Comments on: The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson: It just might be the last book you’ll ever need to read…

By: draabe

draabe — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 20:24:25 +0000

Michelle – I’d rather not print any spoilers here so will send you an email. But I will say that I believe the author’s ambiguity regarding Marianne’s mental stability was intentional. Also, there is an ongoing chapter-by-chapter discussion of this book at http://www.the-gargoyle.co.uk/#. Just register, log in and chat with other readers.

By: Michelle

Michelle — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 03:26:43 +0000

Hi, i’ve read the book and i think i never liked this kind of book before but The Gargoyle captivated me. Actually i enjoy reading this book. But, i really need some help, i dont understand the chapter when the main character had a fever and then “visited” hell. I just dont get the point. Would you explain it to me?
And what is the role of Fransesco, Sei, Sigurd, Vicky? Who are they? are they just a legend or Marianne’s pasr friend or what?
And then, what do you think, is Marianne really schizophrenic or what she told him all true?
thanks.
reply to email would be better.

By: draabe

draabe — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:36:55 +0000

That’s an interesting take I hadn’t heard before, Katie. I enjoy reading medical detail, too, and Davidson had some authoritative help in addition to the research he did.

By the way, when I last chatted with Davidson online he said he was in no hurry to finish the next book. His process involves doing a lot of heavy research first and then seeing what’s there.

By: Katie

Katie — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:55:26 +0000

I am a fan because of the detail he put into the hospital, I hope to be a nurse soon (I am a student, going to take my Nurse Aid test in February) and he used some actual medical terms that renewed my intrigue. I accidentally picked up this novel in the library but went out to buy it to show to all of my friends who also hope to become nurses. Well, they love it needless to say and it really helped most of us see why patients can be so bitter towards us. I am waiting on his next novel and just hope I won’t have to wait MORE than 10 years to read his genius. All in all, it is absolutely magnificent and I will read it again and again.

By: DM

DM — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 01:54:13 +0000

I just finished the first few chapters. WOW! The most intense book I’ve ever started. My skin felt super sensitve while reading the first part, infact oversensitive. For the first time I now know what it means to have something make your skin crawl. My own tee shirt started to irritate and feel very uncomfortable (almost like the flu). I had to take it off, it felt as if I didn’t want ANYTHING touching me and asure my skin that I could feel the fresh air and that I was okay! Can’t put the book down. I think it will be very difficult to find another great book.

By: Robert August de Meijer

Robert August de Meijer — Tue, 26 May 2009 13:06:47 +0000

Although it sure is a page turner, I couldn’t help feeling the book is just a prime example of kitsch. It’s written sensationally, going from one extreme to the next (I do find it impressive, though, how the author manages to keep it all balanced and not becoming too repetitive). The characters are as two-dimensional as they get. That’s obviously the point, but why should I care about them, then? Ultimately, the story didn’t teach me anything; a pastiche of romantic spiritual events that I’ve heard a thousand times in other stories and ironically, gets retold by the short stories peppered in this book. I guess I’m supposed to lean back, put think less, feel more and enjoy the current. But that type of book bores me. I would advise The Gargoyle to young teenagers, but I doubt they’d enjoy this book more than, or learn more from, the latest edition of Final Fantasy.
Maybe I’m just hard on this book for being rather pretentious. Not by being intellectually snobby (like some books), but by all the decorations. The book has two acrostics (the first letter and the last letter of each chapter), a bunch of different letter-types, refers to half a dozen languages, likens itself to The Inferno, has black sides like it is burnt… and what’s with all the food?

By: Tasi

Tasi — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 14:50:57 +0000

Saw the audiobook in the library – don’t believe in coincidences – I’m always intrigued by reincarnation theory. My praise for the book would merely duplicate earlier posts. I only listened to the book when driving – a deliciously agonizing way to stretch out this superb tale. The descriptions are so rich that while listening to one segment, I was compelled to stop at the grocery store on the way home to get the ingredients for one of the dishes! I will just add that if you’re short on time, you won’t lose much “reading pleasure” in audio format. Not only is Lincoln Hoppe a very talented narrator, he also does all international accents VERY well. A must read…And Draabe: blessings to you for creating your site and thanks to Google for posting your link on the first search page. As I said…no coincidences in the Universe. (I’d put Lincoln on the short list of entertaining narrators that includes Kate Reading and Barbara Rosenblat. These actors convert the audiobook “eating at McDonalds” ordeal into the “3 course dinner” adventure that reading provides.

By: Tonya

Tonya — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 18:28:55 +0000

The Gargoyle took me 9 months to read. Not because I am a slow reader, but because this is an awful book. I only kept reading it to see if it would get better and it never did. All the “bitchsnake” talk was annoying – in the middle of a paragraph – made no sense and just seemed to get in the way. Most of the sexual references were crude and did not have a place in the book either. I can see as you are talking about the background of the porn industry, but that trailed off in the very beginning. The remainder of the book referenced cheese on nipples and stupidity like that. Talk about the Inferno, there will be one in my backyard when I throw the book in the bonfire.

By: Mendy

Mendy — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 18:44:55 +0000

I passed this book up at the library for several months without reading the inside cover…thought it might not be the type of book I would read — just by the title — then I picked it up and could hardly put it down! Read it in less than 2 days…thoroughly enjoyed it and wonder if the author can outdo himself?…big order if you ask me….

By: Ari

Ari — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 15:06:17 +0000

i feel like everyone else who has read this book are all older and mature readers…

im only 17 but i loved this book. it was intricate, intriguing, complex, a little disturbing at times yet i couldnt put it down.

i felt a little wrong reading it in the beginning because it seemed to have some sort of an adult theme especially with his life career but seeing past it i found it was a book of love, of hope, of the undying connections between loved ones.

i choose to believe marriana engel and their past life…

i am soo reading it again this summer

i nearly died of a heart attack when my friend looked and the book and creased it down the middle of the spine