Active Users:217 Time:28/03/2024 12:09:52 PM
You would. (minor spoilers) Legolas Send a noteboard - 08/12/2010 10:18:42 PM
It is a very good book. As I have said before, I had some issues with it. I did not mind the stories written by the female author (I have forgotten her name) for her children, but I really, really hated the poetry and could see no point to it.

As I said, the main quality of Byatt's poetry imho is the way she manages to make it seem like credible creations of a given fictional character - by no means an easy feat. I agree that the poetry isn't necessarily that good, though, and these were less inspired than Ash's and LaMotte's work in Possession. And they took the wind out of the story even more than the fairy tales.
I agree that the descriptions of the pottery and the dolls was truly remarkable. The World Exhibition took my breath away. But unlike you I did not want pictures of the artworks: I think they would have looked colourless and boring compared to the images she created in my mind.

I've never had a very visual memory, and I generally find it difficult to imagine extensive written descriptions visually. So while I do in a way enjoy reading her descriptions, I really could use the pictures to let me see what those things actually look like. And in some cases I don't even know what the words mean if the descriptions go into too much detail - I only had a vague notion of "shingle", for instance, which she kept using when describing that beach.
As I have said before, I also had really vivid dreams tied to her characters in this book. I think the characterisation here is much better than in Possession, where it sometimes seemed too cold.

I love Ash and (especially) LaMotte in Possession, but the present-day storyline and characterization isn't that spectacular, agreed. Much better here, even if I kept confusing some of the boys (I blame Byatt for picking names as similar as Gerald and Geraint, especially when she then starts using "Gerry" as a nickname).
And I liked the ending :<img class=' />

Yeah, it's a good ending. The war passages are impressive in general, even if the Robins aren't fleshed out and so I didn't really care about their fate (though their mothers' meeting was poignant, which I guess was the point anyway).
Reply to message
A.S. Byatt - The Children's Book - 08/12/2010 08:58:34 PM 5205 Views
I agree - 08/12/2010 09:31:39 PM 1408 Views
You would. (minor spoilers) - 08/12/2010 10:18:42 PM 1483 Views
*major spoilers* - 08/12/2010 10:33:38 PM 1593 Views
Yes, you really are. (more spoilers) - 08/12/2010 10:41:01 PM 1540 Views
Re: Yes, you really are. (more spoilers) - 08/12/2010 10:44:15 PM 1547 Views
Re: Yes, you really are. (more spoilers) - 08/12/2010 10:50:37 PM 1458 Views
Re: Yes, you really are. (more spoilers) - 08/12/2010 10:57:27 PM 1436 Views
I must read it soon, I suppose. - 08/12/2010 10:37:47 PM 1344 Views
Re: I must read it soon, I suppose. - 08/12/2010 10:58:09 PM 1392 Views
Re: I must read it soon, I suppose. - 08/12/2010 11:03:16 PM 1278 Views
Re: I must read it soon, I suppose. - 08/12/2010 11:07:12 PM 1340 Views
Re: I must read it soon, I suppose. - 08/12/2010 11:26:36 PM 1346 Views
Re: I must read it soon, I suppose. - 08/12/2010 11:30:21 PM 1335 Views
It is your fault we think you're smart enough to do these things. - 08/12/2010 11:32:38 PM 1414 Views
Yeah, need to get around to reading that at some point - 08/12/2010 11:56:18 PM 1297 Views

Reply to Message