Book Review: “Gormenghast,” by Mervyn Peake

Genre: classic; fantasy; literary fiction

Playlist… 

Plot Summary: Gormenghast picks up in the detailing of the life of Titus Groan, seventy-seventh Earl of the Castle and inheritor of the endless monotony of rituals and symbols.  As the boy grows, he wearies of his stagnant life and begins to eye the world outside of the castle with much interest.  In particular, a mysterious girl—called “The Thing”– who holds the freedom Titus longs for.  Not only is the life of the young Earl told, but also that of his sister Fuchsia, the banished servant Flay, and the manipulative mastermind Steerpike…

My Book Review: I loved the Gormenghast Series almost as soon as I started the first book, Titus Groan (see my book review here).  Peake is marvelous!  What vocabulary and descriptions!  The colors this man uses!  It is often said of Tolkien that he made up beautiful languages and names and then made up plots to fit around them.  It’s my opinion that Peake (who was first and foremost an illustrator) made up picturesque settings and then made up plots to fit around them.  Some may find that tedious and sometimes it does become so, but have patience and a colorful picture will emerge in your mind’s eye.  I had to stop my reading every once in a while to give a gloriously contented sigh before I picked back up again.

“… Titus first thought consciously about the idea of colour: of things having colours: of everything having its own particular colour, and of the way in which every particular colour kept changing according to where it was, what the light was like, and what it was next to.”

These books aren’t action-driven; they’re not even exactly character-driven.  Sometimes it is hard even to like the protagonists.  But they are landscape-driven, and even color-driven.  First and foremost is the Castle itself, a massive, crumbling monstrosity that is the entire universe for all our characters.  There are even shadowy areas that the head servant Flay himself is not familiar with and needs to chart a new map so as not to get lost.  Tunnels, wings, hallways, dungeons, dormitories, attics, towers…  who could ask for anything more?

Titus apparently, as he realizes that Gormenghast cannot be Gormenghast unless it is in relation to somewhere else.  He inwardly kicks at the infinite number of rules and regulations that keep the castle alive.  They are so old that their symbolism has been forgotten but no one can deviate from them nonetheless.  I had to stop and think about the idea of legalism—adherence to the letter, but containing no heart.  The Master of Rituals, Barquentine fits this bill:

“The fanaticism of his loyalty to the House of Groan had far outstripped his interest or concern for the living—the members of the line itself….  It was the chain that mattered, not the links.  It was not the living metal, but the immeasurable iron with its patina of sacred dust.  It was the Idea that obsessed him and not the embodiment.”

Contrast this with the servant Flay.  Although he adheres in a religious way to the laws of Gormenghast, he decides to take an alternative action for the sake of the people he cares about.  The law of love is better.  I could not help seeing a parallel between the Pharisees and Jesus in the Gospels.

One of the most interesting characters is the antagonist Steerpike.  Intent on knocking off the pillars of Gormenghast one by one until he has unlimited power, this fellow is a chilly one indeed.  It is often believed that villains aren’t “real” if they have no layer the reader can identify or sympathize with; bad guys are merely “misunderstood” or not given an ear in the first place.  But there is such a thing as a sociopath [and for the record, DON’T ask Holmes], and I believe this describes our Steerpike.  Lacking any moral conscience, he picks off his victims in various ways evil.  His soul is hideous and his means are graphic.

But he doesn’t overtake the castle all at once—no, that would be too easily identifiable.  His corruption of the place happens over a long period of time.  This is often the case with real-life institutions as well.  I am writing this at a time when I am reading daily of corruption that has infiltrated the church and other religious organizations.  The previously wise and strong members become old or pass away, and others become mentally flabby or sleepy.  After a while, reports begin to trickle in of abuse, scandal and misconduct.

“The sense of unreality which had spread through the castle like some strange malaise… so that although there was no lack of incident, and no question as to its importance, a sharpness, an awareness was missing and nobody really believed in what was happening.  It was as though the caste was recovering from an illness, or was about to have one.  It was either lost in a blur of unfocused memory or in the unreality of a disquieting premonition.  The immediacy of the castle’s life was missing.  There were no sharp edges.  No crisp sounds.  A veil was over all things, a veil that no-one could tear away.

“How long it lasted was impossible to say, for although there was this general oppression that weighed on every action, all but annihilating its reality of significance, making… a ceremony of dream… yet the sense of unreality in each individual was different; different in intensity, in quality, and in duration, according to the temperaments of all who were submerged.

“There were some who hardly realized that there was a difference.  Thick bullet-headed men with mouths like horses, were scarcely aware.  They felt that nothing mattered quite as much as it used to do, but that was all.

“Others were drowned in it, and walked like ghosts.  Their own voices, when they spoke, appeared to be coming to them from far away.”

Will we wake up and take a good look at our surroundings and evaluate with them discernment?  If we don’t, who will?

SPOILER ALERT:  So disappointed that my favorite character, Fuchsia, was killed off in such a nonchalant way.  Even though she wasn’t always likeable, I could identify with her in some ways and admired her fierce and passionate soul.  But it felt like Peake was getting to where he didn’t know what to do with her, and so she was easily disposed of.  It didn’t make sense to me and I wish that he had buried her with more ceremony.  I’m so sorry for the loss of this heroine.  She will be greatly missed.  END OF SPOILER.

This book suffers a little from tedious minutiae and repetition, but the stretch it gives one’s brain muscles is well worth the exercise.  Such great quotes out of this one!  I even learned of a new-to-me genre that this series is classified under: Mannerpunk (hmm! Now I will have to go exploring that one!).  Mervyn Peake is among one of my top all-time favorite authors; I seriously hope you will not skip him.

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I also recommend…

 

Top Ten “Tuesday”- Rainy Day Reads

This is a “Top Ten Tuesday” exercise [anticipating the April 16th challenge]…

 

Book Review: “The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrun,” by J. R. R. Tolkien

Genre: classic; poetry; myth; fantasy; medieval

Plot Summary: [from goodreads:] In the “Lay of the Völsungs” is told the ancestry of the great hero Sigurd, the slayer of Fáfnir most celebrated of dragons, whose treasure he took for his own; of his awakening of the Valkyrie Brynhild, who slept surrounded by a wall of fire, and of their betrothal; and of his coming to the court of the great princes who were named the Niflungs (or Nibelungs), with whom he entered into blood-brotherhood. In that court there sprang great love but also great hate, brought about by the power of the enchantress of the Niflungs, skilled in the arts of magic, of shape-changing and potions of forgetfulness.

My Book Review: I am not a hardcore Tolkienite, but I do enjoy stretching myself and have made my way through many of J. R. R. Tolkien’s works.  “The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrun” was my continuation of reading his non LOR books.

The book is made up of two longish poems (“lays”), and one is a sequel to the other. Actually, the book is Tolkien’s retelling of an ancient Norse myth called “The Lay of the Volsungs,” and was published after his death by his son Christopher, who added many of his father’s notes and his own commentary.

It shouldn’t have taken me so long to read it as it did. It would have been relatively quick reading, but I was busy and to tell the truth I found it murky and boring.  I found it hard to remember what happened the last time I left off, and by the time I made it to the breaks with Christopher Tolkien’s notes to explain what it was I just read, I’d completely forgotten and not much made sense.  A lot of oath-swearing, deceiving, fighting and killing.  Blood and guts.

On the plus side, I found it a lot of fun to read out loud. Tolkien wrote the lays in the style of the old Norse and there are a lot of ancient, outdated words that were fun to come across.  Tolkien really was a master at language and it shows (even if I’m too thick to fully appreciate it).  There was even a particular line or two I copied down that reminded me much of the True Story of the Savior of the World, Jesus Christ.  This sounds very strange, but I plan to include in my Christmas cards this year:

In the day of Doom

he shall deathless stand

who death tasted

and dies no more,

the serpent-slayer,

seed of Odin:

not all shall end,

nor Earth perish.

 

On his head the Helm,

in his hand lightning,

afire his spirit,

in his face splendour.

When war passeth

in world rebuilt,

bliss shall they drink

who the bitter tasted.

 

“I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice He judges and makes war.  His eyes are like blazing fire, and on His head are many crowns.  He has a name written on Him that no one but He Himself knows….  ‘He will rule them with an iron scepter.’ …And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain.  He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years…. And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown.  They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever….  Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth….  ‘Now the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them.  They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God.  He will wipe every tear from their eyes.  There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.’ He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’  …He said to me: ‘It is done.  I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End.  To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life.’ …No longer will there be any curse…  Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.  He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen.  Come, Lord Jesus.  (Revelation 19:11 – 22:20)

I found it interesting that one of the characters toward the end of the tale, named Atli, is loosely based on what we know from old legends of Attila the Hun. That gave a wonderful grounding to the story, as if there really was a historical basis to the fiction I was reading.

I know there will be die-hard Tolkien fans out there who will want to read anything they can get their hands on of his who would enjoy this book. Otherwise, you might want to pass on it.

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If you liked this book, I also recommend…

 

Book Review: “Beginnings,” by Steve Stephens

Genre: Christian Inspirational; biblical fiction 

Playlist… 

Plot Summary: Once upon a time, Garden-Maker made the stars and space and time, and spoke earth and light into being.  He formed Man out of the dust of the earth and created a paradise for him to live in and it was perfect.  But then the creature called Shining One grew jealous of the glory of Garden-Maker and enticed Man away from the path of wisdom.  And so begins the epic tale told by an ancient storyteller…   

My Book Review: This series, entitled “The Story Teller” by Steve Stephens, sat on the shelf in our church library for years and they looked intriguing to me.  Finally, I picked up the first one to read and fell in love with the beautiful poem-prose narrative.  They are simple retellings of the Genesis stories, yet the words swirl around in a sort of colorful, magical mosaic.   

Stephens isn’t the first to write imaginative accounts of bible stories, filling in details and elaborating or simplifying finer points here and there.  But I loved his bard-like habit of substituting characters’ names for their signature qualities.  For example, the Creator God is referred to as Garden-Maker and later on in the story as Promise-Keeper.  Noah is Builder, Sarah is Princess and Joseph is Dreamer.  This is also done to place names as well.  Canaan is the Valley of the Apples; Egypt is the Land of the Deltas.  Describing people and places as such gives the familiar Story a fresh take as well as a timeless feel.  But it is still the same. 

I found it wonderful to be reintroduced to these ancients of the faith and most especially, to read of the character of Promise-Keeper who never fails us.  He gave me such encouragement of heart.  If you’re wanting something that will help you understand the heart of God and His Word a little better, this is a great supplement.  It is easy enough for children to understand, and adults will find a deep well of truth to rejoice in.  I truly cannot wait to read the next installment, “Leaders”, followed by “Kingdoms”,  and “Promises”.   

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If you liked this book, I also recommend… 

 

 

 

Fairy Tales Retold

Listen on BBC Radio 4 for a limited time to free short story readings of various fairy tales!  The retellings are slightly different, and the narrator Lia Williams is interesting to listen to.  I recommend “The Gingerbread Business” (Hansel and Gretel), but there is also “Sleeping Beauty Wakes Up,” and more to be released within the next couple of weeks.  Have a fun holiday season!

 

Radio Drama (BBC): Titus Groan

I recently published my book review of “Titus Groan,” by Mervyn Peake (read it here) and suddenly the BBC is airing it’s audio dramatized version of the story!  I am preparing to start reading the second book in the series soon (“Gormenghast”), so I thought I’d better prepare by brushing up my memory on the details of the first.

I found this to be a very faithful and rather good adaptation.  The best part about it is that it does not lose the flavor of the book’s descriptions and vocabulary.  It seemed to be well cast, though the parts of Lady Gertrude and Irma Prunsquallor seemed be more ’emphasis’ rather than ‘acting.’  You can tell by the tedious melodramatic deliverances of lines instead of actually owning them.

You can click to listen to it for free for a limited time.

 

Book Review: “Titus Groan,” by Mervyn Peake

Genre: classic; literary

Plot Summary: Once upon a time there was an infant son and heir born to the Groan family of Gormenghast Castle.  His name was Titus and being so young he was yet unaware of the long line of history and tradition of which he stood in line to inherit.  But things were turned on their head (quite literally) on the day of his christening, and strange events began to unfold that are even stranger than the world into which he was born.

My Book Review: The Gormenghast series by Mervyn Peake has been on my reading list from very early on.  I believe it was a discovery made while perusing the Dover catalog.  I really had no idea what it was about, which sometimes leads to interesting discoveries.  In this case, it was a very interesting discovery indeed, and has become one of my top reads for this year so far.

This isn’t normally a book I would have picked out for myself, so it’s probably a good thing I didn’t know what it was about. I’m proud of myself for completing such a thick book.  I’m also usually more action-oriented, whereas this is more character driven.  There is not a lot of action and when there is there is always a slow buildup to it, making those scenes stand out more.  I tend to quickly forget details and character names of a lot of the books I read, but not this one.  The scenes in this book stand out clear and defined in my mind, in large part due to great detailed descriptions.  With names like ‘Prunesquallor’, ‘Nannie Slagg’, and ‘Countess Gertrude Groan’, they’re hard to forget.  And the author’s own illustrations of many of them are wild and memorable as well.

Even better than just the names and pictures are the full-bodied characters themselves. You really have to read the book for yourself to make them come alive, and once you do I can almost guarantee they will live forever in your mind.  The insane Lord Sepulchrave, the 76^th Earl of Gormenghast, who thinks he’s an owl; his epileptic twin sisters Cora and Clarice who are stupid and vacant-minded; the vain, middle aged Irma Prunesquallor in love with a teenager; and the sociopathic Steerpike, the young puppet master behind the inhabitants of the castle.  These aren’t all the colorful people of the story; there are many more besides.  It’s ironic that the title character really doesn’t play a major role in this first of the series.  In fact it really only covers the first year or two of his life, but all the important things that occurred during it.

It’s hard to put a finger on why I liked this novel so much. At times it seemed rather dark, and longwinded, yet the wonderful descriptions and the weirdness of it all lured me on.  The author had a way of making even peeling paint sound interesting.  I think one of my favorite scenes was the description of Fuchsia’s attic hideaway.  Who wouldn’t want a great hidey-hole retreat like that all to oneself?

Is this book fantasy? I would not call it that, although it is set in a fantasy world.  If you go into it expecting fantasy, you might be bored.  It is not set in a particular time era, though the closest one might get is the 1880’s-1910 era with a fantastical twist.

Some say this book reads of despair and futility. It is dark and the people of Gormeghast do live futile lives of pointless ritual, but the unusual turn of things as Titus grows gives a glimpse that things may change with Titus as heir… ?

One caution: there is one chapter in which a character, Keda, has a one-night stand with a lover.

I’ve read that there is more than one audio drama of this series, and also a movie, but I don’t see how any of them can be as good as the novel.  If I ever come across them, I’ll surely review it and post if worth it.

Titus Groan won’t be for everyone.  But I’ve certainly learned that character-driven books can be just as interesting (or even more so) than the plotted ones.  I’m not sure what the other books in the series will be like, but I can’t wait to see what will happen in the next installment of Titus Groan’s life.  The entire series are as follows:

1. Titus Groan
2. Gormenghast
   1. Boy in Darkness
3. Titus Alone
4. Titus Awakes

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I also recommend…

 

A Post Full of Audio Dramas

I came across something entirely new to me– the ATC Seneca Awards, which recognizes the best in family audio dramas.  The Awards are presented by the Audio Theatre Central podcast which you can check out here.  I thought it would be fun to dredge up trailers for as many nominations as I could find and collect them all in one place on this post.  Audio dramas are a great source of favorite family memories and long car trip entertainment.  Have fun!

Captain Bayley’s Heir – (Heirloom Audio Productions; John Fornof (writer/director); starring John Rhys Davies, Finty Williams)

The Trials of St. Patrick – (AIR Theatre; Paul McCusker (writer/director); Philip Glassborow (producer); starring John Rhys Davies)

Ode to Saint Cecelia – (AIR Theatre; Paul McCusker (writer/director); starring Derek Jacobi, Hayley Atwell)

The Giant Killer – (Lamplighter Theatre; John Fornof)

Wulf the Saxon (couldn’t find a trailer) – (Heirloom Audio Productions; Todd Busteed (writer/director); John Campbell (score))

*You can find reviews of all of these audio dramas and more on the ATC podcast.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Listen to “The Man Who Was Thursday” on BBC

Are you in the mood for a little G. K. Chesterton?  I enjoyed reading “The Man Who Was Thursday” a few years ago (see my book review here), but I am enjoying Geoffrey Palmer’s reading of it even more!  For a limited time, you can listen to it for free on BBC Radio 4.

 

End of Year Random Book Post

Must do this post because my current new stack would fall over if it wasn’t propped up between my bookcase and my nightstand.  I’ve now started Bookcase #3 and have about 1 1.2 shelves left of free space on that.  Oh dear…  Does anyone else have these problems?

I love going through my accumulations because I forget what I have and it’s like Christmas all over again!

A little fearful of Eckert’s gory histories, but this one contained knowledge about Simon Girty. I’m interested in this obscure American character because a direct ancestor of mine was his uncle.

Because God has literally put these folks in front of my nose everyday, Jehovah’s Witnesses are on my mind and heart and I pray for them almost daily. But if I ever got into a conversation with them, would I know what to say?

I read this book several years ago and made it into one of my top favorites of that year. One more book to make my collection of this series complete!

Only two more books to this series before I complete my collection.

Just what I need!

Of course I had this book years ago. But there comes a point when you start wanting prettier copies of old favorites. So this has replaced my first.

Took a guess on whether or not I had this one already (couldn’t remember– the books all ran together on the shelf of my memory). I was right! Collection complete!

Purely for art hobbies.

Would you believe it? This was the only book I bought at that sale. But that was because I only had .50.

Pun intended- tickled to find this at a thrift store as it has been on my reading list since it appeared in a CBD magazine a few years ago.

A lovely book, and I’ve had the benefit of hearing the author interviewed on this topic back when Midday Connection was still on the air. So glad to find this gem.

I do so love Chuck Swindoll.

I dislike the covers on these, but the fantasy genre does interest me.

This is one of those popular books you see everywhere nowadays. But it is supposedly based on Anne Morrow Lindbergh, one of my favorite authors.

Oh. Another book on movies. How did that happen?

Fonts have always interested me.

Haven’t started this series yet (still working on Lawhead’s “Hood” trilogy), but looking forward to it!

It’s sort of embarrassing that I’ve got a mini library of books about movies going here… But I do so love a good story– whether by book, audio, or movie.

A much needed lesson I’ve been learning these past few months, and this book is one I intend on going into the new year with. So happy to have found it

I started the search for this trilogy by Nancy Moser before I made the rule about not buying books that I didn’t already have #1 in the series already. It’s been years of searching for this and finally found it!

What a beautifully rendered contemplative book I couldn’t leave behind!