Lanark: A Life in Four Books

by Alasdair Gray

From its first publication in 1981, Lanark was hailed as a masterpiece and it has come to be widely regarded as the most remarkable and influential Scottish novel of the second half of the twentieth century. A work of extraordinary imagination and wide-ranging concerns, its playful narrative conveys at its core a profound message, both personal and political, about humankind's inability to... (more)

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moik
  • Rated 5 stars

After reading 1982 Janine, which blew my mind, I decided to read everything ever written by Alasdair Gray. Well, not all of it was as good as 1982 Janine, in fact, none of his books were as good as that one; but some of them were pretty good. Lanark was the second best.

This was a complex and intriguing book.

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  • Rated 4.413793 stars
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  • Rated 4.75 stars
 

Newest Comments

  • poeticow

    poeticow said:

    My best read in 10 years. He reminds me what great authors are.

    posted Sunday, June 1 2008
  • Nathan_M_

    nathan_m_ said:

    Do you like his others? I've read most of them and while I like his Scottish Nationalism book I don't find any of his other novels as satisfying as Lanark. A brilliant book that blends dystopia and bildungsroman.

    posted Friday, September 21 2007
  • jeremylibro

    jeremylibro said:

    Year after year, it remains my favorite book. Such a heart-rending look at people and their undying search for love in an strange, fantastical, soulless world. This book is long and epic; a critique on modern life that makes the reader turn inward (then into surreal territory) to see what the western world has become. It also has intricate and beautiful drawings by the author that introduce each chapter.

    posted Wednesday, August 29 2007

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