Gormenghast by Mervyn Peake

I actually finished this audiobook before the teacher training, but I haven't had time to write about it until now. Also Gormenghast after the delights of Titus Groan was a slight disappointment... I've been digesting and thinking what I was disappointed with it and I've come up with two things.

Firstly, Mervyn Peake's use of language was really running amok in this book. The phrases and pages and pages of descriptions were amusing and sharp in the first book, but in Gormenghast he sometimes gets lost in his own jungle. Also the things that he describes are not so interesting to me - my favourite characters are sidelined and more meaningless scholars are put in their place. We are almost third into the book before the previous protagonist Steerpike makes his first appearance, and Titus who is the center of this book never quite raises to his level. Ten years have gone past and Steerpike has schemed himself into a very important position in the castle, although not without raising some suspicions amongst the saner castle inhabitants.

Secondly, there are some pointless events (and that's all I can say without heavy spoilers) towards the end of the book that seem to be there only to get Titus to leave Gormenghast (which he does in the end of the book - next book is called Titus Alone). This, together with diminished focus on Fuchsia, my favourite character, made the book less enjoyable than I had hoped for.

Although I do have to say that there are some ingenious scenes in this book - meeting of Irma Prunesquallor and Professor Bellgrove is pure comic gold, and Mr. Flay trying to find the source of the haunting laughter in the catacombs chills me to the bone when I even think about it. Also I loved the character of the Countess Gertrude - such a strong and original character. Also Fuchsia's slow descend into deep depression in her father's footsteps is very real and touching, so subtle it can only come from someone who has first hand experience of the terrible illness. It was still a good book and well worth a read - the third book Peake didn't have time to finish before his death, but I'm going to read it anyway to complete the series.

You can't add any more comments, but if you wish you can email the author.