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This was quite unlike any book I have ever read, and I found the plot to be quirky, disturbing, beautiful, and intriguing enough to keep me plowing through pages to finish the book rather quickly. The descriptions can be brutal at times, but I think it adds to the story rather than detracting from it. Davidson spent seven years conducting research to tell the story of an unnamed narrator who is a burn victim captive in the hospital for months and the woman named Maryann who visits him religiously, telling him they have known one another for hundreds of years. Her stories are incredible.

In the 2008 wrap-up issue of Entertainment Weekly, it was selected as one of the top five worst books of the year which made me feel terrible. First, this author is on GoodReads and sent me a really nice email as soon as I posted a review on his book - which made me like him. Second, EW tends to write horrible book reviews. Third, in their "New Classics" issue a few months back, the editors determined that Smith's "The Ruins" should be on this list. That book was total garbage and anyone with one quarter of a brain could tell you that.

An interesting read. I would highly recommend it!

I picked up a copy of The Gargoyle today from the library. Hope to get started on it this week. I'm anxious to read it after the recommendations here and on the Busy Bees group.

I'm so glad to hear that I'm not the only one who had that reaction! I thought the book was amazing and loved the layering of story upon story, moving through time periods and cultures, and I quickly began pressing it upon friends as soon as I was finished with it. Then I started to see the bad reviews here and there and couldn't believe they read the same book. Fortunately, all of my friends have loved it and passed it on to their friends . . .

I started reading this today and I'm finding it absolutely mesmerizing. I wish I could stay up all night to finish it!

I didn't want this book to end. I loved listening to Marianne's stories. They were absolutely hypnotic. She masterfully wove her stories into the life of the narrator, a drug addicted, ex-porn star who was severely disfigured in a fiery car accident. Throughout his painful recovery in the burn center, she offered up many tales of love and past lives, like skin grafts for his soul. The Gargoyle was hauntingly beautiful in it's narration. I regret that it's finished.....I want to hear more stories!

I'm excited that I'll have another chance to promote The Gargoyle. I went to book club tonight and suggested this as our next read. Of course that means I get the privilege of hosting. Do you think I should prepare a feast Marianne style and show a porn flick to set the tone?:0

I just came back from Las Vegas and enjoyed the 1/4 mile long buffet at the Rio, which was very similar to a Marianne-style meal. :)

Didn't the descriptions in the book make you salivate? I think that would be a neat way to host - have a variety of foods representing the world. I don't know about the porn though...

;)

I hosted book club last night and was thrilled that everyone loved The Gargoyle as much as I did. Some are already talking about rereading it because there are so many layers to the book they want to revisit the details. This was truly a book to experience and the rich tapestry of it's stories gives the reader a lot to contemplate.

I highly recommend it for a book group. Lots of food for thought and if you provide meals or dessert at your book group meetings, then it also provides a lot of food for your digestion. I made bougatsa, which is the Greek pastry that Marianne Engel named her dog after.

I just started listening to this book on audio (too busy with school to read this AND Cutting for Stone this month). I'm so enthralled by the descriptive detail, but given that I'm driving while listening, you can understand my apprehension. ;-)

As long as you don't have a bottle of alcohol between your legs and don't see flaming arrows shooting towards you, I think you'll be safe, lol! ;) I think Davidson is a masterful storyteller.

One of the other Goodreads groups I'm in just picked this for their October read. I've heard some negative things about it and was sort of dreading trying to read it, so I'm glad to see Lisa and Stephanie liked it and sounds like Melissa was liking it too. I'll start it about the beginning of October.

Lynn wrote: "One of the other Goodreads groups I'm in just picked this for their October read. I've heard some negative things about it and was sort of dreading trying to read it, so I'm glad to see Lisa and S..."

I had also heard some negative buzz, but ended up really enjoying this book. I hope Mr. Davidson doesn't take another 7 years to research his next book, I'm ready to read it now.

Lynn, out of all the books I've read this year The Gargoyle is in the top 5 for me. It's a book I keep recommending to friends and family. In fact, I was out-of-town visiting family yesterday and told my cousin's wife her book club must read this and The Help. She told me they were both on their list. Yay! My aunt also decided to add it to her TBR.

It's good to hear such good reviews of the book. I'm not dreading it anymore!

I loved this book. The food descriptions made me so hungry! It is just beautifully written too...

Hi Lisa, I was just wondering when we will know what the Oct read is for our group. Reading the "Lace Reader" at the moment, after just finnishing "The Girl who Plays With Fire."

Helen wrote: "Hi Lisa, I was just wondering when we will know what the Oct read is for our group. Reading the "Lace Reader" at the moment, after just finnishing "The Girl who Plays With Fire."

"

Helen, the final selections for the October/November group read will be posted on Saturday, September 26th. If you haven't voted, then make sure to visit the polls section to vote for one book from the September/October 2009 issue and one book from the TBR (any issue).

Whew. I just finished this book after having been reading it for quite awhile. I haven't been getting much reading time in and somehow feel cheated that I couldn't spend more time all at once with this book. I read this book a few pages at a time over the course of two months and I don't think I got out of it what I could have. It was not a book that I was dying to pick up again, so that made it all the harder and I think that there were details I forgot about in between reading sessions. There were parts of this book that I loved and parts that were just very slow-going for me. I loved the main character's trip into hell at the end. I was wincing while I read it. It evoked sort of the same feeling in me as when one passes an accident and you don't want to look, but you do anyway. Very, very uncomfortable.

I'm just in the middle of the book. I've loved Marianne's story-telling and so far the book has been very unusual. I'm keeping a large sticky-note on the cover to note my thoughts and questions on the book because I there are so many. This is one I'll have to continue to think about later. The details of his burn treatment are gruesome, but a fascinating insight into those who go through the procedures. At the beginning I was put off by his continual insistence on telling so much about porn and almost stopped reading ... I think his background is important to the story, but it was quite a bit more than was really necessary. I'm not getting to read the story straight through because of work at the moment, but hopefully I'll finish it in the next few days.

I ended up with 5 pages of small handwritten notes about this book. Lots of Christian symbolism throughout the book, plus the references to Dante's Inferno. Did you notice that the main character was nameless and "faceless" (burned)-- there must be some symbolism in that, though just how to state it is eluding me. Did you realize that this is, in some ways, historical fiction? I didn't, but I researched and found that the Gnaden-Vita, Engelthal, some of the sisters and Father Sunder actually existed!! I could make lots of comments about the book, but don't want to get into spoilers, because I'd have to make them too detailed. Anyway, though I had reservations about the book to start with, I found it a thought-provoking story and a "good read".

I think the narrator remained nameless, because though the accident didn't kill him physically, it caused him to die to his old self and become a different person spiritually. Therefore, who he was before the accident no longer exists and is nameless throughout his journey to recovery. His name prior to the accident is associated with fame in the porn industry and I think the author is trying to show that his life had no meaning before, it was only an external existence, which is why his name is not important.

This book is good on so many levels. I'm like you Lynn, I had to do a little research. Actually, I found a readers guide from the publisher that had a lot of great historical information associated with the book.

Lisa wrote: "I think the narrator remained nameless, because though the accident didn't kill him physically, it caused him to die to his old self and become a different person spiritually. Therefore, who he wa..."

Hi Lisa - I like your reasoning on the nameless issue. I agree with it.

I'm going to have to find that reader's guide with the historical information on it. That could be very interesting.

Lynn,

I think these were the two guides I used for my book club. There were some fascinating facts that really added meaning to the story.

http://www.bookbrowse.com/reading_gui...

http://www.bookclubs.ca/catalog/displ...

Lisa wrote: "Lynn,

I think these were the two guides I used for my book club. There were some fascinating facts that really added meaning to the story.

http://www.bookbrowse.com/reading_gui......"

Thanks, Lisa! I just scanned them so far, but those sites look great!

You're welcome! :D

After reading The Gargoyle, I decided that I had to read Inferno by Dante. I'm in the middle of it right now. (I was supposed to read it in college, but somehow didn't get around to it -- it was years ago, but I suppose a friend gave me a summary at the time to get me by! shame on me!) Anyway, I'm finding that I am enjoying the book and wish I had read it before The Gargoyle.

Thanks for posting the book guides. I think this is a novel that I will want to revisit eventually. Has anyone else heard from the author after posting reviews?