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4.16 AVERAGE
4.16 AVERAGE
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A bit like the eponymous Castle of Gormenghast, the novel now very much feels like something of a different era, making it difficult to neatly categorise it. Gormenghast follows the life of Titus Groan, Heir of Gormenghast, an isolated castle that has been inhabited by the same family for 77 generations. At a surface level, the book is about Titus' coming-of-age story, but you could equally well say that it is the Castle that is the main character.
The writing is profoundly different from anything I've read recently. Mervyn Peake's language is as dense and his diversions from the plot as manifold as the gothic crenelations on Gormenghast Castle. You don't read this book for the story, but for being immersed into the magical dreamworld of Gormenghast, populated by its archetypical denizens and contained by the Platonic ur-castle itself.
It is difficult to define the book. It is magical, but not fantasy in the way it is commonly understood. It is certainly of its time in many ways, and yet it is also unique and timeless. It is not a fun read, it is hard work, and there isn't even a satisfying resolution at the end. In this case though, that is not the point. Sometimes the journey is its own reward.
I've written about Gormenghast in more detail here: https://write.as/the-casual-critic/the-gormenghast-trilogy-a-gothic-cathedral-of-words
The writing is profoundly different from anything I've read recently. Mervyn Peake's language is as dense and his diversions from the plot as manifold as the gothic crenelations on Gormenghast Castle. You don't read this book for the story, but for being immersed into the magical dreamworld of Gormenghast, populated by its archetypical denizens and contained by the Platonic ur-castle itself.
It is difficult to define the book. It is magical, but not fantasy in the way it is commonly understood. It is certainly of its time in many ways, and yet it is also unique and timeless. It is not a fun read, it is hard work, and there isn't even a satisfying resolution at the end. In this case though, that is not the point. Sometimes the journey is its own reward.
I've written about Gormenghast in more detail here: https://write.as/the-casual-critic/the-gormenghast-trilogy-a-gothic-cathedral-of-words
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide
Mervyn Peake writes for an educated reader - one who understands what words such as 'hierophant' mean. Once you realise that you might need the help of a dictionary, this book actually becomes a great adventure story, filled with humour, poignancy, dread, fear, bravery, and loss. As far as second books go, this is really rather good.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
As opposed to the first book so much happens in 'Gormenghast' and yet there was something tepid in how it all plays out. Pike's machinations, Titus' dissatisfaction, and the elimination of certain characters didn't add up to what I felt was promised in the first volume. Peake may have rushed this book out or even felt the beginnings of the disease that ultimately took away his ability to write.
This is essential reading for those who enjoyed the first book, but the end feels rushed and confused. 'Titus Alone' is only for completists not to mention 'Titus Awakes'.
Gormenghast
Next: 'Titus Alone'
Previous: 'Titus Groan'
This is essential reading for those who enjoyed the first book, but the end feels rushed and confused. 'Titus Alone' is only for completists not to mention 'Titus Awakes'.
Gormenghast
Next: 'Titus Alone'
Previous: 'Titus Groan'
When compared to Titus Groan, this is what you might call differentlyamazing.
Endlessly creative, stunningly descriptive, a compelling story, and yet the first half moves at such a glacial pace that the reader is aged by several years in the reading.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Genius.
I haven't read the trilogy this play is based on, nor have I seen the lauded original production, so I must admit that I am a little uninformed.
This being said, the adaptation seems impressive, and is the type of play I am excited to work on. The script is filled with what Jose Rivera lovingly describes as "impossible events" (events asked to occur in the play that either are "impossible" to stage or ask for emotional events that are other than naturalistic). these are the types of things that ask for creativity, openness, and blatant theatricality. Flood waters rise on stage, a battle is fought underwater, we watch a man turn into an owl, and we watch as a man gradually descends though the ancient castle.
While this play is great fun and moody as all hell, and would be a blast to work on, it doesn't have much in the way of emotional connections or drive. It is great, classic story-telling but it doesn't reach the heart.
This might be the real challenge in putting this play into production, but like the others it would be a fun challenge.
This being said, the adaptation seems impressive, and is the type of play I am excited to work on. The script is filled with what Jose Rivera lovingly describes as "impossible events" (events asked to occur in the play that either are "impossible" to stage or ask for emotional events that are other than naturalistic). these are the types of things that ask for creativity, openness, and blatant theatricality. Flood waters rise on stage, a battle is fought underwater, we watch a man turn into an owl, and we watch as a man gradually descends though the ancient castle.
While this play is great fun and moody as all hell, and would be a blast to work on, it doesn't have much in the way of emotional connections or drive. It is great, classic story-telling but it doesn't reach the heart.
This might be the real challenge in putting this play into production, but like the others it would be a fun challenge.
I devoured all 400 pages of this thing in a few days. It continues the obsessively-detailed portrayal of gormenghast and its lovable misfits, following Titus from age 7 through his adolescence, as steerpike's brutal subterfuge spreads unease through the castle.
Like Titus Groan, it manages to be comic, heartfelt and macabre all at once - although the perfect balance of the earlier book falters a bit for me. Gormenghast's new characters -- mostly, a buffoonish gaggle of school teachers -- are fun comic relief, but don't have the depth of the returning characters from the first book. I was bored with them by the end of their subplot, which occupies the first half of the book. This bit of the book, which also contains a dated portrait of romance and an endlessly detailed description of Titus' birthday celebration, dragged.
The threads that continue the first book are still enthralling, all the way to the nail-biting conclusion. This book is one of the best tv shows i've ever binge-watched.
Like Titus Groan, it manages to be comic, heartfelt and macabre all at once - although the perfect balance of the earlier book falters a bit for me. Gormenghast's new characters -- mostly, a buffoonish gaggle of school teachers -- are fun comic relief, but don't have the depth of the returning characters from the first book. I was bored with them by the end of their subplot, which occupies the first half of the book. This bit of the book, which also contains a dated portrait of romance and an endlessly detailed description of Titus' birthday celebration, dragged.
The threads that continue the first book are still enthralling, all the way to the nail-biting conclusion. This book is one of the best tv shows i've ever binge-watched.
challenging
funny
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No