From the Bookshelf of Never too Late to Read Classics…

Titus Groan (Gormenghast, #1)

Mervyn Peake

Start date: August 1, 2018

Finish date: August 31, 2018

Discussion: Science Fiction and Fantasy

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Showing 2 of 11 topics — 1,307 comments total

Science Fiction and Fantasy

* 2026 Sci-Fi and Fantasy Reading Schedule
By Book Nerd , Purple Book Horse · 3 posts · 36 views

last updated Nov 20, 2025 07:25AM

* 2025 Sci-Fi and Fantasy Reading Schedule
By Book Nerd , Purple Book Horse · 14 posts · 156 views

last updated Jan 05, 2025 07:59PM

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What Members Thought

Aug 01, 2014 Katherine Sas rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy, gothic-horror

Weird, evocative, scary, funny, all wrapped into one. Peake's style is totally unique, and his characters even more so. From the Dickensian names (Steerpike, Prunesquallor, Sepulchrave) to their vividly drawn physicalities (Cora and Clarice's identical...everything...), their idiosyncratic speech (Steerpike's well-mannered manipulation, Prunesquallor's purple diction interspersed with giggles)to their frankly bizarre personalities (enormous Lady Gertrude with her menagerie of cats and birds, sti ...more

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Apr 03, 2018 Kelly_Hunsaker_reads ... rated it really liked it

Shelves: 1001-books, classics, gothic-lit

I found this book a bit odd, a bit funny, a bit spooky. It felt older than it is. Although the stories are not similar and the structure of the books are different, in my mind it compares well to Bram Stoker's Dracula. It is a gothic tale. And it was a fun, unique read. I liked it a lot. But I didn't love it. I may, or may not read the next two in the series. More likely though is that I will give this one a second read and see if I feel more strongly about it one way or the other. ...more

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Jul 07, 2011 Laura rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-2011, 1001-books-you-must-read-before-you, gothic-romance, fantasy, audio-books

I finally managed to listen to the whole series, great dramatization.

1 like · Like · see review

Jul 26, 2011 Catherine rated it liked it

I've been wanting to read this for a long time after a Goodreads friend recommended it. However, while it wasn't a bad read, I wasn't thrilled with it. The writing is lush and almost Baroque in nature with long, sensual descriptions. Characters are well-differentiated and almost caricatures in nature. Much in the novel is satirical especially the names of the characters. The plot, though, is almost non-existent. It seemed as if this first in the series is simply a set-up for the rest of the book ...more

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