This book was amazing! It's not for everyone and can be very graphic at times. I don't know if I would consider it historical fiction but it definitely has a lot of historical information included in the story.

There is a love aspect but not the kind where it controls the whole story. The book is more about understanding and controlling your feelings than just letting go.

If you are looking for something different to read, I definitely recommed this book!

I originally attempted to read this book back when it was released. At that time It was one of the most anticipated books of that year. Thus I wanted to really like the book but found myself really turned off by it and not at all feeling any empathy towards the characters. After only getting to about page sixty four, I put the book down. As the years passed, this book kept slipping further down my to be read pile.

This year I made it a goal to try to read some of the books that have been on my to be read pile for the longest. This book was one of them. Because it has been years; I started at the beginning with a new slate. Some of the things that really turned my off, I tried to look past. I was not feeling the point of this book other than it seemed to be how much is too much. Well for me it did not take much and after getting to about page one hundred and twenty I was down with this book for good. I did jump ahead some to see if anything would spark my interest but nothing did.

This was technically sound but I didn't like it. It was exhausting to read.

Loved this book. The writing is beautiful. You can feel the struggle of the main character

This is an interesting debut novel from Davidson, and shows his creativity and skill with researched detail. I found myself strangely compelled by this story as, for certain, it's an interesting premise.

The main drawback of this novel, in my opinion, was the charactarisation of the central character. The author had created such a colourful backstory for him - fostered by crystal meth users, unexplainable scars, accidents, pornography - I expected more of a struggle, more bitterness from him - I felt that in this portrayal, the author made him accept things too easily without asking logical, probing questions (not once did he ask her how she found him in the hospital - how she knew he was there!). His physical torment wasn't reflected very clearly in his mental state, and had this been more effectively drawn out - the novel would have been even more interesting. As it stands, it was good - but it could've been better!

4/29/22:
I feel like 3 stars is too low for this book. I keep thinking about it and I feel like that makes it worthy of 4 stars.

4/11/22 review:
3 1/2 stars. I originally picked up this book looking for a soulmates across time type of book, The Gargoyle popped up during my Google search and upon a very quick glance at the summary I began the audiobook. The first hour of the audiobook was NOT what I expected, it was visceral and horrifying, but so interesting. I was on the fence about continuing such a long book if it was going to continue to be depressing, but once Marianne arrived and began telling her stories I was hooked. I would say my interest sort of ebbed and flowed in the second half, but ultimately I am so glad I listened to this book

I bought this years ago, intending it as a gift for a friend. I never gave it to my friend, and instead it languished on my bookshelf. I picked it up recently, thinking there was a possibility that I could read a few chapters, decide I wasn't into it, and give it away. Instead, I read the whole thing, and enjoyed it quite a bit. I think that the story within a story formatting worked really well, and helped me keep my interest in a story that might have annoyed me otherwise. I didn't care for the main character for a majority of the book, but I did like Marianne Engel, so having half the book be her story was very helpful for me. I also liked the uncertainty - do we believe Marianne Engel's story, a strange and improbable tale, concocted by a diagnosed schizophrenic? Or do we believe the certified skeptic, rooted in reality? I know what I believe, but the journey to that belief was a bit longer than I expected. Anyway, quite enjoyable. Perhaps I should read more literary fiction?

I appreciated this book more than anything. However, I can't say I LOVED it.
Our nameless narrator intrigued me with his thoughts and views upon his situation, though I didn't grow to care for him in a way I wanted to. So despite his interesting prospective, I had difficultly connecting fully, and I really want that from a narrator: I want to connect. With the secondary characters I felt much the same way -- I was never truly invested in them or their story. Though that could be because the subject matter didn't appeal to me in a way others do, rather than a problem with the book. Which leads me to my next point: The narrative. The stories, past and present, broke my concentration sometimes and I found I wanted to get back to the one I'd just left. The fables, although interesting, again, failed to capture me in the way I wanted them to.
The writing was powerful and fluid, which I enjoyed. I feel the writing is one of the strongest aspects of the novel, for me at least.
As I came to the end of the story, and the strings were pulled together, I felt satisfied and happy with what I had read. I understand why people would LOVE this book, but unfortunately I'm one of them. I liked it. I appreciated it.

First off, wow what a book. This happens to be the best book I've read all year.
This book is not one dimensional. It tells a story of many levels. There is the love of Marianne and the narrator, a severely burnt person,drug addiction, schizophrenia, reincarnation, God, and gargoyles.
I can't explain and I've been putting this post off for days trying to sum up why I like this book so much. It's well written of course and the subject matters aren't knew but putting them all together like the author did it worked well. I must say this book is very sad and it's gross in ways because you have to read about the narrator's extensive burns and the surgeries he endures. But the package as a whole is beautiful. I want to recommend this to everyone to read.