Lanark: A Life in 4 Books by Alasdair Gray

Lanark: A Life in 4 Books

Alasdair Gray

560 pages • first pub 1981 (editions)

fiction classics fantasy adventurous reflective slow-paced

Description

Written under the influence of World War II, the British welfare state, the Scottish education system, Poe, Carroll, Joyce, Kafka, Pinocchio, and the Bible, this cult classic paints a surreal portrait of the modern world. "It should be widely read...

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Community Reviews Summary of 551 reviews

Moods

challenging 88%
dark 71%
reflective 59%
mysterious 50%
adventurous 30%
emotional 28%
sad 26%
funny 25%
tense 19%
informative 7%
inspiring 5%
hopeful 1%

Pace

slow 60%
medium 37%
fast 1%

Plot- or character-driven?

A mix: 65% | Character: 23% | Plot: 6% | N/A: 4%

Strong character development?

Yes: 46% | It's complicated: 34% | No: 17% | N/A: 2%

Loveable characters?

No: 55% | It's complicated: 40% | Yes: 4%

Diverse cast of characters?

No: 66% | Yes: 17% | It's complicated: 15%

Flaws of characters a main focus?

Yes: 82% | It's complicated: 15% | No: 2%

Average rating

4.03

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Content Warnings

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