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3.44 AVERAGE
3.44 AVERAGE
slow-paced
The book explores Dean Jocelin’s quest to build a spire above a cathedral in 14th century England. Driven by a profound vision, Jocelin sees this task as his religious duty, despite the risks involved.
The novel avoids the conventional descent-into-madness trope, opting for a more grounded exploration of Dean Jocelin's visions and hallucinations. Golding delves into the complexities of the human psyche, leaving you uncertain of what is real and what is not. The portrayal of religious experiences through Jocelin's stream of consciousness adds depth and authenticity to the narrative. He doesn’t question his own sanity for most of the novel when it comes to his visions of angels, as to him, these hallucinations don’t seem like hallucinations at all, as they are justified in a religious sense. How can you call a religious experience a hallucination when you are a pious man?
Certainty is a very dangerous thing. This is the main message I got from this novel. If you feel like a quest is backed by a strong enough idea/belief then why would you stop at anything to accomplish it? Jocelin’s relentless pursuit of building the spire becomes a symbol of the dangers of certainty. He prioritises the construction of the spire over the safety and well-being of those involved in the project. This obsession blinds him to the real-world implications of his actions, demonstrating the dangers of unchecked determination. Being agnostic and quite an on the fence kind of person in general, this was a very satisfying message for me. I don’t believe we can ever be certain of any ideas or beliefs that we hold as human understanding is fallible and subject to change. For me, the novel serves as a reminder that embracing uncertainty and acknowledging the limits of our understanding can lead to more thoughtful and compassionate decision-making
For Jocelin, the building of the spire is more important than the lives of those building it; this can be true for so many schools of thought, whereby people believe that the spreading of a particular ideology, message, or religion holds greater significance than human life. This can be true of various ideologies (e.g. socialism or extreme religious beliefs) where individuals may become fixated on their cause and overlook the value of human lives in the process. This is one of those books that I wish I had studied in school as there is so much symbolism to unpick and it is definitely a book I am going to re-read.
The novel avoids the conventional descent-into-madness trope, opting for a more grounded exploration of Dean Jocelin's visions and hallucinations. Golding delves into the complexities of the human psyche, leaving you uncertain of what is real and what is not. The portrayal of religious experiences through Jocelin's stream of consciousness adds depth and authenticity to the narrative. He doesn’t question his own sanity for most of the novel when it comes to his visions of angels, as to him, these hallucinations don’t seem like hallucinations at all, as they are justified in a religious sense. How can you call a religious experience a hallucination when you are a pious man?
Certainty is a very dangerous thing. This is the main message I got from this novel. If you feel like a quest is backed by a strong enough idea/belief then why would you stop at anything to accomplish it? Jocelin’s relentless pursuit of building the spire becomes a symbol of the dangers of certainty. He prioritises the construction of the spire over the safety and well-being of those involved in the project. This obsession blinds him to the real-world implications of his actions, demonstrating the dangers of unchecked determination. Being agnostic and quite an on the fence kind of person in general, this was a very satisfying message for me. I don’t believe we can ever be certain of any ideas or beliefs that we hold as human understanding is fallible and subject to change. For me, the novel serves as a reminder that embracing uncertainty and acknowledging the limits of our understanding can lead to more thoughtful and compassionate decision-making
For Jocelin, the building of the spire is more important than the lives of those building it; this can be true for so many schools of thought, whereby people believe that the spreading of a particular ideology, message, or religion holds greater significance than human life. This can be true of various ideologies (e.g. socialism or extreme religious beliefs) where individuals may become fixated on their cause and overlook the value of human lives in the process. This is one of those books that I wish I had studied in school as there is so much symbolism to unpick and it is definitely a book I am going to re-read.
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A not-too-subtle euphemism for the pride and hubris of mankind, The Spire is a story of a man's stubborn quest to erect the tallest known structure in the name of god. The writing is somewhat of a challenge to get through, mixing metaphor and imagination in with concrete storytelling so following what's really happening can be difficult. However, I'd recommend this story to anyone interested in the blurred reality of a religious man with nothing on his mind but completing what the builders around him tell him is impossible. For not too long a read, if you're willing to power through some confusing narration, it has its rewards throughout, and on the whole.
adventurous
dark
inspiring
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
My god, what a book!
A novel about improbable pursuits. This is a book that I'll recommend for two principle topics. First maddess.
Stone by stone. Higher. Higher. Madness stacked on madness. This book is a really interesting psychological exploration of obsession. Both of the ambitions we have and also the sexual obsessions we fall prey to. To a large extent it is also a good analysis of fundamentalism too. But chiefly it is a book that sweats and writhes about in paroxysmal splendour.
Secondly on the act of writing. Page by page. On. On. The writing itself is a veiled thesis on the art and dedication to form.
So if you're interested in madness and literature, seek out a copy.
One word of warning however. This is not an easy read. Golding's writing is dense. It is a product of its time. More a classic work than a contemporary style. It will be a slog in places. Which is why my rating hovers at four stars. A modern writer would be able to achieve the same atmosphere with an added clarity that would propel the work into divinity.
A novel about improbable pursuits. This is a book that I'll recommend for two principle topics. First maddess.
Stone by stone. Higher. Higher. Madness stacked on madness. This book is a really interesting psychological exploration of obsession. Both of the ambitions we have and also the sexual obsessions we fall prey to. To a large extent it is also a good analysis of fundamentalism too. But chiefly it is a book that sweats and writhes about in paroxysmal splendour.
Secondly on the act of writing. Page by page. On. On. The writing itself is a veiled thesis on the art and dedication to form.
So if you're interested in madness and literature, seek out a copy.
One word of warning however. This is not an easy read. Golding's writing is dense. It is a product of its time. More a classic work than a contemporary style. It will be a slog in places. Which is why my rating hovers at four stars. A modern writer would be able to achieve the same atmosphere with an added clarity that would propel the work into divinity.
