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clarkg's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
reflective
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? It's complicated
5.0
When I first encountered this book, I was intimidated by its tome-like appearance. I am infinitely glad that I forged ahead because it ended up being one of the most rewarding reading experiences I have ever had. Playful and complex, "Possession" experiments with perspective, temporality, and genre. The result is a story with a heartbeat, or a pulse that can be felt at any point in the book. Reading it requires time and dedication but so do most things that matter.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Child death, Cursing, Death, Infidelity, Sexual content, Slavery, Suicide, Grief, and Pregnancy
Minor: Body shaming, Child death, Racism, Sexism, and Terminal illness
directorpurry's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I felt this book in my soul.
This is not an easy novel to read. It's a decent length with a lot of words and letters and poems from the 1860s and onward. If I had read this three, maybe even two years ago, I probably would have deeply disliked it.
But I love it now. It's a deep dive into literary academia and the strange cutthroat actions all over some writing on pieces of paper. It truly captured the anxieties of universities.
While I enjoyed the entire novel, I would say the pacing is slow past page 400. But for the last 130 or so pages, it's suddenly an even wilder ride with a breakneck pace - at least until another diary interruption.
To anyone who likes poetry or literary fiction (which is not really me) I highly recommend this book.
And to anyone who likes reading about books and learning and enjoys a bit of mid-1800s scandal (which is definitely me), definitely read this book.
Personally, I think this novel may have a significant impact on my opinion of literary and historical fiction in the future.
This is not an easy novel to read. It's a decent length with a lot of words and letters and poems from the 1860s and onward. If I had read this three, maybe even two years ago, I probably would have deeply disliked it.
But I love it now. It's a deep dive into literary academia and the strange cutthroat actions all over some writing on pieces of paper. It truly captured the anxieties of universities.
While I enjoyed the entire novel, I would say the pacing is slow past page 400. But for the last 130 or so pages, it's suddenly an even wilder ride with a breakneck pace - at least until another diary interruption.
To anyone who likes poetry or literary fiction (which is not really me) I highly recommend this book.
And to anyone who likes reading about books and learning and enjoys a bit of mid-1800s scandal (which is definitely me), definitely read this book.
Personally, I think this novel may have a significant impact on my opinion of literary and historical fiction in the future.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity
Moderate: Sexual content and Pregnancy
Minor: Terminal illness