Review: A. S. Byatt's "Possession: A Romance"

Something worth noting: A. S. Byatt's "Possession" has turned out to be a difficult novel to review for me mostly down to the fact that I fit into its target audience almost perfectly and so my enjoyment (and I REALLY enjoyed this book) might very well be coloured by that fact. Sure all reviews are basically just opinion and that is going to be true of anything I write to a certain extent but it's such a factor here that I thought it best to come clean from the get go. Suitably warned? Brilliant. Let's dive in then.

"Possession" is based in the world of literary academia with the discovery of an unfinished letter leading to a potential connection between two major (and fictional) poets of the Victorian era thought to previously be entirely at odds with one another due to their vastly different approaches to writing. As the two scholars involved attempt to unravel this previously unknown relationship they find their own dealings with each other coming to mirror the very events they are investigating. This treats us to two parallel story lines, each simultaneously complimenting and satirising the other.

Byatt has managed to capture the spirit of Victorian romance novels in the past of the two poets including all the melodrama and colourfully passionate language that you would expect from somebody like the Brontes with a smattering of D. H. Lawrence thrown in (though thankfully not too much). The contrast between this and the highly analytical approach in the modern sections is both what may intrigue and may put people off. 

As with Umberto Eco, Byatt has no problem with going into detail about various literary theories and philosophical questions when the need arises so in places the prose can get quite dense. If that doesn't scare you though it really adds to the richness of the two narratives by engaging you directly with the kind of thought processes that are whipping through the character's minds. It is ultimately a novel about relationships, and the possessiveness that sometimes creeps in, both in romantic ones and the relationships between a scholar and their subject. Having the kind of detailed insight which Byatt provides makes a great deal of difference when attempting to understand the sometimes seemingly illogical steps the characters chose to make.

What "Possession" manages so well is the balance between the intellectual and the emotional elements of the stories. There are clearly criticisms being made of the academic world and its treatment of its subjects but never does this overshadow the importance of the characters and their development. All this is backed up by evocative language rich in sensuality and appropriately tweaked according to the varying effects Byatt is trying to create. I especially recommend this to anybody who has done an English degree because you'll definitely recognise some of the issues brought up.

Rating 9/10

Review: Barbara Kingsolver's "The Poisonwood Bible"

I will admit to a certain amount of scepticism when approaching this book. The plot surrounds a missionary and his family moving to the Congo in order to spread the word of God to the natives but during their time there they quickly realise that their rigid values and assumed superiority does not hold up too well in the jungle. Whilst there is nothing inherently wrong with the set-up it made me nervous because such stories have a horrible habit of descending into the "noble savage" worship that you've probably seen in movies like "Dances with Wolves" or "The Last Samurai". I love learning about other cultures and part of that is learning about what they do better than our own but at the same time the rose tinted glasses are firmly in place a lot of the time and the end result ends up being either blinkered or downright patronising. So does Barbara Kingsolver manage to dodge the pitfalls in "The Poisonwood Bible"? The answer is a resounding yes.

What Kingsolver manages so well in this novel is its examination of prejudice and what is "natural". The exploration of the villagers' views on disability is particularly memorable and gives a fascinating counter-point to the way it is treated here in the West. On the flip-side the way gender is treated in the Congo is obviously a major problem and this is highlighted by the difficulties the women of the family have to overcome during their stay. In fact gender plays a massive role in "The Poisonwood Bible" because the father is the only male member of the Price family and significantly the only of the six of them to never have a first person narrative section. Politics, religion and culture are all subjected to close scrutiny and the overall effect is a very balanced one rather than the one sided polemic which could so easily have been.

As already mentioned the entirety of the novel is told through a first person perspective but the character whose perspective it is changes from chapter to chapter. This is an approach which works brilliantly in providing us with multiple interpretations of the same events as viewed by very different people. Each of the daughters has a distinct voice and set of values and desires. Contrast is the name of the game and Kingsolver has a deep understanding of how to use this to her advantage. This particularly evident when an army of driver ants attacks the village and the family is forced to flee until they have passed through. The differing experiences of all those involved gives a richness to the event and its consequences which might otherwise have slipped away.

The feature which elevates the novel from a good one to a brilliant one though is its playful use of language. The sections written from the perspective of the disabled twin Adah are especially good as the damage done to her brain in the womb has affected her perception of words and she toys with them, reading forwards and backwards and really grasping the potentially confusing language the villagers use in all its idiosyncrasies. Most words have multiple meanings and inevitably this causes misunderstandings that are simultaneously humorous and very telling of the disconnect between the preacher and his congregation.

My only real issue with the novel, and the only thing which prevents me giving my first 10/10 is that it loses a bit of its steam in the last 150 pages or so because of certain changes which make the narrative less visceral and immediate. Though probably necessary considering the story Kingsolver wants to tell this later section just isn't quite as good as the rest but I still thoroughly recommend "The Poisonwood Bible" as a great read.

Rating: 9/10