Possession is one of my favorite books, but I find it hard to recommend because it seems like a big lift to wade through so much fake 19th century poetry, partially because it is so unconvincing. I don't think it's intentional either- I think it's more like how when you watch a period film from the 70's and everything looks so distractingly 70's instead of evocative of the period in question.
II would definitely recommend it to a hot-blooded bookish 17 year old who knows just enough, but not too much, about the Victorian poets - exactly who I was when I first read it.
even just the mention of Holiday Inn makes me unbelievably happy. Nobody in my circle of acquaintances/friends knows what that movie is (and probably never will, considering the uhhhh ‘questionable’ lincoln’s bday part).
QUITE questionable lol. (I actually think it might have been edited out of whatever version I saw as a kid because I don't have any memory of watching it… but probably I just don't remember? Looking this up it seems like some broadcasts are edited, so who knows.)
perhaps your brain was wise and blocked it out haha. we had a black & white VHS of it & watched it every year -- astaire’s dancing in the july 4th part is also awesome. i love that part too because that whole part is essentially in there to remind everyone that there was a war going on (like people didn’t know that, lol).
I don’t have any sort of guess here, but I wonder if there’s any reason Possession and Arcadia were both written around the same time… was there anything going on that was a seed for both
Wanted to like possession and really didn’t, thank you for putting what felt off about it to me into words!
Possession is one of my favorite books, but I find it hard to recommend because it seems like a big lift to wade through so much fake 19th century poetry, partially because it is so unconvincing. I don't think it's intentional either- I think it's more like how when you watch a period film from the 70's and everything looks so distractingly 70's instead of evocative of the period in question.
II would definitely recommend it to a hot-blooded bookish 17 year old who knows just enough, but not too much, about the Victorian poets - exactly who I was when I first read it.
even just the mention of Holiday Inn makes me unbelievably happy. Nobody in my circle of acquaintances/friends knows what that movie is (and probably never will, considering the uhhhh ‘questionable’ lincoln’s bday part).
QUITE questionable lol. (I actually think it might have been edited out of whatever version I saw as a kid because I don't have any memory of watching it… but probably I just don't remember? Looking this up it seems like some broadcasts are edited, so who knows.)
But then there's this bit which I think is one of his best dance scenes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoHDFlcbSH0
LOVE that dance scene, also the fireworks dance
perhaps your brain was wise and blocked it out haha. we had a black & white VHS of it & watched it every year -- astaire’s dancing in the july 4th part is also awesome. i love that part too because that whole part is essentially in there to remind everyone that there was a war going on (like people didn’t know that, lol).
I don’t have any sort of guess here, but I wonder if there’s any reason Possession and Arcadia were both written around the same time… was there anything going on that was a seed for both
Definitely wondering that myself!