So finished up yet again another novel by Clive Barker, and it is a little bit different from the last ones I've read so far, and this one is titled "Galilee".
This one follows Rachel Pallenberg who has married Mitchell Geary of the Geary family. The Geary's are as rich as the Rockefellers and are as glamorous as the Kennedy's, they have always held a very subtle sway over American life ever since the end of the war. But they also have dark and terrible secrets that they concealed successfully over every generation.
But since the marriage between Rachel and Mitchell, that world is about to be shattered. Unknown to Rachel she is about to enter a nightmare when she uncovers those secrets, and soon she finds herself stuck in a war the Geary's are embroiled in with another family, the barbarossa's.
The origins of the Barbarossa family aren't rooted in history, or its influence in Washington and Wall Street. Their origins are in myth and their influence is felt through intense, and sensual exchanges in the flesh, and in the soul. And when their wandering prodigal son Galilee, who sails the world, meets with Rachel, they fall in love. A love that unleashes the long simmering enmity between both the families, and also the very dark secrets that were kept hidden.
While it's described as a romance on the title page, I think it leans more on the gothic romance side of things. Which is pretty much fine. The fantasy is still pretty present here too, along with the eroticism as well.
The whole story is told from the perspective of one of the characters in the book, in the form of them actually "writing" it. For something that is essentially a gothic romance with heavy fantasy elements, I really liked it! Imagine if this were made into a miniseries? Certainly would be an interesting watch!
And this book marks the end of the three books that I have by Barker for now. Got a couple of novels by John Saul that are need of reading!
by i-the-muso-1968