"The Gargoyle" by Andrew Davidson *****

Although there may be various opinions in the reviews about this particular book there is a consistency in recognizing that it is distinctive, original and quite a remarkable read. It opens with a porn star/adult film producer crashing his sports car in a spectacular manner that results in him suffering severe burns all over his body. He will never be the same physically because of his monstrous appearance. One of the aspects of the book that is equally fascinating and repulsive is the explicit detailed descriptions of the medical treatment of burn victims.

Confined to months of rehabilitation in the burn ward the novel takes a dramatic twist with the entrance of Marianne Engel who approaches the victim and claims she first met him and rescued him 700 years earlier. Although she is currently in the psych ward many of the claims she makes appear to be substantiated. She ultimately takes the man to live with her in her home and work studio where as a sculptor she creates “gargoyles” which are highly valued in a global market. As part of her care-giving she relates a number of historic tales that are richly told, diverse in magnitude and congruent in message.

The ultimate impact of this relationship shifts the victim’s attitude from thoroughly planned suicide to a realization that the physical body is only a container for some things that are much more important. The recurring visits to Dante’s Inferno consistently confirm his revelations. In spite of all of this it is fundamentally a romantic novel.

Additional interest is capture by other main characters in the book including the medical doctor, the physiotherapist, a psychiatrist and Marianne Engel’s manager.
As a debut novel by this Winnipeg born, Canadian writer, it is quite an outstanding book. The author’s notes, The Story Behind The Gargoyle (that is included in some special editions) are an interesting after-read.