Possession - A S Byatt . . . anyone read it?

[claudiaschiffer]

Now I know that it won the Booker Prize and people do love it but I am currently on pg 310 and WHEN DOES IT GET GOING?

Sigh . . . is it me or did anyone else find it very slow going? I am enjoying some of it and but find Maud and Roland irritating as hell. Quite like the Victorian stuff but find Randolph Ash unattractive.

Maybe I just like thinks with a bit more oomph. But my friends have raved about it.

[EffiePerine]

It is quite slow (and looong). If you are feeling a bit fed up, why not try some of her short stories instead?

[claudiaschiffer]

Did you enjoy it Effie?

I like the way she writes - her language is lovely and I love the 'multi-layered' nature of the story but lummy, I could put a rocket up the plot!

I guess her short stories are snappier?

[northernrefugee39]

I read it years ago and remember I liked it, but that it was one of those slow unravelling stories.

[theyoungvisiter]

I really like it but she is slow and wordy and detached. It's just her style I think - it gets a bit more emotional towards the end but I wouldn't say ever becomes a page turner.

You've probably read it, but what about Birdsong for a similarly multi-layered but somewhat more snappy novel?

[theyoungvisiter]

Or someone less well-known - try Michelle de Kretser's The Hamilton Case which is written in similarly beautiful prose with lots of literary layering. AS Byatt is a big fan of hers, but the book is a lot shorter than Possession!

[claudiaschiffer]

ooo Birdsong is another of those books which i've always meant to read but have put on hold whilst pregnant (ie hormonally MAD ) as I thought I would blub uncontrollably. I find the 1st World War does this to me. I was wracked with sobs throughout Atonement - much to dh annoyance .

[theyoungvisiter]

oo maybe save birdsong for a lighter moment then! It's definitely more heart-tugging than Atonement so if you cried during that...!

The Hamilton Case is good though - and not particularly sad. It does have a weird change of narrator/pace halfway through, which is a bit of a jolt. It's best if you are a fan of detective novels as that's the literary form it's steeped in.

Trying to think of other similar ones you might enjoy... The French Lieutenant's Woman maybe, if you've never read that? That's sad but not in such a weepy way.

[claudiaschiffer]

I must add, I LOVEDLOVEDLOVED Atonement tho.

[claudiaschiffer]

Who wrote The Hamilton Case theyoungvisitor?

Have read The French Lieutenant's Woman - thought it was great.

[claudiaschiffer]

sorry tyv - just re read your earlier message. Michelle de Krester . . . of course!

[theyoungvisiter]

Michelle de Kretser - Australian writer. She is not very well known over here but I like her writing.

I loved Atonement too! Birdsong is not quite as good imo, but still very enjoyable.

[EffiePerine]

yes, her short stories are more snappy, but still atmospheric

[DiornaNoble]

I have tried to read Possession twice and failed both times. I find it unnecessarily wordy.

[jette]

Stick with Possession - its all about the slo-o-o-w Victorian heartbreak..

[UnquietDad]

Read it years ago. Quite enjoyed it but skipped over most of the faux-Victorian poetry...

[UnquietDad]

And I fell asleep reading "Atonement". Literally. In fact, I feel a bit drowsy now just thinking about it.

[TheFallenMadonna]

Oh I liked it. Don't think it ever does really 'get going' though.

Atonement

[FlossieTCake]

I seem to remember skimming all of the pastiche thinking, "yes, yes, you're very clever, Antonia - now where is the plot??"

I can see how one might get bogged down if one took a more careful approach to things As it was, I quite enjoyed it...

[daffodill6]

Tried years ago - but... God ...its ...slow

[claudiaschiffer]

Hurrah, glad i'm not the only one. Flossie that's EXACTLY how i feel about it. Rather like Antonia is showing off. But then wonder if I am just a philistine.

Am sticking with it. And now enjoying it, like the fat American lesbian - find she injects a bit of energy into simpering dull academics. Also like rakish Fergus Wolff if only because he is rude to Roland.

[welliemum]

I like it. It comes together when you get to the end, and then you want to go back and reread it to spot all the clues.

Or I did, anyway! [weirdo emoticon]

I agree though, the pace is not very snappy and it's quite show-offy.

[claudiaschiffer]

I used to work at Sussex University back at the end of the 80's / early 90's and all that fanatical in-fighting of academics over apparently insignificant bits of research and mad feminist/marxist analysis in the book makes me laugh.

I wonder if academics are still exactly the same?

[cyteen]

I've read it a few times and loved it. The first time I read it was for my English degree though, so all the skill of the fake Victoriana and the humour of the academic bitching really shone out for me. It does seem to be a bit of a Marmite book - I've had disappointing reactions from people I really thought would love it.

[Scarletibis]

Have not read Possession but I have read Virgin in the Garden and Still Life. I think she writes really well and I did enjoy them (struggled/got bored with Babel tower) but I fully admit to a lot of the literary allusions going whizz over my head.

I think you need an English Lit. degree to fully appreciate her (which I haven't got!)

[OrmIrian]

Loved it. One of my favourite all time books.

I don't mind slow. Was brought up on the Classics.