The Great Gargoyle Debate
Staff member #1 said:
Canadian author Andrew Davidson’s debut novel The Gargoyle has been reviewed by many critics, all with varying opinions. After reading many harsh reviews, I still maintain that The Gargoyle is a great book. Davidson does a superb job creating a story that explores somewhat perverse human experiences in a truly innovative way. Although many readers detest the coarse tone of the prose, you have to remember that this is the tone of the narrator, not of the author. While this novel might not win the Pulitzer Prize, it is still an interesting read, and one very much worth taking time for.
Staff Member #2 said:
Much has been said about this book, from “This much-hyped book is eye-bulgingly atrocious, packed with medieval history to disguise prose that’s worse than your average Dungeons & Dragons blog” to “ within the last forty pages lie the most beautiful description of love that I have ever read”.
The truth probably lies somewhere in between. If I hadn’t had to read this book for book club, I wouldn’t have got past the accurate but vivid descriptions of the treatment of burns victims. At the beginning of the book the main character is very unlikeable: a self-centered, misogynistic, coke-addicted porno star. To the author’s credit, by the end I found myself hoping that he would find some sort of peace and acceptance of his situation. Seven years of research are evident in the authenticity of historical and medical details. The storylines flow well and are easy to read despite a seven century timeline. The most interesting parts of the book are the legends which the narrator’s sculptress saviour relates to him during his recovery. In my opinion, Davidson labours the Heaven/Hell debate unnecessarily, and some of his descriptive passages are just cheesy! The book can be summed up well as follows:
“A wild page-turner and a boldly impudent work that flirts with the trappings of gothic romances, historical novels and fantasies while skirting their clichés and remaining defiantly unique.”
— Edmonton Sun
Simon said,
November 19, 2009 at 12:18 pm
Absolutely superb.
Damn the critics, read this book.
“….defiantly unique.” Is the best description.
The front end set up; the burn victim and his coarse language and life. You gotta have that from a loveless man in order to appreciate his transformation. But once the mysterious sculptress enters his life, you cannot put this book down.
No pulitzer….maybe, but an amazing peice of work for a first timer.