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The Swallowed Man
The Swallowed Man: A Novel | Edward Carey
2 posts | 6 read | 5 to read
“Profound and delightful. . . . A strange and tender parable of two maddening obsessions; parenting and art-making.” —Max Porter, author of Grief Is the Thing with Feathers and Lanny The ingenious storyteller Edward Carey returns to reimagine a time-honored fable: the story of an impatient father, a rebellious son, and a watery path to forgiveness for the young man known as Pinocchio In the small Tuscan town of Collodi, a lonely woodcarver longs for the companionship of a son. One day, “as if the wood commanded me,” Giuseppe—better known as Geppetto—carves for himself a pinewood boy, a marionette he hopes to take on tour worldwide. But when his handsome new creation comes magically to life, Geppetto screams . . . and the boy, Pinocchio, leaps from his arms and escapes into the night. Though he returns the next day, the wily boy torments his father, challenging his authority and making up stories—whereupon his nose, the very nose his father carved, grows before his eyes like an antler. When the boy disappears after one last fight, the father follows a rumor to the coast and out into the sea, where he is swallowed by a great fish—and consumed by guilt. He hunkers in the creature’s belly awaiting the day when he will reconcile with the son he drove away. With all the charm, atmosphere, and emotional depth for which Edward Carey is known—and featuring his trademark fantastical illustrations—The Swallowed Man is a parable of parenthood, loss, and letting go, from a creative mind on a par with Gregory Maguire, Neil Gaiman, and Tim Burton.
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review
Soubhiville
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Panpan

This was not for me... It was the January #FantasticStrangelings bookclub choice.

I didn‘t care for the writing style and found it repetitive. It‘s the story of Geppetto, yes Pinocchio‘s creator, mostly after he was swallowed by a giant fish. There is artwork throughout by the author, some of which is pretty cool. The story didn‘t work for me though.

I‘ve never read this author before.

cozypunk Fantastic Strangelings... what a great bookclub name. Wicked cool. 4y
Soubhiville @dandy.punk are you familiar with Jenny Lawson? Furiously Happy author? She opened a bookstore in TX just as the pandemic started (and so the doors have never actually opened to the public, they just do online and curbside orders) and this is her bookclub. It‘s pretty cool, usually really different and good books. 4y
Soubhiville @dandy.punk here‘s her link if you‘re interested: www.NowhereBookshop.com 4y
cozypunk @Soubhiville mind blown! I didn't know she had opened a bookstore. Or tried to. Or... you know.
4y
tpixie @Soubhiville thanks! I‘m keeping a list of authors bookstores in my notes app! 4y
69 likes5 comments
review
beaconhillbooks
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Mehso-so

Loved Carey‘s Little last year and don‘t think this book compares. Still he always has an unique and fresh perspective and I always love his illustrations. This is short retelling of Pinocchio by Gipetto. Started strong just waned a bit but it‘s short and entertaining with Carey‘s typical touch of odd. #netgalley
Out Jan 2021.