Reading 1001 discussion

Rating: 4 Stars
Read: February 2017

Despite its title, this is the second installment of the Gormenghast series. In this book, Titus Groan comes of age and becomes increasingly restless as an older child (ages 7 through 17) and curious about the outside world. We saw some foreshadowing of his future rebellious nature in Titus Groan, now we see it more overtly. Meanwhile, villainous Steerpike is becoming increasingly more successful in his diabolical plan and the body count rises. Titus does not really want to inherit his title, but he knows that things are not right in the castle and action must be done.

I thought that this book started slower than Titus Groan, but soon picked up and flowed at a more relaxed pace than the first book. The language is very creative and beautiful. Despite all the gloom, doom, and demise we see in this book, quite a bit of humor still manages to penetrate the darkness.

This was my favorite of the Gormenghast series. Titus is old enough to be an active character, and the sinister plotting that started to destroy the Gormenghast household in the first book is really taking hold in this one. Peake's writing is lovely, even for someone like me who hates poetry. I liked the sci-fi elements in Titus Alone too, but they were less developed than this odd gothic fantasy style that makes up Titus Groan and Gormenghast.
I gave this book 5 stars on Goodreads.

Second book finds Titus rebelling against the castle. He finds Flay. He loses his sister. Listened to audio read by Simon Vance. Good job! Gormenghast is the name of the castle which is by its description, gothic and has a medieval feel to it. The castle is remote and surrounded by topography that protects it or holds the inhabitants from the outside world. It is surrounded by water; seas, rivers which makes it an island of stone amid water which plays a key role in the story. The impression is that Gormenghast is stagnant, insular and introspective. The inhabitants engage in pointless rituals that they have long forgotten the purpose. In the second book, Titus is a young He of 7 in the beginning of the second book and 17 at the end. Titus does not want to continue in the endless and pointless rituals. Steerpike is the other main character and is the second to Barquentine who is master of ritual. There is quite a bit murder and violence in the novel.
Characters:
Countess Gertrude, mother of Titus
Titus Groan, the earl
Steerpike: works in department of ritual
The Thing: a wild foster sister
Bellgrove: head master (teacher)
Irma
Dr Prunesquallor
Fuchsia
Flay: an old servant exiled
Cora and Clarice: aunts of Titus

British author, died before the completion of his series. The last book was completed by his wife. I had put this one off a long time because I really did not like book 1 and I have no intentions of reading book 3. Overall I enjoyed it, I give it a rating of 3.4 and I know that Simon Vance's reading of the book was a key part in the enjoyment of the book.