Customer Reviews

Obsession

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Wow, skimming reviews I noticed quite a few of my fellow(ess) reviewers seemed quite harsh towards this title. Now I am reviewing the novel, not other reviews, but felt it neccessary to say one thing. It looked like the biggest complaint was this title's lack of originality. Luis Jorges Borges believed everything has been written, and to an extent I agree. It is incrasingly hard for an author to imagine a completely original plot. Especially when the themes are like those dealt with in this novel, i.e. family, roots, betrayal, and the angst of being a teenager.

Meg Mckenna leads a seemingly charmed life, attending a posh private school, soon to inherit her grandfather's legacy, and being popular. In fact the only minor things marring her almost perfect existance is a strenous relationship with her step-sister and father.

Candra grew up with her "grandmother" in Jamaica, slaving away for a prosperous family, forever snubbed and impoverished. Until the family her grandmother is working for moves back Stateside, and Candra believes this country is the land of dreams come true where she can change her life. The price she is willing to pay to improve her lot seems infinite, including dabbling in black arts.

This story seems pretty allegorical as I read along I realized that it stood at least in part for many archetypes(which I am not going to interpret in fear it will spoil the plot.)

There were times I felt I was reading a melodramatic cliche, but Morgan's pacing and characterization overcame that minor flaw. I was especially impressed with Morgan's grasp of teenage cruelty, and the alienation that modern teenagers feel.

I thought this was a quick fun read, I haven't read the Bujold title, but will. Even if this wasn't Totally oringinal I enjoyed it and hope you do too.

I read this book over three years ago and could not put it down. It was mine boggling and it sent chills to my brain. I later went on a search for the continuation of this book, but was disappointed to hear that it was cancelled. I hope that whom ever makes decisions on the release of Posessions, help make the fans happy one more with the release of the book.

I love this book... I have tthe sequel.... Vodoo at its best!

This was a hard to put down book. I enjoyed every bit of it, although I'm wondering where the sequel is, Posession. Please let me know if it comes out in print!

Wow. I mean wow. I've never seen another book so blatantly ripping off another well known author in my life. I've been reading this thing with my jaw dropped, unable to believe that perhaps I'm the only person to have read both books. Unless the publisher/author of the first gave permission to use all the plot points and characters, this is really really pushing it.

So, anyone else who read this read Stranger With My Face by Lois Duncan, as a kid? Let's review the similarities, shall we?

1. 17 year old girl, looks nothing like her "family"- she's dark haired and tan, they're WASPy blonde.
2. Lives in upper middle class New England small town.
3. Turns out she has a long lost evil twin.
4. Who was raised in poverty
5. Who wants the protagonist's life as her own, with money and friends and boyfriend
6. Friends of the protagonist start seeing the evil twin around town and there are many scenes relating to this confusion
7. The twin girls are both half ethnic, and one was raised in one culture in poverty, the other raised as a priveledged white.
8. The whole astral projection angle.

Come on! That's just ridiculous. There are even more similarities, but I've run out patience. I can't believe I contributed money to this author. How lame. Go read the original, it was way better written, and forget this rip off.

This book is a word for word rip off of Lois Duncan's "Stranger with My Face." The publisher of this book should be ashamed, as well as the author.

I bought this at a used book store, no where did it indicate that there was a sequel, until the last chapter. Then I went out to find the sequel only to find it was never published (last chapter said "Possession, coming in 1997.") Don't bother reading it, without the sequel available. The heroine is in danger, the antagonist is in the middle of her evil plot, end of story, no sequel . . . no point in reading.

3-Stars is out of generosity for WS.

I've read numerous books over the years, but never, ever read one that didn't have an ending. Of course, some authors intend keeping their readers in suspense, 'especially when a sequel or trilogy will follow,' but not to the point their novel doesn't answer 'any' questions. Literally, NONE!

Obsession is the only book I've read that ended without an ending.

After reading the reviews, apparently, a good number who read this book back when, couldn't locate the sequel, Possession. Since it's out of print, I bought a used copy, which I feel unfair and tricked, as a reader and consumer. But, I don't particularly care for senseless endings, and curious if and how Ms. Staub whips up a real conclusion.

This is one of my favorite author's but I was disappointed in this book. Not as good as the other books I have read by her.

On one hand this is a pretty good book. It was spooky and held my interest until the last page but as other reviewers have said, it's too much like Stranger With My Face and I felt ripped off.