Sparrow Nights

by David Gilmour

Everyone would agree that Darius Halloway was the most civilized of men, a professor of French literature; a connoisseur of ideas, beautiful women, and fine wine; a perfect guest at life's dinner party. Darius himself would have especially agreed until Emma, waifish and insatiable Emma, leaves her empty clothes hangers rattling in his closet and walks out the door. For a little while, it's not so bad. He's in shock. He thinks she will come back. Other women find his melancholy quite compelling, and there are compensations to be had. But then the sparrows of insomnia start picking at the inside of his skull. Life's little aggravating moments suddenly seem to require him to seek direct retaliation. Soon, all his smoothness and cleverness are directed toward wreaking the most elaborate revenge--until there he is, in the most damning of situations, with his nerves on fire and his heart in his throat.

Genres: Fiction, Canada, Canadian Literature

224 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

David Gilmour is a novelist who has earned critical praise from literary figures as diverse as William Burroughs and Northrop Frye, and from publications as different as the New York Times to People magazine. The author of six novels, he also hosted the award-winning Gilmour on the Arts. In 2005, his novel A Perfect Night to Go to China won the Governor General’s Award for Fiction. His next book, The Film Club, was a finalist for the 2008 Charles Taylor Prize. It became an international bestseller, and has sold over 200,000 copies in Germany and over 100,000 copies in Brazil. He lives in Toronto with his wife.

Reviews

[Sean Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think that "interesting" is perhaps the best adjective to describe this novel. I have read one other book by Gilmour, and I enjoyed it. I will likely read more of his works, but not immediately. His characters take some time to digest, and I feel like I also need some time to distance myself from Professor Halloway, his womanizing, alcoholic, borderline insane protagonist. The most intriguing aspect of the novel is the protagonist's (and narrator's) decent into self-absorbed madness. Fuelled by rejection at the hands of his live-in former-student girlfriend, he wanders about Toronto becoming more and more self-absorbed. The reader can get the sense that this could go on indefinitely until he gets himself into a situation (no spoilers) where he has to make the most important decision of his life. The outcome of this decision notwithstanding, it is his self-absorption, vanity, and arrogance that get him into the situation in the first place, so it's difficult to feel sorry for him. It is also difficult to dislike him entirely also, as Halloway is funny at times and projects himself as intelligent (perhaps too much so), and a bon-vivant of sorts (appropriate description as he uses French terms with regularity in his narration). Overall, if you are a fan of Gilmour, give this a read. It is relatively short, a bit strange, but worth a look.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a brilliant novel. A sort of Canadian Great Gatsby, Sparrow Nights follows tormented and alcoholic university professor Darius Halloway as he moves through the emotional stages of a hard breakup. Perpetually infatuated by young women that invariably leave, Professor Halloway moves through life as an undernourished ghost, so socially deprived that a glimpse of a coworker at home through a crack in a curtained window brings him a sense of fullness for the night. I found myself underlining phrases in the book, and not just in the first chapter. Irony abounds, as his first girlfriend, of which he eventually bored, never had children, while his greatest love and loss, Emma, is soon after rumoured to be pregnant. Halloway even meets his own Daisy Buchanan. Well edited and well written, Sparrow Nights should be included in the ranks of In the Skin of a Lion and A Handmaid's Tale.

[Linda Munroe · Rating 1 out of 5]

The painful thing about this work is the casual cruel disregard the man has for the women he meets.
It is certainly a true picture of the way many men and the world in general treats women but there is no vision on offer for anything better. The professor is nasty and self indulgent low life -- my patience really wore thin waiting for him to think of anything besides himself. I started skipping episodes so this review is based on an incomplete read.

I have read other books by this author and he is a powerful writer with serious objectives. So what is the objective in this case?

Professor Holloway falls in love with a woman young enough to be his student and when she leaves him he is devasted. I have noticed that this is something that happens from time to time. The Professor of French literature refers to the writers he teaches at the University within which I imagine is hidden a deeper meaning to the novel. He talks about the the 'theme of descent' and (if I am expressing this right) there are a series of descriptive 'episodes' that are probably very meaningful. The things this guy does range from unethical to criminal, however. The excuses for doing them are shallow. Perhaps we are reading about a descent into madness. The only point of view is the professsors but it is untrustworthy. He is drunk most of the time and adds drugs here and there.
If the intent was to create an asshole and the aura to go with it then the book is successful.

[1.1 · Rating 2 out of 5]

It read like a wierd mix of Houellebecq, Dostoevsky, and even, oddly, a little dash of Ellis. Depressing, absurd, sometimes tiresome and predictable, especially the little pedantic moments the narrator has – and despite a few minor annoyances here and there, it was a thoroughly enjoyable book. Gilmour writes well and knows his business: and it shows.

[Rubberboots · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gilmour is a talented author and introduces us to the life of Prof Holloway. A sad life it is. A light read but packed with great one liners. I wish there were more dialogue as it brought out the best of the book. One should not run out and buy this book, but if you come across, give it a go.

[Kate McDougall Sackler · Rating 2 out of 5]

A short, unpleasant novel about a self-involved college professor who likes younger women and acts of revenge. Although this description makes it sound good, it is not. It is depictions like this that give college professors a bad rap.
2020 reading challenge-a book that can be read in a day

[Mary Curran · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quirky and erotic novel about obsession and darkness.

[Michelle Wasiuta · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not as great as I remember it being the first time around but still decent. I didn’t remember most of the plot; Emma? The dogs? The vacation trip? He gets married and has a baby? None of that. The only thing I remembered was that there was a hooker and he killed someone. So it was fun to experience it all basically for the first time but still not a book I’d return to.

[Maddy · Rating 4 out of 5]

PROTAGONIST: Professor Darius Halloway
SETTING: Toronto
RATING: 3.5

At first glance, Professor Darius Halloway fits the stereotype of the middle-aged professor, the kind of man you would expect to see teaching French literature at a university. He's a connoisseur of fine wine and women; living on his own, he inhabits an insular world where he indulges his every whim. But then his entire being is thrown off balance when a sexually insatiable young woman named Emma Carpenter enters his life. She is totally unpredictable, totally uninhibited; and he finds himself obsessed with her.

For a few years, Emma and Halloway carve out a life together; but it's always obvious that this relationship is not going to achieve any permanence. When the inevitable happens and Emma leaves him, Darius is bereft. The object of his addiction appears to be forever out of his life; in a state of grief and self-indulgence, Darius becomes increasingly unmoored. He's drinking too much; while at first, women seem attracted to his emotional need, that is not a phase that lasts forever. He's experiencing insomnia and is constantly annoyed by the irritating little moments, often seeking inappropriate revenge, as when he poisons his neighbor's two dogs because their barking bothers him.

For a large portion of the book, the reader becomes a vicarious witness to Darius's self-destruction and watches in fascination as he deteriorates before our eyes. Ultimately, however, the book becomes almost suffocating. Told entirely from the point of view of Darius, his introspective journeys seem totally self indulgent and redundant. His ability to rationalize even the worst behavior soon becomes wearing.

Gilmour writes beautifully, with some lyrical passages that felt like poetry on the page. He constructs a deeply disturbed character in Halloway. Early on in the book, we sense a mad man lurking beneath his polished exterior. Unfortunately, spending so much time in the head of the unsympathetic protagonist made it difficult to sustain the narrative for the length of the book. I was glad to be done with him when the story ended.

[Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This guy can really write. I stumbled across this book and started reading it having no knowledge of the controversial comments he made where he came off as a sexist prig. I don't agree with the comments, but I have a grudging respect for his honesty, and really, the chorus of self-righteous outrage is waaay over the top. Again, I strongly disagree with his comments. But have we really become a society where everyone has to think exactly alike, or else be vilified by the politically correct police? How Orwellian. Anyway. The novel. Very compelling character study of a respected yet deeply self-centered and insecure college professor well-written, and character study. I would read more of Gilmour's books because he is a good writer, and I would not shun his other works because he is not politically correct.

[Patrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Intriguing tale in the main. Main character is relentlessly self involved and isn't particularly nice in most cases. At times, the reader wonders if the story is going anywhere, or of it's just there to hash out problem relationships the protagonist has had. Toward the end, however, the book saves itself and becomes a relevant narrative with some purpose. Given my bias against "literary" books in the modern idiom, that's a pretty good accomplishment.

The discussions of sex are fairly frank and pervasive, so if that makes you squeamish, avoid reading this one. I didn't find any of it particularly exploitative or grotesque, however. Because of its short page count, this one is a quick read.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

'It was as if my brain had turned against me, as if it had decided on its own to drive me mad.'

Poor Professor Holloway with his episodes and his meandering thoughts and his drinking. All those sleeping pills. The Rimbaud and the Proust. And then the psychotic break.

So engaging and such a hoot, I was sorry to read the final sentence.

[Tom Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

A hard drinking, whoring college literature professor is obsessed with thoughts of his old girlfriend and in the process commits a murder, while disposing of the body in his furnace. What's not to like in that plot? Actually, the book was an enjoyable read.

[Darrell Epp · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book, highest recommendation. Try to find Gilmour's first novel, Back on Tuesday. Great Stuff.
http://www.amazon.ca/Imaginary-Maps-D...

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Canadian fiction's most engaging protagonist is this Darius Halloway. I love you, Gilmour.

[Caroline · Rating 1 out of 5]

Main character was a pompous self-serving whiner. Quit around page 100.

[L Moore · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ive never disliked nor been more intrigued by a narrator. This book is dark academia, suspenseful, and at times just hard to push through. All that to say Id recommend it to a friend. :)

[Marianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved it but I wouldn't recommend it due to it's explicit content! :)