Memory of Lions/A

There are passages of this novel which, even twenty years after my first reading of it, still cause my skin to tingle. The character development is fine and strong, no character a "Mary Sue" paragon of only the best traits (Calla probably comes closest, but her mind is so dimensionally given to us that she is more than a mere Good Witch character). Moreover - and this is rare - their personalities, while palatable to modern readers, are still believable within their assigned context. I cannot think of any action or motivation which rang out as anachronistic. The plot is unpredictable, believable, extraordinarily engaging and exciting. The setting is built round a reader from beginning to end in careful, yet interesting detail - including not just a wonderful sense of concrete place, but its history, and future. Godwin's research is palpable, but blessedly unobtrusive in service of its master: the story. And what a story. Never so little as "a romance" - yet possibly the most passionate book I have ever read. It is a war story, a tale of occupation, a fully-felt victor's quest, and an honorable retelling of the ways some people refuse to become truly vanquished. The ending, when we find ourselves reaching it, has been bought at a vividly grotesque price, and yet "A Memory of Lions" never feels sensationalistic. It never feels simplistic. And its power never dulls, reading after reading. A treasure.

My copy of "A Memory of Lions" shows a strong armed young man holding passionately onto the body of a beautiful young woman - the typical cover you'd see in the book section of any drug store. It looked like a romance novel - not my kind of book. However, being a big fan of Parke Godwin, I had to have it. It was a romance- yes. But it was also a mystery. It was a conflict between two cultures (the Norman conquers vs. the Anglo Saxon natives). It was a suspense. The characters were powerful. The images brilliant. It was a great read. My biggest complaint was (beside the cover) the ending. Although it tied up all the loose ends, it seemed as if the author didn't know how else to explain it all the "why"'s. The ending makes sense at the time, but later as you think about it, you can find small little points that do not add up.