The Testament of Gideon Mack by James Robertson

Everyone falls in love with, while also disliking, Gideon Mack. I've suggested it to others in both audio and hard cover form and all have come back to me with great reviews of the author, writing, general flow, and believability of the story. This is a definite must for anyone who wants a good book added to his or her reading list for the year. After a short while, though, you get used to the accent, and all is well. At some points I had to pause and rewind the book to listen again because he went into the thick Scottish accent of the common man. The narrator does a fantastic job of adding life and personality to each character of the story. He is flawed at best, which may be one of the things that makes him so interesting. Everything about the man, his life, his mannerisms, and his thoughts completely captivated me.

The Testament of Gideon Mack was longlisted for the 2006 Man Booker Prize, picked by Richard and Judy's Book Club, and shortlisted for the Saltire Book of the Year award, and And the Land Lay Still was the winner of the Saltire Book of the Year Award 2010.This is most definitely one of the best books I've read (heard) in a long time. James Robertson is the author of the novels The Fanatic, Joseph Knight, The Testament of Gideon Mack, And the Land Lay Still and The Professor of Truth. It's a long time since I read a novel in which the contemporary notions of faith and belief were so frankly tested' Ali Smith 'James Robertson is a brilliant novelist. could well be the best novel published anywhere this year' Big Issue 'Astonishingly accomplished, utterly compelling from start to finish. a work of the highest literary quality' Scotland on Sunday its touch of devilry makes it even more of a joy' Herald 'Hugely enjoyable, very funny, deeply refreshing. Demands another read' Irvine Welsh, Guardian 'Overwhelmingly compassionate and thought-provoking. 'Fascinating, extraordinary, strange, rich' Sunday Telegraph It also transports you into an utterly mesmerising exploration of the very nature of belief.

Mack's testament - a compelling blend of memoir, legend, history, and, quite probably, madness - recounts one man's emotional crisis, disappearance, resurrection and death. Until the day he falls into a gorge and is rescued by someone who might just be Satan himself. The Testament of Gideon Mack is James Robertson's acclaimed novel exploring faith and belief.įor Gideon Mack, faithless minister, unfaithful husband and troubled soul, the existence of God, let alone the Devil, is no more credible than that of ghosts or fairies.

The Testament of Gideon Mack by James Robertson