Maree from Just Add Books (http://justaddbooks.blogspot.com/)
recently interviewed me about my reading of The Gargoyle written by
Andrew Davidson.
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Maree - I've seen this book pop up on few book blogs lately, which
is how I heard about it. How did you hear about it?
Me - I had seen some information about this book on the Random
House/DoubleDay website and was really interested so when I had the
chance to grab an ARC took it.
Maree - How would you rate the book's readability? Is it an
unputdownable read, or a chore to pick up and read? What made you
pick it up?
Me - For me this book was impossible to put down, but at the same
time, I took my time reading in order to draw out my enjoyment.
While reading it was nice to set it aside every once in awhile just
to contemplate where the entwining stories were taking you and how
they could possibly relate.
Initially I picked it up for the love story aspect. Amazon
describes it as "An extraordinary debut novel of love that survives
the fires of hell and transcends the boundaries of time." That
quote really got my attention as I love a good love story, but have
grown tired of the massive amounts of predictable chick-lit
available. I wanted more than just "boy meets girl" romance, I
wanted a love story that made you feel something and The Gargoyle
was perfect.
Maree - The editorial description on Amazon makes The Gargoyle
sound like a fantastic, Gothic love story. Would this be
accurate?
Me - Was The Gargoyle fantastic? In my opinion, yes, it was
probably my top read this read. The true definition of a Gothic
love story is a story that combines romance and horror, so The
Gargoyle fits this to a tee. But it is so much more than this, it
explores almost every facet of what makes us human - honour,
redemption, personal beliefs, salvation, self-image, the mystery of
the soul and the human desire to live and love.
Maree - How is the love story between the main characters handled?
Is it convincing? Is there a strong sense of emotional truth?
Me - First off, I just need to clarify that I am a total cynic when
it comes to love stories. More often than not, I am harrumphing
through a romance saying to myself "oh please, like that would ever
happen", I despise sappy chick-flicks and a lot of romantic
chick-lit turns my stomach. For a love story to work for me it
needs to be real, it needs to show the true emotional pain involved
with being loved and loving. I want to truly feel that two people
live and would die for one another and that they have a connection
in soul, not just body. With that said, The Gargoyle was a
completely convincing love story for me. The characters knew their
love for one another was about more than just getting married,
having sex and growing old together. Their emotions were always
very believable even when they hated one another.
Maree - How engaging were the main characters, given that neither
sounds particularly sympathetic. Was there room for the reader to
empathize with them, given that they both seem to be scarred _
either internally or externally?
Me - Although the stories in the novel are fascinating, the
characters are what truly bring this book to life. The narrator -
unnamed throughout the entire novel - is at first not so likeable.
He is a drug-addicted pornographic filmmaker, who crashed his car
while drinking and driving. When first introduced he is in a burn
unit recovering from extreme burns to his entire body, which of
course, makes him not very friendly, happy, courteous or vaguely
appealing. Marianne is the leading lady who brings out the best
side of the narrator. Marianne herself is an intensely attractive
character from the beginning when she saunters into the burn unit
like the crazy lady she is (or at least she may be crazy). It is
her involvement with the narrator that begins a very complex
labyrinth of character development for them both. By the end of the
novel, I felt as though I would do anything to see them find
happiness, love or peace.
Read the full interview here -
http://bookzombie.blogspot.com/2008/09/weekly-geeks-16-geek-interviews-2.html