Sunday 6 March 2011

The Man who was Thursday

I started reading this over the inevitable 26-hour journey from Chicago to the UK in February. It's a fantastic book, and I had to stop reading it two chapters from the end. It's clear that GK Chesterton had some agenda when writing it; I only wish I knew what it was. I won't spoil, but it goes exponentially from being undeniably slow to heart-pounding and utterly surreal. The subtitle is "A Nightmare" and there are a lot of indications that by no means are you to take this book seriously. Only you want to. The main character is just a straight-up awesome dude and it spins such an enticing world.
The premise is Gabriel Syme, a member of the secret police, finds himself elected into a top rank in an international terrorist organization. Sound very topical for today? It was published in 1908.


 So the plot is insane, brilliant too, and will have you smiling like a Cheshire Cat as you turn each page. If I gave it away here I'd be the world's biggest bastard, but it's fair to say that it's unique in the world of literature. To put it bluntly, Chesterton has written a book about the pursuit of God.
There's something enticingly movie-like about the novel, what with all the chases around London, special effects (including a memorable elephant), sword fights, dreamscape countryside and constant mortal peril. But like all that's good about Chesterton, it also has a devil-may-care, winsome, romantic streak a mile wide. If it was going to be a film, it should have been directed by Hitchcock; this really is like the 39 steps as written by Kafka.

21 comments:

  1. Always looking out for good reads. Thanks for pointing this one out.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Read this a while back, amazing book.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I'll have to check this out, thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Looks like an interesting read! Might download the ebook!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Ill have to download the ebook when i get a chance.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I'll add this to my reading list.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Will add this to my wish list at the local library.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hmm sounds like it would be a good audiobook for me to listen to!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I must pick this up sometime

    ReplyDelete
  10. Interesting book, I may look into getting it, thanks for the suggestion!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Thanks for the suggestion...this one's now added to my reading list!

    ReplyDelete
  12. since i looked for a new book to read i will get this one

    ReplyDelete
  13. The way you're suggesting it really makes me want to read it now!

    ReplyDelete
  14. How on earth did it take you 26 hours to get to London! It takes me 10.5 from LA. I'm going to check out this book, it sounds great.

    ReplyDelete
  15. This sounds like a fantastic read. Definitely adding it to my to-read list :D

    ReplyDelete
  16. Sounds very interesting to me! Will surely read it when I find the time.

    ReplyDelete