Damon Galgut's genius is stunningly developed and on full display in rich and complex novels like The Imposter and The Good Doctor. In these books he creates compelling drama by placing a protagonist, whose moral compass drifts as circumstances change, into a situation that is morally ambiguous to start with and becomes more so as the story progresses. The Quarry is similar but the characters and situations remain sketchy throughout. The novel begins with an unnamed man wandering along a road in a harsh, unforgiving landscape. Whatever quest he is on is left unspecified, though we learn before too long that he is a criminal on the run from the authorities. When he encounters a minister who is driving to a town to take up a new post, we can almost predict what is going to happen. He murders the minister, buries the body in a disused quarry and assumes the man's identity (and ministry). From this point the story mostly concerns itself with retribution, and when events conspire to expose him, the man once again goes on the run. The primary weakness of this book is glaring. Galgut never attempts to place his characters in a broader emotional context. The outpost town where the central action takes place is filled with loners and misfits, all of whom remain shadowy and emotionally distant from the reader. The only hints of human empathy arise between Valentine and Small, two petty thieves who are brothers. If the novel is compelling at all, it is because of the terse language that Galgut employs to effectively evoke a uniquely desolate South African landscape. That said, even a second tier novel by Damon Galgut is more interesting than most other writer's successful novels. The Quarry, impeccably written and maddeningly enigmatic, is a confident work by a writer who knows how to use story and language in painterly fashion to create the effect he wants. The problem is that in this case the effect he wants is one that will leave some readers cold.
A man walks along a quiet road to the unknown. This man is a criminal. On his travels, he encounters a minister who is on his way to a town. The minister offers him a ride and buys the man breakfast. When the minister asks for something in return, the man gets desperate and kills the minister. The man buries the minister in a quarry and then proceeds to take on the identity and role of the town minister.When the man, who is now taken the role of the minister, arrives at the town, he is met by a woman who takes him in. Overnight, his car is broken into which creates a commotion. Two people are arrested. Later on, the body of the old minister is found and the two accused of breaking into the car are put on trial for murdering the old minister. Nobody knows who the true murderer is except the man, the man who is impersonating the minister. During the trial, the man admits he isn't the minister. The man runs off again along roads to the unknown. However, this time, he is followed by the Mong, the law of the town.The novel, The Quarry, written by Damon Galgut, is quite well written and moderately exciting. Although the suspense lasted throughout the entire story. I would have to say that the book wasn't overly stimulating but had just enough interest to keep my attention. I feel the audience suggested for this book would be aimed at the younger population, mid teen to early twenties. Although the story is aimed at this younger audience, I feel the book would still grab the attention of any reader given that it has such a dramatic, attention grabbing beginning and a very strong ironic and thoroughly suspenseful storyline.
Do You like book The Quarry (2005)?
The book left me quite empty. I can't claim it is a bad book though. It awakened my senses and took me quite deep in the atmosphere of the story. I actually felt the place, I could smell the fears, I could taste the confusion and hear the emptiness of the heat. But all of it was only during the reading process. As soon as I closed the last cover all the feelings just left me. It may be the reason why it is so hard to write a review because I am actually out of what to say.Whom do I advice the book? Readers who like to go in to psychological portraits of people and changes in those portraits made by external circumstances might find it interesting.
—Linda
In this enthralling story of Murder, Stolen identity, and suspension; a minister driving to a new congregation in South Africa, picks up a hitchhiker who is a fugitive. He then murders and takes the ministers identity. The fugitive thinking stealing the man’s identity is a good thing discovers one of the minister’s first duties is to bury the body of his victim. Although there are two petty criminals that could be responsible for the murder, the police chief senses something about the minster that is not right. While the chief is trying to crack the minister, The Quarry gives us a disturbing story of a man struggling for freedom. This book is mysterious and suspenseful, and I would recommend it for someone who enjoys a little mystery. The author Damon Galgut did well with the details, but I got a little bit lost at some points and It could have used a little more information. At some spots in the book I couldn’t stop reading and I wanted to know what was going to happen next. I would say it was somewhat compelling and exciting. tI believe that someone who is interested in mystery and kind of a slow but suspenseful story line would be very interested in this book. I did enjoy reading this book but I think that it was a little too slow for me, but I did like the mystery and suspension.
—Elyssa Dunlop
OK five stars is probably too much - there are flaws here, and no humour, but bloody hell did this grip. It's not even Galgut's best work (it's an early novel, pre- Good Doctor). Characters are left undeveloped, there's a passing circus which seems to be there for colour alone, but it's unputdownable, closely observed, brilliantly written. Humans stripped down to their elements, murder, assumed identity, and the quarry - both a place and the plot of the book, as a policeman chases his suspect. You feel the thirst, the heat, and the hunger, everything presses in on you. I loved every single word of it.
—Alan
