Longlist Debate

Have you read this title?

I won't be rushing to read this one. I remember reading Possession when it came out many years ago and while I recognise Byatt is an excellent writer, her style isn't one I'm enthusiastic about. But I may read it if other people talk favourably about it.

I liked the early Byatt books but did not like this one (here's a link to my review: http://kevinfromcanada.wordpress.com/category/author/byatt-a-s/ ). Having said that, as I tried to indicate in my negative review, if you are into Fabians and the Arts and Crafts movement, you will probably have a far different reaction -- check out dovegreyreader's thoughts for a much more positive opinion.

Im with leyla on this one - the only AS Byatt novel I have read is that of Possession and whilst I recognise the talent and the beauty of the writing, it was not my style at all. I felt myself wanting to skip parts of the book and had to try hard to stop myself from doing so. it was such a negative experience I don't think I will attempt this book, although I will be interested to hear other people's reviews as they come to light.

I found this a compulsive read. Byatt can be a bit didactic, but that didn't bother me here. I felt she really got into the skin of the period. Also, it is often quite funny-not a quality I normally associate with ASB.

I'm with you alisondo - I couldn't put this down. Byatt writes like a 19th century writer - detail upon detail, and all of it fascinating, particularly with this book, since it is set in Europe during the period of the Arts and Crafts and Art Nouveau movements and it's story winds around writers, artists, craftsmen and political and social thought of the time. It's impossible to read one of her books without learning something, while also being fascinated by her characters and their progression - in this case the children of several interconnected families. The spaces in the story - the opportunity to think about the interrelationship between themes and imagery make this book a work of art - in particular the echoes of the story 'Tom Underground' and descriptions of the WWI trench warfare. Loved it.

I have only just started this one (am literally only a chapter in) and so far I am really enjoying it, which of course could change. I am taking it very slowly as its my first Byatt and I will admit am daunted by it, so far all I have been met with is a little beautiful prose!

I enjoyed this one and I think it is quite an impressive work. She was very interestng on radio 4 a while ago and it appears she knew very little about the period before starting the novel,her opinions on child abuse in the period were however, rather disconcerting.

It would currently be in my top 6.

Alisondo I tend to agree with you about humour in her work though I do remember laughing out loud quite a lot when reading Babel Tower.

A question for you bookermt: I could take your comments elsewhere on Wolf Hall and apply them almost word for word to The Children's Book -- while Byatt is not dealing with known historical characters, she certainly places her created ones (which I find close to stereotypes) in a known historical landscape. So what Byatt do that puts this book in your top 6 that Wolf Hall does not?

(As you can see, I'm girding myself to reread this if it makes the shortlist -- which I suspect it well might.)

KevinfromCanada that's a fair question and one I probably won't answer to your satisfaction.
In some ways you have answered it for me. Her imagined characters allow her more scope for imaginative recreation though she cannot of course change the historical facts of the period. Mantel on the other hand, by focussing on real historical characters boxes herself in for she cannot change the course of history in the type of novel she is writing.Whilst she could of course reinterpret their roles she cannot actually change them. It is interesting to note she chose Cromwell, about who we know quite a lot but to the general public is less well known than More or Wolsey and this gives her more scope than would otherwise be the case. Yet despite this his history is known and I guess we shall see his ultimate demise in the promised sequel.
I suppose the Byatt for me was a more ambitious novel in terms of allowing the reader to think around and outside the story where for me the Mantel read like a simple retelling. Of course I'm better read in that historical period so that probably had some impact as well.
At the moment they are probably both close together in my rating and I can quite see why people like the Mantel and whilst I enjoyed it it just didn't challenge me enough.