Comments on The Boston Bibliophile: REVIEW: The Children's Book, by A.S.Byatt

I haven't read Byatt, but I really want to rea...

2009-10-21T17:01:34.962-04:00

I haven't read Byatt, but I really want to read this and Possession. Thanks for the review.

I've never read Byatt, but she's been on m...

2009-10-17T00:38:00.603-04:00

I've never read Byatt, but she's been on my must read list for awhile.

I'll definitely keep my eye out for this one. ...

2009-10-17T00:29:48.129-04:00

I'll definitely keep my eye out for this one. Looks fascinating!

Nice review. I've seen a lot of reviews of th...

2009-10-16T13:43:15.168-04:00

Nice review. I've seen a lot of reviews of this one and it's already on the wishlist. That's going to be one expensive shopping trip when I finally press the checkout button. lol.

I've seen lots of reviews of this book, but I ...

2009-10-15T20:14:03.636-04:00

I've seen lots of reviews of this book, but I think this one has the best summary I've read so far. Thanks for that -- I've been trying to decide if I want to read it, but couldn't quite figure out what it was about :)

Cannot WAIT to read this one!!!

2009-10-15T11:24:44.289-04:00

Cannot WAIT to read this one!!!

Thanks, Marie! I'll add it to the wishlist (he...

2009-10-15T09:08:29.910-04:00

Thanks, Marie! I'll add it to the wishlist (her story "The Shawl" is on it too).

Paperback, I felt like the book wasn't really ...

2009-10-15T07:05:59.673-04:00

Paperback, I felt like the book wasn't really about the writing as it was about the people. Have you read HEIR TO THE GLIMMERING WORLD, by Cynthia Ozick? It's (partly) about a Christopher-Robin type figure who grew up as the model for a famous children's book. It's set in the Depression-era US. you might enjoy it.

*I meant especially the literature, instead of rep...

2009-10-15T05:14:13.484-04:00

*I meant especially the literature, instead of repeating history again. It professed to be about children's literature of the time but halfheartedly mentioned Peter Pan and Kenneth Greene. It could have been a fascinating study of the tragic lives of the children who are muses for literature of the day.

You are right to mention that this book isn't ...

2009-10-15T05:12:16.604-04:00

You are right to mention that this book isn't a good fit for every reader; I LOATHED it. I found it a chore to read from beginning to end and waded through it sluggishly; I am still livid with myself for actually taking the time (eight long days) to finish the thing. I find the Victorian and Edwardian periods of history fascinating and am interested in the social, liberal movements, the art and especially the history but I would have preferred a nonfiction study of them than a (for the most part) nonfiction study that dressed itself up as fiction. I didn't find the large cast of characters at all engaging or sympathetic and I thought that a lot more could have been done with them.

I am happy for the Byatt fans who love this book but it most definitely wasn't for me; it was the most turgid reading experience I have so far had this year.

though I prefer reading Novels by African writers,...

2009-10-15T03:38:04.840-04:00

though I prefer reading Novels by African writers, Byatt is on my list of 100 books to be read in five years. Thanks for this.

I have seen this one at the library...perhaps I sh...

2009-10-15T03:20:16.776-04:00

I have seen this one at the library...perhaps I should go and pick it up :)

I'm so far behind here...still MUST read Posse...

2009-10-14T22:51:23.372-04:00

I'm so far behind here...still MUST read Possession before I can get to this one!

Laura- absolutely right :-)

2009-10-14T19:34:11.287-04:00

Laura- absolutely right :-)

AS Byatt is like fine wine. You enjoy it slowly. ...

2009-10-14T19:25:47.775-04:00

AS Byatt is like fine wine. You enjoy it slowly. I just adore her style of writing and she never bores me. She may fry my brain from time-to-time (Babel Tower, anyone?), but I know I can be transported into a world that will enthrall me and enrapture me.

Diane, I've seen a lot of mixed reviews for it...

2009-10-14T18:04:26.390-04:00

Diane, I've seen a lot of mixed reviews for it as well. It's not for everybody. But for the right reader, it's incredible!

Thanks Marie for the great review. I was wondering...

2009-10-14T18:01:32.610-04:00

Thanks Marie for the great review. I was wondering about this as someone told me they did not care for it, and the reviews seem mixed.

I really want to read this! If I can't get it...

2009-10-14T17:08:29.089-04:00

I really want to read this! If I can't get it at FBF, it's the next one I will buy.

It sounds like there's a lot going on in this ...

2009-10-14T17:05:46.435-04:00

It sounds like there's a lot going on in this book. The social trends sound really interesting.

Great review! This is another book I am excited ab...

2009-10-14T17:00:24.980-04:00

Great review! This is another book I am excited about reading and after reading your review I am looking forward to it even more. It almost sounds a bit like Little, Big. The atmosphere and storytelling style seem similar to me. I guess I will have to read it to find out just how similar the two are.

"Reel dance" - excellent analogy! I ju...

2009-10-14T16:56:58.661-04:00

"Reel dance" - excellent analogy!

I just finished The Children's Book at 1am this morning and am trying to put together a slighty more intelligent string of thought beyond "it was awesome".

Am completely jealous that you got a review copy :p

This book is on my list. I like the cover.

2009-10-14T16:53:17.881-04:00

This book is on my list. I like the cover.

This one's on my shelf. Glad to read the ravin...

2009-10-14T16:42:34.340-04:00

This one's on my shelf. Glad to read the raving review! Thanks.