The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
bayerwithme's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this author's narration; especially throughout the book's beginning. The start of the novel was strong but eventually weakened a little towards the end...yet the story was still gratifying to read. Davidson's writing reminded me of Vladimir Nabokov (I hope he takes this as a compliment if he ever reads this review)...both Davidson and Nabokov are one of the few authors that can make such an unsavory narrator's thoughts and opinions engrossing. Furthermore, both Davidson and Nabokov use descriptive detail throughout their novels and I could sense that Davidson has the potential for Nabokov's double entendre in future writings.
chellski's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
lizzydennyreadsabook's review against another edition
3.0
While the shared aspects between this book and Dante’s Inferno were interesting, I found they really only came through in one or two chapters. I do love that Marianne and the narrator’s story spans lifetimes, I think that portion could have been fleshed out more to replace some of the hospital scenes. Still a wonderful and unique book!
novelesque_life's review against another edition
1.0
ONE STARS
"A young man is fighting for his life. Into his room walks a bewitching woman who believes she can save him. Their journey will have you believing in the impossible. The nameless and beautiful narrator of The Gargoyle is driving along a dark road when he is distracted by what seems to be a flight of arrows. He crashes into a ravine and wakes up in a burns ward, undergoing the tortures of the damned. His life is over - he is now a monster. But in fact it is only just beginning. One day, Marianne Engel, a wild and compelling sculptress of gargoyles, enters his life and tells him that they were once lovers in medieval Germany. In her telling, he was a badly burned mercenary and she was a nun and a scribe who nursed him back to health in the famed monastery of Engelthal. As she spins her tale, Scheherazade fashion, and relates equally mesmerising stories of deathless love in Japan, Greenland, Italy and England, he finds himself drawn back to life - and, finally, to love." (From Amazon)
I could not finished it - even tried it on audio.
"A young man is fighting for his life. Into his room walks a bewitching woman who believes she can save him. Their journey will have you believing in the impossible. The nameless and beautiful narrator of The Gargoyle is driving along a dark road when he is distracted by what seems to be a flight of arrows. He crashes into a ravine and wakes up in a burns ward, undergoing the tortures of the damned. His life is over - he is now a monster. But in fact it is only just beginning. One day, Marianne Engel, a wild and compelling sculptress of gargoyles, enters his life and tells him that they were once lovers in medieval Germany. In her telling, he was a badly burned mercenary and she was a nun and a scribe who nursed him back to health in the famed monastery of Engelthal. As she spins her tale, Scheherazade fashion, and relates equally mesmerising stories of deathless love in Japan, Greenland, Italy and England, he finds himself drawn back to life - and, finally, to love." (From Amazon)
I could not finished it - even tried it on audio.
theroadjones's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
abutler's review against another edition
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
dereadergal's review against another edition
4.0
Wow, what a wonderfully written, page turning book! The author really knows how to describe the pain of the main character in vivid details, while intertwining the stories of the past, that keeps you desperately wondering if it's all true, or just make believe?
jennnej's review against another edition
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
ktxx22's review against another edition
5.0
Alright, and the award for surprise of the century goes to.... this freaking book. The characters and story in this are so fantastically realistic and at the same time more whimsical than flying pigs. What’s up with super against all odds loves that have been making me teary eyed whilst reading! This book is sordid, religious, violent, and artistic... all at the same time. I loved it on multiple levels. Easy 5/5 I think Davidson’s writing can be accurately described as a mix of Palahniuk and Dumas. And both of those authors have wrote books I love for various reasons. Can highly recommends his book to anyone!