Customer Reviews

The Lives of Shadows: An Illustrated Novel

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Unusual in its combination of story and illustration, Hodgson's latest novel, set in Damascus, is a ghost story for believers in magic, lost palaces, and the felicitous communion of two spirits. But it is not "just" a romance. In fact, the narrative moves along so precisely and with such unadorned language that it is as much a day-by-day journal of the restoration of an ancient house, which is at the heart of the action, as it is the story of a ghostly love.

Julian Beaufort, a young Briton on a 1914 graduation tour of the Middle East, falls in love with an old house in Damascus, once part of a large complex, and succeeds in buying it from the family which has occupied it for 210 years. World War I and a civil war in Syria delay his return to Syria until 1926, and when he finally gets back, he discovers that his house is the only one in the neighborhood to have survived the bombings and subsequent fires in Damascus.

Aided by the maid of the former owner, a porter he meets at the railroad station, and his Arabic teacher, he begins the restoration of the house to its former grandeur, a project which takes twenty years. The architectural drawings of various rooms and wings, and the sketches of details he plans to restore seem to grow larger and more vibrant while he is asleep, however, and we discover that Asilah, the missing daughter of the former owner, is "helping" with them from her hiding place, connecting psychically with Julian.

Hodgson, who is also an artist, has filled the novel with old newspaper photographs and stories, snapshots of Damascus, family portraits, Arabic writing, pressed flowers, transparencies, maps, close-ups of architectural detail, sketches, and even Julian's to-do lists. The reader does not need to "suspend disbelief" here because this detritus from Julian's daily life "proves" his existence. Asilah, and the palace which she explores and describes to us, may or may not exist, but we are willing to accept her existence at face value because we "know" that Julian exists. Fun to read, with illustrations which will fascinate even those who are not art historians, this novel is a welcome change of pace, a delightful and beautiful book satisfying on several levels. The abrupt ending, designed to surprise, is not really unexpected, but that is a small quibble for a book that is so visually pleasing, a rare picture book for adults. Mary Whipple

This was my first attempt at reading one of Hodgson's books. I've seen her other books and picked them up several times but have never taken the plunge. I did this time and was extremely pleased. I suppose it was the combination of subject matter -- a house that inspires loyalty and love -- along with the intriguing illustrations that prompted me to read this book. The story is interesting and well done. Julian is well-drawn. He doesn't want to admit his shell shock and unwillingness to confront the world after his war experience but does so indirectly through his focus on the house. All of the characters are interesting and the slow revelation of "ghosthood" is interesting and subtle. Hodgson's emphasis is not on the ghastly but on the bittersweet aspects of ghost stories. I recommend this book to all who like a different kind of ghost story and enjoy a solid writing style.

I was immediately impressed by the quality of this book--the thick paper, beautiful illustrations, and wonderful articles & pictures from the era in which the story is set. This is a beautifully told tale about a young man who finds his spiritual home in the Middle East and about his life there until the relatives of the family that sold it to him decide to fight to get it back. There is an element of mystery, romance and in the background is the fear that he will be ejected from the home that has become an extension of his own mind. I couldn't put it down!

Very interesting work indeed, and certainly inspired by the Author's personal ghosts, but not entirely accomplished. It could have been a literary achievement, but it would have probably needed more time to grow, as the House, with more care given, more pages and tortuos dreams. The graphics are an original contribution but should have been used with spare. Just a small part of the pictures published would have been enough and should have been chosen with superior delicate attention and put at the proper place, which is not always the case.
ALL THIS DOES NOT MEAN I DID NOT LIKE THE BOOK: it is a very entertaining and compelling story, very close to ancient occult ideas about space and time. And the Author is someone I would like to meet to convince her to write a new, definitive version which I would be very glad to print.

Tonight I finished reading this gem and was immensely saddened that it had to end, albeit predictably as another reviewer noted. Still, what a lush, nuanced story, complemented with rich visual elements, providing a backdrop of artifact that actually serves the story rather than detracts from it. Though she can't really be compared to Nick Bantock, though they are both artists who can write well, Ms. Hodgson's latest seems to firmly ally itself with the genre most notably cultivated by the "Griffin and Sabine" series: visually pleasing epistolary with a twist of the fantastic. A most welcome diversion indeed.

What is this book? Is it a ghost story, love story, mystery, historical novel? it's all of the above and more. Very unique and unusual tale interspersed with beautiful drawings and photographs of old Damascus, this is a complete illustrated piece of art. I couldn't put it down before its unexpected conclusion. A must for literature lovers everywhere.

I had never heard of this book or its author until I clicked on a link one day while visiting Amazon's website. Curiousity got the best of me, and before I knew it I was placing an order for "The Lives of Shadows." Odd for me, because I rarely read fiction. As a result, I have now become a fan of Barbara Hodgson. So much so, that I recently ordered another one of her books from Amazon, and plan to order more in the future.

Thank you for helping to expand my reading horizons, and as always, the ordering and shipping process was executed perfectly.

Sincerely,
Patricia



The Lives of Shadows: An Illustrated Novel

"By the time I'd sailed in a felucca to Aswan, trekked by camel across the Sinai to Petra, and ridden with a caravan into Damascus, I knew that my love for the East was different from others', even though I followed their well-trodden path. I belonged to this part of the world. I felt it with every nerve, every instinct. Any attempt to live elsewhere would have been a sham. It wasn't an esoteric yearning but rather, an emotion that hits you when the rhythm and temperament in a certain place matches your own to a degree that you've never experienced before. Within the enduring, sepia-toned walls of Damascus especially, I envisioned a place for myself with such clarity that leaving threatened to break my heart."

The Lives of Shadows by Barbara Hodgson is about Julian, who first visits Damascus in 1914. He becomes enthralled with the city and in particular, with a house dating back to the Ottomans, Bait Katib. He intends to live peacefully within its beautiful walls but war intervenes. Injured in battle, Julian retreats to his beloved home, which is barely standing amidst war torn Damascus. He becomes obsessed with the history of the house and the memory of a young woman, Asilah, who once lived there.

Illustrated with old photographs, postcards, maps, architectural sketches, newspaper articles, and lovely Arabic script, The Lives of Shadows is a visually stunning reading experience. The pages and art are in varying shades of sepia, transporting me back to a time before French Syria was ravaged by world wars.

"I looked up from the windows to the elaborately painted, lofty ceiling...each beam and plank was painted with dwellings and temples, wild landscapes and gardens, and earthly and heavenly skies. The effect put me in mind of storytellers who unravel their tales over many nights or of an enthralling ride through the streets of a magical city...

"...

"I crawled over to the window and peered through the screen. All that I could see of Damascus had been reconstructed, and it was beautiful beyond words. The dome of Sinaniyya Mosque reflected gold and lapis lazuli; minarets everywhere glowed. Orchards lapped up to the city walls like green waves upon a shore.

"I poked my head to look at the passersby. The clothing the women wore! Veils of carmine or turquoise or amber were draped over robes of contrasting hues, creating a street awash with the palate of a watercolorist gone mad. On their feet these multi-colored ladies wore dizzyingly high qabaqib inlaid with colored stones and mother-of-pearl...

"Men riding horses and donkeys eased their way down the narrow lane. Their turbans were fanciful creations: candy stripes, starry skies, sunbursts. A troupe of camels crossed the junction at the end of the street. Their bridles were fitted out in scarlet, indigo, ivory, and orange...

"Where was I? In Damascus to be sure, but where in Damascus?"

The story of Julian is a haunting one. How many of us have thought we were stuck in the wrong place, even the wrong time? Julian wants to return to a Damascus that is long gone, or perhaps has never been; he falls in love with a girl who may or may not be dead, who may or may not be haunting Bait Katib.

Hodgson's writing is elegant and evocative. I felt Julian's helpless longing for a more beautiful time and place. By the end of this book, I too wanted to visit his imagined Damascus.

I can't begin to explain why I loved this book so much, as it offered everything. My favourite of these style of books, beside Griffin and Sabine, or course, is the "Tattooed Map". I have consumed both! Enjoy you can't go wrong. Thank you.

I have read several of Ms. Hodgson's books in the past and each one is a gem in its own right. The Lives of Shadows catches your interest on page one and keeps you entertained all the way through.

Weaving mysterious hints with photos and drawings, the story tells of a house in Syria which holds a special place in two people's hearts. Julian, the young man fell in love with the house on a journey he made as a college student. The owner actually offers the house to him and Julian readily accepts. However, life intervenes and he must return home to England to fight in the war. The memory of the house is kept alive for many years, but one thing leads to another before he can return to claim the house promised to him.

Asilah is the daughter of the former owner. Unfortunately, the war has taken her life, but not her love for her home. She still wanders the rooms, waiting for something.

When Julian returns to the house, their two lives touch lightly in unusual ways. Asilah will put items in different places or her movements will create a slight breeze, giving Julain pause for thought. When Julian is around, the house takes on different aspects for Asilah that are not apparent otherwise. Each tells their own story of the house where they find comfort.

Best of all, the ending is superb!