The Great Gormenghast Read discussion

This is a spoiler allowed zone for those who have read the book to post thoughts and ideas. You don't have to participate in the reread if you have already read the books as there will be a separate thread for that.

Does anybody want to discuss the book? ^_^
I just finished it. I kept picturing the fight between Flay and Swelter as a sort of video-game with beautiful sets. Think Street Fighter meets Game of Thrones sets.
Also loved the birthday breakfast and reading from the Countess' point of view!

The main discussions will start next month, but feel free to chat away now.

I'm chuckling at your video-game image - even though I'm not a gamer and have never actually seen Street Fighter or more than a few seconds of Game of Thrones.

I'm very glad you enjoyed it and went ahead based purely on my recommendations. I personally find it a very Kafkaesque kind of fairytale world to think about. I mean to start on the first book again for a re-read in July and move progressively through the books!

Cecily, I haven't particularly played the game, or any other video-games, but there was this one time I played it with my boyfriend in an arcade. Apparently smashing buttons is a better technique than being a seasoned gamer who plans moves out. I won. ^_^
As for Game of Thrones, I think the tv show has some of the most beautiful sets in the show/movie industry.

Jonathan, I do agree that it has a Kafkaesque touch. I'm trying to decide whether to read book 2 now, or finish The Second Sex first.

I read the trilogy as a teenager (a long time ago) and loved it. Many years later, I started my love of Murakami when I read "Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World". I always felt that the "End of the World" chapters were like my recollection of Gormenghast castle.

I'm really looking forward to experiencing the trilogy again, and then reverting to "Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World".

Has anybody else read both and do you have similar feelings?

LEONARDO. ohmygod. I don't know what you're talking about, this is a thread for Titus Groan!!! I'm on Gormenghast. That was a spoiler. I'm upset.

Fatin: I'm really very sorry. I have deleted my comment, even though it's too late.

it's okay, at least you didn't mention any more details. I figured something like that might happen.

In Tad Williams' Otherland (book 2, maybe?), he describes a vast, complex building. I recall thinking, 'this is an sizable steal from Gormenghast'. Nothing Williams wrote seemed to acknowledge it, so maybe he had other inspiration. But to me it seemed just like Gormenghast.