I remember being a bit daunted by the Gondal bits the first time, and wondering if there really had to be so much of it, but then getting into it.

Which is reminding me that there is a Margaret Atwood that includes a Gothic novel in italics that the heroine is writing, and I remember being very disappointed that she didn't finish it, as I was enjoying that part as much as the main text. I think AF handles the end of the Gondal really well, so that for the reader it really does feel like an ending, and that Patrick and Ginty are right that they can't go on with that bit at least.