Glyph: A Novel

Definitely not one of his best - self indulgence - not sure where he got the idea from but he shouldn't have bothered

In short, a combination of "The Curious Incident of the Dog..." and "Barry Ween - Boy Genius".Glyph tells the story of a truely gifted child, whose precocious mind is desired by the Military and Scientists alike. The story has several levels to it (Love, Greed, Personal Gain, Betrayal, Dark Humour, Affairs, Boring French Philosophers) but is well-written and each part of the novel fits perfectly to create something more than its whole.But, perhaps naturally, the most engaging part of the novel is baby Ralph and his attempts to understand the people and the world around him. Whilst he has the ability to read and understand everything he encounters, he is still an infant and there are still lessons to be learned. On one level, it is a simple narrative about a child. On the other, it describes the feeling of loss and gain one experiences as one seeks meaning in life, and in particular, as one seeks love and a sense of home.As one would expect from a Professor of English Literature, there are references to some texts that might require research on the Internet, but Ralph is intelligent enough to provide concise summaries where necessary. However, if one takes the time to read around some of the theories, particularly those referring to Narrative Theory, the full impact of what Prof. Everett is seeking to achieve becomes more and more apparent.In the end, we are left with a simple, yet abstract, realisation. It is the line that matters. In the same way that if a child can find his mother in London and pass A-Level Maths, the child can do anything, we are left with a feeling of personal development and hope that there is a future for ourselves, and for Ralph.Page-turning, engaging, darkly funny and always thought-provoking, Glyph is a great read and highly recommended.