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Gil Marsh
Good looking, athletic, and smart, Gill Marsh is the most popular kid at Uruk High School, even though he is only a junior. When Enko, a new kid from Montreal, shows up, Gil is wary. Yet Enko is easy going and matches Gil's athletic prowess without being a threat. Soon, the two become inseparable friends, practicing, studying, and double-dating.
Then suddenly, to everyone's shock, Enko succombs to an aggressive cancer.
When Enko's parents take his body and return to Canada, Gil is unable to even say good bye. He is inconsolable. Determined to find Enko's grave, Gil sneaks away and heads north.
Closely based on the ancient story of Gilgamesh, the Sumerian King from 3000 BC, A. C. E. Bauer has carefully woven the classic elements of myth to follow Gil's quest and explore the grief and growth of a young man.
Then suddenly, to everyone's shock, Enko succombs to an aggressive cancer.
When Enko's parents take his body and return to Canada, Gil is unable to even say good bye. He is inconsolable. Determined to find Enko's grave, Gil sneaks away and heads north.
Closely based on the ancient story of Gilgamesh, the Sumerian King from 3000 BC, A. C. E. Bauer has carefully woven the classic elements of myth to follow Gil's quest and explore the grief and growth of a young man.
192 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2012
About the author
A.C.E. Bauer
3 books9 followersI have telling and writing stories since childhood. I took a short break to write dreadful poetry, and then a longer one while I worked as an attorney, writing legal briefs and telling stories about my clients. I have returned to fiction, and published two middle grade novels, No Castles Here (ALA Rainbow Book; Kirkus Review starred review) and Come Fall (CCBC Choices Book; Publishers' Weekly starred review), and one for young adults, Gil Marsh.
Born and raised in Montreal, I spend most of the year in New England and much of the summer on a lake in Quebec.
Born and raised in Montreal, I spend most of the year in New England and much of the summer on a lake in Quebec.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
February 21, 2012
I am currently kind of obsessed with retellings of mythological and/or historical works (it’s my New Thing) and when I heard about Gil Marsh, a Contemporary YA retelling of the Epic of Gilgamesh, I immediately placed it at the top of my Most Highly Coveted Books of 2012. The Epic of Gilgamesh is one of the earliest known works of literature and it follows Gilgamesh, the oppressive king of Uruk in ancient Mesopotamia on an epic journey to become a better king and to understand the nature of death and mortality. One of the main things about it, is the king’s relationship with Enkidu, a mortal man sent by the Gods to distract Gilgamesh from oppressing his people. They become friends and it’s Enkidu’s death and ensuing grief that prompts Gilgamesh to go on his quest.
Needless to say, I was extremely excited about reading Gil Marsh. Unfortunately, it didn’t live up to my expectations. At all.
Before I proceed any further though, I think I need to clarify what exactly those expectations were because they are important in understanding how I approached the book (and this review). I read Gil Marsh as a modern retelling of the Epic of Gilgamesh, this means that I searched for the connections to the original story within this one and how it was adapted to a modern audience. This also means that for the most part I did not read Gil Marsh as a stand-alone, self-contained novel, not because I didn’t want to, but because I couldn’t, given the aforementioned expectations.
In this retelling, Gil Marsh is the king of Uruk High School: the most popular kid because of its good looks, athletic prowess and his smarts. When Enko, a new guy from Montreal shows up and proves to be a worthy competitor, Gil is at first wary and even nasty to the guy. But soon they become inseparable friends: the reigning king and his deputy. But then Enko dies and Gil is grief-stricken. Enko’s parents take his body to be buried in Canada and Gil is unable to attend the funeral and say goodbye. Inconsolable, Gil runs away from home and goes on a journey to find Enko’s grave and maybe even restore him to life.
To start with, I think the biggest problem of Gil Marsh is in its poor attempt at retelling the original story. Bearing in mind that this is supposed to be a retelling of an epic story about an epic journey AND about grief and immortality, this story lacks depth and gravitas. We are supposed to believe in the powerful bonds of friendship between Gil and Enko – which is what prompts Gil’s journey – but there is very little of it beyond: “they became friends, they partied together”. Their relationship is insta-friendship, i.e. it happens suddenly and without any development whatsoever. There is a lot of telling here, not enough showing and a definite overuse of exclamation marks to portray all sort of emotions.
Similarly the theme of “immortality” is present but glossed over. Gil is supposedly grief-stricken but as he travels through Canada and gets into perils and hardships, he barely thinks of Enko or about death. One of the things he pursuits in the story, is the legend of an immortal blacksmith who made a ring that Enko left him. But it is never very clear whether Gil actually believes in this man’s immortality, what does it mean if he is indeed immortal, how does that connect with his own life and eventual death, etc, etc. Does he really believe that Enko could be brought back to life?
Mind you, this retelling didn’t need to be epic, it could have been a good, quiet contemplation of grief and death. But it isn’t, the story is just really superficial and most of the time, Gil just came across as a petulant child who kept having tantrums because he lost his teddy bear.
The very premise of how and why Gil goes on his “perilous” journey in the wilderness of CANADA was EXTREMELY contrived as well. He runs away from home in search of Enko’s grave in Canada and gets in all sorts of problems (his money is stolen, he is beaten up, he gets lost, etc) because he doesn’t know where the grave is. The idea is that he didn’t want to ask because he didn’t want his parents to know he was going as they would prevent him from going. But it’s hard to find that believable: it was a simple matter of ASKING his BEST FRIEND’ S parents about the location. He had time as he spent days and days working to save money, he concocted a whole story about a sport’s competition so he could leave, he could have asked as it was only natural he’d ask that.
It is hard to believe that a guy who was presented as the smarted guy of his school would be so naïve as Gil proved to be throughout the story. Furthermore, I felt that since he ended the story much as he began, there was no real substance to his story arc.
Beyond those, one thing really baffled me and I honestly don’t know what to make of it. For example, Enko is really hairy: he has thick hair that covered his knuckles, his arms, his chest, his shoulders, neck and legs. Gil calls him “Beast Man” and makes fun of him which he apologises for once he learns that Enko feels bad about it (“not everyone is born smooth and pretty”).”Smooth”? “Hairy”? “Beast boy”? Enko is bullied and excluded at first because he is “hairy”?
I believe this is one of the places where the author failed in adapting the story to a modern audience. I find that kind of unsettling and actually a bit insensitive to contemporary issues. Wasn’t there anything more contemporary or relevant that could have been used here? “Beast Boy”, although tying up with the original, is oddly out of place and out of time. I will grant that this could be used a metaphorical “blanket” for ANY type of bullying or prejudice but I am not really sure that these elements are successfully addressed either. Here is another quote that baffled me:
"Though he was dark and hairy while Gil was golden and smooth, Enko was also smart, charming, strong, with an edge that Gil liked."
“Though”? Why “though”? This is a bit where Gil is sort of having a positive revelation so again, I ask myself: why “though”?! Like it is beyond belief that someone “dark” and “hairy” could also be “smart, charming, strong”?
Oh book, you disappointed me.
Needless to say, I was extremely excited about reading Gil Marsh. Unfortunately, it didn’t live up to my expectations. At all.
Before I proceed any further though, I think I need to clarify what exactly those expectations were because they are important in understanding how I approached the book (and this review). I read Gil Marsh as a modern retelling of the Epic of Gilgamesh, this means that I searched for the connections to the original story within this one and how it was adapted to a modern audience. This also means that for the most part I did not read Gil Marsh as a stand-alone, self-contained novel, not because I didn’t want to, but because I couldn’t, given the aforementioned expectations.
In this retelling, Gil Marsh is the king of Uruk High School: the most popular kid because of its good looks, athletic prowess and his smarts. When Enko, a new guy from Montreal shows up and proves to be a worthy competitor, Gil is at first wary and even nasty to the guy. But soon they become inseparable friends: the reigning king and his deputy. But then Enko dies and Gil is grief-stricken. Enko’s parents take his body to be buried in Canada and Gil is unable to attend the funeral and say goodbye. Inconsolable, Gil runs away from home and goes on a journey to find Enko’s grave and maybe even restore him to life.
To start with, I think the biggest problem of Gil Marsh is in its poor attempt at retelling the original story. Bearing in mind that this is supposed to be a retelling of an epic story about an epic journey AND about grief and immortality, this story lacks depth and gravitas. We are supposed to believe in the powerful bonds of friendship between Gil and Enko – which is what prompts Gil’s journey – but there is very little of it beyond: “they became friends, they partied together”. Their relationship is insta-friendship, i.e. it happens suddenly and without any development whatsoever. There is a lot of telling here, not enough showing and a definite overuse of exclamation marks to portray all sort of emotions.
Similarly the theme of “immortality” is present but glossed over. Gil is supposedly grief-stricken but as he travels through Canada and gets into perils and hardships, he barely thinks of Enko or about death. One of the things he pursuits in the story, is the legend of an immortal blacksmith who made a ring that Enko left him. But it is never very clear whether Gil actually believes in this man’s immortality, what does it mean if he is indeed immortal, how does that connect with his own life and eventual death, etc, etc. Does he really believe that Enko could be brought back to life?
Mind you, this retelling didn’t need to be epic, it could have been a good, quiet contemplation of grief and death. But it isn’t, the story is just really superficial and most of the time, Gil just came across as a petulant child who kept having tantrums because he lost his teddy bear.
The very premise of how and why Gil goes on his “perilous” journey in the wilderness of CANADA was EXTREMELY contrived as well. He runs away from home in search of Enko’s grave in Canada and gets in all sorts of problems (his money is stolen, he is beaten up, he gets lost, etc) because he doesn’t know where the grave is. The idea is that he didn’t want to ask because he didn’t want his parents to know he was going as they would prevent him from going. But it’s hard to find that believable: it was a simple matter of ASKING his BEST FRIEND’ S parents about the location. He had time as he spent days and days working to save money, he concocted a whole story about a sport’s competition so he could leave, he could have asked as it was only natural he’d ask that.
It is hard to believe that a guy who was presented as the smarted guy of his school would be so naïve as Gil proved to be throughout the story. Furthermore, I felt that since he ended the story much as he began, there was no real substance to his story arc.
Beyond those, one thing really baffled me and I honestly don’t know what to make of it. For example, Enko is really hairy: he has thick hair that covered his knuckles, his arms, his chest, his shoulders, neck and legs. Gil calls him “Beast Man” and makes fun of him which he apologises for once he learns that Enko feels bad about it (“not everyone is born smooth and pretty”).”Smooth”? “Hairy”? “Beast boy”? Enko is bullied and excluded at first because he is “hairy”?
I believe this is one of the places where the author failed in adapting the story to a modern audience. I find that kind of unsettling and actually a bit insensitive to contemporary issues. Wasn’t there anything more contemporary or relevant that could have been used here? “Beast Boy”, although tying up with the original, is oddly out of place and out of time. I will grant that this could be used a metaphorical “blanket” for ANY type of bullying or prejudice but I am not really sure that these elements are successfully addressed either. Here is another quote that baffled me:
"Though he was dark and hairy while Gil was golden and smooth, Enko was also smart, charming, strong, with an edge that Gil liked."
“Though”? Why “though”? This is a bit where Gil is sort of having a positive revelation so again, I ask myself: why “though”?! Like it is beyond belief that someone “dark” and “hairy” could also be “smart, charming, strong”?
Oh book, you disappointed me.
August 27, 2011
Bold.
In A.C.E. Bauer's stunning retelling of The Epic of Gilgamesh, you are thrown into a modernized version of the continual search for the answers of life. Reanimating the oldest recorded story seems to be a very daunting task, but Bauer does it with ease.
We follow Gil Marsh through his reign over Uruk High school (nice play on name of Gilgamesh's kingdom) and his meeting of Enko at the beginning of this book. The two boys seem to butt heads at first because they rival each other so closely. But in the end they become inseparable. After Enko suddenly dies, Gil needs closure with his friend's death and with accepting life. He runs away to Quebec in hopes of finally being able to say goodbye properly and trying to learn more about the legend behind the ring that Enko left him. Through Gil's search for answers he learns a lot about life and mortality as a whole. This is a tale of acceptance, grief, life and growing up.
The characters are not intimately written but you grow to love them. Gil grows from being the popular kid in high school to truly learning to love another person and love life. Enko is the most kind-hearted soul and only wants what's best for everyone. His death is heart wrenching to read about from both boys' places. The characters that Gil meets on his journey emulate the characters from The Epic of Gilgamesh. They teach Gil the good and the bad in life.
This book definitely still reads as if it were still an epic classic story. I honestly did not know what would come of it. I expected it to either read as a cheesy version of a classic set in a high school and be let down at the lost quality of literature. Or I expected it to rival the original too much and it just wouldn't work as a young adult book. Somehow Bauer managed to find the balance between the two perfectly. The writing isn't dumbed down in the least. It still holds all the qualities of a classic and yet is easy to read and relate to. I'm anxious to see how others take this book when it comes out. I'm worried for the automatic assumption of a gay relationship between the two boys instead of just true friendship. The writing does not explain most events or relationships, they just happen and are accepted, which is how I feel classics are written. There should be no need for an explanation or too much lead in to an occurrence. Very well done.
5 out of 5 stars, this book deserves a slot on your bookshelf amongst your classics.
In A.C.E. Bauer's stunning retelling of The Epic of Gilgamesh, you are thrown into a modernized version of the continual search for the answers of life. Reanimating the oldest recorded story seems to be a very daunting task, but Bauer does it with ease.
We follow Gil Marsh through his reign over Uruk High school (nice play on name of Gilgamesh's kingdom) and his meeting of Enko at the beginning of this book. The two boys seem to butt heads at first because they rival each other so closely. But in the end they become inseparable. After Enko suddenly dies, Gil needs closure with his friend's death and with accepting life. He runs away to Quebec in hopes of finally being able to say goodbye properly and trying to learn more about the legend behind the ring that Enko left him. Through Gil's search for answers he learns a lot about life and mortality as a whole. This is a tale of acceptance, grief, life and growing up.
The characters are not intimately written but you grow to love them. Gil grows from being the popular kid in high school to truly learning to love another person and love life. Enko is the most kind-hearted soul and only wants what's best for everyone. His death is heart wrenching to read about from both boys' places. The characters that Gil meets on his journey emulate the characters from The Epic of Gilgamesh. They teach Gil the good and the bad in life.
This book definitely still reads as if it were still an epic classic story. I honestly did not know what would come of it. I expected it to either read as a cheesy version of a classic set in a high school and be let down at the lost quality of literature. Or I expected it to rival the original too much and it just wouldn't work as a young adult book. Somehow Bauer managed to find the balance between the two perfectly. The writing isn't dumbed down in the least. It still holds all the qualities of a classic and yet is easy to read and relate to. I'm anxious to see how others take this book when it comes out. I'm worried for the automatic assumption of a gay relationship between the two boys instead of just true friendship. The writing does not explain most events or relationships, they just happen and are accepted, which is how I feel classics are written. There should be no need for an explanation or too much lead in to an occurrence. Very well done.
5 out of 5 stars, this book deserves a slot on your bookshelf amongst your classics.
February 21, 2012
I feel horrible about writing a review on a book I couldn't read all the way through (although I did get halfway and then skimmed the rest in hopes that it would get better). Gil Marsh sounds interesting. The cover looks interesting. The concept of basing it on the story of Gilgamesh is interesting. Gil Marsh is anything but. From page one I was bored. The writing was dry, events told to us as opposed to shown, and I felt like the author was striving for a high literary style and fell far short.
In addition to the extremely unnatural and forced writing, there was a complete lack of character building. Gil is good looking, athletic and smart. At least this is what the reader is told. I didn't see any evidence of this, apart from him being athletic. He doesn't get the hot girl, he's judgmental, conceited, rude, and once he makes his plans to go to Canada he is a complete idiot as evidenced by his utter lack of knowledge about there being homeless people living in one of the largest cities in Canada and his plans to camp in the city park. Gullible would be a better description, especially when he practically gives his money away to a con artist.
When Enko's character was first introduced I thought I was suddenly reading a paranormal gay romance. Gil is obsessed by Enko's body and his body hair right from the beginning and I wondered if Enko was going to turn into a werewolf. There's one scene when at Enko's house where Gil admires Enko's hairy half naked body. Gil repeatedly says that he loves Enko, and despite that fact that I'm pretty sure the story is supposed to be about this strong brotherly love I couldn't help but think that Bauer has never even spoken to a high school boy. If the story had been set two hundred years ago, I would have accepted it as a brotherly love, but in the modern world guys (straight or gay) just don't talk like that.
I can understand that she was trying to remain true to the story of Gilgamesh, but cultures and people change. Look at Beastly or even Red Riding Hood, both are modern retellings and manage to be successful because of the changes that were made. Gil Marsh had the potential to be a great adventure into self discovery and the true value of friendship. Instead it came out stale, stilted and lack luster.
Check out more of my reviews on my blog Turning the Pages
In addition to the extremely unnatural and forced writing, there was a complete lack of character building. Gil is good looking, athletic and smart. At least this is what the reader is told. I didn't see any evidence of this, apart from him being athletic. He doesn't get the hot girl, he's judgmental, conceited, rude, and once he makes his plans to go to Canada he is a complete idiot as evidenced by his utter lack of knowledge about there being homeless people living in one of the largest cities in Canada and his plans to camp in the city park. Gullible would be a better description, especially when he practically gives his money away to a con artist.
When Enko's character was first introduced I thought I was suddenly reading a paranormal gay romance. Gil is obsessed by Enko's body and his body hair right from the beginning and I wondered if Enko was going to turn into a werewolf. There's one scene when at Enko's house where Gil admires Enko's hairy half naked body. Gil repeatedly says that he loves Enko, and despite that fact that I'm pretty sure the story is supposed to be about this strong brotherly love I couldn't help but think that Bauer has never even spoken to a high school boy. If the story had been set two hundred years ago, I would have accepted it as a brotherly love, but in the modern world guys (straight or gay) just don't talk like that.
I can understand that she was trying to remain true to the story of Gilgamesh, but cultures and people change. Look at Beastly or even Red Riding Hood, both are modern retellings and manage to be successful because of the changes that were made. Gil Marsh had the potential to be a great adventure into self discovery and the true value of friendship. Instead it came out stale, stilted and lack luster.
Check out more of my reviews on my blog Turning the Pages
September 6, 2011
I had no clue that this was a play on The Epic of Gilgamesh. There is clever use of elements from the original, but this modern version is one that paints a story of friendship, grief and coming of age, with the teensy magical thrown in.
I didn't feel a connection to Gil at first. When he is introduced, he is blessed but when he reacted the way he did... well, it read to standard. With a new guy showing up how should the 'king' react? Magnonimity masking insecurity some jealousy leading to territoriality then what? Friendship, an aspect that wasn't explored deepy but read quite deep and emotional to me. Then there's Enko, the new guy, the good guy, who is so nice and perfect. It's their friendship that leads to Gil's search (quest?) for closure.
I did enjoy where the story went mainly due to how the magical element was explored. A teensy exploration, of course given at its core Gil's story is one friendship, loss then letting go.
It's his journey that was the most eye opening. While it was his friendship with Enko that was heartbreaking, I was never totally emotionally invested. Again, I found it difficult to connect because everything happened too quickly~ from being rivals to being inseparable; from Gil's being territorial and insecure to being his inconsolable and grief struck. However, it's the outcome that sets him off on his journey,a journey that exposed him to all manner of people: the good, the bad and those in between.
3/5
THANKS NETGALLEY!
I didn't feel a connection to Gil at first. When he is introduced, he is blessed but when he reacted the way he did... well, it read to standard. With a new guy showing up how should the 'king' react? Magnonimity masking insecurity some jealousy leading to territoriality then what? Friendship, an aspect that wasn't explored deepy but read quite deep and emotional to me. Then there's Enko, the new guy, the good guy, who is so nice and perfect. It's their friendship that leads to Gil's search (quest?) for closure.
I did enjoy where the story went mainly due to how the magical element was explored. A teensy exploration, of course given at its core Gil's story is one friendship, loss then letting go.
It's his journey that was the most eye opening. While it was his friendship with Enko that was heartbreaking, I was never totally emotionally invested. Again, I found it difficult to connect because everything happened too quickly~ from being rivals to being inseparable; from Gil's being territorial and insecure to being his inconsolable and grief struck. However, it's the outcome that sets him off on his journey,a journey that exposed him to all manner of people: the good, the bad and those in between.
3/5
THANKS NETGALLEY!
February 26, 2012
Very rarely does a book come along that turns out to be nothing like what you thought you were about to read. This is that book. Although the very beginning looks just like another ‘high school trauma,’ with Gil Marsh being the perfect specimen of ‘man’ walking the corridors, the very deep meaning and beauty of this book arrives a short time later.
Gil is what you would call ‘that guy.’ People love him, he is uber-popular, he is the cross-country runner who can outrace everyone who steps beside him, and he is also kind at the same time. But his will, determination and ego are tested when a young man by the name of Enko transfers to the school from Quebec. Although not overly-handsome - in fact, Enko is more fuzzy than anything else - he soon becomes a friend to everyone…including Gil.
Even though Enko can outrace Gil without even losing his breath, these two boys become the best of friends and enter into each other’s world seamlessly. They have a powerful bond, but when Enko has to leave Gil’s life, Gil goes on a journey to say goodbye to his friend, and to investigate a legend of a garnet ring that perhaps could return Enko to his world.
Although small in size this book packs a powerful punch, and it will linger in reader’s minds for a good, long time to come!
Until Next Time, Everybody.
Amy
Gil is what you would call ‘that guy.’ People love him, he is uber-popular, he is the cross-country runner who can outrace everyone who steps beside him, and he is also kind at the same time. But his will, determination and ego are tested when a young man by the name of Enko transfers to the school from Quebec. Although not overly-handsome - in fact, Enko is more fuzzy than anything else - he soon becomes a friend to everyone…including Gil.
Even though Enko can outrace Gil without even losing his breath, these two boys become the best of friends and enter into each other’s world seamlessly. They have a powerful bond, but when Enko has to leave Gil’s life, Gil goes on a journey to say goodbye to his friend, and to investigate a legend of a garnet ring that perhaps could return Enko to his world.
Although small in size this book packs a powerful punch, and it will linger in reader’s minds for a good, long time to come!
Until Next Time, Everybody.
Amy
March 11, 2012
Gil Marsh has an interesting story. The premise dragged me in, caught my interest. The writing, however, fell flat. The emotions Gil says he feels seem fake. He goes on a quest out of love for his best friend, but you never really feel that love. Gil and Enko's relationship spans about two chapters, and it's not very detailed. We're supposed to take it on faith that they had this great love, but I never really felt it.
Gil's quest itself was also not very deep. It gives us a nice look at Canada, but it seemed like the author was trying too hard to teach us French. Every time Gil heard a new French word that he didn't understand, the author would spell it out phonetically. It was a little too much, especially if there's a glossary in the back of the book.
I also didn't like the author's overuse of exclamation points. Almost every time Gil found himself in a new impossible situation, she'd overdo it. We can tell by what's going on that he's in trouble, but she'd go overboard, spell everything out clearly and throw on an exclamation point.
Overall, the book read as a children's book, not a young adult book.
Gil's quest itself was also not very deep. It gives us a nice look at Canada, but it seemed like the author was trying too hard to teach us French. Every time Gil heard a new French word that he didn't understand, the author would spell it out phonetically. It was a little too much, especially if there's a glossary in the back of the book.
I also didn't like the author's overuse of exclamation points. Almost every time Gil found himself in a new impossible situation, she'd overdo it. We can tell by what's going on that he's in trouble, but she'd go overboard, spell everything out clearly and throw on an exclamation point.
Overall, the book read as a children's book, not a young adult book.
July 7, 2013
I read this a bit ago, for a blog tour and I have to say, I really enjoyed it. Gil Marsh is a teenager who just lost his friend Enko. Him and Enko didn't always get along, but they'd become best friends having so much in common and then Enko is ripped from Gil's life, dying from an aggressive form of cancer.
To find resolution to the emptiness Enko has left behind, Gil travels through Canada, to find the maker of a ring that belonged to Enko and visit his grave. ON his journey, he meets many people, some nice and welcoming, some treacherous. In the end, he's not sure he's found what he wanted to, but closure has found him.
I really loved this story, it's a fast read and takes you through Gil's confusion and pain, making you feel for the guy and hope he can pick up the pieces of his shattered heart. Amazing storytelling. I do not agree with the other reviewers on this story. It's also closely based on the ancient story of Gilgamesh, the Sumerian King from 3000 BC, and I believe the author took this tale and spun it into their own very well.
I highly Recommend it.
To find resolution to the emptiness Enko has left behind, Gil travels through Canada, to find the maker of a ring that belonged to Enko and visit his grave. ON his journey, he meets many people, some nice and welcoming, some treacherous. In the end, he's not sure he's found what he wanted to, but closure has found him.
I really loved this story, it's a fast read and takes you through Gil's confusion and pain, making you feel for the guy and hope he can pick up the pieces of his shattered heart. Amazing storytelling. I do not agree with the other reviewers on this story. It's also closely based on the ancient story of Gilgamesh, the Sumerian King from 3000 BC, and I believe the author took this tale and spun it into their own very well.
I highly Recommend it.
February 10, 2013
This is a modern take on Gilgamesh. The character Enko in this story represents,Enkidu, the beast and Gil represents Gilgamesh.
It's a story of a two boys who had a connection through their love of running. Tragically one boy dies and the other is left to deal with the loss and finally picking up the pieces and moving on.
It's a quick read and any student who has studied legend of Gilgamesh will enjoy the comparison.
It's a story of a two boys who had a connection through their love of running. Tragically one boy dies and the other is left to deal with the loss and finally picking up the pieces and moving on.
It's a quick read and any student who has studied legend of Gilgamesh will enjoy the comparison.
March 21, 2012
Good book, a bit sad, and I knew she was going to scam him, and yeah, pretty good!
March 23, 2012
All heroes die. What makes them heroes is that their stories don't. This retelling of Gilgamesh may be the first truly heroic tale you run into all year.
August 5, 2024
It follows a lot of the beats of the epic of Gilgamesh, so it could be considered a good retelling, but it just wasn't a good novel in my opinion.
We follow Gil, who is a high school runner, popular and loved by everyone, as he meets a new exchange student named Enko, who seems to be able to match his talents. they become best friends and the rest is history.
If you know the legend, you'll follow it quite closely here, but I was just disappointed in the writing style, pacing, unanswered questions, and the ending.
We follow Gil, who is a high school runner, popular and loved by everyone, as he meets a new exchange student named Enko, who seems to be able to match his talents. they become best friends and the rest is history.
If you know the legend, you'll follow it quite closely here, but I was just disappointed in the writing style, pacing, unanswered questions, and the ending.
March 3, 2012
Originally reviewed here.
As evidenced by the reality that the two 2012 titles to get top ratings from me have been Cinder and The Humming Room, I am clearly a fan of retellings. There’s something so wonderful about seeing a new take on an old story, I love the newness and the familiarity wrapped up in one neat little package for me to enjoy. Sadly, Gil Marsh did not fit the bill.
Gil Marsh was pitched as a contemporary retelling of the Epic of Gilgamesh, possibly the oldest epic recorded tale in the world. I read the Epic of Gilgamesh back in A.P. English in high school, and wasn’t especially taken with it. I found it very interesting to compare ancient flood stories and think about the implications this may have had for the Noah tale in the Bible, but it really had nothing on the Odyssey. Still, I found the prospect of a contemporary retelling intriguing, and since it was a very short read (under 200 pages), I figured there was no harm in giving it a shot. Now, I don’t feel like this was necessarily a waste of my time, and I didn’t have high expectations to begin with, but nonetheless I felt Gil Marsh fell short.
I appreciate that this book was written to be simplistic as this can sometimes give a book a wider appeal and make it more accessible. However, simple doesn’t have to equate to shallow, and in this case it did. I would expect a story about a strong friendship, loss, and grief to carry emotional weight, whereas Gil Marsh seemed to only skim the surface of this potential. I didn’t feel invested in Gil and Enko’s friendship, and so it was hard to support Gil’s reactions when Enko died. He seemed petulant, completely illogical in his actions, and I don’t feel as if he grew whatsoever from his experiences.
The story largely surrounded a ring that Enko had given Gil before he died, a family heirloom that came with a story of tragic love and loss. The story was somewhat interesting, but I’m still struggling to understand how this played into the bigger picture of the plot. Was there a moral? Was the moral that things just are? I’m not sure. Additionally, I’m not sure I really understood Gil’s motives in his journey to Canada. I get that he needed closure with Enko, and that it was terrible that he was unable to attend his funeral, yet Gil’s journey to Canada seems to be a confused jumble between wanting to find Enko’s grave, and wanting to find a supposedly immortal man and potentially bring Enko back. Was he planning to run away forever, or did he just want the story of the ring? I honestly don’t know, because it wasn’t really explained, and it didn’t really play out.
I think if we could have gotten into Gil’s head a bit more and understood the emotional drive behind this story, it would have been more successful. Instead, it came across as a very juvenile tale written for an older audience. It was sadly flat where it could have been simple and beautiful, and unfortunately one of my least favorite reads this year.
As evidenced by the reality that the two 2012 titles to get top ratings from me have been Cinder and The Humming Room, I am clearly a fan of retellings. There’s something so wonderful about seeing a new take on an old story, I love the newness and the familiarity wrapped up in one neat little package for me to enjoy. Sadly, Gil Marsh did not fit the bill.
Gil Marsh was pitched as a contemporary retelling of the Epic of Gilgamesh, possibly the oldest epic recorded tale in the world. I read the Epic of Gilgamesh back in A.P. English in high school, and wasn’t especially taken with it. I found it very interesting to compare ancient flood stories and think about the implications this may have had for the Noah tale in the Bible, but it really had nothing on the Odyssey. Still, I found the prospect of a contemporary retelling intriguing, and since it was a very short read (under 200 pages), I figured there was no harm in giving it a shot. Now, I don’t feel like this was necessarily a waste of my time, and I didn’t have high expectations to begin with, but nonetheless I felt Gil Marsh fell short.
I appreciate that this book was written to be simplistic as this can sometimes give a book a wider appeal and make it more accessible. However, simple doesn’t have to equate to shallow, and in this case it did. I would expect a story about a strong friendship, loss, and grief to carry emotional weight, whereas Gil Marsh seemed to only skim the surface of this potential. I didn’t feel invested in Gil and Enko’s friendship, and so it was hard to support Gil’s reactions when Enko died. He seemed petulant, completely illogical in his actions, and I don’t feel as if he grew whatsoever from his experiences.
The story largely surrounded a ring that Enko had given Gil before he died, a family heirloom that came with a story of tragic love and loss. The story was somewhat interesting, but I’m still struggling to understand how this played into the bigger picture of the plot. Was there a moral? Was the moral that things just are? I’m not sure. Additionally, I’m not sure I really understood Gil’s motives in his journey to Canada. I get that he needed closure with Enko, and that it was terrible that he was unable to attend his funeral, yet Gil’s journey to Canada seems to be a confused jumble between wanting to find Enko’s grave, and wanting to find a supposedly immortal man and potentially bring Enko back. Was he planning to run away forever, or did he just want the story of the ring? I honestly don’t know, because it wasn’t really explained, and it didn’t really play out.
I think if we could have gotten into Gil’s head a bit more and understood the emotional drive behind this story, it would have been more successful. Instead, it came across as a very juvenile tale written for an older audience. It was sadly flat where it could have been simple and beautiful, and unfortunately one of my least favorite reads this year.
May 19, 2012
Originally posted here.
It is hard to write a review for a book when I have the sort of reaction to it that I had for Gil Marsh by A.C.E. Bauer. I was disappointed in it, but not through any fault with the actual writing. This is one of those cases where the author's vision for her story did not match my expectations as a reader. Keeping this in mind I'm going to try and split this into two parts.
For Readers Unfamiliar With The Epic of Gilgamesh
This is a story about a boy who is grieving for his friend who goes on a quest to say good bye properly. It is fast paced and there are some intense scenes. Gil is a sympathetic character who is searching for answers to hard life questions and trying to get over the death of his friend. You may question why Gil does some of the things he does and not fully understand why this friendship is such an important one, but Gil is an easy character to like and you will want to see him succeed. There is one place near the end where there is a flirting with the supernatural that will probably have you scratching your head as there is no real explanation for it.
For Readers Familiar With The Epic of Gilgamesh
The book pretty much follows the Epic in form as well as plot, except I felt the details were even more sparse in this retelling than they are in the original. Bauer made a decision to remove most of the mythos from the story in the novel. I was okay with this, but was hoping that would mean a removal of the entire mythos. Except it didn't. While the gods and goddesses of Babylonian myth are absent from the story, there is a random immortal dude lurking in the mountains of northern Canada. Unlike Utnapishtim in the original, this guy has no idea how or why he is immortal and is not forthcoming with any help for Gil at all. He basically says, "This is the way I am. No explanation for it. Weird huh? Now get off my property." And that's all we get of that. One of the reasons I like the Epic so much is that one of its major themes is the inevitably of death, but at the same time it stresses life is precious and should be celebrated. The novel kind of sort of flirts with that concept a little at the end, but not noticeably. By removing the mythos Bauer also removed the feminine aspect of the story. The only major female character in the novel is not nice. She thwarts Gil's quest and swindles him. This too works against the themes in the original work, where the female is necessary as it is essential to life itself. Without these themes the story felt empty and lacking in meaning. It was just the story of a sad guy who went on a fruitless and uncomfortable road trip. Hence my disappointment.
This is a review of a copy received via NetGalley. Gil Marsh will be available for purchase February 28.
It is hard to write a review for a book when I have the sort of reaction to it that I had for Gil Marsh by A.C.E. Bauer. I was disappointed in it, but not through any fault with the actual writing. This is one of those cases where the author's vision for her story did not match my expectations as a reader. Keeping this in mind I'm going to try and split this into two parts.
For Readers Unfamiliar With The Epic of Gilgamesh
This is a story about a boy who is grieving for his friend who goes on a quest to say good bye properly. It is fast paced and there are some intense scenes. Gil is a sympathetic character who is searching for answers to hard life questions and trying to get over the death of his friend. You may question why Gil does some of the things he does and not fully understand why this friendship is such an important one, but Gil is an easy character to like and you will want to see him succeed. There is one place near the end where there is a flirting with the supernatural that will probably have you scratching your head as there is no real explanation for it.
For Readers Familiar With The Epic of Gilgamesh
The book pretty much follows the Epic in form as well as plot, except I felt the details were even more sparse in this retelling than they are in the original. Bauer made a decision to remove most of the mythos from the story in the novel. I was okay with this, but was hoping that would mean a removal of the entire mythos. Except it didn't. While the gods and goddesses of Babylonian myth are absent from the story, there is a random immortal dude lurking in the mountains of northern Canada. Unlike Utnapishtim in the original, this guy has no idea how or why he is immortal and is not forthcoming with any help for Gil at all. He basically says, "This is the way I am. No explanation for it. Weird huh? Now get off my property." And that's all we get of that. One of the reasons I like the Epic so much is that one of its major themes is the inevitably of death, but at the same time it stresses life is precious and should be celebrated. The novel kind of sort of flirts with that concept a little at the end, but not noticeably. By removing the mythos Bauer also removed the feminine aspect of the story. The only major female character in the novel is not nice. She thwarts Gil's quest and swindles him. This too works against the themes in the original work, where the female is necessary as it is essential to life itself. Without these themes the story felt empty and lacking in meaning. It was just the story of a sad guy who went on a fruitless and uncomfortable road trip. Hence my disappointment.
This is a review of a copy received via NetGalley. Gil Marsh will be available for purchase February 28.
February 12, 2012
I am sorry to say that, while I had high hopes for this novel, I actually struggled with it for a few different reasons. First, I found it to have a somewhat forced pacing and it just didn’t grab me. Events seemed to happen in a very quick succession without giving the reader much time to digest the information. For instance, one moment Gil and Enko hate each other, and the next moment they’re best friends, but I personally never felt like the story gave rise to these events. They just seemed to appear on the page without much explanation for the reader. I’m a reader that enjoys a story that takes place over time not only in the story, but on the pages as well, and I didn’t find that within Gil Marsh. Time does pass in the novel, a lot of time, but it tends to happen all on the same page, and I tend to have a bit of difficulty with that as a reader.
Second, I felt the same in terms of the characterization as I did with the pacing. While the reader is given background knowledge, I never felt a direct connection with any of the characters. Gil and Enko become best friends, but there isn’t anything to really solidify that for the reader; I never felt like they were fleshed out to any point that I could relate to them. I also was confused by their relationship as, aside from becoming best friends seemingly overnight, the descriptions of their interrelations tend to give off a feel for a romantic relationship and not just a deep friendship. Perhaps it was just my perception of the story as I read, but there were many different circumstances within the novel that made me question Gil and Enko’s actual relationship, such as Gil’s obsessive description of Enko being a beautiful boy, them holding each other, etc. I don’t know if this is what Bauer was planning when she wrote the novel, and as I haven’t read the original story of “Gilgamesh,” so I can’t say if they’re supposed to be great friends or lovers, but I do know that these descriptions left me a bit confused.
Third, I found the journey into Canada to be a little bit strange. Once Enko dies, Gil is devastated, which is understandable, but his journey into Canada with barely any money and no sure destination struck me as odd. The fact that the journey seems to jump from one bad situation to the next also left me feeling somewhat depressed—I was hoping for a story that shows the healing process, but didn’t really find it as I read.
In all honesty, I found that this story isn’t really my style, mainly because of the lack of pacing and characterization. I, personally, just wasn’t drawn into it; it was okay, but not for me...
To see my full review upon release (2/26/12):
http://bookvacations.wordpress.com/20...
Second, I felt the same in terms of the characterization as I did with the pacing. While the reader is given background knowledge, I never felt a direct connection with any of the characters. Gil and Enko become best friends, but there isn’t anything to really solidify that for the reader; I never felt like they were fleshed out to any point that I could relate to them. I also was confused by their relationship as, aside from becoming best friends seemingly overnight, the descriptions of their interrelations tend to give off a feel for a romantic relationship and not just a deep friendship. Perhaps it was just my perception of the story as I read, but there were many different circumstances within the novel that made me question Gil and Enko’s actual relationship, such as Gil’s obsessive description of Enko being a beautiful boy, them holding each other, etc. I don’t know if this is what Bauer was planning when she wrote the novel, and as I haven’t read the original story of “Gilgamesh,” so I can’t say if they’re supposed to be great friends or lovers, but I do know that these descriptions left me a bit confused.
Third, I found the journey into Canada to be a little bit strange. Once Enko dies, Gil is devastated, which is understandable, but his journey into Canada with barely any money and no sure destination struck me as odd. The fact that the journey seems to jump from one bad situation to the next also left me feeling somewhat depressed—I was hoping for a story that shows the healing process, but didn’t really find it as I read.
In all honesty, I found that this story isn’t really my style, mainly because of the lack of pacing and characterization. I, personally, just wasn’t drawn into it; it was okay, but not for me...
To see my full review upon release (2/26/12):
http://bookvacations.wordpress.com/20...
Read
March 7, 2012Going into this story I didn't have any expectations of what I thought this story would be like as a retelling because I wasn't familiar with the ancient story of Gilgamesh. I must have skipped over that one. But from reading the book summary, I did have an expectation that this was going to be a story about friendship, loss, self-discovery and growth. Unfortunately it didn't measure up to the standard I had set for it. That may be a bit unfair to the story, but I had very high hopes. I just think that Gil's character needed to be developed more so he would be someone that I wanted to care about.
After Enko's death, Gil was blinded by his grief and every decision that he made was careless and irrational. He was easily taken advantage of and mislead. And while all of these terrible things were happening to him - getting beaten and robbed - all I could think was why doesn't he think things through? Why is he so trusting? Why does he have to lie to his family when all he wants to do is visit his friend's grave?
I would get frustrated while reading because it always seemed like Gil would become distracted from his original intention to visit Enko's grave. His obsession with the ring Enko gave him led to wanting to find the blacksmith who made it with a few detours on the way. I can understand why a reader might not finish reading the book because I kept asking myself - what is the point? I might not have cared what was going to happen to Gil, but I wanted to know what would happen to Gil. I'm glad that I did continue reading because in the final encounters with Old Man Miller and the police officer I finally saw the growth and recognition in Gil that he was seeking, as I reader I was yearning for, all along.
After Enko's death, Gil was blinded by his grief and every decision that he made was careless and irrational. He was easily taken advantage of and mislead. And while all of these terrible things were happening to him - getting beaten and robbed - all I could think was why doesn't he think things through? Why is he so trusting? Why does he have to lie to his family when all he wants to do is visit his friend's grave?
I would get frustrated while reading because it always seemed like Gil would become distracted from his original intention to visit Enko's grave. His obsession with the ring Enko gave him led to wanting to find the blacksmith who made it with a few detours on the way. I can understand why a reader might not finish reading the book because I kept asking myself - what is the point? I might not have cared what was going to happen to Gil, but I wanted to know what would happen to Gil. I'm glad that I did continue reading because in the final encounters with Old Man Miller and the police officer I finally saw the growth and recognition in Gil that he was seeking, as I reader I was yearning for, all along.
March 3, 2012
I really, really wanted to like this book. A modern retelling of the epic of Gigamesh? What a neat idea! I teach sixth grade social studies (ancient history to the Renaissance) and am always looking for ways to bring the older stories to life for my students. I hadn't run into any modern versions of this story yet, and was pretty excited. Initially the novel did have promise, but it never truly delivered on it.
For one thing, I never felt as if I really connected to the characters. I didn't find myself really caring all that much about either Gil or Enko or what was going to happen to them. For the most part I kept reading because at first hoped it would get better and later on I figured well, I've gotten this far, so I might as well soldier on...and then, bam! It was over. Can you say anticlimactic? It really didn't leave the reader with a sense of completion, and Gil definitely doesn't reach anything near the epiphany that the original character in the epic does.
Another aspect of the book that I wasn't crazy about was the style of writing. There were far too many short, choppy sentences within short, choppy chapters. One thing I did like, though, was the sprinkling of French Canadian throughout--that was pretty neat, and Gil's attempts to pronounce them (cleverly showing the reader how to say a lot of the phrases) was a nice touch. And how many books have characters enjoying poutine in them? Not nearly enough! (Yes, it does sound and look pretty gross. But oh my goodness, it is delicious! Its inclusion alone is almost worth two stars!)
In all, it was an okay read and one I have already mentioned to my classes. It definitely won't go in my "to be re-read" pile, though.
For one thing, I never felt as if I really connected to the characters. I didn't find myself really caring all that much about either Gil or Enko or what was going to happen to them. For the most part I kept reading because at first hoped it would get better and later on I figured well, I've gotten this far, so I might as well soldier on...and then, bam! It was over. Can you say anticlimactic? It really didn't leave the reader with a sense of completion, and Gil definitely doesn't reach anything near the epiphany that the original character in the epic does.
Another aspect of the book that I wasn't crazy about was the style of writing. There were far too many short, choppy sentences within short, choppy chapters. One thing I did like, though, was the sprinkling of French Canadian throughout--that was pretty neat, and Gil's attempts to pronounce them (cleverly showing the reader how to say a lot of the phrases) was a nice touch. And how many books have characters enjoying poutine in them? Not nearly enough! (Yes, it does sound and look pretty gross. But oh my goodness, it is delicious! Its inclusion alone is almost worth two stars!)
In all, it was an okay read and one I have already mentioned to my classes. It definitely won't go in my "to be re-read" pile, though.
August 9, 2011
This book held such promise and I was excited to get started reading it. Unfortunately, since reading it I’ve wavered so many times about how exactly to phrase this review. I don’t want to sound unnecessary harsh but I want to give a honest opinion as well. My problem, I think, was not the plot but the main character. The character was so annoying and unbelievable that it made the entire story just seem to pointless and it dragged on and on. The MC goes from fabulous on top of everything guy to… an idiot. The death of “friend” supposedly precipitated this change but the friendship moved so quickly you never even understood it…they seemed more like strangers than even acquaintances much less close friends. His trip is planned for 2 weeks and that changes to 4 and then it becomes 4 months. I was so confused by the character and then the timeline and the so called friendship – it was just more and more silly.
But the last third was perhaps the most confusing and jarring – the random ring story, a quest for this legendary ring maker which is silly and antiquated. When the MC finally completes his quest, it lasts all of two seconds before he decides he’s hungry and wants to go for lunch. Includes a pointless glossary (I’ve never taken a spit of French and had no problem understanding the book as each word was explained within the text). I know I sound so harsh and I don’t mean to be but the book was so over the top that it was completely unbelievable and it seemed to get worse and worse as the story moved on.
ARC Galley Proof
But the last third was perhaps the most confusing and jarring – the random ring story, a quest for this legendary ring maker which is silly and antiquated. When the MC finally completes his quest, it lasts all of two seconds before he decides he’s hungry and wants to go for lunch. Includes a pointless glossary (I’ve never taken a spit of French and had no problem understanding the book as each word was explained within the text). I know I sound so harsh and I don’t mean to be but the book was so over the top that it was completely unbelievable and it seemed to get worse and worse as the story moved on.
ARC Galley Proof
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 17, 2012
When I first heard about Gil Marsh by A.C.E. Bauer I was instantly intrigued. It sounded really interesting- an emotional and bittersweet contemporary read that I would just adore. However, as it turns out, Gil Marsh was just not for me, sadly enough. Gil Marsh tells the story of Gil Marsh and Enko, two best friends at Uruk High School. However, everything changes when Enko suddenly dies and Gil falls apart following this death. First, let me talk about the things I did enjoy about this book. One was the friendship between Gil and Enko. It was a little confusing at times (I could never tell if they were just friends or something more...) but it was still nice seeing such a strong male friendship in a YA book to say the least. I also enjoyed how A.C.E. Bauer brought to life the story of Gilgamesh in this one...it didn't turn out just as I expected but it was still interesting to see it twisted and turned to fit the modern world. The parts about this one that I just didn't love included how confusing this book could get at time (everything was so jumbled at times) to the fact that I never really could relate to Gil, which is always a bad sign in my book. Plus I also felt like this book was missing something... development, a plot line, I'm not sure....Anyhow, Gil Marsh was just not the book for me, and to be honest, it's not something I really suggest. However, if you think you may enjoy it, give it a try...hopefully you'll see something I couldn't.
Grade: C
Grade: C
January 29, 2012
*It's always a struggle for me whenever I have to write a less than favorable review because I know the author has poured their heart into their work and I don't like to be the one to say I didn't like it. However, I do believe in giving my honest opinion and I will do my best to share it while being respectful of both the author and their work.
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for the chance to read this book.
The cover is what originally caught my attention and made me want to read this story but unfortunately, that's where my interest ended.
This is a modern day retelling of the story of Gilgamesh, the Sumerian King from 3000 BC. Gil Marsh the reinging "top dog" at school quickly befriends the new kid, Enko after realizing being rivals with him is a waste of time. The speed at which they become BFF's is almost unbelievable (who becomes friends that fast?) and a little unsettling. I started to feel as if I was reading about two guys who'd fallen in love with one another instead of two guys who'd become as close as brothers.
After Enko's untimely death, Gil isn't sure what the purpose of life is anymore. He sets out on a journey with the hope that in finding Enko again, he'll ultimately find himself in the process.
I'm sorry to say that I had a hard time reading the rest of this book because I found it to be dry and boring. Hopefully, there will be other readers who will thoroughly enjoy this book but I am not one of them.
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for the chance to read this book.
The cover is what originally caught my attention and made me want to read this story but unfortunately, that's where my interest ended.
This is a modern day retelling of the story of Gilgamesh, the Sumerian King from 3000 BC. Gil Marsh the reinging "top dog" at school quickly befriends the new kid, Enko after realizing being rivals with him is a waste of time. The speed at which they become BFF's is almost unbelievable (who becomes friends that fast?) and a little unsettling. I started to feel as if I was reading about two guys who'd fallen in love with one another instead of two guys who'd become as close as brothers.
After Enko's untimely death, Gil isn't sure what the purpose of life is anymore. He sets out on a journey with the hope that in finding Enko again, he'll ultimately find himself in the process.
I'm sorry to say that I had a hard time reading the rest of this book because I found it to be dry and boring. Hopefully, there will be other readers who will thoroughly enjoy this book but I am not one of them.
March 30, 2012
GoodReads Synopsis: Good looking, athletic, and smart, Gill Marsh is the most popular kid at Uruk High School, even though he is only a junior. When Enko, a new kid from Montreal, shows up, Gil is wary. Yet Enko is easy going and matches Gil's athletic prowess without being a threat. Soon, the two become inseparable friends, practicing, studying, and double-dating.
Then suddenly, to everyone's shock, Enko succombs to an aggressive cancer.
When Enko's parents take his body and return to Canada, Gil is unable to even say good bye. He is inconsolable. Determined to find Enko's grave, Gil sneaks away and heads north.
Closely based on the ancient story of Gilgamesh, the Sumerian King from 3000 BC, A. C. E. Bauer has carefully woven the classic elements of myth to follow Gil's quest and explore the grief and growth of a young man.
My Thoughts: This story read really fast. But the writing style felt more rough draft rather than a fully fleshed out final copy. There was very little description…which felt off. The characters were all flat and one dimensional, as did the story. I found it hard to finish. Gil would get so distracted from his original mission that the whole journey seemed totally pointless. The story had so much potential, but it was so “all over the place” all I wanted to do was finish it and forget it.
Then suddenly, to everyone's shock, Enko succombs to an aggressive cancer.
When Enko's parents take his body and return to Canada, Gil is unable to even say good bye. He is inconsolable. Determined to find Enko's grave, Gil sneaks away and heads north.
Closely based on the ancient story of Gilgamesh, the Sumerian King from 3000 BC, A. C. E. Bauer has carefully woven the classic elements of myth to follow Gil's quest and explore the grief and growth of a young man.
My Thoughts: This story read really fast. But the writing style felt more rough draft rather than a fully fleshed out final copy. There was very little description…which felt off. The characters were all flat and one dimensional, as did the story. I found it hard to finish. Gil would get so distracted from his original mission that the whole journey seemed totally pointless. The story had so much potential, but it was so “all over the place” all I wanted to do was finish it and forget it.
January 15, 2012
Ok...this is my fourth attempt to write this review. I don't know why this book bugged me so much, but it did. Plus, I hate criticizing writers work harshly and I don't know how to write this review constructively.
On page 41 when Enko dies I had had it with this book and could not read another page.
There was so much wrong with this book...I don't even know where to begin. I felt like I was reading a book about two boys who were lovers not friends (which would be fine if that is how the book was advertised...but it wasn't). Gil's love for Enko did not feel platonic...it felt like the love you feel for your first true love.
I think Ms. Bauer was going for a "Brian Song" relationship between Gil and Enko, but it did not translate...it just felt weird.
Then there was the storyline that was just kind of dull and I found the writing lacking originality or inspiration. There is a reason Gilgamesh has not been retold for 5000 years...it is boring.
Basically, this was not my cup of tea.
On page 41 when Enko dies I had had it with this book and could not read another page.
There was so much wrong with this book...I don't even know where to begin. I felt like I was reading a book about two boys who were lovers not friends (which would be fine if that is how the book was advertised...but it wasn't). Gil's love for Enko did not feel platonic...it felt like the love you feel for your first true love.
I think Ms. Bauer was going for a "Brian Song" relationship between Gil and Enko, but it did not translate...it just felt weird.
Then there was the storyline that was just kind of dull and I found the writing lacking originality or inspiration. There is a reason Gilgamesh has not been retold for 5000 years...it is boring.
Basically, this was not my cup of tea.
January 21, 2014
This book,”Gil Marsh” by A.C.E. Bauer, should not be brought on board of this spaceship. This book has very little historical and scientific value. Although, it does have quite a bit of cultural information, if you are looking at Quebec’s culture. I don’t think the story of Gil losing his friend and running away from his house to go try and find an immortal man, to try and bring Enko back from the dead is really one of the two million most important books ever known to man. Another reason I wouldn’t bring it is because it is really just a more modern translation of the Legend of Gilgamesh, which i believe would be brought on board. So, I think it would be unnecessary to also include this book. The only reason I could think to bring this book aboard the spaceship, would be if you wanted to bring a book written from every author, or if you were trying to show how Quebec looks to a teenager that is all alone. With all of these reasons taken into account I do not think this book should be brought onto the Spaceship.
May 15, 2015
Gil is a popular high school student and a star on the track team. When Enko showed up, Gil felt immediate competition within himself. Enko was a far better runner and he got the attention of the girls! Enko's only problem seemed to be that he was covered head to toe in hair: hairy knuckles, knees, back! Gil called him Beast Man, but the nickname never caught on because the students all liked Enko. When it finally came to fisticuffs between Enko and Gil, Gil realized that he actually liked Enko. They spent every moment together after that, enjoying a deep friendship. Then Enko announced that he had leukemia. Before he died, Enko gave Gil his garnet ring, a family heirloom. After Enko passed, Gil wanted to visit his grave, but Gil's parents said no. Gil ran away from home and searched the Montreal area for clues to his friend's ring's history and to visit Enko's grave. The author based this story on the tale of Gilgamesh. This story may be appreciated by high school boys especially.
April 22, 2012
The premise of Gil Marsh is that it is a contemporary telling of a 5,000 year old story, the Tale of Gilgamesh, where the Sumerian king loses his best friend and goes on a quest to bring him back from the dead.
Gil Marsh is the king in this story because he reigns over his high school with his blonde good looks, atheticism as a runner, and his smarts. When Enko comes to town from Montreal as the new guy, there is some apprehension on Gil's part because Enko is a fast runner and becomes well liked too. But they become best friends and then Enko dies and is buried in Quebec. Since Gil isn't able to attend the funeral of his new best friend, he sneaks away later to find Enko's grave and doesn't inform anyone. On the quest, Gil meets the worst and best of humankind, including a man who may have the answer to immortality.
This story motivated me to read the original epic.
Gil Marsh is the king in this story because he reigns over his high school with his blonde good looks, atheticism as a runner, and his smarts. When Enko comes to town from Montreal as the new guy, there is some apprehension on Gil's part because Enko is a fast runner and becomes well liked too. But they become best friends and then Enko dies and is buried in Quebec. Since Gil isn't able to attend the funeral of his new best friend, he sneaks away later to find Enko's grave and doesn't inform anyone. On the quest, Gil meets the worst and best of humankind, including a man who may have the answer to immortality.
This story motivated me to read the original epic.
January 9, 2015
I wish authors - especially new ones - got do-overs. That's what editors are for, but with an increase in self-publishing, I'm seeing more and more drek that actually could be redeemed. This is one of those.
This book is based on the story of Gilgamesh ( get it? Gil(ga) Marsh?) and that's what it felt like - an outline of the myth that the author used to superimpose modern day details for a young audience. I know the point is the journey, but in order to care about what happens, you have to get us to care about the "why". I didn't get that from the first half - it just moved too darn fast. Does it cost more to publish a book with more pages? If not, feel free to elaborate a bit more, please!
This book is based on the story of Gilgamesh ( get it? Gil(ga) Marsh?) and that's what it felt like - an outline of the myth that the author used to superimpose modern day details for a young audience. I know the point is the journey, but in order to care about what happens, you have to get us to care about the "why". I didn't get that from the first half - it just moved too darn fast. Does it cost more to publish a book with more pages? If not, feel free to elaborate a bit more, please!
December 14, 2011
Based loosely on an ancient tale of Gilgamesh and his friend Enkidu, this is a story of two high school friends and the loss one suffers, leading him to a quest that takes him through parts of Canada. Get ready for a little French, readers.
This story is pretty good, although I think exclamation points should probably only be used in dialogue. Something gets lost in using them for narrating the story; perhaps what's lost is the author's assumption that the reader is well-read enough to know when the words are describing something exciting or scary, without the aide of punctuation emphasis.
This story is pretty good, although I think exclamation points should probably only be used in dialogue. Something gets lost in using them for narrating the story; perhaps what's lost is the author's assumption that the reader is well-read enough to know when the words are describing something exciting or scary, without the aide of punctuation emphasis.
April 26, 2012
Gil Marsh, by A.C.E. Bauer, is a retelling of the tale of Gilgamesh. It is set in a high school. Gil and Enko are thrown together and at first Gil does not like Enko but they grow to be the best of friends. When Enko gets sick and dies, Gil goes on a personal quest that takes him to Quebec to make peace with the death and to find himself. The struggle to do good and understand bad is central and watching the struggle is fascinating.
This book did start a little slow but built up to a entrancing struggle to find and understand the person Gil can and will be.
This book did start a little slow but built up to a entrancing struggle to find and understand the person Gil can and will be.
April 20, 2012
Gil is fast, smart, popular. Then Enko moves to town from Montreal and he is even faster than Gil, as well as charming, and funny. Gil feels threatened by Enko; they get in a big fight but then become the very best of friends. When Enko becomes sick and dies, Gil sets off on a quest to visit Enko's grave in Montreal but he does it without his parents knowledge or permission.
A current day rendering of the Gilgamesh epic saga.
A current day rendering of the Gilgamesh epic saga.
January 24, 2012
Thoroughly enjoyed this, not something I would have picked up normally, except that it is a retelling of the Gilgamesh story. Two boys become great friends, one dies, the other goes on a quest to ease his heart and maybe bring him back from the dead.
Very good story, I am a sucker for friendship stories between boys that are sensitive and more than potty jokes and punching. This is one.
Very good story, I am a sucker for friendship stories between boys that are sensitive and more than potty jokes and punching. This is one.
March 4, 2012
I couldn't finish the book. I didn't connect to the voice, nor to the writing. I struggled with the storyline of this retelling of Gilgamesh. To be fair, I didn't particularly favor the original. I felt that this retelling had promise, based on the synopsis. A few scenes made me uncomfortable, and I would end up skimming through the story.
I'm sorry, but I just couldn't connect to Gil Marsh.
I'm sorry, but I just couldn't connect to Gil Marsh.
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