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A review by pruadh
Lanark by Alasdair Gray
5.0
This is a book (or 4 books) is one where it's hard to know where to begin discussing it. It's one of my favourite books that I'd recommend to basically no-one. Gray himself said, "I want Lanark to be read in one order but eventually thought of in another." Even after reading it in one order and thinking of it in another, I think I still need to return to it some day to uncover what I've missed.
Lanark stands out in Scottish literature in how romantically - however dark - the city of Glasgow is described. The novel, despite it being a depiction of hell, gave me a new appreciation for my home. It's both jarring and in a way validating to see the city and country I grew up depicted imaginatively instead of in news or documentary, and it was honestly refreshing however bleak Lanark might be.
Lanark is a challenging read, but remains one of the most imaginative and unique science-fiction novels I've ever read, yet still manages to be thoroughly human in the way it explores our shared experience with enough depth that one reading simply isn't enough.
Lanark stands out in Scottish literature in how romantically - however dark - the city of Glasgow is described. The novel, despite it being a depiction of hell, gave me a new appreciation for my home. It's both jarring and in a way validating to see the city and country I grew up depicted imaginatively instead of in news or documentary, and it was honestly refreshing however bleak Lanark might be.
Lanark is a challenging read, but remains one of the most imaginative and unique science-fiction novels I've ever read, yet still manages to be thoroughly human in the way it explores our shared experience with enough depth that one reading simply isn't enough.