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A review by marthahope
The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson
3.0
Overall I enjoyed this book. The narrator is engaging and his dark sense of humour and sarcasm was definitely one of my favourite aspects of the novel.
However, I found myself getting restless and a little bored about two thirds of the way through. Although I initially enjoyed the storytelling of Marianne - which reminded me strongly of Scheherazade in Arabian Nights - I felt like these stories held more drive and conflict than the centre story. I really wanted to love the book, the narrator had some beautifully written insights and opinions on life, love and humanity, but instead I found myself eager for the novel's close.
I strongly disliked the narrator's trip to Hell during his morphine withdrawal, I understand why it happened and how it was necessary in regards to Marianne's stories, but I really did not like it.
I think I went into the book with expectations and it didn't quite live up to them. Nevertheless, Andrew Davidson writes with a lyricism that really shines through at points, it just failed to grab me in the same way as others.
However, I found myself getting restless and a little bored about two thirds of the way through. Although I initially enjoyed the storytelling of Marianne - which reminded me strongly of Scheherazade in Arabian Nights - I felt like these stories held more drive and conflict than the centre story. I really wanted to love the book, the narrator had some beautifully written insights and opinions on life, love and humanity, but instead I found myself eager for the novel's close.
I strongly disliked the narrator's trip to Hell during his morphine withdrawal, I understand why it happened and how it was necessary in regards to Marianne's stories, but I really did not like it.
I think I went into the book with expectations and it didn't quite live up to them. Nevertheless, Andrew Davidson writes with a lyricism that really shines through at points, it just failed to grab me in the same way as others.