23 Feb 2012

THE GARGOYLE.

THE GARGOYLE by ANDREW DAVIDSON.


The nameless and beautiful narrator of The Gargoyle is driving along a dark road when he is dazzled by what seems to be a flight of arrows. He crashes into a ravine and wakes up in a burn ward, undergoing the tortures of the damned. He is now a monster. His life is over.


But it is only just beginning : one day, Marianne Engel, a bewitching sculptress of gargoyles, walks into his room and reveals that they were once lovers in medieval Germany. In her telling, he was a badly burned mercenary and she, a nun and a scribe, nursed him back to health in the famed monastery of Engelthal. As she spins her tale, Scheherazade-fashion, and relates equally mesmerising stories of deathless love in Japan, Iceland, Italy and England, he finds himself drawn back to life - and finally, to love
...... Inner front cover.


FIRST SENTENCE (Chapter 1): Accidents ambush the unsuspecting, often violently, just like love.


MEMORABLE MOMENT (Page 12): The only way I was able to survive that shitty world was to imagine better ones, so I  read everything I could get my hands on. By my early teens, I was spending so many hours in the library that the librarians brought extra sandwiches for me.


KEEP IT OR NOT?: Most definitely I'll be keeping this one.

Oh my goodness, what a book. Set mainly in modern times The Gargoyle is also part historical novel, part love story, part thriller, part mystery and part fantasy - in other words a darn near perfect read, who would have guessed it was this authors debut novel?


The narrator of the story is the Gargoyle of the title, badly burnt in a car accident we never get to know his name. In hospital recovering from his burns (be warned some of the descriptions are pretty graphic) he meets Marianne, a delusional (or is she?) patient on the psychiatric ward, who claims that not only were they lovers in a previous lifetime but that she has been searching for him for the last seven hundred years. What then ensues is a unique and beautiful love story.


Telling not only the story of the Gargoyle's life experiences pre-Marianne (another warning - there is a sexual element to this) the book also chronicles Marianne's recollections of their previous life together as well as the telling of some tear jerking tales that it could be argued were merely page fillers but I felt added a wonderfully poignant element to the book.


A truly original story, a story all about the power of love and redemption, a story of a man who struggles to accept himself, a story that I highly recommend you read.





14 comments:

My Gallery of Worlds said...

Wow! This sounds really good! So new and different. Glad you enjoyed it so much. Great review :D

The Bookworm said...

Wow. This sounds fantastic!

Mary (Bookfan) said...

I remember when this was first published and I wondered if it was a book I'd enjoy. I think you've convinced me to read it!!

Sridharan said...

That was an enjoyable video..!

Gina said...

This sounds...familiar. I'm wondering if it's this one book I know by another cover. Will have to double check. Anywho...sounds like an interesting story. Loving the first line. Off to investigate that deja vu feeling.... thanks for the great share!

Suko said...

This does sound very original and engaging and touching. It seems like an incredible book! I will definitely keep an eye out for The Gargoyle.

Golden Eagle said...

Thanks for the review! :) Interesting first line--it sounds like a really good book.

Kelly said...

This book has been on my shelf for several years and I've nearly used it for the RIP challenge both times I've participated. Thanks to your review, I'll definitely make it one of my choices for this year!

You mentioned having enjoyed one of Alexander McCall Smith's stand-alones. Was it by chance "La's Orchestra"? That's the only stand-alone of his that I've read.

Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise) said...

Thanks for the great review, I'm always on the hunt for a good read.

I sounds most interestin' sweetie.

God bless ya and have a terrific day!!! :o)

Jenners said...

I read this for the RIP Challenge at one point and didn't find it scary (as it had said on the book jacket I had) but it was intriguing. Glad you enjoyed it.

Melissa (Books and Things) said...

This one sounds interesting. I love the psychological twists this one seems to have. I think I will check out this book!

Kavita Saharia said...

I will add this to my list .It also sounds like a great plot for a movie .Thanks for the review Tracy.

Monalisa said...

very impressive !

Nikki - Notes of Life said...

Brilliant review! I've got this hidden away in my TBR pile, I must read it soon!