The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner (Stirling/South Carolina Research Edition of the Collected Works of James Hogg) (Stirling/South ... of the Collected Works of James Hogg)

As others have said - possibly a great and important book at the time but it is not a great read. Partly because of the language used, partly because the 'editors note' at the start tells you all the main events, you then get told them again at greater length by the narator. You know what is coming. Another problem is what are we supposed to make of Robert Wringhams account, and of his shape changing 'friend' Gil-Martin. Is Robert mad, or Gil-Martin the devil. A modern reader may tend to assume the former, but I think in fact it it is the later.

All in all combined with heavy use of old Scots it get very confusing, and hard going - a short book that felt like a very long one.

Examination of a fundamentalist mind (2/2 people found this helpful)

This is one of the single best books about fundamnentalist thinking there is, it focuses upon the ideas predestination and justification in the Christian tradition, which still have some currency among Christian evangelists the world over but essentially the same blind conviction is at the heart of every so called "martyrdom" bombing.

I have only given it three stars because it may not be the easiest book to read, its not the greatest page turner but its a great book in dealing with its subject matter.

An absolute must for anyone who's argued with fundamentalist believers, I would also recommend it to people of faith who are unafraid of searching questions about their convictions.

Pure Brilliance (3/3 people found this helpful)

Like most people i stumbled accross this book without any real knowledge on the author and the book itself.

After reading this book i was simply amazed as to how such a book has not managed to emerge on the public scene with the ferosity as some modern day novels. I read some of the reviews that suggested reading the book in various ways and provided some sort of descritpion as to the meaning etc etc.

JUST READ IT AS THE AUTHOR INTENDED and then take what you want from it. It is such an insightful book.

However, one note of warning, it is written in Old Scots, and as such some of the language may be difficult for some, yet there is a glossary at the end. As a relatively young scotsman, i had trouble with some words, as they are predominantly lothian and east coast. But dont let that put you off, it is well worth it.

It may be great but it's not a great read (5/9 people found this helpful)

I'm not going to argue with all the good points other people make about this book. It's a brilliant idea, and it's fascinating. But as a book, it's got some drawbacks.

1. It's not exactly a page-turner. The structure means you are reading the same events over twice, once told by the editor, and once by the narrator. You know how they turn out, so for a large part of the book, you are (or I was) thinking "get on with it!"

2. The narrator is a dick. This could be an interesting device, but the chilling seral killer Wringhim is a Mr Pooter, who doesn't know how ludicrous he is. Sometimes Hogg goes for comedy (when Wringhim says "I am the sword of the Lord and pestilence is my sister" to his jailors) but mostly he falls between two stools.

3. Because the theological points aren't that great either. OK, justification and predestination are dangerous ideas. We get the picture.

The history of the book's unpopularity and popularity is interesting. It fell out of favour, and came back in a big way since the 1940s. I think it's due to slump again, as we start to see it as a sort of Frankenstein-esque fable, that's a bit heavy on the moralising.

Stunning (16/19 people found this helpful)

It's amazing that such a fantastic book could be under my nose for so long yet I hadn't even given it a second though. A friend mentioned it to me and I said I had never read it. She told me to give it a go but to read the middle first, then the beginning anf finally the last part. Strange instructions I thought but it did make sense.

This book is startling in every sense of the word. So much so it's truly difficult to put into words. Robert Wringham is the main characters. Absolutley convinced of his own perfection having been informed that he was saved. No matter how atrocious his crimes, he was gauranteed a place in heavan. As Robert heads to pray in celebration of this he meets Gil-Martin whom we assume to be the devil. Interestingly to those who have read the novel, Gil-Martin in an inverted version of M'Gill the boy whom Robert tormented in school because he was more sucessful that Wringham.

Gil-Martin influences Robert to sin continually assuring him that it didn't matter what he did because he was guaranteed eternal life. Robert is entirely sucked in. Eventually Robert dies and his account of his life with Gil-martin (the middle section of the book) is buried with his corpse. His body is exhumed and the document read (the later part of the novel)

We never find out Gil-Martin's real identity. All we knew is that Robert views him as a carbon copy of himself both in looks as ideology. Yet, others notice a profound change in Robert after only his first meeting with the devil and his fate is sealed from there.

This is a fantastic page turner and highly underrated. Recommened without a doubt.

The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner (Stirling/South Carolina Research Edition of the Collected Works of James Hogg) (Stirling/South ... of the Collected Works of James Hogg)

James Hogg

Reader Reviews:

Hard going (3/6 people found this helpful)

Examination of a fundamentalist mind (2/2 people found this helpful)

Pure Brilliance (3/3 people found this helpful)

It may be great but it's not a great read (5/9 people found this helpful)

Stunning (16/19 people found this helpful)

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