It has been said often enough that baby boomers are a television generation, but High Fidelity reminds that in a way they are the record-album generation as well. This hilarious novel is obsessed with music; Hornby's narrator is an early thirtysomething bloke who runs a London record store. He sells albums recorded the old-fashioned way--on vinyl--and is having a tough time making other transitions as well, specifically to adulthood. The book is in one sense a love story, both sweet and interesting; most entertaining, though, are the hilarious arguments over arcane matters of pop music. --Christine ButteryIt has been said often enough that baby boomers are a television generation, but High Fidelity reminds that in a way they are the record-album generation as well. This hilarious novel is obsessed with music; Hornby's narrator is an early thirtysomething bloke who runs a London record store. He sells albums recorded the old-fashioned way--on vinyl--and is having a tough time making other transitions as well, specifically to adulthood. The book is in one sense a love story, both sweet and interesting; most entertaining, though, are the hilarious arguments over arcane matters of pop music. --Christine Buttery

SPOT ON, 14 Aug 2008
Another double-reader. Music ever overtaken your life, or still does? Then this'll all make sense to you. Great fun=>

Laugh out loud, 09 May 2008
I really enjoyed this book. It's quite tragic but funny at the same time. Typical British humour. I couldn't put it down.

If you regularly re-organise your music collection, you'll identify with this novel, 11 Apr 2008
Yes, I'm willing to own up - I was once a female equivalent of Rob, well at least the side of our hero who constantly makes top 5 lists and reorganises their record collection regularly.
Anyone with slight librarianish tendencies will love the comedy in this novel in which the stories of Rob's relationships with the fairer sex are told through his record collection. Rob is no new man, which has led many women to criticize the book, but he's also too intelligent to be just a lad. I loved this novel so much I even bought some of the records mentioned!

Still very faithful, 09 Apr 2008
I read this a couple of times about ten years ago, and it immediately became one of my favourite books: I recall that sharp pang of identification as Rob, the narrator, described his relationships, family and (especially) music. The latter is the thing that stayed with me the longest - indeed, at times it seemed like it was almost a licence for my own feelings about songs, records, films and - let's face it - snobbery.

Rob, Dick and Barry (the latter forever identified in my mind with Jack Black in the film of the novel) don't have opinions, they have lists, and they fight over tiny details in a way that seems unbelievable until you recognise those traits in yourself. The way in which Rob is gradually rescued from this emotional desert by the love of a good woman is heartwarming, and contains some hilarious moments - for example, he's aghast when she says that she sings along with the chorus of "Hi Ho Silver Lining", or goes "Woooh!" at the end of "Brown Sugar" ("there's no greater crime than that, as far as you're concerned, is there?"), or thinks that "Bright Eyes" is different from "Got To Get You Off My Mind" because one song is about rabbits and the other features "a brass band" ("A brass band! A brass band! It's a *horn section*!")

Re-reading it (as light relief in the midst of a much heavier book) after all these years, I enjoyed it all over again. It's Hornby's attention to detail that really makes this work: of course, there's the casual tossing of the names of bands and records into the narrative in a way that expects the reader to understand the references (and the frisson of excitement that's generated when you do), but there's also the way he precisely evokes memories of a time and place just by mentioning the names of defunct stores ("a VG supermarket", "Harlequin Records").

I'd forgotten, however, just how immature Rob was (there's a telling conversation he has on the way to a funeral which displays a breathtaking degree of self-centredness), and some of the technical detail has dated (I imagine that new readers from the download age can't understand why anyone should have so many CDs and records cluttering up their living space), but it's still a brilliant book, and an indirect warning about the dangers of valuing things over people. Or writing about things too much. Like this, for example.


Quite entertaining at times, but not great, 12 Feb 2008
Im not too sure about this novel, its starts off very well, creating an interesting narrative, styled in a unique Hornby way. I just felt that it tailed off markedley as you went on through. I can see why many people like it, but not why they love it. Definately a decent book for a light read or a commute, but for serious reading im not sure it offers enough. In relation to some of his other books, it is much better than "A Long Way Down", but doesnt really hold a candle to the excellent "About a Boy"

"Literary critics make natural detectives", says Maud Bailey, heroine of a mystery where the clues lurk in university libraries, old letters and dusty journals. Together with Roland Michell, a fellow academic and accidental sleuth, Maud discovers a love affair between the two Victorian writers the pair has dedicated their lives to studying: Randolph Ash, a literary great long assumed to be a devoted and faithful husband, and Christabel La Motte, a lesser- known "fairy poetess" and chaste spinster. At first, Roland and Maud's discovery threatens only to alter the direction of their research, but as they unearth the truth about the long- forgotten romance, their involvement becomes increasingly urgent and personal. Desperately concealing their purpose from competing researchers, they embark on a journey that pulls each of them from solitude and loneliness, challenges the most basic assumptions they hold about themselves, and uncovers their unique entitlement to the secret of Ash and La Motte's passion.

Winner of the 1990 Booker Prize, Possession is a gripping and compulsively readable novel. A.S. Byatt exquisitely renders a setting rich in detail and texture. Her lush imagery weaves together the dual worlds that appear throughout the novel--the worlds of the mind and the senses, of male and female, of darkness and light, of truth and imagination--into an enchanted and unforgettable tale of love and intrigue. --Lisa Whipple

SPOT ON, 14 Aug 2008
Another double-reader. Music ever overtaken your life, or still does? Then this'll all make sense to you. Great fun=>

Laugh out loud, 09 May 2008
I really enjoyed this book. It's quite tragic but funny at the same time. Typical British humour. I couldn't put it down.

If you regularly re-organise your music collection, you'll identify with this novel, 11 Apr 2008
Yes, I'm willing to own up - I was once a female equivalent of Rob, well at least the side of our hero who constantly makes top 5 lists and reorganises their record collection regularly.
Anyone with slight librarianish tendencies will love the comedy in this novel in which the stories of Rob's relationships with the fairer sex are told through his record collection. Rob is no new man, which has led many women to criticize the book, but he's also too intelligent to be just a lad. I loved this novel so much I even bought some of the records mentioned!

Still very faithful, 09 Apr 2008
I read this a couple of times about ten years ago, and it immediately became one of my favourite books: I recall that sharp pang of identification as Rob, the narrator, described his relationships, family and (especially) music. The latter is the thing that stayed with me the longest - indeed, at times it seemed like it was almost a licence for my own feelings about songs, records, films and - let's face it - snobbery.

Rob, Dick and Barry (the latter forever identified in my mind with Jack Black in the film of the novel) don't have opinions, they have lists, and they fight over tiny details in a way that seems unbelievable until you recognise those traits in yourself. The way in which Rob is gradually rescued from this emotional desert by the love of a good woman is heartwarming, and contains some hilarious moments - for example, he's aghast when she says that she sings along with the chorus of "Hi Ho Silver Lining", or goes "Woooh!" at the end of "Brown Sugar" ("there's no greater crime than that, as far as you're concerned, is there?"), or thinks that "Bright Eyes" is different from "Got To Get You Off My Mind" because one song is about rabbits and the other features "a brass band" ("A brass band! A brass band! It's a *horn section*!")

Re-reading it (as light relief in the midst of a much heavier book) after all these years, I enjoyed it all over again. It's Hornby's attention to detail that really makes this work: of course, there's the casual tossing of the names of bands and records into the narrative in a way that expects the reader to understand the references (and the frisson of excitement that's generated when you do), but there's also the way he precisely evokes memories of a time and place just by mentioning the names of defunct stores ("a VG supermarket", "Harlequin Records").

I'd forgotten, however, just how immature Rob was (there's a telling conversation he has on the way to a funeral which displays a breathtaking degree of self-centredness), and some of the technical detail has dated (I imagine that new readers from the download age can't understand why anyone should have so many CDs and records cluttering up their living space), but it's still a brilliant book, and an indirect warning about the dangers of valuing things over people. Or writing about things too much. Like this, for example.


Quite entertaining at times, but not great, 12 Feb 2008
Im not too sure about this novel, its starts off very well, creating an interesting narrative, styled in a unique Hornby way. I just felt that it tailed off markedley as you went on through. I can see why many people like it, but not why they love it. Definately a decent book for a light read or a commute, but for serious reading im not sure it offers enough. In relation to some of his other books, it is much better than "A Long Way Down", but doesnt really hold a candle to the excellent "About a Boy"

a true classic, 23 Sep 2008
Oh I love this book!!!
I bought it when it was first published and read it in one go. When I finished I started back at page 1 straight away. Over the years I have reread it a a few more times and I know I will read it again. My copy is all worn and a few friends have read it as well and loved it. It is just one of the most moving and beautiful love stories ever written and I adore its thoroughness and perfect pace - lingering and going in depth and at times racing on and almost taking the form of a crime story. The final chapter has me in tears every time.
The language and prose in this book demands attention and focus so it is not a book to read a few pages of before drifting off to bed. But do read it! It is worth the extra effort!


Expected more, 12 Aug 2008
No doubt the author has a talent for words. The problem is the story didn't manage to really engage me into the story until much later (second half). There were quite long, boring sections I had a hard time getting through.
Sorry, it just wasn't my cup of tea.

Bored to tears..., 31 Jul 2008
To be fair to the author, I did only get about 200 pages into this book, but I found it dull dull DULL - so tedious and long-winded, pretentious and unauthentic. Can't see why it won all those awards - it's really not worth putting yourself through the pain.

A riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma, 22 Oct 2007
POSSESSION: A ROMANCE has been on my shelf since 1991. I read it because it won the 1990 Booker Prize, and once under its spell, I've never wanted to let it go. A.S. Byatt -- sister of award winning novelist Margaret Drabble -- tells a complex story within a story, moving back and forth between modern-day scholars Roland Michell and Maud Bailey, and the fictional Victorian poets who are the subjects of their research.

Victorian literature can seem like a dry and rocky road, but Byatt foreshadows and advances her story with the poetry, letters and journals of the Victorian pair, whose love affair is revealed as the research progresses. From simple lyric poems ("They say that women change: 'tis so: but you / Are ever-constant in your changefulness ...") to complex narrative poems and stories, they are well integrated with the story, though sometimes lengthy. The Victorian scene comes to life most successfully, and it's astonishing how fluently Byatt moves not just from present to past, but among the many different literary forms of the two Victorians.

The story within a story, or more specifically the unraveling of a mystery from the past, is a popular device. It's been used in Josephine Tey's DAUGHTER OF TIME, THE MOONSTONE by Wilkie Collins, THE NAME OF THE ROSE by Umberto Eco; and more recently, THE DANTE CLUB and THE POE SHADOW by Matthew Pearl, THE RULE OF FOUR by Caldwell and Thomason, even Dan Brown's blockbuster THE DA VINCI CODE. Byatt weaves her two stories together beautifully: POSSESSION may be the standard by which to judge this type of book, as both stories are richly developed and rooted in the idiom of their time. The Victorian imagery reveals the love affair between the poets, and eventually between Roland and Maud, with its typical mix of emotion and restraint. The modern story satirizes the British academic scene.

POSSESSION: A ROMANCE may not be the easiest book I ever read, but it's among the most rewarding. If you haven't read it in the many years since it was first published, then I recommend it to you.

Forgotten passion, 12 Jun 2007
"Possession" is far above and beyond the kind of books usually labelled "romance." It's lushly written, with exquisite characters, great poetry and interweavings of legend and myth. It's almost chastely erotic, mysterious and dripping over with Victorian-era romance. It's hard not to be drawn in.

A young scholar, Roland, stumbles accidently on an old letter from acclaimed poet Randolph Ash. He soon has reason to believe that the letter was to Christabel La Monte, a lesser-known "fairy" poet -- except Ash was happily married, and La Monte was single all her life. Roland and the chilly fellow scholar Maud investigate caches of hidden letters, poems, and diaries by the lovers, wife, friends and relatives.

In the past, the cordial letters of Christabel and Randolph blossomed into love and passion. They vanished for a short, blissful time together. But what happened to Christabel and Randolph's love, and why did Christabel leave England, while her companion Blanche committed suicide? And how do these events somehow involve Roland and Maude's own growing attachment?

They say the pen is mightier than the sword, and in "Possession" it's a valuable historical tool. When words are hidden or read, it can change perceptions and even lives. Byatt's own words are wonderfully lush, dreamy and vivid. Given the rather formal language and writing, it almost seems like a nineteenth-century novel, as if Byatt got so swept up in the characters that she started writing like them.

Byatt has an excellent eye for the language of the era. The letters, poetry and fiction of Christabel and Randolph have a very authentic feel. Especially since Byatt manages to change tones for different people's writing (Christabel's poetry was a bit reminiscent of Emily Dickenson's). The only problem is when the book veers into long tangents; Byatt seems to get a little off-track there. But most of the time, the richness of Breton legend adds depth and mystery to an already beautiful novel. The sunken city of Is, the legend of Melusina, and many others are here.

Byatt gives us an amazing look at the ill-fated lovers, Christabel and Randolph; you can feel their passion and love. They aren't just attracted to each other, but drawn together in the mind and spirit. The supporting characters, such as the artist Blanche and devoted, wistful Ellen Ash, are equally well-drawn; you can't dislike any of them. Roland and Maud seem a little anemic by comparison, but they are still compelling characters, caught up in a love affair from over a hundred years ago.

After taking the recommendation of a good friend, I found that "Possession" is the kind of genuine, heartwrenching romance that you don't see much of -- meetings of minds, genuine passion and love. It's a beautiful thing, and something to be deeply treasured.

SPOT ON, 14 Aug 2008
Another double-reader. Music ever overtaken your life, or still does? Then this'll all make sense to you. Great fun=>

Laugh out loud, 09 May 2008
I really enjoyed this book. It's quite tragic but funny at the same time. Typical British humour. I couldn't put it down.

If you regularly re-organise your music collection, you'll identify with this novel, 11 Apr 2008
Yes, I'm willing to own up - I was once a female equivalent of Rob, well at least the side of our hero who constantly makes top 5 lists and reorganises their record collection regularly.
Anyone with slight librarianish tendencies will love the comedy in this novel in which the stories of Rob's relationships with the fairer sex are told through his record collection. Rob is no new man, which has led many women to criticize the book, but he's also too intelligent to be just a lad. I loved this novel so much I even bought some of the records mentioned!

Still very faithful, 09 Apr 2008
I read this a couple of times about ten years ago, and it immediately became one of my favourite books: I recall that sharp pang of identification as Rob, the narrator, described his relationships, family and (especially) music. The latter is the thing that stayed with me the longest - indeed, at times it seemed like it was almost a licence for my own feelings about songs, records, films and - let's face it - snobbery.

Rob, Dick and Barry (the latter forever identified in my mind with Jack Black in the film of the novel) don't have opinions, they have lists, and they fight over tiny details in a way that seems unbelievable until you recognise those traits in yourself. The way in which Rob is gradually rescued from this emotional desert by the love of a good woman is heartwarming, and contains some hilarious moments - for example, he's aghast when she says that she sings along with the chorus of "Hi Ho Silver Lining", or goes "Woooh!" at the end of "Brown Sugar" ("there's no greater crime than that, as far as you're concerned, is there?"), or thinks that "Bright Eyes" is different from "Got To Get You Off My Mind" because one song is about rabbits and the other features "a brass band" ("A brass band! A brass band! It's a *horn section*!")

Re-reading it (as light relief in the midst of a much heavier book) after all these years, I enjoyed it all over again. It's Hornby's attention to detail that really makes this work: of course, there's the casual tossing of the names of bands and records into the narrative in a way that expects the reader to understand the references (and the frisson of excitement that's generated when you do), but there's also the way he precisely evokes memories of a time and place just by mentioning the names of defunct stores ("a VG supermarket", "Harlequin Records").

I'd forgotten, however, just how immature Rob was (there's a telling conversation he has on the way to a funeral which displays a breathtaking degree of self-centredness), and some of the technical detail has dated (I imagine that new readers from the download age can't understand why anyone should have so many CDs and records cluttering up their living space), but it's still a brilliant book, and an indirect warning about the dangers of valuing things over people. Or writing about things too much. Like this, for example.


Quite entertaining at times, but not great, 12 Feb 2008
Im not too sure about this novel, its starts off very well, creating an interesting narrative, styled in a unique Hornby way. I just felt that it tailed off markedley as you went on through. I can see why many people like it, but not why they love it. Definately a decent book for a light read or a commute, but for serious reading im not sure it offers enough. In relation to some of his other books, it is much better than "A Long Way Down", but doesnt really hold a candle to the excellent "About a Boy"

a true classic, 23 Sep 2008
Oh I love this book!!!
I bought it when it was first published and read it in one go. When I finished I started back at page 1 straight away. Over the years I have reread it a a few more times and I know I will read it again. My copy is all worn and a few friends have read it as well and loved it. It is just one of the most moving and beautiful love stories ever written and I adore its thoroughness and perfect pace - lingering and going in depth and at times racing on and almost taking the form of a crime story. The final chapter has me in tears every time.
The language and prose in this book demands attention and focus so it is not a book to read a few pages of before drifting off to bed. But do read it! It is worth the extra effort!


Expected more, 12 Aug 2008
No doubt the author has a talent for words. The problem is the story didn't manage to really engage me into the story until much later (second half). There were quite long, boring sections I had a hard time getting through.
Sorry, it just wasn't my cup of tea.

Bored to tears..., 31 Jul 2008
To be fair to the author, I did only get about 200 pages into this book, but I found it dull dull DULL - so tedious and long-winded, pretentious and unauthentic. Can't see why it won all those awards - it's really not worth putting yourself through the pain.

A riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma, 22 Oct 2007
POSSESSION: A ROMANCE has been on my shelf since 1991. I read it because it won the 1990 Booker Prize, and once under its spell, I've never wanted to let it go. A.S. Byatt -- sister of award winning novelist Margaret Drabble -- tells a complex story within a story, moving back and forth between modern-day scholars Roland Michell and Maud Bailey, and the fictional Victorian poets who are the subjects of their research.

Victorian literature can seem like a dry and rocky road, but Byatt foreshadows and advances her story with the poetry, letters and journals of the Victorian pair, whose love affair is revealed as the research progresses. From simple lyric poems ("They say that women change: 'tis so: but you / Are ever-constant in your changefulness ...") to complex narrative poems and stories, they are well integrated with the story, though sometimes lengthy. The Victorian scene comes to life most successfully, and it's astonishing how fluently Byatt moves not just from present to past, but among the many different literary forms of the two Victorians.

The story within a story, or more specifically the unraveling of a mystery from the past, is a popular device. It's been used in Josephine Tey's DAUGHTER OF TIME, THE MOONSTONE by Wilkie Collins, THE NAME OF THE ROSE by Umberto Eco; and more recently, THE DANTE CLUB and THE POE SHADOW by Matthew Pearl, THE RULE OF FOUR by Caldwell and Thomason, even Dan Brown's blockbuster THE DA VINCI CODE. Byatt weaves her two stories together beautifully: POSSESSION may be the standard by which to judge this type of book, as both stories are richly developed and rooted in the idiom of their time. The Victorian imagery reveals the love affair between the poets, and eventually between Roland and Maud, with its typical mix of emotion and restraint. The modern story satirizes the British academic scene.

POSSESSION: A ROMANCE may not be the easiest book I ever read, but it's among the most rewarding. If you haven't read it in the many years since it was first published, then I recommend it to you.

Forgotten passion, 12 Jun 2007
"Possession" is far above and beyond the kind of books usually labelled "romance." It's lushly written, with exquisite characters, great poetry and interweavings of legend and myth. It's almost chastely erotic, mysterious and dripping over with Victorian-era romance. It's hard not to be drawn in.

A young scholar, Roland, stumbles accidently on an old letter from acclaimed poet Randolph Ash. He soon has reason to believe that the letter was to Christabel La Monte, a lesser-known "fairy" poet -- except Ash was happily married, and La Monte was single all her life. Roland and the chilly fellow scholar Maud investigate caches of hidden letters, poems, and diaries by the lovers, wife, friends and relatives.

In the past, the cordial letters of Christabel and Randolph blossomed into love and passion. They vanished for a short, blissful time together. But what happened to Christabel and Randolph's love, and why did Christabel leave England, while her companion Blanche committed suicide? And how do these events somehow involve Roland and Maude's own growing attachment?

They say the pen is mightier than the sword, and in "Possession" it's a valuable historical tool. When words are hidden or read, it can change perceptions and even lives. Byatt's own words are wonderfully lush, dreamy and vivid. Given the rather formal language and writing, it almost seems like a nineteenth-century novel, as if Byatt got so swept up in the characters that she started writing like them.

Byatt has an excellent eye for the language of the era. The letters, poetry and fiction of Christabel and Randolph have a very authentic feel. Especially since Byatt manages to change tones for different people's writing (Christabel's poetry was a bit reminiscent of Emily Dickenson's). The only problem is when the book veers into long tangents; Byatt seems to get a little off-track there. But most of the time, the richness of Breton legend adds depth and mystery to an already beautiful novel. The sunken city of Is, the legend of Melusina, and many others are here.

Byatt gives us an amazing look at the ill-fated lovers, Christabel and Randolph; you can feel their passion and love. They aren't just attracted to each other, but drawn together in the mind and spirit. The supporting characters, such as the artist Blanche and devoted, wistful Ellen Ash, are equally well-drawn; you can't dislike any of them. Roland and Maud seem a little anemic by comparison, but they are still compelling characters, caught up in a love affair from over a hundred years ago.

After taking the recommendation of a good friend, I found that "Possession" is the kind of genuine, heartwrenching romance that you don't see much of -- meetings of minds, genuine passion and love. It's a beautiful thing, and something to be deeply treasured.

A classy whodunnit which stands out from the crowd, 10 Feb 2008
In the overcrowded field of mystery thrillers, it's not often one comes across a book that is not only a great mystery but also a literary testament to the turmoil of humanity, but that is exacly what David Guterson has achieved with Snow Falling on Cedars. The 'action' takes place over the course of three days, in a court room presided over by an elderly judge, in an small island community being pummelled by one of the worst wintery storms in living memory. Kabuo, a third generation Japanese immigrant, is accused of the first degree murder of another island fisherman. But as the case unfurls, Guterson takes us on a tour of this island's history that reveals the tensions and turmoil of island life, and reveals the backstories of the accused, the victim and many of the witnesses and spectators. Each character is laid bare, exposed to the censure of the pen, while Guterson leaves the reader to make their own judgement. In finely crafted, laconic prose, Snow Falling on Cedars is a testament to the pointlessly of war, the duality of the nature of love and, above all, to the power to humanity to do the right thing in the end. An engaging parable, a gripping thriller, and fine book. Highly recommended.

Whodunnit? who cares? that's not the point of this book, 03 Jan 2008
This is not a whodunnit in the Agatha Christie sense of the term. Do not expect everyone to gather in the drawing room where the detective will point their finger at the person every reader had worked out on page six was the guilty party.

If that is what you expect then you will be disappointed. As other reviewers have said it is a pity in many ways that someone chose to label the book as a whodunnit. Yes this is a courtroom drama and yes there is a mystery to solve. More importantly though is that this book is a superbly told description of a small community, exacerbated even further by their insularity, both literal and metaphorical, and some slight racist overtones. That it does superbly but the amount of description Guterson uses to achieve that does get in the way of approaching this as a simple whodunnit.

If you like Joanne Harris' novels then this should appeal. It has those similar themes of small communities but is in many ways a far better account. If you want a true whodunnit then look elsewhere, that is not the main point of this book.

not really a crime book, 12 Dec 2007
The main disadvantage this book has is that it has the word 'whodunnit' on the cover, which is completely misleading. Frankly, the reviewer who labelled this as a whodunnit ought to be sacked; it is hardly surprising that people who buy this book expecting a whodunnit are disappointed, since that particular genre is plot driven with minimal interest in characters, whereas this thoughtful and, in places, profound work is quite the opposite. Guterson is clearly interested in characters, describing their motivations and how these motivations came to exist at a deeper level than most crime books, which is what separates this book from most other crime fiction. In fact, I'm not even sure labelling it as a piece of crime fiction is helpful.
In short, a beautiful and engaging book, but don't buy it if you want a whodunnit or a thriller...

good story, rather overdescriptive, 05 Dec 2006
A courtroom drama consisting of a series of flashbacks into the lives of the witnesses.
It is an enjoyable read, but at times with superfluous description and scene setting -- most of which could just be skipped. The flash-back technique is quite well managed, but can be a little confusing at times. Generally, it is a well-written story, although the ending takes a pointlessly philosophical turn.


Descriptive and insightful…, 07 Feb 2006
I enjoyed this book and the way the characters and plot unravelled as the story progressed. I did find the description a little too in-depth at times and found myself wanting to skip paragraphs which described the weather and scenery. Instead, I found delving into the past of the characters far more interesting – a revealing insight into how the war destroyed so many lives and how prejudice determined many actions and choices during and after the war.

Compared to the rest of the novel the ending seemed incredibly quick; a lengthy in-depth treatment of the murder trial (including perhaps too much on the closing speeches as we had already read all the details and didn’t need to ream them all again) was followed by Ishmael’s quick revelation (which should have been made earlier) and subsequently the ending was upon us.

A satisfying ending however to an interesting book and a very well-written debut.

Fever Pitch is both an autobiography and a footballing bible rolled into one. Nick Hornby pinpoints 1968 as his formative year--the year he turned 11, the year his parents separated, and the year his father first took him to watch Arsenal play. The author quickly moved "way beyond fandom" into an extreme obsession that has dominated his life, loves, and relationships. His father had initially hoped that Saturday afternoon matches would draw the two closer together, but instead Hornby became completely besotted with the game at the expense of any conversation: "Football may have provided us with a new medium through which we could communicate, but that was not to say that we used it, or what we chose to say was necessarily positive." Girlfriends also played second fiddle to one ball and 11 men. He fantasises that even if a girlfriend "went into labour at an impossible moment" he would not be able to help out until after the final whistle. Fever Pitch is not a typical memoir--there are no chapters, just a series of match reports falling into three time frames (childhood, young adulthood, manhood). While watching the May 2, 1972, Reading v Arsenal match, it became embarrassingly obvious to the then 15-year-old that his white, suburban, middle-class roots made him a wimp with no sense of identity: "Yorkshire men, Lancastrians, Scots, the Irish, blacks, the rich, the poor, even Americans and Australians have something they can sit in pubs and bars and weep about." But a boy from Maidenhead could only dream of coming from a place with "its own tube station and West Indian community and terrible, insoluble social problems." Fever Pitch reveals the very special intricacies of British football, which readers new to the game will find astonishing, and which Hornby presents with remarkable humour and honesty--the "unique" chants sung at matches, the cold rain- soaked terraces, giant cans of warm beer, the trains known as football specials carrying fans to and from matches in prison-like conditions, bottles smashing on the tracks, thousands of police officers waiting in anticipation for the cargo of hooligans. The sport and one team in particular have crept into every aspect of Hornby's life--making him see the world through Arsenal-tinted spectacles. --Naomi GesingerFever Pitch is both an autobiography and a footballing bible rolled into one. Nick Hornby pinpoints 1968 as his formative year--the year he turned 11, the year his parents separated, and the year his father first took him to watch Arsenal play. The author quickly moved "way beyond fandom" into an extreme obsession that has dominated his life, loves, and relationships. His father had initially hoped that Saturday afternoon matches would draw the two closer together, but instead Hornby became completely besotted with the game at the expense of any conversation: "Football may have provided us with a new medium through which we could communicate, but that was not to say that we used it, or what we chose to say was necessarily positive." Girlfriends also played second fiddle to one ball and 11 men. He fantasises that even if a girlfriend "went into labour at an impossible moment" he would not be able to help out until after the final whistle. Fever Pitch is not a typical memoir--there are no chapters, just a series of match reports falling into three time frames (childhood, young adulthood, manhood). While watching the May 2, 1972, Reading v Arsenal match, it became embarrassingly obvious to the then 15-year-old that his white, suburban, middle-class roots made him a wimp with no sense of identity: "Yorkshire men, Lancastrians, Scots, the Irish, blacks, the rich, the poor, even Americans and Australians have something they can sit in pubs and bars and weep about." But a boy from Maidenhead could only dream of coming from a place with "its own tube station and West Indian community and terrible, insoluble social problems." Fever Pitch reveals the very special intricacies of British football, which readers new to the game will find astonishing, and which Hornby presents with remarkable humour and honesty--the "unique" chants sung at matches, the cold rain- soaked terraces, giant cans of warm beer, the trains known as football specials carrying fans to and from matches in prison-like conditions, bottles smashing on the tracks, thousands of police officers waiting in anticipation for the cargo of hooligans. The sport and one team in particular have crept into every aspect of Hornby's life--making him see the world through Arsenal-tinted spectacles. --Naomi Gesinger

SPOT ON, 14 Aug 2008
Another double-reader. Music ever overtaken your life, or still does? Then this'll all make sense to you. Great fun=>

Laugh out loud, 09 May 2008
I really enjoyed this book. It's quite tragic but funny at the same time. Typical British humour. I couldn't put it down.

If you regularly re-organise your music collection, you'll identify with this novel, 11 Apr 2008
Yes, I'm willing to own up - I was once a female equivalent of Rob, well at least the side of our hero who constantly makes top 5 lists and reorganises their record collection regularly.
Anyone with slight librarianish tendencies will love the comedy in this novel in which the stories of Rob's relationships with the fairer sex are told through his record collection. Rob is no new man, which has led many women to criticize the book, but he's also too intelligent to be just a lad. I loved this novel so much I even bought some of the records mentioned!

Still very faithful, 09 Apr 2008
I read this a couple of times about ten years ago, and it immediately became one of my favourite books: I recall that sharp pang of identification as Rob, the narrator, described his relationships, family and (especially) music. The latter is the thing that stayed with me the longest - indeed, at times it seemed like it was almost a licence for my own feelings about songs, records, films and - let's face it - snobbery.

Rob, Dick and Barry (the latter forever identified in my mind with Jack Black in the film of the novel) don't have opinions, they have lists, and they fight over tiny details in a way that seems unbelievable until you recognise those traits in yourself. The way in which Rob is gradually rescued from this emotional desert by the love of a good woman is heartwarming, and contains some hilarious moments - for example, he's aghast when she says that she sings along with the chorus of "Hi Ho Silver Lining", or goes "Woooh!" at the end of "Brown Sugar" ("there's no greater crime than that, as far as you're concerned, is there?"), or thinks that "Bright Eyes" is different from "Got To Get You Off My Mind" because one song is about rabbits and the other features "a brass band" ("A brass band! A brass band! It's a *horn section*!")

Re-reading it (as light relief in the midst of a much heavier book) after all these years, I enjoyed it all over again. It's Hornby's attention to detail that really makes this work: of course, there's the casual tossing of the names of bands and records into the narrative in a way that expects the reader to understand the references (and the frisson of excitement that's generated when you do), but there's also the way he precisely evokes memories of a time and place just by mentioning the names of defunct stores ("a VG supermarket", "Harlequin Records").

I'd forgotten, however, just how immature Rob was (there's a telling conversation he has on the way to a funeral which displays a breathtaking degree of self-centredness), and some of the technical detail has dated (I imagine that new readers from the download age can't understand why anyone should have so many CDs and records cluttering up their living space), but it's still a brilliant book, and an indirect warning about the dangers of valuing things over people. Or writing about things too much. Like this, for example.


Quite entertaining at times, but not great, 12 Feb 2008
Im not too sure about this novel, its starts off very well, creating an interesting narrative, styled in a unique Hornby way. I just felt that it tailed off markedley as you went on through. I can see why many people like it, but not why they love it. Definately a decent book for a light read or a commute, but for serious reading im not sure it offers enough. In relation to some of his other books, it is much better than "A Long Way Down", but doesnt really hold a candle to the excellent "About a Boy"

a true classic, 23 Sep 2008
Oh I love this book!!!
I bought it when it was first published and read it in one go. When I finished I started back at page 1 straight away. Over the years I have reread it a a few more times and I know I will read it again. My copy is all worn and a few friends have read it as well and loved it. It is just one of the most moving and beautiful love stories ever written and I adore its thoroughness and perfect pace - lingering and going in depth and at times racing on and almost taking the form of a crime story. The final chapter has me in tears every time.
The language and prose in this book demands attention and focus so it is not a book to read a few pages of before drifting off to bed. But do read it! It is worth the extra effort!


Expected more, 12 Aug 2008
No doubt the author has a talent for words. The problem is the story didn't manage to really engage me into the story until much later (second half). There were quite long, boring sections I had a hard time getting through.
Sorry, it just wasn't my cup of tea.

Bored to tears..., 31 Jul 2008
To be fair to the author, I did only get about 200 pages into this book, but I found it dull dull DULL - so tedious and long-winded, pretentious and unauthentic. Can't see why it won all those awards - it's really not worth putting yourself through the pain.

A riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma, 22 Oct 2007
POSSESSION: A ROMANCE has been on my shelf since 1991. I read it because it won the 1990 Booker Prize, and once under its spell, I've never wanted to let it go. A.S. Byatt -- sister of award winning novelist Margaret Drabble -- tells a complex story within a story, moving back and forth between modern-day scholars Roland Michell and Maud Bailey, and the fictional Victorian poets who are the subjects of their research.

Victorian literature can seem like a dry and rocky road, but Byatt foreshadows and advances her story with the poetry, letters and journals of the Victorian pair, whose love affair is revealed as the research progresses. From simple lyric poems ("They say that women change: 'tis so: but you / Are ever-constant in your changefulness ...") to complex narrative poems and stories, they are well integrated with the story, though sometimes lengthy. The Victorian scene comes to life most successfully, and it's astonishing how fluently Byatt moves not just from present to past, but among the many different literary forms of the two Victorians.

The story within a story, or more specifically the unraveling of a mystery from the past, is a popular device. It's been used in Josephine Tey's DAUGHTER OF TIME, THE MOONSTONE by Wilkie Collins, THE NAME OF THE ROSE by Umberto Eco; and more recently, THE DANTE CLUB and THE POE SHADOW by Matthew Pearl, THE RULE OF FOUR by Caldwell and Thomason, even Dan Brown's blockbuster THE DA VINCI CODE. Byatt weaves her two stories together beautifully: POSSESSION may be the standard by which to judge this type of book, as both stories are richly developed and rooted in the idiom of their time. The Victorian imagery reveals the love affair between the poets, and eventually between Roland and Maud, with its typical mix of emotion and restraint. The modern story satirizes the British academic scene.

POSSESSION: A ROMANCE may not be the easiest book I ever read, but it's among the most rewarding. If you haven't read it in the many years since it was first published, then I recommend it to you.

Forgotten passion, 12 Jun 2007
"Possession" is far above and beyond the kind of books usually labelled "romance." It's lushly written, with exquisite characters, great poetry and interweavings of legend and myth. It's almost chastely erotic, mysterious and dripping over with Victorian-era romance. It's hard not to be drawn in.

A young scholar, Roland, stumbles accidently on an old letter from acclaimed poet Randolph Ash. He soon has reason to believe that the letter was to Christabel La Monte, a lesser-known "fairy" poet -- except Ash was happily married, and La Monte was single all her life. Roland and the chilly fellow scholar Maud investigate caches of hidden letters, poems, and diaries by the lovers, wife, friends and relatives.

In the past, the cordial letters of Christabel and Randolph blossomed into love and passion. They vanished for a short, blissful time together. But what happened to Christabel and Randolph's love, and why did Christabel leave England, while her companion Blanche committed suicide? And how do these events somehow involve Roland and Maude's own growing attachment?

They say the pen is mightier than the sword, and in "Possession" it's a valuable historical tool. When words are hidden or read, it can change perceptions and even lives. Byatt's own words are wonderfully lush, dreamy and vivid. Given the rather formal language and writing, it almost seems like a nineteenth-century novel, as if Byatt got so swept up in the characters that she started writing like them.

Byatt has an excellent eye for the language of the era. The letters, poetry and fiction of Christabel and Randolph have a very authentic feel. Especially since Byatt manages to change tones for different people's writing (Christabel's poetry was a bit reminiscent of Emily Dickenson's). The only problem is when the book veers into long tangents; Byatt seems to get a little off-track there. But most of the time, the richness of Breton legend adds depth and mystery to an already beautiful novel. The sunken city of Is, the legend of Melusina, and many others are here.

Byatt gives us an amazing look at the ill-fated lovers, Christabel and Randolph; you can feel their passion and love. They aren't just attracted to each other, but drawn together in the mind and spirit. The supporting characters, such as the artist Blanche and devoted, wistful Ellen Ash, are equally well-drawn; you can't dislike any of them. Roland and Maud seem a little anemic by comparison, but they are still compelling characters, caught up in a love affair from over a hundred years ago.

After taking the recommendation of a good friend, I found that "Possession" is the kind of genuine, heartwrenching romance that you don't see much of -- meetings of minds, genuine passion and love. It's a beautiful thing, and something to be deeply treasured.

A classy whodunnit which stands out from the crowd, 10 Feb 2008
In the overcrowded field of mystery thrillers, it's not often one comes across a book that is not only a great mystery but also a literary testament to the turmoil of humanity, but that is exacly what David Guterson has achieved with Snow Falling on Cedars. The 'action' takes place over the course of three days, in a court room presided over by an elderly judge, in an small island community being pummelled by one of the worst wintery storms in living memory. Kabuo, a third generation Japanese immigrant, is accused of the first degree murder of another island fisherman. But as the case unfurls, Guterson takes us on a tour of this island's history that reveals the tensions and turmoil of island life, and reveals the backstories of the accused, the victim and many of the witnesses and spectators. Each character is laid bare, exposed to the censure of the pen, while Guterson leaves the reader to make their own judgement. In finely crafted, laconic prose, Snow Falling on Cedars is a testament to the pointlessly of war, the duality of the nature of love and, above all, to the power to humanity to do the right thing in the end. An engaging parable, a gripping thriller, and fine book. Highly recommended.

Whodunnit? who cares? that's not the point of this book, 03 Jan 2008
This is not a whodunnit in the Agatha Christie sense of the term. Do not expect everyone to gather in the drawing room where the detective will point their finger at the person every reader had worked out on page six was the guilty party.

If that is what you expect then you will be disappointed. As other reviewers have said it is a pity in many ways that someone chose to label the book as a whodunnit. Yes this is a courtroom drama and yes there is a mystery to solve. More importantly though is that this book is a superbly told description of a small community, exacerbated even further by their insularity, both literal and metaphorical, and some slight racist overtones. That it does superbly but the amount of description Guterson uses to achieve that does get in the way of approaching this as a simple whodunnit.

If you like Joanne Harris' novels then this should appeal. It has those similar themes of small communities but is in many ways a far better account. If you want a true whodunnit then look elsewhere, that is not the main point of this book.

not really a crime book, 12 Dec 2007
The main disadvantage this book has is that it has the word 'whodunnit' on the cover, which is completely misleading. Frankly, the reviewer who labelled this as a whodunnit ought to be sacked; it is hardly surprising that people who buy this book expecting a whodunnit are disappointed, since that particular genre is plot driven with minimal interest in characters, whereas this thoughtful and, in places, profound work is quite the opposite. Guterson is clearly interested in characters, describing their motivations and how these motivations came to exist at a deeper level than most crime books, which is what separates this book from most other crime fiction. In fact, I'm not even sure labelling it as a piece of crime fiction is helpful.
In short, a beautiful and engaging book, but don't buy it if you want a whodunnit or a thriller...

good story, rather overdescriptive, 05 Dec 2006
A courtroom drama consisting of a series of flashbacks into the lives of the witnesses.
It is an enjoyable read, but at times with superfluous description and scene setting -- most of which could just be skipped. The flash-back technique is quite well managed, but can be a little confusing at times. Generally, it is a well-written story, although the ending takes a pointlessly philosophical turn.


Descriptive and insightful…, 07 Feb 2006
I enjoyed this book and the way the characters and plot unravelled as the story progressed. I did find the description a little too in-depth at times and found myself wanting to skip paragraphs which described the weather and scenery. Instead, I found delving into the past of the characters far more interesting – a revealing insight into how the war destroyed so many lives and how prejudice determined many actions and choices during and after the war.

Compared to the rest of the novel the ending seemed incredibly quick; a lengthy in-depth treatment of the murder trial (including perhaps too much on the closing speeches as we had already read all the details and didn’t need to ream them all again) was followed by Ishmael’s quick revelation (which should have been made earlier) and subsequently the ending was upon us.

A satisfying ending however to an interesting book and a very well-written debut.

Might be the best book ever dealing with football, 23 Jul 2008
Nick Hornby's warm autobiographical book deals with his life as a football fan from 1968 (when he was a teenager) until 1992, especifically as he supported his beloved Arsenal during that time. There's some good insights about football culture (for a true football fan, football is not really an entertainment, a concept that is probably hard to understand in the US, where sports are just a part of the entertainment business) as well as football tactics (there are few good passers in the sports, he says, as hard as this might be to believe to outsiders; Liam Brady, one of his favorite players, was that rare player, a great passer). Each of the chapters (so to call them) deals with a particular football match that he remembers during that period. And along football, he also makes comments on his relationships, be it with his family or with girlfriends. What Hornby tells is the story of English football in his last throes, a time when hooliganism ruled, but when it also was a genuine, integral pastime of the English people. When the Premiere League was established (in 1992, the year this book ends), and the megamoney and the huge tv contracts came along, and some clubs (like, say, Arsenal) did not put in the field a single English player, it became more of a commercial business and less of a cultural phenomenon. And while I like football, it's hard not to come out from reading this book with the impression that being a football fan at the level Hornby was is not a colossal waste of time.

Unique and interesting., 02 Jan 2008
'Fever Pitch' is an interesting and captivating book, I recently read it and would read it again. I am not a football fan but came closer to understand what it feels like to be one, which was very insightful - you needn't be into football to enjoy this book because football is only the backdrop to discussing relationships and issues in life.

The Pandora's box was open...., 12 Sep 2007
This was it, the book that opened up the floodgates for "footie" to become the supposed obsession of the chattering classes. All over Hampstead, Notting Hill and Camden middle-class, Grammar-school educated chaps like Nick Hornby were suddenly given wings, free to fly everywhere expressing the love for "the beautiful game" that previously had dare not speak its name for fear of inspiring dinner-party sneers. The media was thus annoyingly overrun by David Baddiel types who previously had not given a damn about football. What had previously been a sport for the genuine working class, lower middle class office workers and a few crazed public school eccentric maths masters was depressingly hijacked by Jeremys, Edmunds, Rachels and Sophies everywhere. This was all down to Nick Hornby and his accursed book.

Not that it is bad first offering from a writer who has now become the virtual personification of the North London "metrosexual" new man, dressed in his shoe-style Doc Martens and skinny black jeans, his prematurely balding hair close shaven to avoid a "comb-over" and just as happy to change nappies as he is to sink a pint of best. It is just so indulgent, so self-obsessed, so (at times) smug. It is as if Hornby is constantly telling his audience "look at me, I'm educated, middle-class, articulate, literate, yet my passion is football - how cool is THAT ?".

Many of Hornby's reminiscences are bona fide and certainly strike a chord with someone such as myself who is of exactly the same generation and background. However, it is extremely irritating to read of Hornby's self-glorified schoolboy/student encounters with a seeming string of fragrant home counties university girls. Again, it is a ham-fisted way of Hornby saying that not only was he the salt of the earth but he couldn't half pull posh totty as well. Yes, Nick, we know you've had a few girlfriends, most of us have, but really, we're not actually interested in "Carol Blackburn" or whether or not she let you under her cream cashmere sweater.

By all means read this book, as it is socially, culturally and chronologically very important, but, please, do not bestow it with a classic status it simply does not deserve.

Fever Pitch, 01 Sep 2007
If you're a football fan this is a must read. As a Liverpool supporter I found the description of the Michael Thomas goal particularly painful but still enjoyed the book. Hornby describes the blind devotion you have to your club extremely well. It's a fantastic read about the 'beautiful game' that most football fans will relate to.

Disappointing, 22 Aug 2006
I finally got found to reading this book recently and I wasn't that impressed. Although Hornby sums up a lot of the experiences of being a football fan well, something doesn't work; he never really gets to the bottom of the pain of defeat (and particularly relegation). OK so he's an Arsenal fan and so he's not experienced this, but this is still a book written resolutely from a successful, big club perspective. This, for me, is the main drawback with the impact of this book; it is only really 'true' to the experiences of a very few fans - those of the elite 6 or 7 perenially successful English football teams. But because its influence was so broad it has been adopted as the standard 'excuse book' for newcomer, fairweather fans.

In the course of the year recorded in Bridget Jones's Diary, Bridget confides her hopes, her dreams, and her monstrously fluctuating poundage, not to mention her consumption of 5277 cigarettes and "Fat units 3457 (approx.) (hideous in every way)." In 365 days, she gains 74 pounds. On the other hand, she loses 72! There is also the unspoken New Year's resolution--the quest for the right man. Alas, here Bridget goes severely off course when she has an affair with her charming cad of a boss. But who would be without their e-mail flirtation focused on a short black skirt? The boss even contends that it is so short as to be nonexistent.

At the beginning of Helen Fielding's exceptionally funny second novel, the thirtyish publishing puffette is suffering from postholiday stress syndrome but determined to find Inner Peace and poise. Bridget will, for instance, "get up straight away when wake up in mornings." Now if only she can survive the party her mother has tricked her into--a suburban fest full of "Smug Marrieds" professing concern for her and her fellow "Singletons"--she'll have made a good start. As far as she's concerned, "We wouldn't rush up to them and roar, 'How's your marriage going? Still having sex?'"

This is only the first of many disgraces Bridget will suffer in her year of performance anxiety (at work and at play, though less often in bed) and living through other people's "emotional fuckwittage." Her twin-set-wearing suburban mother, for instance, suddenly becomes a chat-show hostess and unrepentant adulteress, while our heroine herself spends half the time overdosing on Chardonnay and feeling like "a tragic freak." Bridget Jones's Diary began as a column in the London Independent and struck a chord with readers of all sexes and sizes. In strokes simultaneously broad and subtle, Helen Fielding reveals the lighter side of despair, self-doubt, and obsession, and also satirizes everything from self-help books (they don't sound half as sensible to Bridget when she's sober) to feng shui, Cosmopolitan-style. She is the Nancy Mitford of the 1990s, and it's impossible not to root for her endearing heroine. On the other hand, one can only hope that Bridget will continue to screw up and tell us all about it for years and books to come. --Kerry FriedIn the course of the year recorded in Bridget Jones's Diary, Bridget confides her hopes, her dreams, and her monstrously fluctuating poundage, not to mention her consumption of 5277 cigarettes and "Fat units 3457 (approx.) (hideous in every way)." In 365 days, she gains 74 pounds. On the other hand, she loses 72! There is also the unspoken New Year's resolution--the quest for the right man. Alas, here Bridget goes severely off course when she has an affair with her charming cad of a boss. But who would be without their e-mail flirtation focused on a short black skirt? The boss even contends that it is so short as to be nonexistent.

At the beginning of Helen Fielding's exceptionally funny second novel, the thirtyish publishing puffette is suffering from postholiday stress syndrome but determined to find Inner Peace and poise. Bridget will, for instance, "get up straight away when wake up in mornings." Now if only she can survive the party her mother has tricked her into--a suburban fest full of "Smug Marrieds" professing concern for her and her fellow "Singletons"--she'll have made a good start. As far as she's concerned, "We wouldn't rush up to them and roar, 'How's your marriage going? Still having sex?'"

This is only the first of many disgraces Bridget will suffer in her year of performance anxiety (at work and at play, though less often in bed) and living through other people's "emotional fuckwittage." Her twin-set-wearing suburban mother, for instance, suddenly becomes a chat-show hostess and unrepentant adulteress, while our heroine herself spends half the time overdosing on Chardonnay and feeling like "a tragic freak." Bridget Jones's Diary began as a column in the London Independent and struck a chord with readers of all sexes and sizes. In strokes simultaneously broad and subtle, Helen Fielding reveals the lighter side of despair, self-doubt, and obsession, and also satirizes everything from self-help books (they don't sound half as sensible to Bridget when she's sober) to feng shui, Cosmopolitan-style. She is the Nancy Mitford of the 1990s, and it's impossible not to root for her endearing heroine. On the other hand, one can only hope that Bridget will continue to screw up and tell us all about it for years and books to come. --Kerry Fried

SPOT ON, 14 Aug 2008
Another double-reader. Music ever overtaken your life, or still does? Then this'll all make sense to you. Great fun=>

Laugh out loud, 09 May 2008
I really enjoyed this book. It's quite tragic but funny at the same time. Typical British humour. I couldn't put it down.

If you regularly re-organise your music collection, you'll identify with this novel, 11 Apr 2008
Yes, I'm willing to own up - I was once a female equivalent of Rob, well at least the side of our hero who constantly makes top 5 lists and reorganises their record collection regularly.
Anyone with slight librarianish tendencies will love the comedy in this novel in which the stories of Rob's relationships with the fairer sex are told through his record collection. Rob is no new man, which has led many women to criticize the book, but he's also too intelligent to be just a lad. I loved this novel so much I even bought some of the records mentioned!

Still very faithful, 09 Apr 2008
I read this a couple of times about ten years ago, and it immediately became one of my favourite books: I recall that sharp pang of identification as Rob, the narrator, described his relationships, family and (especially) music. The latter is the thing that stayed with me the longest - indeed, at times it seemed like it was almost a licence for my own feelings about songs, records, films and - let's face it - snobbery.

Rob, Dick and Barry (the latter forever identified in my mind with Jack Black in the film of the novel) don't have opinions, they have lists, and they fight over tiny details in a way that seems unbelievable until you recognise those traits in yourself. The way in which Rob is gradually rescued from this emotional desert by the love of a good woman is heartwarming, and contains some hilarious moments - for example, he's aghast when she says that she sings along with the chorus of "Hi Ho Silver Lining", or goes "Woooh!" at the end of "Brown Sugar" ("there's no greater crime than that, as far as you're concerned, is there?"), or thinks that "Bright Eyes" is different from "Got To Get You Off My Mind" because one song is about rabbits and the other features "a brass band" ("A brass band! A brass band! It's a *horn section*!")

Re-reading it (as light relief in the midst of a much heavier book) after all these years, I enjoyed it all over again. It's Hornby's attention to detail that really makes this work: of course, there's the casual tossing of the names of bands and records into the narrative in a way that expects the reader to understand the references (and the frisson of excitement that's generated when you do), but there's also the way he precisely evokes memories of a time and place just by mentioning the names of defunct stores ("a VG supermarket", "Harlequin Records").

I'd forgotten, however, just how immature Rob was (there's a telling conversation he has on the way to a funeral which displays a breathtaking degree of self-centredness), and some of the technical detail has dated (I imagine that new readers from the download age can't understand why anyone should have so many CDs and records cluttering up their living space), but it's still a brilliant book, and an indirect warning about the dangers of valuing things over people. Or writing about things too much. Like this, for example.


Quite entertaining at times, but not great, 12 Feb 2008
Im not too sure about this novel, its starts off very well, creating an interesting narrative, styled in a unique Hornby way. I just felt that it tailed off markedley as you went on through. I can see why many people like it, but not why they love it. Definately a decent book for a light read or a commute, but for serious reading im not sure it offers enough. In relation to some of his other books, it is much better than "A Long Way Down", but doesnt really hold a candle to the excellent "About a Boy"

a true classic, 23 Sep 2008
Oh I love this book!!!
I bought it when it was first published and read it in one go. When I finished I started back at page 1 straight away. Over the years I have reread it a a few more times and I know I will read it again. My copy is all worn and a few friends have read it as well and loved it. It is just one of the most moving and beautiful love stories ever written and I adore its thoroughness and perfect pace - lingering and going in depth and at times racing on and almost taking the form of a crime story. The final chapter has me in tears every time.
The language and prose in this book demands attention and focus so it is not a book to read a few pages of before drifting off to bed. But do read it! It is worth the extra effort!


Expected more, 12 Aug 2008
No doubt the author has a talent for words. The problem is the story didn't manage to really engage me into the story until much later (second half). There were quite long, boring sections I had a hard time getting through.
Sorry, it just wasn't my cup of tea.

Bored to tears..., 31 Jul 2008
To be fair to the author, I did only get about 200 pages into this book, but I found it dull dull DULL - so tedious and long-winded, pretentious and unauthentic. Can't see why it won all those awards - it's really not worth putting yourself through the pain.

A riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma, 22 Oct 2007
POSSESSION: A ROMANCE has been on my shelf since 1991. I read it because it won the 1990 Booker Prize, and once under its spell, I've never wanted to let it go. A.S. Byatt -- sister of award winning novelist Margaret Drabble -- tells a complex story within a story, moving back and forth between modern-day scholars Roland Michell and Maud Bailey, and the fictional Victorian poets who are the subjects of their research.

Victorian literature can seem like a dry and rocky road, but Byatt foreshadows and advances her story with the poetry, letters and journals of the Victorian pair, whose love affair is revealed as the research progresses. From simple lyric poems ("They say that women change: 'tis so: but you / Are ever-constant in your changefulness ...") to complex narrative poems and stories, they are well integrated with the story, though sometimes lengthy. The Victorian scene comes to life most successfully, and it's astonishing how fluently Byatt moves not just from present to past, but among the many different literary forms of the two Victorians.

The story within a story, or more specifically the unraveling of a mystery from the past, is a popular device. It's been used in Josephine Tey's DAUGHTER OF TIME, THE MOONSTONE by Wilkie Collins, THE NAME OF THE ROSE by Umberto Eco; and more recently, THE DANTE CLUB and THE POE SHADOW by Matthew Pearl, THE RULE OF FOUR by Caldwell and Thomason, even Dan Brown's blockbuster THE DA VINCI CODE. Byatt weaves her two stories together beautifully: POSSESSION may be the standard by which to judge this type of book, as both stories are richly developed and rooted in the idiom of their time. The Victorian imagery reveals the love affair between the poets, and eventually between Roland and Maud, with its typical mix of emotion and restraint. The modern story satirizes the British academic scene.

POSSESSION: A ROMANCE may not be the easiest book I ever read, but it's among the most rewarding. If you haven't read it in the many years since it was first published, then I recommend it to you.

Forgotten passion, 12 Jun 2007
"Possession" is far above and beyond the kind of books usually labelled "romance." It's lushly written, with exquisite characters, great poetry and interweavings of legend and myth. It's almost chastely erotic, mysterious and dripping over with Victorian-era romance. It's hard not to be drawn in.

A young scholar, Roland, stumbles accidently on an old letter from acclaimed poet Randolph Ash. He soon has reason to believe that the letter was to Christabel La Monte, a lesser-known "fairy" poet -- except Ash was happily married, and La Monte was single all her life. Roland and the chilly fellow scholar Maud investigate caches of hidden letters, poems, and diaries by the lovers, wife, friends and relatives.

In the past, the cordial letters of Christabel and Randolph blossomed into love and passion. They vanished for a short, blissful time together. But what happened to Christabel and Randolph's love, and why did Christabel leave England, while her companion Blanche committed suicide? And how do these events somehow involve Roland and Maude's own growing attachment?

They say the pen is mightier than the sword, and in "Possession" it's a valuable historical tool. When words are hidden or read, it can change perceptions and even lives. Byatt's own words are wonderfully lush, dreamy and vivid. Given the rather formal language and writing, it almost seems like a nineteenth-century novel, as if Byatt got so swept up in the characters that she started writing like them.

Byatt has an excellent eye for the language of the era. The letters, poetry and fiction of Christabel and Randolph have a very authentic feel. Especially since Byatt manages to change tones for different people's writing (Christabel's poetry was a bit reminiscent of Emily Dickenson's). The only problem is when the book veers into long tangents; Byatt seems to get a little off-track there. But most of the time, the richness of Breton legend adds depth and mystery to an already beautiful novel. The sunken city of Is, the legend of Melusina, and many others are here.

Byatt gives us an amazing look at the ill-fated lovers, Christabel and Randolph; you can feel their passion and love. They aren't just attracted to each other, but drawn together in the mind and spirit. The supporting characters, such as the artist Blanche and devoted, wistful Ellen Ash, are equally well-drawn; you can't dislike any of them. Roland and Maud seem a little anemic by comparison, but they are still compelling characters, caught up in a love affair from over a hundred years ago.

After taking the recommendation of a good friend, I found that "Possession" is the kind of genuine, heartwrenching romance that you don't see much of -- meetings of minds, genuine passion and love. It's a beautiful thing, and something to be deeply treasured.

A classy whodunnit which stands out from the crowd, 10 Feb 2008
In the overcrowded field of mystery thrillers, it's not often one comes across a book that is not only a great mystery but also a literary testament to the turmoil of humanity, but that is exacly what David Guterson has achieved with Snow Falling on Cedars. The 'action' takes place over the course of three days, in a court room presided over by an elderly judge, in an small island community being pummelled by one of the worst wintery storms in living memory. Kabuo, a third generation Japanese immigrant, is accused of the first degree murder of another island fisherman. But as the case unfurls, Guterson takes us on a tour of this island's history that reveals the tensions and turmoil of island life, and reveals the backstories of the accused, the victim and many of the witnesses and spectators. Each character is laid bare, exposed to the censure of the pen, while Guterson leaves the reader to make their own judgement. In finely crafted, laconic prose, Snow Falling on Cedars is a testament to the pointlessly of war, the duality of the nature of love and, above all, to the power to humanity to do the right thing in the end. An engaging parable, a gripping thriller, and fine book. Highly recommended.

Whodunnit? who cares? that's not the point of this book, 03 Jan 2008
This is not a whodunnit in the Agatha Christie sense of the term. Do not expect everyone to gather in the drawing room where the detective will point their finger at the person every reader had worked out on page six was the guilty party.

If that is what you expect then you will be disappointed. As other reviewers have said it is a pity in many ways that someone chose to label the book as a whodunnit. Yes this is a courtroom drama and yes there is a mystery to solve. More importantly though is that this book is a superbly told description of a small community, exacerbated even further by their insularity, both literal and metaphorical, and some slight racist overtones. That it does superbly but the amount of description Guterson uses to achieve that does get in the way of approaching this as a simple whodunnit.

If you like Joanne Harris' novels then this should appeal. It has those similar themes of small communities but is in many ways a far better account. If you want a true whodunnit then look elsewhere, that is not the main point of this book.

not really a crime book, 12 Dec 2007
The main disadvantage this book has is that it has the word 'whodunnit' on the cover, which is completely misleading. Frankly, the reviewer who labelled this as a whodunnit ought to be sacked; it is hardly surprising that people who buy this book expecting a whodunnit are disappointed, since that particular genre is plot driven with minimal interest in characters, whereas this thoughtful and, in places, profound work is quite the opposite. Guterson is clearly interested in characters, describing their motivations and how these motivations came to exist at a deeper level than most crime books, which is what separates this book from most other crime fiction. In fact, I'm not even sure labelling it as a piece of crime fiction is helpful.
In short, a beautiful and engaging book, but don't buy it if you want a whodunnit or a thriller...

good story, rather overdescriptive, 05 Dec 2006
A courtroom drama consisting of a series of flashbacks into the lives of the witnesses.
It is an enjoyable read, but at times with superfluous description and scene setting -- most of which could just be skipped. The flash-back technique is quite well managed, but can be a little confusing at times. Generally, it is a well-written story, although the ending takes a pointlessly philosophical turn.


Descriptive and insightful…, 07 Feb 2006
I enjoyed this book and the way the characters and plot unravelled as the story progressed. I did find the description a little too in-depth at times and found myself wanting to skip paragraphs which described the weather and scenery. Instead, I found delving into the past of the characters far more interesting – a revealing insight into how the war destroyed so many lives and how prejudice determined many actions and choices during and after the war.

Compared to the rest of the novel the ending seemed incredibly quick; a lengthy in-depth treatment of the murder trial (including perhaps too much on the closing speeches as we had already read all the details and didn’t need to ream them all again) was followed by Ishmael’s quick revelation (which should have been made earlier) and subsequently the ending was upon us.

A satisfying ending however to an interesting book and a very well-written debut.

Might be the best book ever dealing with football, 23 Jul 2008
Nick Hornby's warm autobiographical book deals with his life as a football fan from 1968 (when he was a teenager) until 1992, especifically as he supported his beloved Arsenal during that time. There's some good insights about football culture (for a true football fan, football is not really an entertainment, a concept that is probably hard to understand in the US, where sports are just a part of the entertainment business) as well as football tactics (there are few good passers in the sports, he says, as hard as this might be to believe to outsiders; Liam Brady, one of his favorite players, was that rare player, a great passer). Each of the chapters (so to call them) deals with a particular football match that he remembers during that period. And along football, he also makes comments on his relationships, be it with his family or with girlfriends. What Hornby tells is the story of English football in his last throes, a time when hooliganism ruled, but when it also was a genuine, integral pastime of the English people. When the Premiere League was established (in 1992, the year this book ends), and the megamoney and the huge tv contracts came along, and some clubs (like, say, Arsenal) did not put in the field a single English player, it became more of a commercial business and less of a cultural phenomenon. And while I like football, it's hard not to come out from reading this book with the impression that being a football fan at the level Hornby was is not a colossal waste of time.

Unique and interesting., 02 Jan 2008
'Fever Pitch' is an interesting and captivating book, I recently read it and would read it again. I am not a football fan but came closer to understand what it feels like to be one, which was very insightful - you needn't be into football to enjoy this book because football is only the backdrop to discussing relationships and issues in life.

The Pandora's box was open...., 12 Sep 2007
This was it, the book that opened up the floodgates for "footie" to become the supposed obsession of the chattering classes. All over Hampstead, Notting Hill and Camden middle-class, Grammar-school educated chaps like Nick Hornby were suddenly given wings, free to fly everywhere expressing the love for "the beautiful game" that previously had dare not speak its name for fear of inspiring dinner-party sneers. The media was thus annoyingly overrun by David Baddiel types who previously had not given a damn about football. What had previously been a sport for the genuine working class, lower middle class office workers and a few crazed public school eccentric maths masters was depressingly hijacked by Jeremys, Edmunds, Rachels and Sophies everywhere. This was all down to Nick Hornby and his accursed book.

Not that it is bad first offering from a writer who has now become the virtual personification of the North London "metrosexual" new man, dressed in his shoe-style Doc Martens and skinny black jeans, his prematurely balding hair close shaven to avoid a "comb-over" and just as happy to change nappies as he is to sink a pint of best. It is just so indulgent, so self-obsessed, so (at times) smug. It is as if Hornby is constantly telling his audience "look at me, I'm educated, middle-class, articulate, literate, yet my passion is football - how cool is THAT ?".

Many of Hornby's reminiscences are bona fide and certainly strike a chord with someone such as myself who is of exactly the same generation and background. However, it is extremely irritating to read of Hornby's self-glorified schoolboy/student encounters with a seeming string of fragrant home counties university girls. Again, it is a ham-fisted way of Hornby saying that not only was he the salt of the earth but he couldn't half pull posh totty as well. Yes, Nick, we know you've had a few girlfriends, most of us have, but really, we're not actually interested in "Carol Blackburn" or whether or not she let you under her cream cashmere sweater.

By all means read this book, as it is socially, culturally and chronologically very important, but, please, do not bestow it with a classic status it simply does not deserve.

Fever Pitch, 01 Sep 2007
If you're a football fan this is a must read. As a Liverpool supporter I found the description of the Michael Thomas goal particularly painful but still enjoyed the book. Hornby describes the blind devotion you have to your club extremely well. It's a fantastic read about the 'beautiful game' that most football fans will relate to.

Disappointing, 22 Aug 2006
I finally got found to reading this book recently and I wasn't that impressed. Although Hornby sums up a lot of the experiences of being a football fan well, something doesn't work; he never really gets to the bottom of the pain of defeat (and particularly relegation). OK so he's an Arsenal fan and so he's not experienced this, but this is still a book written resolutely from a successful, big club perspective. This, for me, is the main drawback with the impact of this book; it is only really 'true' to the experiences of a very few fans - those of the elite 6 or 7 perenially successful English football teams. But because its influence was so broad it has been adopted as the standard 'excuse book' for newcomer, fairweather fans.

Absolute masterpiece, 21 Jun 2008
I am on my fourth read of Bridget Jones's Diary and I have watched the film at least fifty times. I'm addicted. The book is fantastic, I can guarantee you will not be able to put it down and will read it probably within less than a week.

*brilliant* ;), 06 Nov 2007
Actually I don't like diary novels, I thought, when I considered reading this book. Now I'm glad that I did read it anyway, because now I know that I love at least one diary-book, in fact Bridget Jones's Diary!

This funny and lovely Book was written by Helen Fielding who was born in Yorkshire. Today she lives in London, where the story of Bridget Jones, the main character, takes place as well. Published in 1997, the book was very successful in England. Later it became a global best-seller.

With her first diary-entry, Bridget characterizes in a few sentences the whole generation of women which she belongs to: She's not only too thick, moreover she tries to stop smoking desperately. In addition, pursed by bad conscience, she counts how much alcohol she drinks each day. As if she, as a single woman in London at the age of 30, didn't have enough other problems, she makes the New Year's resolution to find a boyfriend within the next year. A nice one, to spend her life with. For example her boss Daniel Cleaver who is very attractive. He seems to be open for a relationship but only as long as it is uncomplicated and non-binding. This causes many problems.
Till next New Year's Eve it's not only her weight that goes up and down. It's the same with many other chapters in her life because she is very talented in walking into traps, what is always very funny and entertaining.

Well, all things considered the book tells a story about a chaotic, lovely and not-married woman who tries to change her life.
It is very entertaining with typical Brtitish-humour and much irony. I often had to laugh out loud when I was reading it and that is the reason why I'm giving this book five stars. Above all the characterization is brilliant and the writing excellent. The plot isn't really profund but nevertheless it's fascinating and
never boring. I think many women in the whole world can identify themselves with Bridget, so I think that the moral message of the book is the following: You're not alone with your problems. There are other people who share them with you. Just take it easy! ;)

I really enjoyed reading it and if you're looking for a funny book to get you in a good mood, you wouldn't find a better one, I think.

In Bridget's crazy live she nearly misses to find the right man but don't you miss to read more about it yourself. ;)



Totally hilarious., 06 Aug 2007
Now this book is absolutely hilarious, easy to read and easy to understand. I could read this book repeatedly but I would reccommend this for the ages of 19 to infinity and beyond. While reading this book I was doubled up laughing and if i wasn't doubled up I was choking with laughter. Thank you and I hope this helps. Enjoy the book.

Hilarious easy reading, 14 Feb 2007
If you are wanting a novel that challenges you and makes you think.... Then maybe Pride and Prejudice or Jane Eyre are more for you. But, if you want a page turner that has you doubled over crying with laughter... this is your perfect book.
Its easy to read and one of the only books i have EVER read that has made me laugh out loud.
Some books make you think "oh thats funny" some books make you smile. This book will make you unable to read because the tears of laughter are blurring your vision!

Read it!

Whats the hype all about?, 03 Apr 2006
I saw the movie first and found it entertaining. A bit of harmless fun. The book was a complete dissapointment. I have nothing against the concept of a 30 something woman trying to improve her love life and trying to lose weight . But the quality of writing is so poor! Helen Fielding shows no talent whatsoever in bringing out the turmoils , the joys and vexations of such a woman's life. Its a trite commonplace piece of writing and I saw nothing worthy of literary merit in it.I cannot belive it was considered to be one of the top 100 novels of the 20th centuary. Its is a dissapointing and dismaying indicator of what taste is coming to in this centuary.

SPOT ON, 14 Aug 2008
Another double-reader. Music ever overtaken your life, or still does? Then this'll all make sense to you. Great fun=>

Laugh out loud, 09 May 2008
I really enjoyed this book. It's quite tragic but funny at the same time. Typical British humour. I couldn't put it down.

If you regularly re-organise your music collection, you'll identify with this novel, 11 Apr 2008
Yes, I'm willing to own up - I was once a female equivalent of Rob, well at least the side of our hero who constantly makes top 5 lists and reorganises their record collection regularly.
Anyone with slight librarianish tendencies will love the comedy in this novel in which the stories of Rob's relationships with the fairer sex are told through his record collection. Rob is no new man, which has led many women to criticize the book, but he's also too intelligent to be just a lad. I loved this novel so much I even bought some of the records mentioned!

Still very faithful, 09 Apr 2008
I read this a couple of times about ten years ago, and it immediately became one of my favourite books: I recall that sharp pang of identification as Rob, the narrator, described his relationships, family and (especially) music. The latter is the thing that stayed with me the longest - indeed, at times it seemed like it was almost a licence for my own feelings about songs, records, films and - let's face it - snobbery.

Rob, Dick and Barry (the latter forever identified in my mind with Jack Black in the film of the novel) don't have opinions, they have lists, and they fight over tiny details in a way that seems unbelievable until you recognise those traits in yourself. The way in which Rob is gradually rescued from this emotional desert by the love of a good woman is heartwarming, and contains some hilarious moments - for example, he's aghast when she says that she sings along with the chorus of "Hi Ho Silver Lining", or goes "Woooh!" at the end of "Brown Sugar" ("there's no greater crime than that, as far as you're concerned, is there?"), or thinks that "Bright Eyes" is different from "Got To Get You Off My Mind" because one song is about rabbits and the other features "a brass band" ("A brass band! A brass band! It's a *horn section*!")

Re-reading it (as light relief in the midst of a much heavier book) after all these years, I enjoyed it all over again. It's Hornby's attention to detail that really makes this work: of course, there's the casual tossing of the names of bands and records into the narrative in a way that expects the reader to understand the references (and the frisson of excitement that's generated when you do), but there's also the way he precisely evokes memories of a time and place just by mentioning the names of defunct stores ("a VG supermarket", "Harlequin Records").

I'd forgotten, however, just how immature Rob was (there's a telling conversation he has on the way to a funeral which displays a breathtaking degree of self-centredness), and some of the technical detail has dated (I imagine that new readers from the download age can't understand why anyone should have so many CDs and records cluttering up their living space), but it's still a brilliant book, and an indirect warning about the dangers of valuing things over people. Or writing about things too much. Like this, for example.


Quite entertaining at times, but not great, 12 Feb 2008
Im not too sure about this novel, its starts off very well, creating an interesting narrative, styled in a unique Hornby way. I just felt that it tailed off markedley as you went on through. I can see why many people like it, but not why they love it. Definately a decent book for a light read or a commute, but for serious reading im not sure it offers enough. In relation to some of his other books, it is much better than "A Long Way Down", but doesnt really hold a candle to the excellent "About a Boy"

a true classic, 23 Sep 2008
Oh I love this book!!!
I bought it when it was first published and read it in one go. When I finished I started back at page 1 straight away. Over the years I have reread it a a few more times and I know I will read it again. My copy is all worn and a few friends have read it as well and loved it. It is just one of the most moving and beautiful love stories ever written and I adore its thoroughness and perfect pace - lingering and going in depth and at times racing on and almost taking the form of a crime story. The final chapter has me in tears every time.
The language and prose in this book demands attention and focus so it is not a book to read a few pages of before drifting off to bed. But do read it! It is worth the extra effort!


Expected more, 12 Aug 2008
No doubt the author has a talent for words. The problem is the story didn't manage to really engage me into the story until much later (second half). There were quite long, boring sections I had a hard time getting through.
Sorry, it just wasn't my cup of tea.

Bored to tears..., 31 Jul 2008
To be fair to the author, I did only get about 200 pages into this book, but I found it dull dull DULL - so tedious and long-winded, pretentious and unauthentic. Can't see why it won all those awards - it's really not worth putting yourself through the pain.

A riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma, 22 Oct 2007
POSSESSION: A ROMANCE has been on my shelf since 1991. I read it because it won the 1990 Booker Prize, and once under its spell, I've never wanted to let it go. A.S. Byatt -- sister of award winning novelist Margaret Drabble -- tells a complex story within a story, moving back and forth between modern-day scholars Roland Michell and Maud Bailey, and the fictional Victorian poets who are the subjects of their research.

Victorian literature can seem like a dry and rocky road, but Byatt foreshadows and advances her story with the poetry, letters and journals of the Victorian pair, whose love affair is revealed as the research progresses. From simple lyric poems ("They say that women change: 'tis so: but you / Are ever-constant in your changefulness ...") to complex narrative poems and stories, they are well integrated with the story, though sometimes lengthy. The Victorian scene comes to life most successfully, and it's astonishing how fluently Byatt moves not just from present to past, but among the many different literary forms of the two Victorians.

The story within a story, or more specifically the unraveling of a mystery from the past, is a popular device. It's been used in Josephine Tey's DAUGHTER OF TIME, THE MOONSTONE by Wilkie Collins, THE NAME OF THE ROSE by Umberto Eco; and more recently, THE DANTE CLUB and THE POE SHADOW by Matthew Pearl, THE RULE OF FOUR by Caldwell and Thomason, even Dan Brown's blockbuster THE DA VINCI CODE. Byatt weaves her two stories together beautifully: POSSESSION may be the standard by which to judge this type of book, as both stories are richly developed and rooted in the idiom of their time. The Victorian imagery reveals the love affair between the poets, and eventually between Roland and Maud, with its typical mix of emotion and restraint. The modern story satirizes the British academic scene.

POSSESSION: A ROMANCE may not be the easiest book I ever read, but it's among the most rewarding. If you haven't read it in the many years since it was first published, then I recommend it to you.

Forgotten passion, 12 Jun 2007
"Possession" is far above and beyond the kind of books usually labelled "romance." It's lushly written, with exquisite characters, great poetry and interweavings of legend and myth. It's almost chastely erotic, mysterious and dripping over with Victorian-era romance. It's hard not to be drawn in.

A young scholar, Roland, stumbles accidently on an old letter from acclaimed poet Randolph Ash. He soon has reason to believe that the letter was to Christabel La Monte, a lesser-known "fairy" poet -- except Ash was happily married, and La Monte was single all her life. Roland and the chilly fellow scholar Maud investigate caches of hidden letters, poems, and diaries by the lovers, wife, friends and relatives.

In the past, the cordial letters of Christabel and Randolph blossomed into love and passion. They vanished for a short, blissful time together. But what happened to Christabel and Randolph's love, and why did Christabel leave England, while her companion Blanche committed suicide? And how do these events somehow involve Roland and Maude's own growing attachment?

They say the pen is mightier than the sword, and in "Possession" it's a valuable historical tool. When words are hidden or read, it can change perceptions and even lives. Byatt's own words are wonderfully lush, dreamy and vivid. Given the rather formal language and writing, it almost seems like a nineteenth-century novel, as if Byatt got so swept up in the characters that she started writing like them.

Byatt has an excellent eye for the language of the era. The letters, poetry and fiction of Christabel and Randolph have a very authentic feel. Especially since Byatt manages to change tones for different people's writing (Christabel's poetry was a bit reminiscent of Emily Dickenson's). The only problem is when the book veers into long tangents; Byatt seems to get a little off-track there. But most of the time, the richness of Breton legend adds depth and mystery to an already beautiful novel. The sunken city of Is, the legend of Melusina, and many others are here.

Byatt gives us an amazing look at the ill-fated lovers, Christabel and Randolph; you can feel their passion and love. They aren't just attracted to each other, but drawn together in the mind and spirit. The supporting characters, such as the artist Blanche and devoted, wistful Ellen Ash, are equally well-drawn; you can't dislike any of them. Roland and Maud seem a little anemic by comparison, but they are still compelling characters, caught up in a love affair from over a hundred years ago.

After taking the recommendation of a good friend, I found that "Possession" is the kind of genuine, heartwrenching romance that you don't see much of -- meetings of minds, genuine passion and love. It's a beautiful thing, and something to be deeply treasured.

A classy whodunnit which stands out from the crowd, 10 Feb 2008
In the overcrowded field of mystery thrillers, it's not often one comes across a book that is not only a great mystery but also a literary testament to the turmoil of humanity, but that is exacly what David Guterson has achieved with Snow Falling on Cedars. The 'action' takes place over the course of three days, in a court room presided over by an elderly judge, in an small island community being pummelled by one of the worst wintery storms in living memory. Kabuo, a third generation Japanese immigrant, is accused of the first degree murder of another island fisherman. But as the case unfurls, Guterson takes us on a tour of this island's history that reveals the tensions and turmoil of island life, and reveals the backstories of the accused, the victim and many of the witnesses and spectators. Each character is laid bare, exposed to the censure of the pen, while Guterson leaves the reader to make their own judgement. In finely crafted, laconic prose, Snow Falling on Cedars is a testament to the pointlessly of war, the duality of the nature of love and, above all, to the power to humanity to do the right thing in the end. An engaging parable, a gripping thriller, and fine book. Highly recommended.

Whodunnit? who cares? that's not the point of this book, 03 Jan 2008
This is not a whodunnit in the Agatha Christie sense of the term. Do not expect everyone to gather in the drawing room where the detective will point their finger at the person every reader had worked out on page six was the guilty party.

If that is what you expect then you will be disappointed. As other reviewers have said it is a pity in many ways that someone chose to label the book as a whodunnit. Yes this is a courtroom drama and yes there is a mystery to solve. More importantly though is that this book is a superbly told description of a small community, exacerbated even further by their insularity, both literal and metaphorical, and some slight racist overtones. That it does superbly but the amount of description Guterson uses to achieve that does get in the way of approaching this as a simple whodunnit.

If you like Joanne Harris' novels then this should appeal. It has those similar themes of small communities but is in many ways a far better account. If you want a true whodunnit then look elsewhere, that is not the main point of this book.