The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson, 480 pages. (you can read the first chapter of the book here.)
After entirely too much deliberation, I think I can finally review this book. It was both brutal and beautiful, with an emphasis on the brutal. From the first chapter, realizing the narrator is an arrogant, severely burned, drug addicted, ex porn star, I wondered how this book was going to become the love story I had heard about. And even though those aren't necessarily likeable qualities, his candor and self awareness made him reliable. Enter Marianne, a mysterious, sculptress of gargoyles who claims to be an ex-lover of our nameless anti-hero. Over the many months of his recovery, she spins tales of love through the ages - unbelievable, or are they? These are amazing stories, all anchored by Marianne's own story of her life in an abbey as a nun and book translator.
Throughout the book, I was tempted to stop and I couldn't figure out why until I stumbled upon Jamie's quick blurb - that it reminded her of The Time Traveller's Wife. It's definitely harsher and not as confusing, but it has that same "you're going for a ride" feeling. Up until then I was trying to make sense of it , but after I surrendered I was able to enjoy it. And it has inspired me to pull out my old copy of Dante's The Inferno. It is a book that is horrifying and breathtaking, condemning and redemptive - and ultimately a satisfying read.
My rating: 4 stars*
* I wouldn't recommed this book for everyone - I would agree that if you loved The Time Traveller's Wife, you may enjoy this one. And if you haven't read TTW but like fantastical, international, historical, tragic love stories this is the book for you.
For more reviews, lookie here:
literate housewife (and she has even more links!)
and the author's website here: www.thegargoyle.com
The End.
I haven't really been drawn to this one, but your mentioning TTW makes me curious. I agree that you had to surrender to the story. I wonder if I would like this.
Posted by: Tara | October 31, 2008 at 11:10 AM