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hsaven's review against another edition
1.0
Couldn’t finish… don’t see myself basically skimming another 300 pages of this. Might pick up another time"
amjl's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
embernhard's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
So fun. It’s basically what I want all academia-centric fiction to be. The radical feminism (and AS Byatt’s patronizing indictments of burgeoning WGSS departments) is deeply 90s, therefore dated and riddled with problematic stuff, but even at its worst I thought still hilarious (“my fellow sister-feminists” loll). Similarly, someone actually said, “god bless the xerox machine!” and meant it. I also love that the urgency comes not from some manufactured/high stakes villain-plot, but from a bunch of academics passive aggressively racing to claim citation credits. Also, the epistolary project that Byatt sets out to do (constructing fully realized Victorian poets - and their contemporary critics - who are in love), is too rich to ignore, even though the poetry and fictional lit crit were ngl my least favorite parts to read.
breadandmushrooms's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
ropey's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity
indigoblue777's review against another edition
5.0
Patience. That is plainly what this book asks of you. Have patience and (I believe) you will be rewarded.
That being said, don't read this book if you don't enjoy reading poetry. There is a lot of poetry. You cannot speed through a book with this much poetry. (It's actually very funny that Taylor Swift's Tortured Poets Department came out just as I was finishing this book.)
If you enjoy reading poetry, I can guarantee you will be astonished. A. S. Byatt ingeniously invents two 18th-century poets and a body of their work, so realistic that, now that I've finished the book, it's almost impossible to believe that they didn't exist.
The mystery of these two poets and what really happened between them is riveting. The tension builds so subtly, that before I knew it, I was on the edge of my seat. In the present-day (1980s) story, the feeling of being hunted persists and leaves a chill up your spine.
Of course, literature scholars make the best detectives. Though the inclusion of so many 'primary sources' felt in excess at times, it also made me into a detective. I became part of the Quest to appease curiosity and discover the truth. As though Byatt was saying, "Here's the evidence. Now you're one of them too. Good luck."
This is also a Romance, in the way of the Romantic Period. The love stories felt very realistic, both in the present and the past. I really loved the whole thing, even though it was not was I expected.
This is the story of the people who love poetry, literature, and history. Especially for the readers who love the writers who create monumental works that last for centuries after. There's so much more to say, but for now, I will leave this here. I will certainly be reading this again.
P.S.
That being said, don't read this book if you don't enjoy reading poetry. There is a lot of poetry. You cannot speed through a book with this much poetry. (It's actually very funny that Taylor Swift's Tortured Poets Department came out just as I was finishing this book.)
If you enjoy reading poetry, I can guarantee you will be astonished. A. S. Byatt ingeniously invents two 18th-century poets and a body of their work, so realistic that, now that I've finished the book, it's almost impossible to believe that they didn't exist.
The mystery of these two poets and what really happened between them is riveting. The tension builds so subtly, that before I knew it, I was on the edge of my seat. In the present-day (1980s) story, the feeling of being hunted persists and leaves a chill up your spine
Spoiler
Especially Fergus Wolff, but he surprisingly ended up not being involved in the main plot. He is very creepy, and always described as though he is a wolf.Of course, literature scholars make the best detectives. Though the inclusion of so many 'primary sources' felt in excess at times, it also made me into a detective. I became part of the Quest to appease curiosity and discover the truth. As though Byatt was saying, "Here's the evidence. Now you're one of them too. Good luck."
This is also a Romance, in the way of the Romantic Period. The love stories felt very realistic, both in the present and the past. I really loved the whole thing, even though it was not was I expected.
Spoiler
I enjoyed the ending, which was emotional for Roland and Maud, but bittersweet for Ash and LaMotte. Particularly the Postscript, in the latter's case. Ah, that made my heart hurt.This is the story of the people who love poetry, literature, and history. Especially for the readers who love the writers who create monumental works that last for centuries after. There's so much more to say, but for now, I will leave this here. I will certainly be reading this again.
P.S.
Spoiler
I love that Roland kept advocating for Lady Bailey to get an electric wheelchair. She was the sweetest character in the whole book.flodo's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
msilkwolfe's review against another edition
5.0
I feel like this book belongs in a category of itself, because it’s really unlike any other book I’ve read. This is mainly due to the amount of work it must’ve been to write. All those poems! All those letters! HOW?!? It’s the perfect book club book because there is SO much to discuss. The weaving of history, academia, observations on human nature, and literature left me feeling like this may be my perfect novel. Byatt has written a masterpiece!