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Darke Matter: A Novel
“A coming-of-old-age tale unfolds into a poignant yet hard-hitting meditation on grief, with a richly complex character at its center.” — The Economist, July 11, 2020
- GenresFiction
336 pages, Hardcover
Published May 14, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
April 13, 2021
Back in 2017, I enjoyed Rick Gekoski’s debut novel, Darke, in which curmudgeonly Dr. James Darke, a retired English teacher, literally seals himself off from the world after his wife Suzy’s death from cancer. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that a sequel was released last year – how appropriate to revisit themes of grief and isolation in 2020! – and right away was reminded of the delights of his grumpy, pompous first-person narration. As the second book opens, Darke is preparing to host his daughter Lucy with her partner Sam and son Rudy for Christmas and is in a Scrooge-like mood: “In my own home, I am blessedly safe from the canvassers, beggars and importuners spreading bubonically from house to house at Yuletide.”
Soon two things happen to shatter his peace: one is an invitation to join a poetry reading club hosted by a literary associate of his late wife – but he soon realizes it’s more of a support group for bereaved spouses. The second and much more serious interruption is a knock on the door from the police, who require more information about Suzy’s death. You see, early on in this book, Darke tells us himself that he gave Suzy a “soothing drink to carry her away,” and even in the face of others’ horror he maintains two seemingly contradictory facts: that he did not want for her to die, but that he did give her a fatal concoction to ease her terrible pain.
By coincidence, I was reading a nonfiction study of assisted dying, The Inevitable by Katie Engelhart, at the same time, and I’d also read That One Patient, a collection of interviews with Dutch medical professionals, some of whom have helped terminally ill patients to commit suicide, earlier this year. It was amusing, but also touching, to see Darke becoming an unwitting spokesman for this movement. He writes a manifesto headed “Easeful Death – Do you love your dog more than your wife?” and gets help disseminating it from a journalist acquaintance. Media attention follows and a scandal erupts.
One of the joys of this pair of novels is Darke’s fondness for literary allusions. In the previous book, these were mostly to Dante and Dickens. Here, the greatest debt is to Jonathan Swift: Darke has been reading Gulliver’s Travels to his grandson at bedtime, and decides to write a pastiche sequel to entertain the boy. Gradually, this turns into a coded story by which he can explain to Rudy what might happen to his grandfather. Will Captain Gulliver be found guilty of heresy? Will he have to flee to avoid jail?
Because we only ever experience Darke’s point of view, he is something of an unreliable narrator, and because he delivers the novel’s finale via his italicized Swiftian narrative, there is some uncertainty about what actually happens to our antihero. I didn’t enjoy this quite as much as the first book, but together they form a striking and witty character study. I especially appreciated how the sequel adds in a gentle note of controversy without allowing it to overtake the pleasures of the voice.
Originally published on my blog, Bookish Beck.
Soon two things happen to shatter his peace: one is an invitation to join a poetry reading club hosted by a literary associate of his late wife – but he soon realizes it’s more of a support group for bereaved spouses. The second and much more serious interruption is a knock on the door from the police, who require more information about Suzy’s death. You see, early on in this book, Darke tells us himself that he gave Suzy a “soothing drink to carry her away,” and even in the face of others’ horror he maintains two seemingly contradictory facts: that he did not want for her to die, but that he did give her a fatal concoction to ease her terrible pain.
By coincidence, I was reading a nonfiction study of assisted dying, The Inevitable by Katie Engelhart, at the same time, and I’d also read That One Patient, a collection of interviews with Dutch medical professionals, some of whom have helped terminally ill patients to commit suicide, earlier this year. It was amusing, but also touching, to see Darke becoming an unwitting spokesman for this movement. He writes a manifesto headed “Easeful Death – Do you love your dog more than your wife?” and gets help disseminating it from a journalist acquaintance. Media attention follows and a scandal erupts.
One of the joys of this pair of novels is Darke’s fondness for literary allusions. In the previous book, these were mostly to Dante and Dickens. Here, the greatest debt is to Jonathan Swift: Darke has been reading Gulliver’s Travels to his grandson at bedtime, and decides to write a pastiche sequel to entertain the boy. Gradually, this turns into a coded story by which he can explain to Rudy what might happen to his grandfather. Will Captain Gulliver be found guilty of heresy? Will he have to flee to avoid jail?
Because we only ever experience Darke’s point of view, he is something of an unreliable narrator, and because he delivers the novel’s finale via his italicized Swiftian narrative, there is some uncertainty about what actually happens to our antihero. I didn’t enjoy this quite as much as the first book, but together they form a striking and witty character study. I especially appreciated how the sequel adds in a gentle note of controversy without allowing it to overtake the pleasures of the voice.
Originally published on my blog, Bookish Beck.
April 17, 2021
In Darke Matter, the writer uses language like poetry, working the words in his own inimitable style. But that is not to say this book is style over substance, because it certainly is not..
Having lost his beloved wife Suzy to illness after watching her disintegrate in pain before his eyes, Dr James Darke feels obligated to ease her journey. Following her death, he retreats into himself, anxious, depressed and friendless. There is only his daughter Lucy, her husband Sam, their son Rudy and baby daughter Amelie in his life now and he hasn’t seen them for months.
Having sold his valuable Dickens collection, James starts to read Gulliver’s Travels to Rudy. Rudy wants more stories about Gulliver, so James begins to write what he imagines would be the next instalment. But his slow return to some kind of his version of normality is interrupted by the police. What do they want? Is he a criminal or simply a man for whom the love of his wife meant everything? Is he guilty or innocent or both?
Sensitive readers may well be offended by some, in fact, many of James’s musings. He is politically incorrect to a fault, commenting on nationalities with his version of wit and offence, but these are the musings of the character, not I assume of the writer. He – James – doesn’t like children (apart from Rudy), or dogs (“I detest the smelly slobbery hairy shit-slingers”), or most other people (“If I am to be in company, I much prefer my own”). He particularly dislikes poets and their sentimental rubbish. He’s not exactly deferential where religion is concerned either:
“Suzy had her own understanding of the resurrection, and of the miracle of Easter. Jesus has risen: not like a balloon, or the FTSE 500. No, he was more like a souffle, light and airy enough to ascend to heaven and be declared absolutely divine, darling. At Oxford we founded a sect, the Soufflarians, a secret sybaritic movement, the members of which would meet at our flat on Ester Sunday. Each would bring an egg and a passion fruit, the perfect symbols and ingredients, and I would make a souffle in remembrance of that miraculous event, the Easter Uprising.” A few hundred years ago, they would have burnt you at the stake for such heresy.
If I had one criticism I would say the book is a bit overlong and it is not for everyone. OK that’s two, but it certainly found its niche in me. I laughed more than cried, but the humour can be very dark. An excellent read.
Many thanks to @annecater for inviting me to be part of #RandomThingsTours.
Having lost his beloved wife Suzy to illness after watching her disintegrate in pain before his eyes, Dr James Darke feels obligated to ease her journey. Following her death, he retreats into himself, anxious, depressed and friendless. There is only his daughter Lucy, her husband Sam, their son Rudy and baby daughter Amelie in his life now and he hasn’t seen them for months.
Having sold his valuable Dickens collection, James starts to read Gulliver’s Travels to Rudy. Rudy wants more stories about Gulliver, so James begins to write what he imagines would be the next instalment. But his slow return to some kind of his version of normality is interrupted by the police. What do they want? Is he a criminal or simply a man for whom the love of his wife meant everything? Is he guilty or innocent or both?
Sensitive readers may well be offended by some, in fact, many of James’s musings. He is politically incorrect to a fault, commenting on nationalities with his version of wit and offence, but these are the musings of the character, not I assume of the writer. He – James – doesn’t like children (apart from Rudy), or dogs (“I detest the smelly slobbery hairy shit-slingers”), or most other people (“If I am to be in company, I much prefer my own”). He particularly dislikes poets and their sentimental rubbish. He’s not exactly deferential where religion is concerned either:
“Suzy had her own understanding of the resurrection, and of the miracle of Easter. Jesus has risen: not like a balloon, or the FTSE 500. No, he was more like a souffle, light and airy enough to ascend to heaven and be declared absolutely divine, darling. At Oxford we founded a sect, the Soufflarians, a secret sybaritic movement, the members of which would meet at our flat on Ester Sunday. Each would bring an egg and a passion fruit, the perfect symbols and ingredients, and I would make a souffle in remembrance of that miraculous event, the Easter Uprising.” A few hundred years ago, they would have burnt you at the stake for such heresy.
If I had one criticism I would say the book is a bit overlong and it is not for everyone. OK that’s two, but it certainly found its niche in me. I laughed more than cried, but the humour can be very dark. An excellent read.
Many thanks to @annecater for inviting me to be part of #RandomThingsTours.
September 28, 2022
Exquisite, intelligent, and stylishly written with a very provocative story line concerning the real issues of euthanasia as our populations age and care provision diminishes. Did I enjoy it, well, I can’t say it was enjoyable, indeed at times it was ‘torturous’, and certainly not from my reading particularly funny or witty. The problem is that whilst Gekoski creates wonderful characters, none, with the exception of Bronya, Toe-mas and possibly Jonathan are at all likeable. Worst of all, the main character, whilst understandably the villain, is quite unbearable, as are most of his dysfunctional rather entitled family. Dr Darke is himself a privileged, self serving, conceited, egotistic and irresponsible fool. He is patronising, bigoted, condescending, and ill disciplined, acting as a superior to all around him, and exercising little empathy or understanding for anyone he comes across, perhaps other than his rather spoiled, x box addicted 8 year old grandson. His arrogance and lack of awareness is breath taking and ultimately leads to his downfall, refusing to accept advice from anyone, including experts and his own barrister. It would be generous to state that his grumpy, irascible, impatient, and intolerant behavior was due to the loss of his dear wife, yet it seems clear that his personality was developed over many years of prep and boarding school, Oxford and being an unfulfilled Phd living in his own upper middle class ‘bubble’. (In spite of his obvious talents, education, and intelligence, he remained a rather lowly, uninspiring and dispirited English teacher for the whole of his career, largely due to his self-satisfied, self-indulgent outlook on life, clearly bolstered by his inherited not insignificant wealth) As you can tell, I have little time for Darke or his wallowing in self-pity. This is not improved when he sets about campaigning for ‘assisted dying’ as it is perfectly clear that the ‘murder’ of his wife was not only unplanned and importantly without ‘consent’, but more likely the reaction of an exhausted, impatient, selfish and frustrated old man who had ‘had enough’ of nursing the dying. Personally, I am an advocate for ‘assisted dying’ in much the same way his campaign sought to champion, but in a measured, consensual, carefully monitored, and regulated manner, to allow the terminally ill a dignified ‘escape’ from the unnecessary pain and suffering. My father suffered for over a year, and his decline was precipitous and incredibly uncomfortable for him….he would have wanted to have been spared the last month or so at least, but ‘murder’ him I would not.
Darke can now spend the rest of his days in gaol, an experience so dire that he seems unable to have been able to imagine it…good luck with that….but please Rick….no more Darke from the Depths of Dartmoor!
7/10 This book is an enigma...it felt like eating a particularly spicy vindaloo, painful, but I just couldn't give up..:)
Darke can now spend the rest of his days in gaol, an experience so dire that he seems unable to have been able to imagine it…good luck with that….but please Rick….no more Darke from the Depths of Dartmoor!
7/10 This book is an enigma...it felt like eating a particularly spicy vindaloo, painful, but I just couldn't give up..:)
April 11, 2021
'I don't need the pretence, I'm used to misery and crimp,they suit me just fine'
Dr James Darke, the doctor of philosophy, not medicine, has made himself a cocoon of isolation that couldn't make it any clearer that he is in mourning for his late wife Suzy. Having nursed her through cancer, he has painted the front door black, removed the door knocker, the post box and ignores anything that intrudes on what is his new reality. Invitations to a group of poetry enthusiasts from his fellow academic, Dorothea, are answered sporadically, his attendance to one of her 'Group Of Grievers' goes very wrong....regret is immediate and forthcoming.
'My attachment to my wife,and hers to me,is unrelenting,a constant reminder that it is no attachment at all,save that provided by the persistence of memory.And of love.'
His daughter and grandchildren break through his grief sporadically, and then finally because he has to face the potential consequences of his action in giving Suzy her last drink, and so, is accused of at worst, murder, at best, euthanasia. His subsequent thoughts on the matter become a viral sensation, quite accidentally, as he compares the assistance through the veil to death of loved ones, to that of the mercy deaths of pets.
This is a novel which is at once brave and pernicious, playing fast and loose with plotting through the three acts which make up the story. It is a study of loss and grief whilst being a genuinely philosophical meditation on the regard we have for fellow humans. It is brave in the way that it takes Jonathan Swift's 'Gulliver's Travels' as a plot device-Darke reads it to his 8 year old grandson, his own version of it anyway-and as parrallel to the journey our protagonist is on.
His manner is so bitter and anti humanitarian, he develops a loathing for Dickens for popularising the Christmas festival and his battle within himself about his intellectual appreciation of Dickens' work against which he pits his hatred of seasons where you are forced to endure the company of others, left me chortling.
I can see that this might be read as a 'Marmite' novel, the protagonist is not exactly likeable-a almost 70 year doctor of philosophy accused of killing his wife. It's not a whodunnit, it's a character study and a deeply moving as well as humorous take on the process of death and grieving. It reminded me of David Nobbs' 'Reginald Perrin' series for its helplessness and melancholy, whilst underlining the futility of life with dark humour and wit.
The reading of Gulliver strikes me as apocryphal, as Gulliver is travelling the worlds looking for the different kinds of man he finds himself in the gaps between what makes him the same, and different, from his fellow species. I will very much look forward to reading the previous novel, 'Darke', and hopefully maybe a third, concluding story?
Dr James Darke, the doctor of philosophy, not medicine, has made himself a cocoon of isolation that couldn't make it any clearer that he is in mourning for his late wife Suzy. Having nursed her through cancer, he has painted the front door black, removed the door knocker, the post box and ignores anything that intrudes on what is his new reality. Invitations to a group of poetry enthusiasts from his fellow academic, Dorothea, are answered sporadically, his attendance to one of her 'Group Of Grievers' goes very wrong....regret is immediate and forthcoming.
'My attachment to my wife,and hers to me,is unrelenting,a constant reminder that it is no attachment at all,save that provided by the persistence of memory.And of love.'
His daughter and grandchildren break through his grief sporadically, and then finally because he has to face the potential consequences of his action in giving Suzy her last drink, and so, is accused of at worst, murder, at best, euthanasia. His subsequent thoughts on the matter become a viral sensation, quite accidentally, as he compares the assistance through the veil to death of loved ones, to that of the mercy deaths of pets.
This is a novel which is at once brave and pernicious, playing fast and loose with plotting through the three acts which make up the story. It is a study of loss and grief whilst being a genuinely philosophical meditation on the regard we have for fellow humans. It is brave in the way that it takes Jonathan Swift's 'Gulliver's Travels' as a plot device-Darke reads it to his 8 year old grandson, his own version of it anyway-and as parrallel to the journey our protagonist is on.
His manner is so bitter and anti humanitarian, he develops a loathing for Dickens for popularising the Christmas festival and his battle within himself about his intellectual appreciation of Dickens' work against which he pits his hatred of seasons where you are forced to endure the company of others, left me chortling.
I can see that this might be read as a 'Marmite' novel, the protagonist is not exactly likeable-a almost 70 year doctor of philosophy accused of killing his wife. It's not a whodunnit, it's a character study and a deeply moving as well as humorous take on the process of death and grieving. It reminded me of David Nobbs' 'Reginald Perrin' series for its helplessness and melancholy, whilst underlining the futility of life with dark humour and wit.
The reading of Gulliver strikes me as apocryphal, as Gulliver is travelling the worlds looking for the different kinds of man he finds himself in the gaps between what makes him the same, and different, from his fellow species. I will very much look forward to reading the previous novel, 'Darke', and hopefully maybe a third, concluding story?
April 16, 2021
James Darke is a retired schoolmaster who is dreading his first family Christmas without his wife, Suzy. He is engulfed by his grief but a persistent knock at the door draws him into the world of questions concerning the circumstances in which his wife died.
Darke has no choice but to confront both a legal and psychological crisis, which will test his resolve and freedom.
💭I knew nothing about this book before picking it up (not even read the blurb) but I was immediately struck by the voice of Darke that comes across distinctly in this novel and really beautifully written by Gekoski.
Darke is angry, in pain, cynical but also funny in a bleak and often ironic manner, showcasing his literary intellect but also his emotions via literary works of Dickens, Keats and in particular Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels. I feel like I’ve been on a literary journey reading several books at once!
I empathised with Darke because he is grieving but equally, his brusqueness, bitter and prejudicial opinions are off putting and unlikeable at the same time.
The book was slow to begin with but as you read through the 3 parts of Still, Visible and Movement, it’s fascinating to see the transition of the story and even the pace towards the back end of the book quickening.
It deals with challenging topics on euthanasia/assisted suicide, as well as being quite a reflective and philosophical discussion piece on humanity in general, with Darke penning his own Book V to Gulliver’s Travels to carry on the story by Swift which ends up being a parallel story of what happens to Darke in the story.
⚖️I wasn’t sure I would like this read but unexpectedly surprised as I got further through it. It’s a thought provoking read and if you enjoy books with a strong character study, this one is for you.
Darke has no choice but to confront both a legal and psychological crisis, which will test his resolve and freedom.
💭I knew nothing about this book before picking it up (not even read the blurb) but I was immediately struck by the voice of Darke that comes across distinctly in this novel and really beautifully written by Gekoski.
Darke is angry, in pain, cynical but also funny in a bleak and often ironic manner, showcasing his literary intellect but also his emotions via literary works of Dickens, Keats and in particular Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels. I feel like I’ve been on a literary journey reading several books at once!
I empathised with Darke because he is grieving but equally, his brusqueness, bitter and prejudicial opinions are off putting and unlikeable at the same time.
The book was slow to begin with but as you read through the 3 parts of Still, Visible and Movement, it’s fascinating to see the transition of the story and even the pace towards the back end of the book quickening.
It deals with challenging topics on euthanasia/assisted suicide, as well as being quite a reflective and philosophical discussion piece on humanity in general, with Darke penning his own Book V to Gulliver’s Travels to carry on the story by Swift which ends up being a parallel story of what happens to Darke in the story.
⚖️I wasn’t sure I would like this read but unexpectedly surprised as I got further through it. It’s a thought provoking read and if you enjoy books with a strong character study, this one is for you.
April 16, 2021
#gifted @littlebrown @annecater14
Guys don't judge a book by it's cover...I totally went into this book thinking it was a crime thriller and well it wasn't. Oops!
Darke Matter is a literary masterpiece in writing, I can't fault Gekoski's talent. It is written so powerfully as well as have sensitivity in it. James's character is certainly tense. He is moody, angry, pushes his family away. He isn't overly likeable to be honest, but I can understand why he is the way he is due to losing his wife over cancer. When the police keep knocking asking about Suzy's death, it becomes clear there's more to meet the eye. The conversation about assisted dying was done with profoundly sensitive, caring and heartbreaking too. Everything about this story was done with care and patience.
Did I love this book, well no, I found the plot to slow for my liking and also James was a character I wasn't overly vibing with. However, there was so many humorous parts in this book that made you laugh out loud. There was a healthy amount of loss, grief and pain but also banter, humour and light-hearted stuff that made this book not so dark. The writing is mesmerising and I've never read a book like this before. I can see why so many enjoy this book and why so many say it's a literary masterpiece.
Darke Matter is a brilliant, mordant examination of the nature and obligations of love. Both immensely sad and extremely funny, the story wrestles with one of the great moral issues of our time.
Guys don't judge a book by it's cover...I totally went into this book thinking it was a crime thriller and well it wasn't. Oops!
Darke Matter is a literary masterpiece in writing, I can't fault Gekoski's talent. It is written so powerfully as well as have sensitivity in it. James's character is certainly tense. He is moody, angry, pushes his family away. He isn't overly likeable to be honest, but I can understand why he is the way he is due to losing his wife over cancer. When the police keep knocking asking about Suzy's death, it becomes clear there's more to meet the eye. The conversation about assisted dying was done with profoundly sensitive, caring and heartbreaking too. Everything about this story was done with care and patience.
Did I love this book, well no, I found the plot to slow for my liking and also James was a character I wasn't overly vibing with. However, there was so many humorous parts in this book that made you laugh out loud. There was a healthy amount of loss, grief and pain but also banter, humour and light-hearted stuff that made this book not so dark. The writing is mesmerising and I've never read a book like this before. I can see why so many enjoy this book and why so many say it's a literary masterpiece.
Darke Matter is a brilliant, mordant examination of the nature and obligations of love. Both immensely sad and extremely funny, the story wrestles with one of the great moral issues of our time.
February 15, 2024
I don't know how much sense reading this would make without reading "Darke", its predecessor, first, but this volume describes a distinct tonal shift from the first book of what is now a trilogy (having not read the third yet, I'm not sure if the story arc will be concluded in that work). Whereas "Darke" focused on love, loss, grief, and the solitude following the death of a long-time partner, this book thrusts the eponymous Dr. Darke into the role of a (somewhat too?) willing crusader for assisted death/euthanasia. What seemed to me at least to be a secondary plot point in the first book, that Mr. Darke provided his very clearly dying wife with a cocktail of drugs which brought about her demise at most a few weeks early, becomes central to this novel, as, when the news of this act accidentally reaches the authorities, he is eventually charged with murder.
As a result, this book ends up being a treatise on dying with dignity, the flaws of the legal system, and, in a way, an updated Sartrean take on how those among us who are not deemed "adequately sympathetic" are judged in the de facto court of public opinion, and in the de jure court itself.
I don't know that I enjoyed this book as much as I enjoyed the first one, but it has been interesting to see the narrative thread twist in this direction, and I'm looking forward to the third (and final?) volume of the saga.
As a result, this book ends up being a treatise on dying with dignity, the flaws of the legal system, and, in a way, an updated Sartrean take on how those among us who are not deemed "adequately sympathetic" are judged in the de facto court of public opinion, and in the de jure court itself.
I don't know that I enjoyed this book as much as I enjoyed the first one, but it has been interesting to see the narrative thread twist in this direction, and I'm looking forward to the third (and final?) volume of the saga.
June 8, 2020
A beautifully written novel for the thoughtful reader. Both Darke books are narrated accounts of the musings and experiences of James Darke and this includes a good number of ‘meanderings off’ on whichever topics concern him. In Darke Matter those topics are often either food or Gulliver’s Travels, but could also be language, diction, American infantilism, The Emperor of Ice Cream or any manner of other topics. His greatest appeal is his wit, which pops up frequently and in unlikely circumstances, for example, when told by his lawyer that he should stick to the script and that going off piste would be disastrous, he reacts by making ‘a note in my small writing pad: ‘Piste, off: NOT.’ which still makes me chuckle. The greatest treat in Darke, though, is the author’s writing. It is always fluid, accurate and precise; often luscious, and sometimes fantastically thought-provoking. How’s this for a sentence: “This is what integrity is for, isn’t it? To be sacrificed again and again, abandoned in the services of love.”
March 22, 2022
James Darke, retired schoolmaster and professional curmudgeon narrates his story. His much loved wife Suzy has recently died, wracked by pain in her last months. He lives alone, disapproving of everybody and everything, even his daughter and her husband - though he makes an exception for his grandson Rudy. His distress at watching his wife die encourages him to help her on her way to death through overdosing her, as he admits to his horrified daughter, though she comes to understand and agree. No spoilers alert here, though you might well wish to refresh your knowledge of Gulliver's Travels, a book Darke re-fashions for his grandson's entertainment. A perceptive, witty and moving evocation of love, grief, loss, and the fall-out from assisted dying.
July 21, 2022
The book starts slowly but builds nicely to a satisfying conclusion. The main protagonist, James Darke, is an elderly English professor. For some reason Gekoski has him write a sequel to Gulliver's travels mid-novel. I suspect the intent was to serve as an allegory for the events threatening to consume his own life. However, I found it unwieldy and honestly struggled to read through those passages. The language and verbosity of the inner monologues were also a challenge. I found some of the main characters to be very one-dimensional but James is instantly dislikable which I enjoyed, cantankerous and rude to everybody. Overall a good tale.
April 9, 2021
3 1/2 ⭐️
Darke Matter is the sequel to Darke. I haven’t actually read Darke, but I personally don’t think that it mattered too much as you pick up on the story relatively easily so it can be read as a stand-alone book.
The book is well written, and I thought James Darke was quite a character!
It was powerful and moving but I equally found it funny in parts, which is quite a feat considering the difficult topics covered including grief and assisted suicide.
Overall I enjoyed the book and would recommend.
Darke Matter is the sequel to Darke. I haven’t actually read Darke, but I personally don’t think that it mattered too much as you pick up on the story relatively easily so it can be read as a stand-alone book.
The book is well written, and I thought James Darke was quite a character!
It was powerful and moving but I equally found it funny in parts, which is quite a feat considering the difficult topics covered including grief and assisted suicide.
Overall I enjoyed the book and would recommend.
March 20, 2024
I really dislike coming to the end of a book and being angry at the non-ending. It seems so very pretentious. the protagonist of the story is insufferable. Pedantic and Supercilious, arrogant and self-absorbed. The book (totally in the protagonist's voice) is thus exactly the same.
The topic is a serious one, and parts of the narrative were woven cleverly - like integrating Gulliver's Travels into the story. The family dynamic was realistic and well-written, but I can't abide a book which leaves the ending up in the air and subject to interpretation.
The topic is a serious one, and parts of the narrative were woven cleverly - like integrating Gulliver's Travels into the story. The family dynamic was realistic and well-written, but I can't abide a book which leaves the ending up in the air and subject to interpretation.
July 29, 2022
Great to spend time listening to Darke’s voice - cynical but refreshingly incorrect. Elements of the novel just don’t work, in particular the ambiguous ending which I suspect the author thought was rather clever but is just frustrating and unsatisfying. My abiding memory will be reading the poem ‘The Emperor of Ice Cream’ which is almost worth the price of admission by itself.
November 28, 2024
Amai dat duurde lang haha. Het verhaal in het boek is mooi en het praat over het verlies van een persoon op een mooie manier. Maar het was ook heel poëtisch wat lik niet men ding is. Daarom ging het ook totaal niet snel. Ik wou hem echter wel niet DNFen, dus bij deze eindelijk.
March 27, 2021
Ridiculous book making light of a serious subject. The author must think he is soooooo clever and erudite.
August 8, 2024
The sequel did not disappoint. Still the curmudgeon, with a moral twist. Guilty and not guilty at the same time. Very unclear, like life.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews