Novel Discovery

I've just finished Alasdair Gray's 1984 novel entitled 1982 Janine. Wow. I had never heard of Gray before, but this was a tour de force. It's the first-person narration of an alcoholic Scottish man looking back on a lifetime of mistakes, compromises, and fantasies. It's experimental in form (there are some passages in typographical "shapes," inspired by Tristam Shandy) and has a great stream-of-consciousness narration. A challenging read, but rewarding.

Gray is also a playwright and artist. See some of his illustrations below, including some book covers.










And his official website: http://www.alasdairgray.co.uk/