In a seedy river town on the Gulf of Honduras, Jack Rathbone believed he had found a place that would give him and his lover, the accomplished artist Vera Savage, the solitude they would need to create a body of work that would shake the art world to its core. But in a place where time lies thicker than the mangrove swamps that surround it, Jack and Vera discover an emotional frontier more fearsome, untamed, and dangerous than any wilderness. Told through the voice of Jack's adoring sister, Gin, Port Mungo is the riveting story of this ill-fated couple, one that begins as a bohemian flight-of-fancy before unraveling into a dark, debauched and sinister tale. With Port Mungo, the incomparable Patrick McGrath, author of the acclaimed novels Spiderand Asylum, delivers a spellbinding narrative to explore the obsessive pursuit of art and love.
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 3.5 / 5.0
Not as good as "Asylum":
Although it covers much of the same ground. "Asylum" was a real corker, if depressing in spots.
"Port Mungo" is more leisurely and unfocused. I think the author intended the sister/narrator to be a bit more omninous than I found her. The hard-drinking, wild loving Vera character, much better portrayed as a repressed wife let loose with her lover in "Asylum," is less of a factor here. If you are just starting out with this author, I say, read "Ayslum"!
a disappointment from an author who has done much better..:
Patrick McGrath is known for his excellent prose, albeit the subject matter is often quite bizarre if not downright surreal. Unfortunately 'Port Mungo' demonstrates that even the best authors can produce mediocre novels. Oh, the author does produce some interesting characters, mostly artists, unusual locales (Port Mungo sounds like a tropical hell-hole), and ultimately there is some drama. But the narrative is so ... *average*. McGrath normally writes heavenly prose, the sort that demands to be read aloud.... more info
Thoroughly enjoyable:
If you've ever lived in an out-of-the-way "exotic" place you've probaly witnessed the insanity that can seed a creative mind. This is one just story that I enjoyed thoroughly. Dark and compelling.
A spellbinding narrative:
In his novel, Mr McGrath tells the story of painter Jack Rathbone, a figure similar to the latter-day Paul Gauguin. The narrative is performed in an emotional manner by his sister Gin. Jack's life as an artist starts in London where he attends St Martin's School of Art with his sister. But one day, at the age of seventeen, Jack falls under the spell of Vera Savage, a thirty year old artist from Glasgow. He is immediately attracted by her petulant manner, her flamboyant character although it quickly appears... more info
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