Comments on Rose City Reader: Review of the Day: Titus Groan

Tell you what: when you start "Titus Alone&qu...

2010-03-16T09:53:38.776-07:00

Tell you what: when you start "Titus Alone" and start thinking "Geez, this is terrible," remember I told you it doesn't get any better.

The second book is fun though. Irma Prunesquallor goes a'courtin'!

JT -- I'm have the zeal of a new convert, but ...

2010-03-14T21:35:14.919-07:00

JT -- I'm have the zeal of a new convert, but I think the praise is justified.

Michael -- You are so right about the Kafka similarities! Except that the bureaucratic rituals of Gormenghast reach hilarious levels.

Now I am conflicted, because the lists that include this "book" usually include the entire trilogy, which makes me want to read all three. But not if the last one is no good. We'll see how compulsive I am . . . . Well, the answer is "very" so I am sure I will read it. At least it is short.

The obsessive, sometimes tedious detail is not wit...

2010-03-14T19:59:29.537-07:00

The obsessive, sometimes tedious detail is not without its point; there is a lot that is Kafkaesque about Gormenghast Castle. Titus Groan was written in 1946, and looks at aristocratic, bureaucratic, and by implication religious authority with a very cutting gaze. I think Peake was about 20 years ahead of his time.

DO read book two of the trilogy, "Gormenghast." DON'T read the third, "Titus Alone," cobbled together from notes after Peake's death and a real train wreck of a book.

I didn't know anything about this book, so tha...

2010-03-10T20:13:06.063-08:00

I didn't know anything about this book, so thanks for the review! It sounds really good.

Terri -- I can understand! I'm in trial mode r...

2010-03-10T16:26:11.248-08:00

Terri -- I can understand! I'm in trial mode right now, so I can only concentrate on light and quick reads right now, since I am only getting in about ten minutes before I fall asleep.

Carin -- Me too! I love that episode and I kept thinking of it while listening to this book. "Hhhmmmmm . . . this seems to take place in the days of yore."

I've never even heard of this but my book club...

2010-03-10T15:10:19.762-08:00

I've never even heard of this but my book club tries to do a genre book every year and maybe I'll suggest this one. "Days of yore" made me snicker and think of Phoebe on Friends when Rachel was tryingto prentend the furniture from Pottery Barn were all antiques.

I read a part of the first in the trilogy years ag...

2010-03-10T14:33:50.754-08:00

I read a part of the first in the trilogy years ago. Unfortunately, I was going to school at the time and had to abandon it. I would like to get back to it, but I think I'll wait until the class I'm currently taking is over! Learned my lesson last time. I've been pulling easy fast reads from my pile of books this time around.

Troutbirder -- I like your review of The Shack. I&...

2010-03-10T13:02:37.047-08:00

Troutbirder -- I like your review of The Shack. I'll add the link to my review post.

Caitlin -- Serendipity indeed! You are fated to read this.

Funny - an old friend asked me if I'd read thi...

2010-03-10T09:34:38.750-08:00

Funny - an old friend asked me if I'd read this just the other day (I haven't), but I filed it away in the back of my head. Apparently there is a British TV adaptation of the series, but I haven't seen that, either. Anyway, serendipity says that seeing it come up twice in as many months means I should read it.

http://troutbirder.blogspot.com/2010/03/shack.html...

2010-03-10T09:05:37.933-08:00

http://troutbirder.blogspot.com/2010/03/shack.html

On Troutbirder II I do occasional reviews. This one made me nervous. :) Thanks

Yes! The owls! And the white cats, which were my f...

2010-03-10T06:29:42.187-08:00

Yes! The owls! And the white cats, which were my favorites -- especially when they sit on the turrets.

I was surprised by how much I liked it. It is definitely a book you have to submit to, because it is not going to flow any faster than it is going to flow.

And the owls, don't forget the owls! Ha ha ha ...

2010-03-10T06:23:54.288-08:00

And the owls, don't forget the owls! Ha ha ha ha!

I love this book. Ma femme finds the detail, the obessive, endless detail, tedious, and she's not wrong. But you're also correct, the right reader can get lost in this book, sucked right in.