The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson

Accidents ambush the unsuspecting, often violently, just like love

I started reading the book on the bus when I went for my office's brain drain session for Management staffs. A foreign colleague from Mumbai changed her seat to another after several attempts to lure me into talking more than a few sentences failed. I was so engrossed in the book (I've already forewarned her before the journey starts). When the bus stopped for 10 minutes toilet break, my ED asked me 'what are you reading?' I was so afraid that he would suggest me to present book of the month session, I replied 'purely, 100% fiction' hope he caught what I meant and he answered after looking at the book cover, what not MB?? (mills and boon). I'm only interested if its MB, he said. ... Yeah right, I knew he was joking.

Love is as strong as death, as hard as Hell
Death separates the soul from the body, but love separates all things from the soul -Meister Eckhart, German mystic

As fast as I was intrigued by the book, I was also faster in losing interest in it. I'm not too sure what I was expecting. Maybe I thought or hoping it would be a another not too horror/paranormal genre but it turned out to be a gothic love story. Usually I'm all for these out-of-this-world kinda of love story but I soon found myself tired of another flash-backs (plenty in this book) and centuries old 'I tell you' story over and over again. My lack of interest became obvious when twice, I fell asleep after reading a few lines from the book. But the present situation/description of the characters were very interesting. And that, I really enjoyed. It varies from being an unwanted child to nephew of drug junkies to Galileo's book fan to professional pornography artist to the so-called 'fourth' degree burn victim to 'this one is not dead yet' guest to Hell. The last part was when my interest picked up its pace again. No doubt, author has been very thorough in his research for the book. At one point I felt as if I was reading a cross between medical journal on burnt or religious history book.

I love you. Aishiteru. Ego amo te. Ti amo. Eg elska pig. Ich liebe dich.