Waking Beauty: Amazon.co.uk: Paul Witcover: Books

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7 Reviews

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
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Average Customer Review

4.1 out of 5 stars (7 customer reviews)

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4.0 out of 5 stars Exotic and unconventional, 12 Aug 1999

By A Customer

The difficulty of the fantasy genre is coming up with new variations on a theme. Witcover successfully clears this hurdle, and combines a plethora of familiar cultural icons with some exotic twists to create a wholly enthralling society in conflict with itself. This book is not for children, and is obviously aimed at an adult/college audience which is in and of itself refreshing. The vivid imagery and none too subtle attacks on a variety of contemporary customs, for example plastic surgery, are well mixed to keep the messages from overwhelming the story. Taken in measured doses or all at once, this story captivates, entertains, and provides thought provoking observations on contemporary issues all at once. Looking forward to his future offerings.

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5.0 out of 5 stars As close to perfect as any book I've ever read., 5 Feb 1999

By A Customer

This book is truly astonishing. Paul Witcover has taken our everyday world, distilled it down to its very essence, and disguised it as the Hierarchate. The book is one immense parable. It covers the cruelty, sexism and unmitigated power of the Christian Church, interweaving Christian mythology with well-known fairy tales and pagan folklore. The symbology in this book is overwhelming - on every page there is something that makes me stop and grab my copy of "The Women's Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets" by Barbara G. Walker (which I highly recommend you read before, during or after "Waking Beauty" if you want to fully appreciate its vast multiple layers; also, a Latin dictionary is useful for uncovering the hidden symbology in the names of the saints). Towards the end it becomes difficult to tell if Witcover intends the three Viridis Lacrimatas to represent the Christian Trinity in female garb, or the Triple Goddess (Maiden, Mother and Crone) - however, given his level of awareness about religious-social issues I'm inclined to interpret it as the Goddess. This book is far deeper than it appears on the surface to the idle reader...it is not mere fantasy, it is a living, breathing, scathing commentary on the structure of the world we are forced to live in; and this author is a man I would love to meet and talk to over a long, delicious lunch! Blessed Be.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Perverse, repellent -- and wholly intoxicating. Brilliant., 6 Jan 1999

By A Customer

The most original fantasy of the decade: always two steps to the left of where you expect it to be. A necropolis rose, unfolding layers of corruption to reveal astonishing beauty.

There are those who sneer at fantasy as the literature of the familiar, the comfortable, the safe; they have never read this wholly adult, wholly disturbing novel. READ THIS BOOK -- then go out and tell everyone you know to read it, too.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars A Feast for the Senses
From the first page of this amazing first novel, I have been entranced, horrified, intrigued, sickened and uplifted. Read more

Published on 5 Aug 1998

3.0 out of 5 stars Original in concept, but ponderous in execution.
I can see why Witcover is compared to Clive Barker on the jacket text. The two rival each other for verbosity. Read more

Published on 22 Jul 1998

2.0 out of 5 stars Don't believe the hype on this one.
I bought this book because of recommendations posted on a couple of boards (turns out they were all posted by the same person) and was very disappointed. Read more

Published on 3 Jun 1998

5.0 out of 5 stars A startling work of genius
If you must choose only one book to read this whole year, please make it WAKING BEAUTY by Paul Witcover. Read more

Published on 23 Jan 1998

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Waking Beauty (Paperback)

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