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Gormenghast - Mervyn Peake Book Review

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Review Summary
"Gormenghast" continues the story begun in "Titus Groan." Titus is the future ruler of the city-state of Gormenghast, an exacting and inward-looking society; the book covers his life from childhood to early teens. As the book begins, Gormenghast has been invaded by a destructive force in the form of the ambitious and scheming former kitchen servant Steerpike. Most of the book is devoted to the parallel searches for identity, love and companionship on the part of Titus, a middle-aged schoolteacher, an aging spinster, Steerpike, and Titus' brooding sister Fuchsia, and Titus' schoolboy experiences and rebellion against the strict customs of his society. Running throughout is Steerpike's continuing quest for power and that quest's transformation into bitterness and desire for revenge.
Boris, Resident Scholar


Detailed literary breakdown of Gormenghast
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot

Composition of Book
Descript. of chases or violence - 10%
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 10%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 40%
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 40%




Tone of book - depressing/sad
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - fantasy world/fantasy past
Coming of age Yes
Youngster becomes - an adult (general)
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Family relations Yes

Main Character
Identity: - Male
Profession/status: - Prince/Nobleman/King
Age: - a teen
Eccentric: Yes - emotionally unstable
How sensitive is this character? - sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Average intelligence
Physique - average physique

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - 20's-30's
Profession/status: - religious figure
Eccentric: Yes - obsessed
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - an average amount
How sensitive is this character? - hard edged
Sense of humor - Cynical sense of humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - very athletic

Setting
Earth setting: - general past
Takes place on Earth? Yes

Style
Person? - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - moderately detailed references to deaths
Sex in book? Yes
What kind of sex: - vague references only
How much dialogue? - significantly more descript than dialog
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A Man Betrayed - The Book of Words 2 by J.V. Jones
The Baker's Boy - The Book of Words 1 by J.V. Jones




Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).
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