I'm still here!...

Ok, WAY too long of a break,I know. Wow, Clarissa is an undertaking. Just to make my weekly reading assignments on that book, I have been reading six or more hours a day. And that is just on that book, we aren't even acknowledging what must be done for other classes, let alone the daily necessities of living. Good grief! Anyway, Clarissa progress update:816/1500 pages. The end is in sight! And, no more week long blog breaks, promise.

So, having hit a wall on Monday, at which point I concluded it was physically impossible to continue reading a single line more of Clarissa, I went on strike and dedicated the entire day to reading nothing but my pleasure reading. I covered over 300 pages and now am ready to talk about Andrew Davidson's The Gargoyle. Some stats for you:
Author: Andrew Davidson
Publisher: Anchor Books
Date: 2008
My start date: 1/31/10
My finish date: 2/9/10

I believe that makes it the longest duration so far, and puts me behind, however, Clarissa....not to mention that this is also the longest novel I have read yet this year, being over 500 pages long. Not sure why I thought it a good idea to start a long novel in the middle of Clarissa, but...oh well.

During my week of absence, I thought about a LOT of topics I wanted to cover about this book, but I am not sure they will all end up in this blog. We will see what directions my thoughts flow.

First, this book is intense. No, I mean INTENSE. The very first scene puts you in shock due to the intensity and brutal quality of description. This is not an author to sugar coat things and the main character is not necessarily one to love. I don't think Davidson intends for you to like the character. This style continues throughout. In the beginning, I was horrified and almost disgusted by the direction things were taking. Warning: the back cover of this novel gives you no idea what you are in for! Which led me to two questions I am posing to the world in general, answer as you are inclined.

The first question involves the opening sequence. In my writing class, we discuss the two main camps of fictional openings. There are those who argue that you must have a shocking or exciting scene right away in the beginning in order to draw in your reader. This novel certainly falls into this camp. However, more recommended these days are those who argue that you must introduce your character and the problem before jumping headlong into something shocking, otherwise your reader doesn't really know who is who and what to look at yet. What do you think? Think on the books you have read and which is more comfortable to you. Or is it really a question of comfort? Perhaps it is discomfort that keeps you reading. Anyway, this book does not make you comfortable! But it works here, regardless of what the literary consensus on openings turns out to be. You will be hooked.

My second question involves offensive literature. What, if anything, is too far? Now, I should preface by saying that I am very hard to throw. Not much offends me. But this main character has a lot of problems and isn't shy to discuss them, nor is this character going to discuss things in pretty language. This is a to the point, facts are facts type of person. Unless you are really and truly unshockable, this character will get you, or at least cause you to raise an eyebrow. However, rude and vile as it may at times seem, again, it works here! This story would not work with anyone else! And I realized as the novel went on that it went both ways. Not only was the language and imagery of the bad rich and full, but the good is exquisite as well. I think I could best describe the writing as RAW. It doesn't let the reader sit there and passively experience the story. It reaches into you and strips emotion out, poking you and taunting you until you must react. Food is a big thing in this story and it is described in full. Love is the key focus of this novel and you can't help but dive into each love story (and there are several) ready to be swept away. The richness of description works well with the sarcastic style. While at times rude and offensive, the sarcasm at other points is just plain hilarious. When reading, watch for the funny add ins when the narrator is listing the foods served at a Christmas party. Read carefully here, don't start skimming. I had started skimming and when I checked myself and noticed a few things I ended up literally laughing out loud. Basically, just take the bad with the good and let yourself get pulled into the experience.

Just a quick note on the style similarities. This author mentions in his suggested reading and further information section that Susskind's Perfume is among his favorites. You can definitely see the connection in rawness with Susskind's work. I read that book in the German original and was so started by it that I often had to stop and double check words to make sure I wasn't misinterpreting something. If you like this raw and shocking style, which I admit at times I do, I highly recommend Perfume. It is a movie now, but please, please, read the book too. Movies NEVER do justice to the books. And this one is worth reading.

One final thought on this work for now (maybe I will come back to it another time, there is so much to say). One of my key qualities in a good pleasure novel is the escapist quality. Reading allows me to travel and see things that, quite frankly, I simply can't afford to see, or at least can't afford to now. And when there is the factor of different time periods, well, obviously no amount of money will ever take me there. Davidson did TONS of research, years of it in fact. He is very thorough. This novel is packed to the brim with stories in a number of countries, using a number of languages and traditions and myths. If you want a quick way to experience as many different things as possible, this is your pick.

Ok, one final final thing, I guess. I admit, I have not read Dante's The Inferno. The work is central to this story and while I fared just fine without it, I would imagine a richer experience if I had read it. In fact, I will likely reread this at some point after I read Dante. You can just tell it would make a difference. So, consider that.

So, although I still have around seven hundred (oh. my. gosh.) pages left in Clarissa, I have already started another novel. This time I am working in the Young Adult genre, which I am especially interested in at the moment because I am taking a course on writing for that particular audience. And what is especially cool about this book is that the author happens to be my teacher! (and yes, it is still pleasure reading, she didn't assign it or anything, I was just curious). So, check back tomorrow for some thoughts on Ann Gonzalez's Running For My Life.
In the meantime, keep reading!
Sarah