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I first picked up a copy of Sarah Hall's
The Electric Michelangelo because I
found the cover intriguing. The picture of a woman with the design of her tattoo
spilling off of her back and on to the top of the cover is beautiful, and it was
encouragement enough to read the novel. That the book was one of six shortlisted
for the 2004 Booker Prize meant nothing to me. It was really the cover that
grabbed me.
And what a gorgeous novel it is: I don’t think I have ever read anything as
beautifully written and as well constructed. The story is an intricate epic,
amazingly beautiful. Its characters are exceedingly well developed, three
dimensional, and realistic. Although it carries a historic tone, the story of
these characters' lives - and of the towns where they live - is much more
immediate than that of history. The imagery is powerful but not overwhelming.
There's nothing dumbed-down about this story; it is powerful, intriguing, and
engaging.
I have been recommending this book to all of my friends using every superlative
I can muster, but I don’t think they've understood how serious I am. This is the
best book I've ever read and the best piece of writing I've ever enjoyed. The
reading experience was beautiful, I felt transported by every scene, like a
proverbial fly on the wall for every interaction. There were times when the
scenes were gory, but the writing retained its amazing beautiful and delicacy
even in these moments. My experience of reading this book was up close and
intimate. I rarely find a novel that does not bore me at times, if only for a
passing paragraph, but this is one that is never dull. I was pulled through this
novel, despite one of my pet peeves of literature: long chapters. If this is did
not win the Booker Prize, I shudder to think of the writing that did.
Go and buy this novel right now. I’m not kidding. The time that you will spend
finding your keys will be wasted. You’ll thank me when you realize what a
wonderful a reading experience this is.
Review by Marlo Hamrick, November 30, 2005
Interested in other 2004 Man Booker Prize nominees?
The Master by Colm Tóibín:
http://www.watermarkbooks.com/review0805-018.html
And the Booker winner, The Line of Beauty
by Alan Hollinghurst:
http://www.watermarkbooks.com/review1104-004.html
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