- Paperback: 208 pages
- Publisher: Vintage; Manufactured On Demand edition (22 Jun 2009)
- Language Unknown
- ISBN-10: 0099546523
- ISBN-13: 978-0099546528
- Product Dimensions: 12.9 x 1.5 x 19.9 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,619,997 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Dumb House
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Product Description
Product Description
In Persian myth, it is said that Akbar the Great once built a palace which he filled with newborn children, attended only by mutes, in order to learn whether language is innate or aquired. As the year passed and the chidren grew into their silent and difficult world, this palace became known as the Gang Mahal, or Dumb House. In his first novel, John Burnside explores the possibilites inherent in a modern-day repetition of Akbar`s investigations. Following the death of his mother, the unnamed narrator creates a twisted varient of the Dumb House, finally using his own chidren as subjects in a bizarre experiment. When the children develop a musical language of their own, however, their gaoler is the one who is excluded, and he extracts an appalling revenge.
About the Author
John Burnside has published seven works of fiction and eleven collections of poetry, including his Selected Poems, published by Cape in 2006. His memoir, A Lie About My Father, was published in the same year to enormous critical acclaim, and was chosen as the Scottish Arts Council Non-Fiction Book of the Year and the Saltire Society Scottish Book of the Year.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The foreword for the book (I'm sure this would class as a novella rather than a novel at 198 pages) explains about Akbar the Great and how in Persian myth he apparently built a palace that was filled with newborn children who were looked after by mutes. This was done in order to learn whether language is innate or acquired. This palace was known as the Gang Mahal, which translates as the Dumb House. Burnside's story is a modern-day repetition of Akbar's investigations.
It doesn't often happen that I agree with an endorsement but the quote from `The Guardian' on the front cover announcing `One of the most beautiful, disturbing débuts for a long time ... brilliant' sums up how I felt. It is both chilling yet compelling and is so morally incomprehensible. The book is sectioned into three parts with each part entitled according to who Luke's involvement is with at that time. I can't recollect if the reader is party to how old Luke is but when the story opens you know he is an adult living at home with his mother. The beginning of the novel is actually the end and then Luke moves into explaining how he reached this point, so in essence it is a recount.
The opening paragraph had me hooked, "no one could say it was my choice to kill the twins, any more than it was my decision to bring them into the world ... I chose to perform the laryngotomies, if only to halt their constant singing ... that ululation entered my sleep through every crevice of my dreams". From here, I was gripped. The reason I didn't give it 5 stars and opted for 4 was simply because there were several pages where I felt Luke rambled. Whilst appropriate for his character I tired quickly of the passages about Mother and one or two sections about Karen. Other than that if you like your fiction somewhat darker, then this is one for you. Horrifying in that it isn't a thriller but enough to leave you wondering about the complexities of human nature.
It doesn't often happen that I agree with an endorsement but the quote from `The Guardian' on the front cover announcing `One of the most beautiful, disturbing débuts for a long time ... brilliant' sums up how I felt. It is both chilling yet compelling and is so morally incomprehensible. The book is sectioned into three parts with each part entitled according to who Luke's involvement is with at that time. I can't recollect if the reader is party to how old Luke is but when the story opens you know he is an adult living at home with his mother. The beginning of the novel is actually the end and then Luke moves into explaining how he reached this point, so in essence it is a recount.
The opening paragraph had me hooked, "no one could say it was my choice to kill the twins, any more than it was my decision to bring them into the world ... I chose to perform the laryngotomies, if only to halt their constant singing ... that ululation entered my sleep through every crevice of my dreams". From here, I was gripped. The reason I didn't give it 5 stars and opted for 4 was simply because there were several pages where I felt Luke rambled. Whilst appropriate for his character I tired quickly of the passages about Mother and one or two sections about Karen. Other than that if you like your fiction somewhat darker, then this is one for you. Horrifying in that it isn't a thriller but enough to leave you wondering about the complexities of human nature.
9 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I read this book because it was strongly recommended in the press at the time. The idea is a very good one: how does language develop in the absence of appropriate environmental stimulation? (This is an important topic in the psychology of language; to the author's great credit, relevant work is discussed in an entertaining way.) The protagonist carries out an experiment on his children to discover what happens.
Unfortunately, the novel is let down by gratuitous sex and violence: rather like early Ian Banks gone mad. I often found myself wondering what Colin Wilson could have done with this idea.
Nevertheless, the book is entertaining and easy to read. Give it a go.
7 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Having picked up 'The Dumb House' in a shop one day, I was intrigued by the plot description inside the front cover, so I chose to give it a go.
The book was initially quite difficult for me to get into, as the language is rather poetic in places. However, once I'd overcome this barrier, I read it really quickly.
The main character, Luke, is very disturbing indeed - he is a cold, calculating madman who experiments on his own children and has no qualms about murder and violence in order to further his 'research'. The novel is very dark and in places very graphic, and you can't help but think - are there really people like this in the world? I did enjoy this book and would recommend it to anyone who is interested in the nature of language or just wants to read an unusual genre of novel.
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