The miraculous story of Tarare

 

 ⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑  In the skilled hands of A.K. Blakemore the story of Tarare, a boy with endless appetite, comes to vivid, gory life. The Glutton takes us back to the tumultuous time of the French revolution where we meet sweet Tarare, a simple peasant boy who could not foresee the life that awaits him as a novelty act. This novel is based on a real person and the events of his incredible life. A strange subject, to be sure, but one that gripped me entirely as this world, and the turns of fate dealt to Tarare, unfolded before me.

What would you do if you had a ravenous appetite that could not be sated? I doubt anyone would think to make a living by performing bazaar acts of ingesting an array of objects and creatures but that is what happened. Odd, troubling but fascinating, in turns, I felt a magnetic pull to Tarare and his affliction which grew wilder and stranger as the story progressed.

Having been impressed by two novels penned by this marvel of an author, she has added her name to my list of must read writers. The stunning quality of writing had much to do with transforming what might be repulsive into an addiction for the reader. Manningtree Witches had the same elemental pull by dropping the reader into the different time and place allowing the senses to blossom with her words. Not sure I would have chosen to be so sense-aware with Tarare, though, as it clearly was a smelly, disgusting time for all in close proximity, but, one I would not have missed for the world. An excellent, though strange, novel.