<p>I hesitated to post, remembering a Donna Reed episode in which her book group was supposed to read War and Peace. I think she admitted to watching the movie and was ostracized by the group, only to find out that the rest of the group had watched it too (and hadn’t read the book…). </p>
<p>But really, all, I DO read a ton :-)</p>
<p>Plant mom - funny post! You must be if a " certain age" to recall Donna Reed, a show I watched often,too.</p>
<p>Here’s proof I’m reading -
Update- the letters get better- MUCH better- so don’t despair.page 210 and thoroughly enjoying it.</p>
<p>I got the book out of the library today and was suprised at how skinny it was. That’s because I’ve been reading ridiculously long fantasy recently. (First *Game of Thrones *and currently The Way of Kings which clocks in at 1280 pages and is only the first of a projected ten! :eek:) I’m considering this light reading!</p>
<p>I didn’t care for the movie “Possession.” I thought the modern story was terribly miscast. Admittedly, it’s probably because I can’t stand Aaron Eckhart in anything.</p>
<p>SJCM, What a coincidence that–of all possible books–EditorialEyes is doing Possession!</p>
<p>PlantMom, I hope you’re able to join us for discussion.</p>
<p>ignatius, finish those 20 pages yet?</p>
<p>Oh, maybe I shall have to reread this! I loved the book many years ago, but remember almost nothing. But the semester just started, and it’s already so busy! i’ll try!</p>
<p>Thanks, Appaloosa, for posting the cover of the book and thanks, mathmom, for giving a perspective on size. I love my Kindle but some things are just not the same! (BTW, I can only see the % read–is there a way to change that to the actual page number?)</p>
<p>Looking forward to a quiet day of reading–I hope!</p>
<p>Possession is now in my possession. I stayed up way too late last night reading this book. I could not put it down. I had an evening alone; I watched the movie and then plunged into the book. </p>
<p>Mary13, I agree about the miscasting of the male lead. But I thoroughly enjoyed the movie anyway! Usually I would not watch a film version of a book I’m about to read, but remembering my experience of being bogged down by The Children’s Story, I figured I would never be able to read Possession in time. I thought perhaps I would not find enough early in the novel to “catch me up” in the story. Wrong! The movie (for me) served as a teaser for the real thing, the book. I’m now a quarter of the way through and very glad I’ll have a part of the day to read. I can’t wait to get to the letters, the content of which was mostly edited down to plot propelling highlights in the film. I’m in for a February discussion and am glad I stumbled upon this CC thread!</p>
<p>I’ve finally started reading!!</p>
<p>psychmom - On my Kindle I can see the page numbers when I go to the menu. Not all the books I’ve read on Kindle have page numbers, but most have had them. I can see the page numbers for Possession</p>
<p>^Yes, I see! Thank you, BUandBC!</p>
<p>I am playing this ridiculous game with my H. Every time we cross paths, I say to him “The Fairy Melusina” and he just rolls his eyes at me. :rolleyes:</p>
<p>^ You should start writing him love letters. ;)</p>
<p>Re: painting on cover of book, previously mentioned earlier–it is “The Beguiling of Merlin” by sir Edward burne-Jones. (So says the back jacket of the book.)</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>LOL, Mary! Maybe I could start with a limerick.</p>
<p>ok, Mary, you have inspired me to write this in my H’s Valentine’s card (no laughing)!!!</p>
<p>To my husband of 26 years
Through the joy and through the tears
Together in our destiny
We make a little family
As we move down the road
Of life’s answers untold
I hold the heart of one so true
And say these words: I love you 
</p>
<p>Awwwww…That’s sweet, psychmom. Be sure to hide it after he reads it and then write another poem that gives hints about where it’s hidden. Maybe your great, great, great grandchildren will find it some day. :)</p>
<p>Very sweet, psychmom. I hope he likes it. My H and I have been married the same number of years. I must give you green reputation squares :-)</p>
<p>Well done! Maybe by the end of discussion, we’ll all want to try our hand at poetry. I’m afraid my talent is at the roses are red/violets are blue level.</p>
<p>I’m half way through and I have to say the book is even better the second time around. Love the intricacy of the interweaving stories!</p>
<p>Recently finished the book (don’t want to spoil for those still reading). Mathmom completely understand your comment.</p>
<p>I’m so grateful to read this with Internet handy to pursue all the tangental topics, and for me, there are lots. Thank you mary13 for suggesting this one!!!</p>
<p>Well, I finished it…and survived. It was an interesting read. Maybe not the most advisable project to tackle during a bout of physical illness, as occurred with me, though.</p>
<p>Comments here had led me to expect Possession to be a romantic book. I didn’t think it was, despite the fact that it is titled “a romance” and has more than one love story in it.</p>
<p>So I was checking out a discussion question and they suggested that you might want to read some poems while you were at it, (as though there weren’t enough in the novel!) In particular: Robert Browning, “Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came,” “My Last Duchess,” “Porphyria’s Lover,” “Caliban Upon Setebos,” “Bishop Blougram’s Apology,” “Mr. Sludge, the ‘Medium’,” “Andrea del Sarto,” and “Fra Lippo Lippi”; Samuel Taylor Coleridge, “Christabel”; Andrew Marvell, “To His Coy Mistress,” “The Garden”; Petrarch, Rime Sparse; Christina Rossetti, Poetical Works; Alfred, Lord Tennyson, “Merlin and Vivien” from Idylls of the King, In Memoriam, “Maud,” “Mariana,” “The Lady of Shallott”; W.B. Yeats, The Rose. from <a href=“http://www.litlovers.com/reading-guides/13-fiction/812-possession-byatt?start=3[/url]”>http://www.litlovers.com/reading-guides/13-fiction/812-possession-byatt?start=3</a></p>
<p>I’d add I recognized at least one reference to Twelfth Night early on.</p>