Danny

Let me preface this by saying that I like LONG books. 25-, 30-, 50-hour stories are a delight - as long as they can hold my attention, and most do. But "Possession" didn't. Not from the start. Not by the mid point of the first part - or the second part. I finally just skipped to the third and last part just to find out that the thinly disguised plot turned out just as I had suspected; no surprises there, either. The premise was interesting - Victorian setting, seances, unusual characters, etc - but it was the prose - THE PROSE - THE ONGOING, EVERLASTING PROSE! that did me in. 75% of this 'novel' is simply poetry without rhyme, and it takes a very long time for the author to get around to actually telling the story. Don't get me wrong! I like poetry - in reasonable-sized doses. I also like very descriptive novels, since that is, after all, what writing is all about. But this went way over the top for me. Not only are you lulled by the drone of the 'literature', but you can't seem to get very interested in the characters. They seem rather wishy-washy (which may be the very point), and you just wish someone would come along, kick them in the pants and tell them to 'get over it' and get on with the story!!! Yes,the prose was beautiful; the author truly is gifted and writes the most delicious descriptive phrases, drawing precise pictures in your mind with a few deftly chosen words. If this is your 'cup of tea' (since the book is set in the UK), you're going to love it. If you want plot, action, excitement, switch-backs and 'I never saw THAT coming' - choose another looooong book.