Review: Gil Marsh

Gil Marsh by A.C.E. Bauer

My rating: 1 of 5 stars



GoodReads Synopsis: Good looking, athletic, and smart, Gill Marsh is the most popular kid at Uruk High School, even though he is only a junior. When Enko, a new kid from Montreal, shows up, Gil is wary. Yet Enko is easy going and matches Gil's athletic prowess without being a threat. Soon, the two become inseparable friends, practicing, studying, and double-dating.

Then suddenly, to everyone's shock, Enko succombs to an aggressive cancer.

When Enko's parents take his body and return to Canada, Gil is unable to even say good bye. He is inconsolable. Determined to find Enko's grave, Gil sneaks away and heads north.

Closely based on the ancient story of Gilgamesh, the Sumerian King from 3000 BC, A. C. E. Bauer has carefully woven the classic elements of myth to follow Gil's quest and explore the grief and growth of a young man.

My Thoughts: This story read really fast. But the writing style felt more rough draft rather than a fully fleshed out final copy. There was very little description…which felt off. The characters were all flat and one dimensional, as did the story. I found it hard to finish. Gil would get so distracted from his original mission that the whole journey seemed totally pointless. The story had so much potential, but it was so “all over the place” all I wanted to do was finish it and forget it.




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