The Ink Black Heart (Cormoran Strike #6), by Robert Galbraith
The Ink Black Heart by Robert Galbraith
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Robert Galbraith’s “The Ink Black Heart”, the sixth instalment of this fantastic series, consisted of 1644 pages based upon my Kindle’s settings. When I started reading it and saw that, I was somewhat awed. I liked where Galbraith went with this series and, thankfully, decided to go on this ride… And, wow, what a ride it was!
Over the time it took me to read this, I felt drawn to this book almost non-stop. I had gotten caught in this ever-moving literary maelstrom…
Robin and Strike investigate the identity of a toxic online persona, Anomie, and the brutal murder of a young cartoonist, Edie Ledwell, and her co-creator, Josh Blay, the latter barely surviving the same attack. Anomie who has in turn co-created a fan-made game to the eponymous cartoon “The Inkblack Heart” with his friend Morehouse – another pseudonym – is central to this mystery and eerily reminded me of some real people online…
Strike and Robin feel what they feel for each other and the energy and tension coming from this adds greatly to the atmosphere of this brilliant book.
Each part of the book is lead-in by a fitting quotation from the famous “Gray’s Anatomy” and each chapter in turn starts with a short excerpt of the works of several authors, e. g. Emily Dickinson.
As in previous books, not only do we get to see how Robin and Strike (and, to some extent, their subcontractors) go about the different cases their detective agency works but also about both their private lives. This, too, helps build up the irresistible narrative strength of the novel. If only Strike and Robin talked a little more to each other…
I hated some of Strike’s decisions (especially the “consolation prize” he claims… Yes, I actually shouted at my Kindle.) but couldn’t help but sympathise because Strike – as always – is written exceptionally well. The same applies to Robin and pretty much every other character – I felt drawn into their world and sometimes really struggled to distance myself from it. Even my mood at times reflected that of Strike or Robin.
The only small downside (at least in the ebook) were the chat logs that present highly important information but are formatted rather badly and sometimes get mixed up so that I had to concentrate strongly on mentally keeping them apart. This is the publisher’s fault, though, and doesn’t diminish the amazing story in the least.
So, this novel is clearly a total winner for me – the best in the Strike series so far. It is a piece of art and bears witness to the narrative genius of its author, Robert Galbraith.
Sadly, Robert Galbraith – as we all know – is none other than Joanne K. Rowling who is very openly transphobic. Here’s an excellent breakdown of the issue: https://www.glamour.com/story/a-compl…
Roman Polanski, Woody Allen, Bill Cosby and now Joanne K. Rowling are people whose works I’ve loved. Richard Wagner, a horrible anti-semitist, is another prominent example of a person whom I despise but whose music is wonderful. They are different kinds of monsters and yet monsters they all are.
I cannot “unlove” those works based upon what they did beyond said works.
I would certainly love it if the creators of the art I love were morally upright and as loveable as their creations. I recoil whenever I’m confronted with their depravity. And, yet, I cannot break from their art.
I can only speak out openly and loudly what I think: Transwomen are Women. Joanne K. Rowling should be ashamed of herself. Or, as she puts it herself:
»So-called ‘cancel culture’ is really no more than holding people accountable for the views they are intentionally putting out into the public sphere.«
Five out of five stars for a literary masterpiece.
Ceterum censeo Putin esse delendam
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