On a scale of 1-5 stars (5 being the best) how do you rate The Testament of Gideon Mack?
* Loathed it
0%
[ 0 ]
**
0%
[ 0 ]
***
18%
[ 3 ]
****
18%
[ 3 ]
***** Loved it
37%
[ 6 ]
Gave up on it (please explain why below)
12%
[ 2 ]
Didn't read this one
12%
[ 2 ]
Total Votes : 16
Author
Message
Tigerlily Administrator
Joined: 22 Jul 2006 Posts: 7637 Birthday: 7th July
Location: Shropshire
Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2007 6:42 pm Post subject: July Book Choice - The Testament of Gideon Mack
Discuss your thoughts on the book here as soon as you have finished reading it. Did you (not) enjoy it? Anything that struck you or maybe someone else can answer if you have a question? We're not really looking for in depth discussions...just tell us what you think of it!
For those who have finished it, please choose a star rating for the book based on how much you liked it. What did you think of it? Do you have any questions based on the book?
If you do have something to post that reveals plot details which could ruin others' enjoyment of the book, please use the spoiler function (details: http://onlinebookclub.myfreeforum.org/about12.html)
_________________ Reading: Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow by Peter Hoeg
Reading Challenge 2009: 8
2008: 4
2007: 10
Joined: 14 Apr 2007 Posts: 309 Birthday: 11th April
Location: Cheltenham
Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2007 6:43 pm Post subject:
Giving this one a miss guys. Hope you enjoy! x _________________ My Swap List
Currently reading: Other people's children - Joanna Trollope
Challenge books read: 5
I read this a couple of months ago with my reading group. All of the group enjoyed the book and the discussion for it was the best one we have had. Will spoiler the rest.
Spoiler:
I found the first third of the book a bit of a drag but the last two-thirds were compelling. The debate we had at the reading group was centred around whether Gideon Mack actually met the devil or whether he had a mental illness and just believed he had!
My own opinion is that he was mentally unstable, possibly as a result of his loveless childhood and then the death of his wife caused a breakdown which lead to his epiphany with the devil.
There is a website for the author and you can ask him questions - as one of our members did!
I really enjoyed the book but I'm not sure I would have chosen to read it if it hadn't been for the reading group.
Joined: 11 Apr 2007 Posts: 459 Birthday: 22nd April
Location: Devon
Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2007 2:57 pm Post subject:
I really enjoyed this, finding it quite intriguing in content. The section dealing with the time Gideon spent with the devil was engrossing , and I loved the characterisation, of "Old Nick"! Very clever-and gave me lots of food for thought, concerning the nature of evil, how easily evil can be disguised, etc.
I enjoyed the sections dealing with Gideon's early life, and felt the author handled this with great dexterity:the oppressive nature of a small town in the Highlands came across extremely well. The gradual building of tension into the narrative, as Gideon set down the almost inevitable path of his destiny, was gripping:we hope he will follow a different path, but realistically don't expect him to do so.
Nonethelss, the section dealing with his accident and time with the devil was the undoubted highlight of the book. A very clever novel, in plot, characterisation and themes.
Joined: 22 Aug 2006 Posts: 381 Birthday: 16th February
Location: Upper Largo, Fife
Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2007 11:47 am Post subject:
I read this in September last year according to my bookjournal. It made it onto my list of favourite books and I've given it 4 stars. James Robertson is one of my favourite writers, he has a wonderfully descriptive narrative style.
Spoiler:
I thought it was a strange story. Was it the devil? Was he just deranged? I'm torn between which I believe to be honest. Mainly because I believe in manifestations of good and evil and I believe that spiritual epiphany is possible. But craziness can result from the kind of love-starved childhood that Gideon had. Combined with his years of hypocrisy both as a minister and a husband, it might well have tipped him over the edge.
I liked how the devil wasn't a red guy with horns and a tail. Its nice to see different interpretations of the devil (compare with Crooked Man in The Book of Lost Things).
This story is quite creepy at times and at the end the reader has a similar choice to Gideon's - believe or don't believe.
Did Gideon really meet the devil? Or was it just a way of confessing that he did, after all, believe in God? There can't really be heaven without hell can there? But, and I'm getting all deep here, the devil was here on Earth so maybe this is hell?????
The ending was annoyingly abrupt tho - hence the 4 stars instead of 5.
_________________ Currently reading: Man in the Dark by Paul Auster
well I was attracted to this book in the library because of its cover!
I thoroughly enjoyed it
Spoiler:
I think he did meet the devil - it makes a more interseting story, and others had done the same. The book gives us a choice to decide which story is true - very much like believing religion or not. I guess it doesnt matter what you believe as in the end its all the same - wasnt that also said in the book about religion?
I also liked the characterisation of the devil - I never thought I would sympathise with him and like him as a charater. Very clever.
also, perhaps the devil WAS being evil by destroying Gideon's and the kirk's standing in the community, destroying Elsie and John's marriage, driving Chae to whatever happened to him, and essentially destroying Gideon too.
I'm really struggling to get into this at the moment. Will try and read a good chunk of it either this evening or tomorrow while Rachel is at nursery! _________________ Swap List: http://tinyurl.com/33pg6r
Currently Reading "Switchcraft" by Lowri Turner
Joined: 11 Apr 2007 Posts: 459 Birthday: 22nd April
Location: Devon
Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2007 11:08 am Post subject:
Hope you can get into it Mel. It is an unusual one, but it's interesting. Even if you don't continue with it I hope you fast forward to the section when he meets the devil(fascinating!)
Really loved this one - the first choice I hadn't read before - Was gripped from the very start and wondered if the author would be able to maintain my interest throughout the novel and I am very happy to report that he did! Beautifully written - I particularly enjoyed the descriptions of his childhood in the manse and his encounter with the Devil. Not a light read by any means but it flowed very well and think it's well worth persevering with, Mel! Would like to read more by this author. _________________ Currently reading - The Italian Boy - Murder and Grave Robbery in 1830s London - Sarah Wise
Elaine and Treez, I'm sorry to say I've given up. My hearts just not in it at the moment and the book hasn't been holding my concerntration. Having said that, I do think it is a book that I would enjoy so I will most definately be trying it again, probably later in the year.
So not suprisingly, this month I have voted " I gave up on this one"! When I do get a chance to read it again, I promise to post my thoughts everyone x _________________ Swap List: http://tinyurl.com/33pg6r
Currently Reading "Switchcraft" by Lowri Turner
Joined: 11 Apr 2007 Posts: 459 Birthday: 22nd April
Location: Devon
Posted: Thu Jul 12, 2007 8:05 pm Post subject:
Treez, I'm also inclined to try and get some more of his work-this sounds intriguing too-
It is spring 1997 and Andrew Carlin is employed as a ghost on a nightly Tour of Old Edinburgh. With cape, stick and a rubber rat he is paid to pretend to be the spirit of Major Weir, a religious extremist burned at the stake for incest and bestiality in 1670. Through his research into Weir's character, Carlin is drawn into the past, in particular to James Mitchel, a protg of Weir's, a 'justified sinner' , imprisoned in 1674 for the attempted assassination of the of the Archbishop of St Andrew's. Carlin also excavates the Edinburgh of the 1670s, and age of witchcraft, Presbyterian fanaticism and corrupt government. Can Carlin discover the truth about Mitchel? Can he come to some understanding of himself? When does the past cease to influence the present? The Fanatic is a stunning novel about the past, identity and redemption, which recounts and extraordinary history of Scotland: a story of betrayals, stolen meetings, lost memories, smuggled journeys and disguised identities. -
charlottestar Busy babbling when should be reading
Joined: 08 May 2007 Posts: 404 Birthday: 27th February
Location: Oxfordshire
Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2007 9:04 am Post subject:
I have to say I wasn't that impressed. It was interesting to start with and then I just got bored with it half way through actually earlier than half way through. I wasn't exactly sure what he was getting at and I wasn't sure what the point of him meeting the devil was except perhaps to make it more interesting.
Spoiler:
I would have assumed that he met the devil because it made him question his faith or something but he never had any faith to start with.
I suppose at the end you were supposed to question whether he was mad or telling the truth and supopsed to question whether he was lying perhaps since he lied about the affair with Elsie but frankly I didn't actually care
So anyway I gave it 3 stars because I didn't either love it or loath it it was just ok.
Joined: 29 Jul 2006 Posts: 4137 Birthday: 12th December
Location: Cumbria
Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2007 10:28 am Post subject:
dingsy wrote:
Treez, I'm also inclined to try and get some more of his work-this sounds intriguing too-
It is spring 1997 and Andrew Carlin is employed as a ghost on a nightly Tour of Old Edinburgh. With cape, stick and a rubber rat he is paid to pretend to be the spirit of Major Weir, a religious extremist burned at the stake for incest and bestiality in 1670. Through his research into Weir's character, Carlin is drawn into the past, in particular to James Mitchel, a protg of Weir's, a 'justified sinner' , imprisoned in 1674 for the attempted assassination of the of the Archbishop of St Andrew's. Carlin also excavates the Edinburgh of the 1670s, and age of witchcraft, Presbyterian fanaticism and corrupt government. Can Carlin discover the truth about Mitchel? Can he come to some understanding of himself? When does the past cease to influence the present? The Fanatic is a stunning novel about the past, identity and redemption, which recounts and extraordinary history of Scotland: a story of betrayals, stolen meetings, lost memories, smuggled journeys and disguised identities. -
Oh dear, you have tempted me - I wasn't buying any books at the moment - too many to read already- but I just had to order this.
Joined: 22 Jul 2006 Posts: 955 Birthday: 12th December
Location: Paisley, Scotland
Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2007 9:08 pm Post subject:
I have to say I gave up on this one too, which is very unlike me. But I found the first half (before he met the devil) dragged on too much. I had to stop reading it to read a novel for school, and I just didn´t pick it up again! I should probably have skipped a few chapters and read the part about the devil, because it sounds like I have missed the best bit.
His other novel ´The Fanatic´is an excellent read and one of my (many) favourite books it is very atmospheric and I was really drawn into the story. I have his other novel ´Joseph Knight´, but I haven´t read that one yet. Will maybe read Gideon again at a later date. _________________ Currently reading: The Human Stain by Philip Roth
'Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.'
Last edited by miranda on Mon Jul 16, 2007 6:45 pm; edited 1 time in total
I'm glad I'm not the only one Miranda! Maybe we can both try again later in the year!?!? _________________ Swap List: http://tinyurl.com/33pg6r
Currently Reading "Switchcraft" by Lowri Turner
I am struggling with this one too. I am about half way through and it has got more interesting. I think I will finish it, but so far it hasn't really gripped me. I will post my thoughts in more detail when I have finished it.
I struggled to enjoy this book. It dragged all the way through for me – it felt rather like a homework assignment and I was relieved to get it finished. That said, I did think it was quite clever.
Spoiler:
I liked the way that the devil was portrayed, and found him quite amusing in parts eg when he said “Do you think I do this for fun?” He was portrayed as being as weary of his job as a lot of the rest of us! And I loved the idea of God taking early retirement. All through Gideon’s testament, Monimaskit only consisted of the Manse, the Kirk and the countryside for me and it all had a certain timelessness – it seemed strange at the end to hear mention of Woolworths and other chain stores. It very much brought it back to the modern world, and the concept of the devil wandering around in this world in his modern clothes with his perfect feet is very strange. For me it doesn’t matter whether Gideon was mad or whether he really met the devil, (I like to think he really met the devil), but rather to raise questions about the presence of God around us. Unfortunately, for me, it didn’t raise as many questions or responses in my mind as I would have hoped.
I struggled to grade this book – I wouldn’t say I loathed it, but I certainly didn’t love it, so I went for three stars in the end.
Like most people I think the first part of the book was a bit slow. I'm also not really sure whether he met the Devil or not and I don't think that particularly matters. How he acted after his experience would have been the same whether it was real or imaginary. Also peoples reaction to him would be the same. It is highly unlikely that anyone could claim to have met or spoken to God or the Devil without being classed as mad. There was a bit about miracles in the book about where there would have to be so much proof that one had happened that it wouldn't be a miracle anymore. I think that's the point with belief, if you believe it's real then it is, no matter what anybody else thinks. That's why he could see the stone, because he believed it was there. I enjoyed the book but it would've been nice to have heard more about some of the other characters side of events.
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Joined: 24 Jul 2006 Posts: 180 Birthday: 20th April
Location: Middlesex
Posted: Fri Aug 31, 2007 11:11 pm Post subject:
Read this last month & loved it, gave it 5 stars.
The idea of whether he met the devil or not was really intriguing & I like to believe that he really did. I'll definitely read more of his work & thanks for that recommendation Dingsy.
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Was gripped from the very start and wondered if the author would be able to maintain my interest throughout the novel and I am very happy to report that he did! Beautifully written - I particularly enjoyed the descriptions of his childhood in the manse and his encounter with the Devil. Not a light read by any means but it flowed very well and think it's well worth persevering with, Mel! Would like to read more by this author.
