tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25137929.post7557354542805672141..comments2023-08-26T02:27:21.897-07:00Comments on Frisbee: A Book Journal: PossessionFrisbeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07394353185610393979noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25137929.post-50669034161266516962009-07-23T07:14:21.578-07:002009-07-23T07:14:21.578-07:00Byatt said in an interview that some of the poems ...Byatt said in an interview that some of the poems have been studied by grad students. She hasn't, to my knowledge, published a book of poetry, but she certainly would be capable. <br /><br />The Guardian man wasn't EXACTLY anti-woman. He remarked that Byatt's target was women's studies, but then didn't attempt to prove it and actually went on to talk about all the other scholars. He simply threw the comment down and then forgot about it. And I don't remember anyone responding to that. I didn't read all the comments, though. It's confusing, because John Mullan the university prof's blogs are in one place, and then there's a separate blog by a lesser mortal with comments.Kat at Thornfield Hall Reduxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14525125671217787722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25137929.post-54647040896313979222009-07-23T04:15:50.761-07:002009-07-23T04:15:50.761-07:00Since you brought up the poetry in the volume (som...Since you brought up the poetry in the volume (some of which I like very much too), I thought you might find this of interest:<br /><br />"there is a sequel: the letter from A.S. Byatt as Maud Michell-Bailey to Professor Linda K. Hughes which opens the special edition of *Victorian Poetry*, Women Poets 1830- 1894, edited by Professor Hughes (VP 33.1: 1995). Two fragments of poems in holograph by Christabel LaMotte<br />are included ..."<br /><br />EllenEllenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14979942382683140531noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25137929.post-40167687568543423302009-07-22T05:08:03.425-07:002009-07-22T05:08:03.425-07:00I haven't gone over to the Guardian section be...I haven't gone over to the Guardian section because it would bother me too to see a group read led by an anti-woman readers and books man. God, how can anything get to women if in such private dialoguing they are led astray. People do allow others to frame their understandings.<br /><br />I don't think Possession is a satire on women's studies. That elevating one theme or character (leonora?) too much and one could say it satirizes Freud a lot and Byatt herself uses Freud. Maybe Byatt is satirizing hersefl self-reflexively. I think it's more in line with Jane Eyre kind of books -- itself strong feminine romance which leaves you thinking and is pleasurable at the same time, meant to entertain and for herself a release for her poetry and knowledge.<br /><br />I don't admire Byatt as much as I once did because of her recent criticism where she gets on the bandwagon of erasing feminism. Her sister Drabble is better than that.<br /><br />The poetry of her book is also under attack. It's fine neo-Victorian poetry, but if she's attacked (I think) because this is woman's romance and she a woman and herself jumps on the bandwagon of erasing women's studies and feminism, I guess we might say she asked for this biodegradability (to use Germaine Greer's term).<br /><br />Remember Jane Austen in NA on how women have to stick up for another and women readers. If we don't defend ourselves as a body, who will?<br /><br />EllenEllenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14979942382683140531noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25137929.post-755365477435963042009-07-19T08:48:03.683-07:002009-07-19T08:48:03.683-07:00You must know it by heart. Teaching it would be a...You must know it by heart. Teaching it would be a challenge.<br /><br />I'm surprised by how popular Possession is with bloggers. in the comments at the Guardian book club blog, people talked about loving this more than the Fredericka Quartet (which is more accessible).Frisbeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07394353185610393979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25137929.post-80538875755612012112009-07-18T21:39:32.423-07:002009-07-18T21:39:32.423-07:00My favorite parts of the book remain the letters b...My favorite parts of the book remain the letters between Ashe and Christabel in the opening phase of the book, and her trip to Brittany (mythic and beautiful). I was so moved too when I go to Ellen Ashe's story. <br /><br />Had I read the book at age 15 instead of age 50 it would have made a deep and lasting impression on me. As it was, it simply confirmed my love of romance.<br /><br />I taught it twice so analyzed its structure, imagery, allusions &c&c<br /><br />Most students found it too complex, but the two times I dared I did have a couple who loved it as I did,<br /><br />EllenEllenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14979942382683140531noreply@blogger.com