The Gargoyle

De: Andrew Davidson

Narrado por: Lincoln Hoppe

An extraordinary debut novel of love that survives the fires of hell and transcends the boundaries of time.

The narrator of The Gargoyle is a very contemporary cynic, physically beautiful and sexually adept, who dwells in the moral vacuum that is modern life. As the book opens, he is driving along a dark road when he is distracted by what seems to be a flight of arrows. He crashes into a ravine and suffers horrible burns over much of his body. As he recovers in a burn ward, undergoing the tortures of the damned, he awaits the day when he can leave the hospital and commit carefully planned suicide - for he is now a monster in appearance as well as in soul.

A beautiful and compelling, but clearly unhinged, sculptress of gargoyles by the name of Marianne Engel appears at the foot of his bed and insists that they were once lovers in medieval Germany. In her telling, he was a badly injured mercenary and she was a nun and scribe in the famed monastery of Engelthal who nursed him back to health. As she spins their tale in Scheherazade fashion and relates equally mesmerizing stories of deathless love in Japan, Iceland, Italy, and England, he finds himself drawn back to life - and, finally, in love. He is released into Marianne's care and takes up residence in her huge stone house.

But all is not well. For one thing, the pull of his past sins becomes ever more powerful as the morphine he is prescribed becomes ever more addictive. For another, Marianne receives word from God that she has only 27 sculptures left to complete - and her time on earth will be finished.

Already an international literary sensation, The Gargoyle is an Inferno for our time. It will have you believing in the impossible.

©2008 Andrew Davidson (P)2008 Random House, Inc.

First audio book, not first time reading

By far one of my favorite books of all time. I’ve recently found it difficult to set aside time to sit down and read. Being a young adult with hard core ADHD this solved my problem with great ease.

I’ve listened to it over 50 times🤯

Andrew Davidson: WOW! I would love to meet you in person! Seriously thought out & researched. I love the way it was written👍🏼 The many facets of the story. The story has a rhythm, that flows & the narrator Lincoln Hoppe is great! He brings the story to life. The back n forth of historical adding in another great story of Inferno by Donta. I’ve had 3rd degree burns from fingertips up past my elbow… the medical & terminology. I didn’t find love or a companion. However, this story has gotten me through some tough times. And probably saved my life… There’s so much more that could be said. Yet this is better when experience for yourself. There’s more true to life than the writer may have realized. And yep ya can’t tell a book by it’s cover. This captures me over & over.

Wow does not cover it!

If you could sum up The Gargoyle in three words, what would they be?

Really damn good

What did you like best about this story?

Throughout suffering hope can still be found.

Which scene was your favorite?

The car crash I felt like I was in the car seeing everything.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Just a lot of compassion

Any additional comments?

At first I don't think this audiobook was for me, but after the first 2 hours I could not stop listening.

one the best books

i googled the author after the book wondering if this was real! well written.. great story and even better flashbacks? loved the stories she told.

The best love story

I too have never been so inpsired to write a review. This book is amazing. The prose is stunning. I would give it ten stars if that option existed.

The Most Intriguing Book I've Ever Read

This book caught my attention within 5 minutes and I was not able to stop listening until it was finished. Then I started it over and listened to it again. There are some novels that I listen to every year and this is one of them. It left me wanting more and what better sign of a great read than to not want it to end.

The characters are quirky and unusual but somehow endearing and full of mystery. Throughout this entire book I was wondering where this girl gets her money and why she chose this man to help and support. This writer gave me enough information to keep me hungry for more through the whole book.

I was in a petstore in Mobile, AL and there was a girl in front of me at the register that had angel wings tatooed on her back. The wings were enormous and went from her shoulders and disappeared into the waistband of her hip huggers. I told her I liked her wings and I said, "The Gargoyle?" She gave me the biggest smile. It was her favorite book and very few people understood her tatoo.

I have a gargoyle that sits near my desk to remind me of this book. Who knows, maybe it's a replica of one carved while living on instant coffee granules.

A love story

I loved this book. The details and connections between all the stores in the story will stay with me.

Amazing, creative and what a love story!

I chose this book based on a friend's recommendation but after reading only the 1st chapter I wasn't sure if I could go on. It was very gruesome. However, I continued on and was very happy that I did. This is not just a great love story between a number of characters but also wonderfully packed with "stories" within the story. I loved the historical aspects of the novel and the detail described allowed me to form a very complete mental picture of each scene. I enjoyed the narrator's ability to speak in various languages which is always an advantage when listening to a book vs. reading a book. I don't give 5 stars out that easily but this definitely deserves it!

Loved it!!!

A beautiful love story that I want to begin again after reading. I didn't expect the story to be so good.

Well done

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I loved the stories with in the story

What other book might you compare The Gargoyle to and why?

Never heard anything quite like it.

Which scene was your favorite?

The glass blowers daughter.

If you could rename The Gargoyle, what would you call it?

It's the perfect title

Any additional comments?

I always recommend this book to everyone.