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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
Delightfully weird and claustrophobic. This might be one of the strangest little books I've ever read.
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
slow-paced
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Growing up, Fantasy was my favorite genre of books to read. As a kid I loved these medieval worlds full of adventures through far off and magical lands, being introduced to different factions or races that while otherworldly, often reflected the history of our own society. I was always more of a history and literature student, so exploring the Fantasy genre really was the best pastime activity for me.
I read a lot of Fantasy series when I was a kid, so it was to my surprise that a series as old and renowned as The Gormenghast Trilogy was completely foreign to me. Maybe this is something that has just been lost after generations, as pretty much everyone my age I told about these books was also as unfamiliar with them. Once I heard about them I knew I had to check them out. I’m not as much of a Fantasy reader as I was when I was a kid but this felt like a new but familiar territory to tread.
For those who are unaware. The Gormenghast Trilogy is a contemporary to The Lord of the Rings, it actually lands in publication right between The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings with the first book, Titus Groan, being published in 1946. These books have a very similar feel but are distinctly their own. As Tolkien wrote about an expansive world and the journey exploring it, Mervyn Peake wrote about one singular castle, Gormenghast. This story is contained within the grounds of this castle and focuses on its inhabitants.
The story of Titus Groan is very typical of a classic Fantasy story. A new heir to the throne (Titus Groan) is born and Shakespeanian drama ensues. The different inhabitants of the castle are introduced and you get to see daily life through their eyes. Honestly, from a narrative perspective not much happens considering the page count but that isn’t really the point of the book.
The book may be called Titus Groan but it is the Gormenghast Trilogy. While pacing of the narrative may be slow, it only feels emblematic of the castle itself. People come and go but the castle walls are, quite literally, set in stone and aren’t prone to change.
The real joy of reading Titus Groan is from its prose. Similar to Tolkien, these books are heavy on the details and most pages feel more dedicated to the set dressing than the actual story. This could be a major turn off for some people so you should be well aware of that before diving in. I’m not typically someone who is a fan of this kind of writing and I will say, I wasn’t always fully enthralled with the text but I still found it to be masterfully done and unlike any other book I’ve read, especially in the Fantasy genre.
Due to this style of prose this is a very slow read but once you get into it the pages start to fly by. I found that this book didn’t lend itself well to being picked up and put down often, which is hard with such short chapters. The times I could dedicate ample reading sessions were where I got the most out of it.
The world of Gormenghast isn’t overtly magical or otherworldly. There aren’t races of other creatures or a large scale magic system, it's pretty down to earth. There really isn’t that much action or excitement aside from one scene in the middle and a fight towards the end but boy, is that fight scene one of the best I’ve ever read. Having starved readers for hundreds of pages of any sort of action, Peake crafts a scene that is so moody and atmospheric that the vivid descriptions of the fight are amplified by their immense drama in ways I’ve never experienced while reading. It’s a great payoff.
I’m excited to read the next book in the series. Autumn/Winter really is the best time to read these and I’m glad I waited till the season came to start these. The moody atmosphere of being in a vast castle is great for the cold months where you are stuck inside.
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Amazing book based on the developement of the relationships between members of the Groan family. goes hard
dark
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes