Review : Possession

May 24, 2010

Title: Possession
Author: A.S. Byatt
Rating: 8/10
Good For: When you think romance is dead

Hello! Just me, long time no speak! I must apologise for my lack of posts here but I’m afraid I’ve been nose-deep in boring books about photoshop and other such dreary matters of late.

Happily though, due to the recent sunshine and my sitting out in parks lots, I’ve managed to read a brilliant book, Possession by A.S. Byatt. I really loved it, and it seems like I’m not the only one because it won the Booker back in 1990. The novel flits primarily between two narratives – one which centres on the forbidden love between two Victorian poets and another about a modern day academic who unearths correspondence between the two poets and who must unravel the mystery of their scandalous affair before his academic rivals find out about his discovery. It’s got a bit of everything: literary mystery, sumptuous romance, scandal and fascinating character development.

I hear there was a film adaptation starring Gwyneth Paltrow. I will not be watching it for fear of disappointment!

Kat x