The Swallowed Man by Edward Carey
Pages: 192
Published by Riverhead Books
Publication Date January 26, 2021
Goodreads
"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.
The Swallowed Man is an eerily beautiful retelling of Pinocchio. It is a book to be savored, to be read slowly digesting every word. Edward Carey’s novel is lyrical, and found myself rereading sentences multiple times. The Swallowed Man demands to be read in print. Edward Carey’s illustrations scattered throughout are intricate and add depth to the overall tale. Geppetto’s story from the belly of the whale is one of escapism and loneliness. Despite Geppetto’s dire situation he manages to find creativity in his surroundings, befriending a crab, or making up stories based on relics found in the darkness.
The Swallowed Man is such a unique retelling of the classic tale of Pinocchio. Showcasing a story of survival and a need to belong mixed with a bit of oddity. Edward Carey’s short novel is the perfect book to isolate with.
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
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