Lanark: A Life in 4 Books |
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Author:
Alasdair Gray
By Picador
Average Customer Rating:  
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Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 823.914
EAN: 9780330319652
ISBN: 0330319655
Label: Picador
Manufacturer: Picador
Number Of Pages: 576
Publication Date: 1991-08-23
Publisher: Picador
Studio: Picador |
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Interesting And Bleak, 2001-09-04
'Lanark' clearly has some moments of greatness (namely the 'Epilogue'), but I couldn't help but have a niggling feeling that there was something I just wasn't getting. I'm sure it probably is a great book, I just don't think I took the time to get it. Why am I writing a review then? Well, everyone else seems to love it so I thought I'd show some difference of opinion. Duncan Thaw is good, but no Prentice McHoan!
Wow, 2001-08-13
Lanark is, in so many ways, a straight forward tale of two people-who may or may not be one and the same- struggling through their difficult lives. Gray, however, has taken these two tales and twisted them mesmerically together and in doing so has undoubtedly produced one of the most original and exciting novels ever. Lanark, under the pen of any other author, would be two fairly regular stories, but Gray's wit and skill has turned it into something breath-taking. His epilogue in particular showcases his intelligence and arrogance as a writer. A real must-read.
A dire novel. Simple as that., 2008-08-15
I feel compelled to write this review as, after reading "Lanark", I completely fail to understand why this novel is held in such high regard. I was looking forward to this novel after reading so much about it and how important it's place in Scottish writing etc is but, well, oh dear....
It's overlong and utterly pretentious, turgid rubbish. The post-modern elements of it are so contrived, it feels like it was composed by "a join-the-dots to make your make you own novel!" guide. The supposedly intelligent and genre-smashing technique of opening the novel on Book Three is a misnomer: the `plot' of "Lanark" is linear, and simply altering the numbers of sections does not disguise this fact. The desperately-tying-to-be-inventive sections in Unthank (oh, what a deliciously intelligent and thought provoking name for a fantastical society. Not) are lofty, whilst those more `conventional' sections in Glasgow are simply boring and in no way justified by the ridiculous length of the book.
"Lanark" screams 'look at me, look at me! I'm so artificially constructed and God, don't I just know it!' I found reading this novel aggravating and nauseating (not to mention time consuming!) Is it a joke? Or is the critical reaction to it the biggest joke of all?
Please don't email me saying I don't understand the novel etc. There's nothing to understand; the political posturing of an ill-informed sixth former (with apologies to sixth formers- that's a huge insult to compare them to Gray) and a composition so self-conscious that disappears up it's own behind through sheer self indulgence are not complex. Just annoying.
If you want good Scottish Literature, avoid this pretender to the throne like the plague.
This is a book that quite literally changed my life., 2000-06-17
A book that is an exemplar of anti-realist fiction - more importantly, it overturns all what you would expect a conventional novel to be. It changed the way that I viewed fiction and was a revelatory experience. By reading Lanark, I totally reviewed the way that I read novels and it lead me into a completely new and exciting pathways. If you only ever read one book, read this one - especially the epilogue!
self important, 2008-06-28
I have read Gray before and he is obviously a man of intelligence and talent BUT, all the way through Lanark i had the feeling that the book is not as good as he thinks it is. At it's worst the prose are over descriptive and self indulgent, particularly in book one and the start of book four. Book two stands alone as an excellent piece of literature in itself, while book four eventually builds itself up to a high standard peaking with the epilogue, before going slowly downhill and finishing with a whimper. Lanark as a character seemed to be built up as a strong willed, determined man with principles. He finished up being somewhat of a cretin. This is explained to some extent in the epilogue [one man against the machine being ineffectual], but it still makes the end of the book comparatively uneventful and disappointing. A mixed book that I'm glad I read but wouldn't return to in a hurry.
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