Weathercock

Having read "I, Lucifer" I thought I was in for a rip snorting supernatural journey into a man's troubled relationship with the notions of good & evil. I was left wanting. Although the book started well introducing some interesting characters & good foundations for a fascinating tale, it all comes crashing down in the middle with the banality of the protagonists life & too many characters to keep a firm grip on (as they all became too difficult to keep track of) - the multi layer chronology also contributes to the confusion. Ultimately the book feels like it's all coming together at the end, the loose ends & sub plots meshing to a conclusion, but actually -no. The reader is left unsatisfied, disappointed & wondering why they wasted so much time reading the book. Maybe Duncan is laughing at us?

Glen Duncan can be problematic for some readers, precisely because his books often have an aspect of sexual exploration. This book is a case in point, with one or two quite nasty moments and if sexual frankness offends, don't read him. On the other hand he is a sublime writer, cool, irreverent, supremely controlled and adventurous, sometimes outrageously so. I am a convert. I love his daring; I love his refusal to be cautious. There are plenty of writers merely re-exploring the known and comfortable and he is not afraid to explore the edges of existence, the profane and outrageous limits of a maledictive heart. He does this so elegantly that his infelicities are almost understandable, even while he is taking you to places you might not wish to go. He is so much a master of language, such a seducer, that you don't resist, caught up with the eloquence and beauty, even as you are sometimes brought to the limits of your tolerance. Weathercock recounts the story of Dominic Hood, from Lancashire schoolboy to publisher's agent in New York. As a boy, the target of a particularly vicious bully, Burke, he meets Father Ignatius Malone who saves him by performing what might have been a miracle, or a misunderstanding. Dominic and Penguin meet as a result of a cruelty performed on Kelp by Burke and their lives will intertwine as they grow up. Malone haunts the novel, even more than an actual ghost, as we segue between Dominic's childhood and a time far into the future where he is living with Holly in New York. But Dominic is not a hero, he is a man in thrall to a beautiful and sadistic woman, the loathesome Deborah Black. There are some absolutely brilliant pieces of writing in this novel, it is packed with observational wit and is a sheer pleasure to read. Take this excerpt describing a seaside scene for instance: "Normally unseen bodily bits were bare to the generous weather: toes, backs, midriffs knees - the pathos of the Great British body's reckless heliolatry. Children rode the peeling shoulders like midget mahouts, with plastic spades for goads, their mouths ice-lolly dyed betel or woad. Groups, gangs in fact, of blokeish men, pendulous with downed pints, swaggered in too-tight shorts and criminally obvious perms, each with clutched lighter and fags, each with sun-surprised faces and pickled eyes." This is a long and complex novel exploring the nature of evil and sadism and as such is intricate, retributive, and often shocking. It contains an extraordinary story of exorcism, love and degradation, violence and the power of belief, with an astonishingly redemptive ending. It is not for the faint of heart.

After laughing my way through I Lucifer, this book was my second Glen Duncan book. Although not as acerbic with wit as I, Lucifer, Weathercock is no less affecting and disturbing.It's all about the things some people shouldn't want but do, as the main character tries in vain to resist, to pull away and disentangle himself from the black-hole like draw of sadism and in particular the woman who introduces him to this nastier side of life. Just like most people, our anti-hero Dominic Hood feels inquisitive from an early age but with religion looming over him, he feels deep shame about what goes on in his mind, questions his sanity and more importantly the state of his soul. He turns to an enigmatic priest who quickly becomes almost an obsessive figure for Dominic as the priest pops up sparingly throughout the novel and always seems mysterious, leaving Dominic grasping at shadows. As the book follows Dominic through life, he reminisces about his childhood friends and the things they got up to, including a camping trip that is in turns sad,bizarre and funny whilst, as an adult Dominic tries hard to be good but through either sheer chance or deliberate albeit subconscious acts, keeps getting sucked back towards darkness.The writing is splendid, deep and enthralling, particularly an exorcism scene that is ripe with sometimes disgusting detail. There is no shying away from the bleaker things that occur as Dominic struggles for his soul and, most importantly, despite some of the horrible things he does, you find yourself sympathetic towards his plight. He is a thoroughly believable character in a novel that sometimes pushes the boundaries of inconceivability but always makes you want to read the next chapter..and the next. Never predictable or slow. Always provocative and mesmerizing. The only reason for four stars not five stars is that I expected a little more scathing wit and humor after reading I, Lucifer so I suggest you get this first then get I,Lucifer as both books,in their own way, are at the top of list on tackling the nastier,bleaker stuff. Thank you.

An enjoyable read, well paced, funny, and shocking in places. But what happens 2/3rds of the way through ? I think Glen didn't really want to write such a long book but couldn't work out how to finish it. Funny considering the narrator and hero works as a book editor. I'm not either so I'll shut up. Good read. Worth it.

A little disjointed. There are some good moments, however it is very confusing in places.