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" I found this a bit too slow moving. I listened to the audiobook, and found interest wandering quite often. The writing was interesting in patches, but the story itself didn't draw attention and interest like Possession. I picked this up as it mentioned a game being a central part of the plot, but that really wasn't memorable. "
- Jay, 2/20/2014
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" I almost didn't finish this book, and it took me two weeks to get through it, which is kind of unheard of in my reading history. I always finish a book, even if I hate it, and usually in less than three days for fiction. I didn't hate this book, but I had a really hard time losing myself in it... and that's why I read in the first place, immersion into another world, another person. I'm not sure whether the fault is with me or the book. I really enjoyed a couple of Byatt's other books, which is why I got this one from the library in the first place. "
- Rebecca, 2/20/2014
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" disturbing because the characters are such believable messes "
- Rebecca, 2/18/2014
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" Basically, it's a bunch of characters that were so uninteresting that I didn't really care what happened to them. "
- Angela, 2/16/2014
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" I thought this was confusing and meandering with far too esoteric and lengthily discussions about art and the meaning of life. The characters were not believable, understandable or really likable. I was relieved when it was over. "
- Kristen, 2/10/2014
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" Disturbing! But good to read Byatt again- years since I read her. "
- Toni, 2/8/2014
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" Couldn't engage with any of the characters. I suppose it is an interesting study of how stifling things were in late 50s, early 60s. Major topic of discussion at our book group was how this relates to the Byatt/Drabble tea service feud. Found Cassandra bonkers, Julia selfish & Thor insufferable. Did enjoy the hideous Oxford dinner party though. "
- Chris, 2/2/2014
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" You can tell that Byatt is still working on her writing skills. This book was dull reading and obscure in it's meaning. "
- Vivianeh, 1/30/2014
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" I now know why this was one of the few books available on my library's list of downloadable audiobooks.(They work like real books in the library, so you can't check one out that someone else already has.) The synopsis was rather misleading (I thought there would be some fantasy involved, but I never got that far). The characters were disagreeable, and seemed to talk to themselves (in interior dialogue) far more than to each other. I made it through about three chapters before falling asleep. I now see why I could never get very far into Possession either. My remaining years of reading and listening are too short to continue with this one. "
- Nikki, 1/25/2014
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" Not exactly a feel-good read. Plenty of emotional depth, in fact rather too much. "
- Jo, 1/20/2014
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" This was a very uncomfortable read, in that watching each of the main characters painful attempt to find a place in their own life was painful. It was a good book, but an immensely disturbing one for me. "
- Pam, 1/5/2014
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" This story portrays sibling rivalry at its worst. Both sisters are monstrous in their own way, and seemingly unaware of the effect they have on each other and on those closest to them. This tragedy evoked feelings of shame, disgust, empathy, recognition, and above all, morbid fascination. "
- Marci, 12/20/2013
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" The beginning of this novel has enough tension and mystery that the reader must find out, "What is this about?" Once the reader does find out, it is too uninteresting and tedious to read more. I stopped on p. 94 and will not continue. "
- Jackie, 12/17/2013
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" Much easier to read than Possession. I was not in love with the end of this one, but the set up was really complicated and interesting. "
- Layne, 11/22/2013
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" Sibling rivalry at it's best. Believable portraits of engaging characters. "
- Dalice, 11/5/2013
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" Contains many Byatt preoccupations familiar from later books, such as the slide into insanity, natural observation, and the competition between sisters. "
- Shayda, 8/19/2012
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" Read this in high school (or early uni) and did not get it. But vaguely remember that it was kind of creepy. Maybe I'm just not cut out to be a Byatt fan. "
- Maddy, 7/1/2012
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" I really enjoyed A.S. Byatt's Posession--this one just didn't keep my attention. I thought that the Arthurian legend would play a pivotal role as expressed in numerous reviews--but, I just didn't see it. Everything fell short for me--characters, conflicts, etc. "
- Dolores, 5/15/2012
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" I struggled through the first half of the book and don't think I'll finish it. "
- Neti, 4/2/2012
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" As engrossing as any Byatt novel, but, I must warn you, possibly more tragic. "
- Laura, 2/18/2012
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" This is more a self-indulgent philosophical rant than a story. "
- CK, 2/3/2012
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