The Gargoyle

I have never felt so inspired to write a review. This audio book impressively stands out beyond all other audio book I have listened to. It is nothing less than fantastic. I especially enjoyed the creativeness of the supporting stories as they provided wonderful suspense to the main story. I found in almost impossible to stop listening.

18 people found this helpful

Great Book

I listened to this book based I a review I heard on NPR. I enjoyed it tremendously and hated for it to be over. I am listening to another book now and can hardly understand the narrator half the time, which really makes me appreciate the narrator of Gargoyle. The main plot is intriguing, as are the stories with the main story and the way the author brings them all together and finishes the book is very satisfying. I highly recommend this book.

11 people found this helpful

Wow does not cover it!

If you could sum up The Gargoyle in three words, what would they be?

Really damn good

What did you like best about this story?

Throughout suffering hope can still be found.

Which scene was your favorite?

The car crash I felt like I was in the car seeing everything.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Just a lot of compassion

Any additional comments?

At first I don't think this audiobook was for me, but after the first 2 hours I could not stop listening.

5 people found this helpful

Engrossing, Unusual, and well written

This was a "wild card" download for me. The title has been languishing in my wish list for some time and the premise looked interesting. I found the story,( which is really a collection of stories woven together), fascinating and frequently very moving. I appreciated the different messages- of tolerance, redemption, human fraility, loyalty, forgiveness but the deeper themes don't detract from an all around good read. If you are looking for something completely different, here's your book.

4 people found this helpful

Hell is a choice

This is my 154th review. In all the books I have reviewed no matter how well I liked them I did find something to criticize. Let me say for the first time, that I found nothing to criticize in this novel. This is great writing and has great characters. I understand this is a debut novel. If so, you will want to get the book. It is going to be worth a lot of money some day.

Warning: There is a lot here about burn victims. The first two chapters which take approx. two hours to listen, are a graphic detail description of the main characters' accident and his burns. As I drove my face was in a constant grimace, because of the painful description of his burns and the description of burn treatment. Yet the writing is so good, I could not stop listening.

A few reviews ago I criticized a book for not having a plot or quest or goal. This reads like a biography, has no quest or goals, yet it is a great read. My words can not describe how good Davidson's words are.

If you liked "A Thousand Splendid Suns", " Outlander" or books period, you will like this novel.

39 people found this helpful

A book for the bucket list

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Absolutely. This book is not for the feint hearted. It is an unbelievable journey through so much. You will want to put the book down at the start, but persevere. It is so worth it. You will feel so much more enriched as a person.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Gargoyle?

The individual stories Maryanne Engel tells, based on history are amazing.

Which character – as performed by Lincoln Hoppe – was your favorite?

I loved Suri.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Not possible. You have to break it up. You need to give it some thought to appreciate it to it's full capacity. I actually listened to another book while I was listening to this one so that I could have some perspective.

Any additional comments?

A beautiful journey indeed!

3 people found this helpful

Conflicting

I loved this story and I disliked it (hate would be a little strong here). I had a really hard time with the very graphic description and detachment of the narrator and loved Marianne's stories. I loved the evolution of the main character but disliked his self-centeredness. I really enjoyed Marianne and her stories but didn't understand her manicness. Clearly, I'm conflicted on this book. Would I recommend someone else read/listen it? Definitely. Will I read/listen it again? Probably, just to better understand it. This book is not for the light of heart of the easily grossed out. It is an enduring love story and a unique historical fiction novel. It was good, but I'm not yet sure if it was amazing as all the hype seems to think it is.

7 people found this helpful

Interesting Journey!

This is a thought-provoking, grown-up novel with real substance. Excellent writing guides the reader through an interesting journey, in first person with the main character, toward what you might call redemption after a horrible accident. A mysterious woman becomes his benefactor and helps prod his motivation through therapy and recovery. She is an eccentric character with stories to tell of the past, and she may or may not just be the love of his life. The narration by L Hoppe is excellent and (spot-on) in nurturing our acquiantance with the main character...a man who is decidedly flawed and who some might say has led a "sinful" past, but still is somehow likable. This is most likely due to his cutting honesty and his sharply acerbic, yet slightly humorus, observations and outlook on things and people around him, in which he does not spare himself being included. The narrative shows his humanity and the growth and transformation of his character throughout the story. Definitely worth a listen!

6 people found this helpful

wonderful read and a timeless love story

the imagery is truly amazing and the performance makes the characters more believable. recommend this to anyone with romance in mind.

2 people found this helpful

one the best books

i googled the author after the book wondering if this was real! well written.. great story and even better flashbacks? loved the stories she told.

2 people found this helpful