In the Eyes of Mr Fury

By: Philip Ridley

Narrated by: Matthew Lyon

Length: 12 hrs and 59 mins

Publisher's Summary

On the day Concord Webster turned eighteen, the Devil died. The Devil's real name was Judge Martin, but Concord's mother called him the Devil. She said he boiled babies for dinner and made lampshades out of human skin. So why did she, who hated him so venomously, have a key to his house?  

The key will unlock more than just Judge's front door. It will also unlock a multitude of stories - where magic children talk to crows, men disappear in piles of leaves, and James Dean lookalikes kiss in dark alleys - and reveal a secret history that will change Concord's life forever.  

Philip Ridley's second novel (following the sexually charged tour de force Crocodilia) was an instant cult classic when originally published in 1989. Now, for this new edition, Ridley has reimagined the story, expanding the original novel into the world's first LGBT magical realist epic. A vast, labyrinthine, hall-of-mirrors saga, its breathtaking imagery and stunning plot twists - covering over a hundred years - reveal Ridley to be one of the most distinctive and innovative voices in contemporary fiction.  

©1989, 2016 Philip Ridley (P)2017 Valancourt Books, LLC

Unexpected Gift

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

Wholeheartedly, yes.
This book is an experience and study of the human condition and the affects of romance and attraction on the lives of human kind. It was stunning to learn theses lessons with Concrod.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I have 4 favorite characters that I cannot seen to choose between. Mama Zep has a way of making someone feel at home and I enjoyed her character very much. While Concord had his own appeal in the story, despite being rather naive for the most part. He was the window by which we were given a view into the lives of people far too tangled together to ever truly be separated. I also have a great love for Cromwell. He is a breath of fresh air, a hope, a true future. And last, but not least, Petra. She may not be as important as some of the others, but she is courageous and true to herself and a true fighter.

Mama Zep, Concord, Cormwell, and Petra were so important to me. Some throughout the whole story, others, I only came to see the importance of at the end. But they have all captured my heart fast and true.

What does Matthew Lyon bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He gave a new life to the stories being told within this bigger tale. To be told these stories by Mama Zed, in her raspy, old lady voice, was a treat in the audiobook. While it is not impossible to hear these things when physically reading the book, Matthew truly gave me a chance to experience everything on a much deeper level, for I wasn't distracted by visual words. I was able to close my eyes and feel his voice bring life to these diverse, but no less important characters.

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

It make me thoughtful. There have been very few books that have truly given me pause to better take in the messages and lessons I've been enlightened with. I felt pity, anger, sadness, bitterness, regret, hate, self-assurance, pride, suffering, acceptance, understanding, and hurt. Sometimes I've felt most of these all at once. The journey was am amazing one and I was truly enraptured.

Any additional comments?

I went into this book questioning if I would actually enjoy it. The description didn't really catch my attention at first, yet I always saw this book in my 'recommended' list. So I gave the description a much closer read. The next thing to catch my attention was the mention of a 'Devil'. The Devil has died. But why was this man called a Devil? What was he like to have been labeled such? I wanted to understand The Devil, and it was that, in the end that led to me buying this book in truth. In the end, I was able to understand more than just The Devil. I was gifted a deeper understanding of myself and who I am, what I want, and where I am going.
Judge, Rachel, Stevie, Faith, Petra, Concord, Cromwell, Angela, Loverboy, Ron, Teddy, Ivy, Helen, and last but not least, Mama Zepilina...each character made me feel such deep and ebbing emotion. This book will forever be my favorite, and I will find myself coming back to this tale again and again, and each time will be like the first. For one cannot help but be swept away by a Love Storm.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Love love love

This is so entirely different than anything I can remember reading. Fantastical, snarky, soulful, sad, tender, and sweet. I was blindsided by how good this was. Definitely not expecting it and so pleasantly surprised.

An Enchanting LGBT Fairy-tale Romance

If you could sum up In the Eyes of Mr Fury in three words, what would they be?

Enchanting, Magical, Meaningful

What did you like best about this story?

This is a sweet, charming, witty, and ultimately powerful book. A multi-generational LGBT tale of love and loss, and of struggling to come to terms with who one is in the face of hostility and adversity. In the Eyes of Mr Fury is part bildungsroman, part romance, part fairy-tale, and positively filled with secrets, friends, lovers, betrayals, and the power of story-telling thanks to a rather remarkable story-teller named Mama Zepp. I was very impressed and totally enchanted by this novel and would recommend it to anyone who could benefit from the world being a little bit more of a magical place.

Which character – as performed by Matthew Lyon – was your favorite?

Matthew Lyon literally handles a complete cast of characters; from average men to bombastic blowhards, demure women, manipulative women, strong women, elderly women, little children, shy youths, and headstrong teens, and performs each uniquely and compassionately. As a listener you will have no trouble even in scenes between two individuals of the same age and gender telling them apart.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I listened to the novel in parts, which fit well with its episodic nature.

Any additional comments?

I very much enjoyed this book and hope others do as well

Supersonic Zeppelin

This wasn't what I expected, which turned out to be a very good thing. "In the Eyes of Mr Fury", by Philip Ridley, was published by Valancourt Books, so I was expecting some sort of mash up of Will Self and Eli Roth after reading Ridley's bio on Wikipedia. Instead, I was treated to something much better: pure, unadulterated, Philip Ridley, who is sui generis. This is one of the better coming of age stories that I've ever read.

What sets it apart from most coming of age stories is its relative complexity. There are two narrative strands: there is Concord Webster's story, and then there is Judge Martin's tale. Concord Webster is a young man learning how to navigate the treacherous shoals of love and friendship on "the street" where he lives in London. Mama Zepp, a kind, elderly woman, helps him along his path by unfolding the mystery behind Judge Martin's suicide.

Humorous, gothic, whimsical, occasionally horrifying, but always compassionate, Ridley's roman a clef was a welcome diversion during my commute to and from work.