Tuesday 17 March 2009

A Book Review - The Gargoyle


Not usually the kind of book that would entice me, eyeing me from a bookshelf, but let's just say, it was 'an act of fate' that I came across it, purchased it, and took it home.

This is Andrew Davidson's first novel which made an intriguing and compelling read right from the start. It's quite unlike anything I've read before and the subject matter reflects a mind that appreciates the diversity and complexity of the universe. Davidson is clearly au fait with the literatures of the world which has helped him develop a new fusion of narrative that coalesces the Persian Shahrazad's 1001 nights seductive story telling with the medievalist European chronicles. I realised when I finished the novel that I didn't even learn the main character's name, even though he was the narrator! Surely I couldn't have been that absent minded that I missed it!

As the tale unfolded, I admired how Davidson attempted to convince his reader that this could have possibly happened; however, the plot-holes were easy to pick out and that rapidly killed the novel for me. But the Persian-like romantic mini-stories that were told in the tongue of Marrienne to entertain her lover were the sweet fruit of the novel. Nonetheless the romance between Marienne and her lover left much for the romantic heart to desire; albeit the single romantic paragraph towards the end of the novel.

Having been fortunate enough to have read most of The Arabian 1001 Nights  in Arabic, I felt a sweet familiarity when reading the mini-stories provided by Marienne albeit the huge difference in the craftsmanship. For those who are romantic suckers like myself and don't mind the cheesiness or corniness, you will want to race through the book just to enjoy Marienne's tantilsing tales.

Despite the disappointing resolution, the plot-holes, and the darkness of the narrator's soul, I enjoyed reading the novel, particularly that it introduced me to a whole new world I wasn't familiar with but had been curious about; namely Hell. I would happily recommend it to anyone who wants to read something quite dark and different. But be warned: like eating a sausage roll with low-fat mayonnaise, you will not be completely satisfied, and you'll be left with a burning, yet disturbing, desire to read Inferno