A review by lcgerstmann
The Children's Book by A.S. Byatt

3.0

This is a "slice of life" novel in the sense that there is no particular plot, only a look into the life of a wealthy British family spanning 1895-World War I. The story centers around the Wellwood's, compromised of Olive, a children's book author, Humphrey her wayward Fabian husband, her spinster sister Violet, their many, many children and practically everyone else they know! And all of their secrets. There are SO many characters the author was said to have kept a spreadsheet to keep them organized during the writing process. Well, I needed a spreadsheet to keep them organized during the reading process, not something I enjoyed having to do. I was however, somewhat entranced by this selfish, hedonistic, artistic family and all of their depraved friends. The story is said to be loosely based on the life of 19th century British children's author, E. Nesbit and the author has said "I started with the idea that writing children's books isn't good for the writers' own children....", that pretty much sums it up. This idea was also intriguing to me and that is what drew me to the book in the first place. However, I have no familiarity with the art movement or politics of early 19th century Britain and was often bored by it and at almost 700 pages, it was sometimes a chore to get through. But because I do enjoy a little depravity and the dynamic of a seriously messed up and complicated family, I hung in there and mostly enjoyed it.