritage of Matthew adds cultural depth, situating personal struggle within broader questions of belonging.
- Surrealism & Reality: Hobson infuses the narrative with dreamlike elements—storms of frogs, uncanny cameos, and distorted time—mirroring the fractured psyche of his characters.
- Forgiveness & Pride: The novel asks whether reconciliation is possible when envy and resentment have defined a life.
✍️ Hobson’s prose is deliberately messy, raw, and immersive, reflecting the instability of Milton’s perspective. The meta fictional device—Milton writing his own version of events—creates a layered reading experience where truth and fabrication intertwine. The surreal flourishes prevent the story from becoming a straightforward realist account, instead pushing readers to question how trauma distorts perception.
🌟 Strengths
- Inventive Narrative Form: The “novel within a novel” structure adds complexity and originality.
- Emotional Resonance: Milton’s jealousy and longing are rendered with painful honesty.
- Cultural Dimension: Matthew’s Cherokee identity enriches the novel’s exploration of art, resilience, and marginalization.
- Atmospheric Surrealism: Strange, dreamlike episodes heighten the sense of disorientation and vulnerability.
⚖️ Limitations
- The fragmented style may challenge readers who prefer linear storytelling.
- Milton’s obsessive voice dominates, sometimes overshadowing Matthew’s perspective and leaving parts of his character enigmatic.
The Devil Is a Southpaw is not a conventional coming-of-age tale but a meta fictional exploration of memory, rivalry, and survival. Hobson crafts a narrative that is both unsettling and compelling, where the boundaries between truth and invention dissolve. It’s a novel that lingers, asking readers to confront how envy and trauma shape the stories we tell ourselves—and how those stories can both imprison and liberate us.
Brandon Hobson’s The Devil Is a Southpaw is a haunting, layered novel that blends memory, rivalry, and surreal invention into a meditation on broken youth and the lingering scars of obsession.
🌀 Set against the backdrop of a juvenile detention center in Oklahoma during the late 1980s, the novel follows Milton Muleborn and Matthew Echota, two boys whose friendship and rivalry are forged in confinement. Matthew, a gifted Cherokee artist, escapes, leaving Milton behind to wrestle with envy, pride, and the weight of memory. Years later, Milton narrates their story in a meta fictional “novel within a novel,” blurring the line between recollection and invention.
This structure allows Hobson to explore how trauma reshapes narrative itself—how memory can be both unreliable and deeply revealing.
🎨 Obsession & Rivalry: Milton’s fixation on Matthew’s talent and success becomes the novel’s emotional core.
Identity & Survival: The Cherokee heritage of Matthew adds cultural depth, situating personal struggle within broader questions of belonging.
- Surrealism & Reality: Hobson infuses the narrative with dreamlike elements—storms of frogs, uncanny cameos, and distorted time—mirroring the fractured psyche of his characters.
- Forgiveness & Pride: The novel asks whether reconciliation is possible when envy and resentment have defined a life.
✍️ Hobson’s prose is deliberately messy, raw, and immersive, reflecting the instability of Milton’s perspective. The meta fictional device—Milton writing his own version of events—creates a layered reading experience where truth and fabrication intertwine. The surreal flourishes prevent the story from becoming a straightforward realist account, instead pushing readers to question how trauma distorts perception.
🌟 Strengths
- Inventive Narrative Form: The “novel within a novel” structure adds complexity and originality.
- Emotional Resonance: Milton’s jealousy and longing are rendered with painful honesty.
- Cultural Dimension: Matthew’s Cherokee identity enriches the novel’s exploration of art, resilience, and marginalization.
- Atmospheric Surrealism: Strange, dreamlike episodes heighten the sense of disorientation and vulnerability.
⚖️ Limitations
- The fragmented style may challenge readers who prefer linear storytelling.
- Milton’s obsessive voice dominates, sometimes overshadowing Matthew’s perspective and leaving parts of his character enigmatic.
The Devil Is a Southpaw is not a conventional coming-of-age tale but a meta fictional exploration of memory, rivalry, and survival. Hobson crafts a narrative that is both unsettling and compelling, where the boundaries between truth and invention dissolve. It’s a novel that lingers, asking readers to confront how envy and trauma shape the stories we tell ourselves—and how those stories can both imprison and liberate us.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews