When I first tried to read this series, years and years ago, I couldn‘t. I literally could not hold all the images in my head and still follow the story. I held on to the books though and one day I found I could read it and it was delightful!
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Whereas the first two novels in the sequence are replete with long descriptive passages, here the pace is much more rapid, as we are whisked from scene to scene. Perhaps because of this dissimilarity to the preceding books, Titus Alone has often been dismissed by readers who simply wanted more Gormenghast, which is a pity as it has strange riches of its own.
pickTitus is growing up and we get several new characters, including the chamber of grotesques which is the Gormenghast school staff room, several of whose inmates reminded me not a little of the beaks of St Custards. As before, long descriptive passages are periodically interrupted by moments of tension and high drama, and there is even comedy, chiefly at the expense of poor Irma Prunesquallor.
pickLong overdue reread of this classic of the grotesque. Swelter, Flay, Steerpike and the rest are some of the most memorable characters in English literature.
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I have today off (yay 4 day weekend!) and I figured the best way to spend the day is to listen to an audiobook (tagged) and put together some new bookshelves. As a book nerd would. 🤓📚💜
