Fiction

The Game

The Game

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  • Create Date：2021-05-25 11:55:09
  • Update Date：2025-09-06
  • Status：finish
  • Author：A.S. Byatt
  • ISBN：0099998408
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Summary

Cassandra is an Oxford don; Julia， her sister， a bestselling novelist。 They share a set of disturbing memories of a strange childhood game and of Simon， the handsome young neighbour who loved them both。

Years later Simon re-enters their lives via a television programme on snakes and intrudes into their uneasy compromise of mutual antagonism and distrust。 The old， wild emotions surge back， demanding and urgent， and this time the game is played out to a fatal finish。

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Reviews

Valerie ，

Remembered that I read this decades ago。 I don’t remember what I thought of it I must not have loved it。

Meg ，

My first Byatt finished！

Kathleen Celmins ，

Possession was perfect。 This is not Possession。 It's a good read， it held my interest， and she's such a good writer。 Possession was perfect。 This is not Possession。 It's a good read， it held my interest， and she's such a good writer。 。。。more

Jane Gregg ，

Not light， not warm， largely unhappy， even over-wrought and/or wrung out。 Loved it。 Brutal though。

Suzanne Senay ，

"People who write books are destroyers。" A。S。Byatt What is the writer's responsibility if she renders life and life has been destructive？ "People who write books are destroyers。" A。S。Byatt What is the writer's responsibility if she renders life and life has been destructive？ 。。。more

Ash ，

Ending was a bit of a letdown in an otherwise exquisite novel。

Ruja ，

Only my pigheadedness pushed me to finish this book I didn't find anything for me in it， unfortunately。 Only my pigheadedness pushed me to finish this book I didn't find anything for me in it， unfortunately。 。。。more

Vel Veeter ，

This is an early， actually very early novel by the writer AS Byatt。 She was only about 30 when she wrote this， and it’s about two sisters， a writer and a literary critic， who find themselves reconnected in their late 30s after a few years apart because of the various circumstances of their lives。 Julia， the writer， is looking for inspiration for her new novel， one in which she wished to greatly interrogate the interorities of domestic space。 Her sister， Cassandra， has found herself invited to a This is an early， actually very early novel by the writer AS Byatt。 She was only about 30 when she wrote this， and it’s about two sisters， a writer and a literary critic， who find themselves reconnected in their late 30s after a few years apart because of the various circumstances of their lives。 Julia， the writer， is looking for inspiration for her new novel， one in which she wished to greatly interrogate the interorities of domestic space。 Her sister， Cassandra， has found herself invited to a help produce and work on a television program centered on contemporary criticism。 This dichotomy of the writer and the critics reads pretty clearly to me as the split that AS Byatt herself probably feels in a lot of ways， especially as a young writer， between critical dialectic and the production of culture。 It’s also interesting to me because she’s also quite well-known for being an Iris Murdoch expert， who also struggled with this dichotomy in her own writing。 In addition to that， this novel feels pretty squarely as deeply influenced by Murdoch as well， who had produced a number of novels by this point and is some twenty years older than Byatt。So all that comes in the novel， but the novel is much richer than all that and involves a lot of different discussions of culture and literature。 One of the most interesting parts is watching the development of the television series in which Cassandra is deeply concerned about being held accountable for opinions and ideas in a live space， in which ideas might well be hatched out， but with the presence of recording， become sort of codified。 It’s an interesting early discussion of this phenomenon， which is certainly quite recent in the human history。 。。。more

Sharon ，

CW: animal death， suicide， child abuseActual rating: 3。5 stars。。。 I think？？I was not aware of the feud between Byatt and her sister， Margaret Drabble， before I began reading this book， but I can certainly see why this may have exacerbated an already strained relationship - it is both the injury and the apology at once。 Byatt is clearly visible in traits of both Julia and Cassandra， the two sisters of the novel， though I would venture to say she is perhaps a little more Cassandra。 Especially sinc CW: animal death， suicide， child abuseActual rating: 3。5 stars。。。 I think？？I was not aware of the feud between Byatt and her sister， Margaret Drabble， before I began reading this book， but I can certainly see why this may have exacerbated an already strained relationship - it is both the injury and the apology at once。 Byatt is clearly visible in traits of both Julia and Cassandra， the two sisters of the novel， though I would venture to say she is perhaps a little more Cassandra。 Especially since， at least personally， I found Julia to be by far the less-likable of the pair。 But I suppose even in unflattering literary fiction one cannot be too cruel to oneself。This book is， honestly， quite impossible for me to rate。 （Well， not entirely possible， but I'm not even sold on the rating I've already given it。） It's extremely far outside of my normal reading genre; very much domestic and literary fiction， featuring the hallmark unlikable characters and very little motivation behind the plot。 I did enjoy it in the end。 To be fair - we have already established how much I enjoy Byatt's writing， but this is a very different beast to Possession。 Written much earlier， it features several outdated moments racial commentary that I am inclined to forgive， just given the time period。 Something to keep in mind， however。 。。。more

Nicole Cerone ，

I enjoy A。S。 Byatt's books。 Some of my favourites are A Stone Woman， Possession， and The Children's Book。 What I liked about The Game， which was published in 1967， was the chance to see how A。S。 Byatt's writing style has developed。 All the elements of her stories， that I love， are included in the telling of this story。 It made me wonder how she would tell this story if she were to write it today。 I enjoy A。S。 Byatt's books。 Some of my favourites are A Stone Woman， Possession， and The Children's Book。 What I liked about The Game， which was published in 1967， was the chance to see how A。S。 Byatt's writing style has developed。 All the elements of her stories， that I love， are included in the telling of this story。 It made me wonder how she would tell this story if she were to write it today。 。。。more

Kathleen Hulser ，

Deep and delicate， this exploration of sister love and rivalry offers nuanced insight into the dynamics of closeness and conflict。 Byatt skillfully details how each sister is defined by the other， and grasps her own identity through the flickering imagery of this mirroring。 Whether or not Julia， the lively， gregarious writer or Cassandra， the tortured and withdrawn academic accept what they see is always changing。 The very nature of their dialogue， laid out in their elaborate childhood games of Deep and delicate， this exploration of sister love and rivalry offers nuanced insight into the dynamics of closeness and conflict。 Byatt skillfully details how each sister is defined by the other， and grasps her own identity through the flickering imagery of this mirroring。 Whether or not Julia， the lively， gregarious writer or Cassandra， the tortured and withdrawn academic accept what they see is always changing。 The very nature of their dialogue， laid out in their elaborate childhood games of Arthurian romance， pits them against one another， and yet they are only fully themselves when engaged in rejecting the other sibling who defines their limits and their dreams。 The novel embraces psychology as a method， not so much illuminating as puzzling。 These mental mysteries and contradictions animate the tale which rarely turns to incident to propel the narrative。 。。。more

Tricia ，

This book wasn't really for me。 I think it was more complicated than it needed to be。Basically it is about the relationship that two sisters have with the same man （a herpetologist） and the complications this brings in their relationships。 This book wasn't really for me。 I think it was more complicated than it needed to be。Basically it is about the relationship that two sisters have with the same man （a herpetologist） and the complications this brings in their relationships。 。。。more

Sammy ，

Blick。 Bluck。 Blech。I'm not a huge Byatt follower （give me her estranged sister， Margaret Drabble， any day）。 But at her best， she's good。 Here。。。 she ain't。 Blick。 Bluck。 Blech。I'm not a huge Byatt follower （give me her estranged sister， Margaret Drabble， any day）。 But at her best， she's good。 Here。。。 she ain't。 。。。more

Fatima Siddique ，

I had a really hard time finishing this book。 The main characters are unlikeable， pretentious oddballs。 Their conversations were always very grave and not quite believable。 Nobody includes that many references to the Bible， Mallory， or Darwin in their chats with long lost childhood friends。 There was not enough in the narrative about their childhoods to make the shifts in their character sympathetic or compelling。 Not to mention the shifts were incredibly sudden。 I wouldn't recommend this book t I had a really hard time finishing this book。 The main characters are unlikeable， pretentious oddballs。 Their conversations were always very grave and not quite believable。 Nobody includes that many references to the Bible， Mallory， or Darwin in their chats with long lost childhood friends。 There was not enough in the narrative about their childhoods to make the shifts in their character sympathetic or compelling。 Not to mention the shifts were incredibly sudden。 I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone。 。。。more

Lise Petrauskas ，

Hm。 I was hopeful about this book， but ultimately it felt muddled。 Not as clear and confidently executed as Possession （the only other book of hers I’ve read）。 The amount of effort put into The existing characterization was disproportionate to the actual events and excitement of the plot。 I was expecting the dark heart of the book， seemingly something to do with The Game of the title， to have a bigger role。 It’s almost as if Byatt never fully allowed herself to “go there” because I fully believe Hm。 I was hopeful about this book， but ultimately it felt muddled。 Not as clear and confidently executed as Possession （the only other book of hers I’ve read）。 The amount of effort put into The existing characterization was disproportionate to the actual events and excitement of the plot。 I was expecting the dark heart of the book， seemingly something to do with The Game of the title， to have a bigger role。 It’s almost as if Byatt never fully allowed herself to “go there” because I fully believed that these sisters had the issues they had but there was ultimately no dramatic sense of why we were hearing about it。 If taken less diffusely it could have been a tragedy or， handled in a more Murdochian way， a tragicomedy。 I see that this was published in 1967 and is her second published work。 For some reason， I hadn’t thought of Byatt as writing contemporaneously with Murdoch。 Murdoch published her first novel in 1954。 They both have similar material， culturally and philosophically， but Byatt is much more heavy handed。 Still， an interesting early effort。 Byatt writes about relationships， art， and ideas that pique my interest， so I’ll probably keep going。 Authors who seem to me to be in this cohort。。。Edith WhartonHenry JamesE。M ForsterVirgina WoolfIris MurdochMargaret Drabble （first novel 1963）Ian McEwan （first novel published 1978）Michael CunninghamZadie Smith 。。。more

Elizabeth ，

I felt compelled to finish it so it did something right。 This is a story of two adult sisters - estranged due to some conflict over a man in their youth。 He's now a TV naturalist - in the 1960s， so this is novel - and the death of their father brings them back in contact with one another; then the TV naturalist comes home and gets in contact。 They have weird conversations and everyone is oh so British in their reserve。 I really don't know what it was about。 I felt compelled to finish it so it did something right。 This is a story of two adult sisters - estranged due to some conflict over a man in their youth。 He's now a TV naturalist - in the 1960s， so this is novel - and the death of their father brings them back in contact with one another; then the TV naturalist comes home and gets in contact。 They have weird conversations and everyone is oh so British in their reserve。 I really don't know what it was about。 。。。more

Macpudel ，

What a slog。 I picked this up thinking it would be another great Byatt book。 Instead， three unlikeable neurotic characters with endless interior monologues to explain their unfathomable actions。

Lynne Fort ，

This is an odd， often infuriating novel。 Most of the characters are not likeable （except Deborah， who honestly deserves a break） and a lot of the book is essentially abstract philosophical discussion about the nature of existence。 I still enjoyed it， though。 There was an urgency underlying everything that kept me reading until the end。 It's definitely not for everyone， but if you like meandering moral discussions and awful but believable characters， think about giving it a read。 This is an odd， often infuriating novel。 Most of the characters are not likeable （except Deborah， who honestly deserves a break） and a lot of the book is essentially abstract philosophical discussion about the nature of existence。 I still enjoyed it， though。 There was an urgency underlying everything that kept me reading until the end。 It's definitely not for everyone， but if you like meandering moral discussions and awful but believable characters， think about giving it a read。 。。。more

Abigail ，

I liked this well enough。 Her writing is good but overdone at times， and it's hard to care about the characters--one gets the sense that Byatt doesn't like them very much herself。 I liked this well enough。 Her writing is good but overdone at times， and it's hard to care about the characters--one gets the sense that Byatt doesn't like them very much herself。 。。。more

Emily ，

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 A good read because the author writes with control and attention to detail。 The characters are curious and not much like anyone I know - and that's fine。 It's a moody book that feels like drinking a warm strong cardamom sipper - not exactly comforting， but hitting the spot。 The only objection - and maybe because I'm three for three with my last reads - can't we do any better than to kill off the character - such a cheap shot。 A good read because the author writes with control and attention to detail。 The characters are curious and not much like anyone I know - and that's fine。 It's a moody book that feels like drinking a warm strong cardamom sipper - not exactly comforting， but hitting the spot。 The only objection - and maybe because I'm three for three with my last reads - can't we do any better than to kill off the character - such a cheap shot。 。。。more

Patrick Barry ，

This is a tale of two sisters getting on toward 40。 They created a fantasy game as children and since growing up they had drifted apart until they are reunited when their father dies。 The sisters are still cloistered from the real world， one a fiction write， one a teacher at Oxford。 Things get notched up when a childhood friend appears。 It's an interesting tale but some of it was too much。 But fast and readable， a solid 3 stars。 This is a tale of two sisters getting on toward 40。 They created a fantasy game as children and since growing up they had drifted apart until they are reunited when their father dies。 The sisters are still cloistered from the real world， one a fiction write， one a teacher at Oxford。 Things get notched up when a childhood friend appears。 It's an interesting tale but some of it was too much。 But fast and readable， a solid 3 stars。 。。。more

Talie ，

This cover religious fanatics， infidelity， suicide， dysfunctional families， schizophrenia。 It's dark and has disturbing parallels with her own relationship with her sister。 This cover religious fanatics， infidelity， suicide， dysfunctional families， schizophrenia。 It's dark and has disturbing parallels with her own relationship with her sister。 。。。more

Claire ，

I listened to the audio and enjoyed overall。 I knew nothing about it beforehand and had no idea when it was written so was surprised at the publication date when I heard it， I had assumed it was more recent and set years ago。 Perhaps that would have changed my attitude when listening， hard to know。 I will look for more by this author so that in itself is a positive reaction。

Rhonda ，

I did listen to the whole book。 I have to say at no time did I feel like I understood what was going on。 A banter back and forth of two women that simply were not understandable or normal。 At some point I started thinking that they were split personality and they were each trying to do away with the other。 I guess in a way one did。 Since I listened to this book I will say the voice of the characters seemed some how not right for the part。 Harsh in a way that made you defensive while listening。 I I did listen to the whole book。 I have to say at no time did I feel like I understood what was going on。 A banter back and forth of two women that simply were not understandable or normal。 At some point I started thinking that they were split personality and they were each trying to do away with the other。 I guess in a way one did。 Since I listened to this book I will say the voice of the characters seemed some how not right for the part。 Harsh in a way that made you defensive while listening。 It also made it difficult to relax and get into。 。。。more

Geneva ，

Not a lot to say， except that Byatt did well with this book。 A strange but compelling and well written story。

Carol Alexander ，

As a fan of later works of A。S。 Byatt， I found The Game interesting primarily for a retrospective look at the author's career as a novelist。 Rich in atmosphere， with complex and some frankly odd characters， the novel reveals， at least in my mind， the heavy influence of early Iris Murdoch。 Sometimes murky， at other times luminous， The Game is a precursor of more sophisticated novels in Byatt's oeuvre。 Recommended for readers who love Byatt and enjoy novels set in the England of the 1970s， with it As a fan of later works of A。S。 Byatt， I found The Game interesting primarily for a retrospective look at the author's career as a novelist。 Rich in atmosphere， with complex and some frankly odd characters， the novel reveals， at least in my mind， the heavy influence of early Iris Murdoch。 Sometimes murky， at other times luminous， The Game is a precursor of more sophisticated novels in Byatt's oeuvre。 Recommended for readers who love Byatt and enjoy novels set in the England of the 1970s， with its cultural tensions and shifting roles for educated women。 。。。more

Jill ，

This is a difficult book for me to rate by way of stars。 I would give it 4-ish stars for the story itself -- well-written and well-crafted。 There were quite a few sections， however， where the characters had long discussions about philosophical/religious/existential topics， reminding me of a Russian novel in tone and content， if not in scope。 This is what dropped it star-wise for me。 These were interesting tangents， and they did go some way toward explaining character motivation， but they didn't This is a difficult book for me to rate by way of stars。 I would give it 4-ish stars for the story itself -- well-written and well-crafted。 There were quite a few sections， however， where the characters had long discussions about philosophical/religious/existential topics， reminding me of a Russian novel in tone and content， if not in scope。 This is what dropped it star-wise for me。 These were interesting tangents， and they did go some way toward explaining character motivation， but they didn't exactly move the plot along。 I listened to The Game via Overdrive （sped up quite a bit）， otherwise I'm sure these parts would have dragged。 Looking at this novel from a purely literary point of view， it should probably get 4-5 stars， but for readability， I have to drop it down a bit。 。。。more

Inês ，

3。5 stars

Lorraine ，

I bounced off this book hard， which surprised me。 I love A。 S。 Byatt， and I love everything she's written that I've read。 I've only bounced off one other book， and that's because I mistakenly picked up the third in a trilogy and started reading it while wondering what the hell was going on。 Her writing is beautiful as always in this novel， but it is also a bit overwrought to me， and I find none of the characters sympathetic or very interesting， and I find all their emotional responses to be disp I bounced off this book hard， which surprised me。 I love A。 S。 Byatt， and I love everything she's written that I've read。 I've only bounced off one other book， and that's because I mistakenly picked up the third in a trilogy and started reading it while wondering what the hell was going on。 Her writing is beautiful as always in this novel， but it is also a bit overwrought to me， and I find none of the characters sympathetic or very interesting， and I find all their emotional responses to be disproportionate to the events of their lives。 I kept waiting for the reveal of some terrible， traumatic secret that could account for all their fear， anxiety and existential horror， but I waited in vain。 I am disappointed。 。。。more

Nicole ，

Not her best novel。 Certainly not a bad novel， but compared with what she has done elsewhere， this was a bit of a disappointment。 I also had a strange reaction that the book was somehow very personal， and was sent off on a google hunt looking for gossip about her relationship with her own sister， Margaret Drabble。 And， indeed， Drabble described this book as a mean little book about sibling rivalry， and not a help to their relationship。 Then again， I sort of knew that they did not get along befor Not her best novel。 Certainly not a bad novel， but compared with what she has done elsewhere， this was a bit of a disappointment。 I also had a strange reaction that the book was somehow very personal， and was sent off on a google hunt looking for gossip about her relationship with her own sister， Margaret Drabble。 And， indeed， Drabble described this book as a mean little book about sibling rivalry， and not a help to their relationship。 Then again， I sort of knew that they did not get along before reading this， so it may color the experience somewhat。 Finally， I felt a real sense of annoyance at some of the characters who were unable to manage their lives properly， particularly on the Julia and Thor front。 Sometimes， possibly even often， this incapacity is one of the profoundly interesting things about a book， and something that you can get only from a book， as a real person doing the same things would make you absolutely crazy。 But sometimes the annoyance I would have with an actual person is also my reaction to the fiction， and I'm not entirely sure what makes the difference。 I suspect that I am particularly impatient with love relationship issues -- people who insist on choosing a terrible partner， or staying with one， scenes of conjugal drama and distress， plate throwing -- which would certainly explain why Thor and Julia made me nuts。 Fundamentally， I am of the Vikram Seth school of love relationships: no plate throwing。 。。。more

Reference

google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=The Game

hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=The Game&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft

The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,The Game&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0