Duncan Thaw, the narrator, has to cope with a loveless family and the drudgery of growing to maturity in Glasgow. Elsewhere the author moves Thaw into fantasy when he sends him to Unthank, a city he is condemned to after his death. From the author of "Something Leather".
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
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'A quite extraordinary achievement, the most remarkable thing in Scottish fiction for a very long time. It has changed the landscape.' - Allan Massie, The Scotsman
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About the Author
Alasdair Gray is, in his own words, an old, asthmatic Glaswegian who lives by painting, writing and book design. William Boyd is the author of nine novels, including A Good Man in Africa, winner of the Whitbread Award and the Somerset Maugham Award; An Ice-Cream War, winner of the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize and shortlisted for the Booker Prize; Brazzaville Beach, winner of the James Tait Black Memorial Prize; Any Human Heart, winner of the Prix Jean Monnet; and Restless, winner of the Costa Novel of the Year, the Yorkshire Post Novel of the Year and a Richard & Judy selection. His most recent novel, Ordinary Thunderstorms, was published in 2009 and film rights have already been sold. William Boyd lives in London.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing Read,
By elizabeth (New Jersey, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Lanark a Life In Books (Picador Books) (Paperback)
The story is written as a kalidescope of imagery, allowing the reader to piece together as best he or she can the setting and events of Lanark's life. I was so moved by the characters in this story that I, for a time, thought that I would find my calling in art school as the main character had. Turns out I was wrong about art school, but I still love this novel. The Schizophrenic pace at which events unfold keep the reader's attention and curiosity, while the metaphoric symoblism is sure to make this novel a lasting cult classic. Amazing, beautiful, and above all a work a genious.
5.0 out of 5 stars
NOT CAUSAL READ!,
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This review is from: Lanark: A Life in 4 Books (Paperback)
I often compare books to food, some are snacks, meals, a feast, etc. Lanark: A Life in 4 Books is a carnivores dream, this book is all meat. It's 560 pages of metaphors, similes, and a twisted reality that will give your brain plenty to chew on for a long time. Lanark is part fantasy and part biography that took Alasdair Gray nearly 30 years to write. The story is told out of order (book 3 is at the beginning), and the Epilogue comes before the last 4 chapters, yet the story flows perfectly.Alasdair Gray has masterfully created a bizarre fantasy world that is so tightly wrapped around reality that the two become one. I found the story totally unpredictable.. It has a dark, and has bleak feel to it, but somehow it manages to keep a spark of hope throughout the book. The main character isn't very likable, but I found myself caring for him (or at least what happens to him) and understanding him. As for the other characters it's more about understanding what they represented. The fact is everything in this book is a representation of some aspect of life. I'm still having Ah-ha moments where I'm putting it all together. I won't give details simply because I don't want to ruin any of it. Lanark: A Life In 4 Books is one of the best novels of our time. The title says it all (this book is about life).
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