The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson

The Gargoyle is a contemporary gothic love story, made like a mosaic from pieces of fairytales and love stories from the ages. An epic debut by Andrew Davidson, the story is related by a nameless narrator who, prior to being burnt beyond recognition in a hellish fire, was a beautiful, drug addicted porn star. As he (yes, he) recuperates in a burn ward, he is visited by a mental patient, Marianne, who tells him stories, one of which is the story of star crossed lovers in medieval Germany, a story of their shared past life, their love. While he remains sceptical to her claims, he nonetheless falls in love and their contemporary story begins to parallel their medieval story, continuing where their first story could not. As he recounts her tales, the contemporary story gains momentum in the background, and though it’s piecemeal, the final effect is seamless. Davidson's writing captivates from page one, with the harrowing burn process followed by the medical savvy with which he details life in the burn ward, but it is his love stories which are his trump. Some questions are left hanging, but given the conviction with which Davidson writes, they can be left quite safely.