Possessions a [Paperback]

Michael Judith (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 1991

A story about a woman who builds herself a new life for herself after her husband vanishes, and finds herself swept into the world of San Francisco society. Originally published in 1984.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'This consistently interesting novel should find as many satisfied readers as did DECEPTIONS... POSSESSIONS is a believable modern odyssey, a woman's search for identity unburdened by melodrama or undue gimmickry' PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Inside Flap

The Bookcassette® format is a special recording technique developed as a means of condensing the full, unabridged audio text of a book to record it on fewer tapes. In order to listen to these tapes, you will need a cassette player with balance control to adjust left/right speaker output. Special adaptors to allow these tapes to be played on any cassette player are available through the publisher or some US retail electronics stores. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 474 pages
• Publisher: Little Brown Paperbacks (a&C); New edition edition (May 1, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0722160429
• ISBN-13: 978-0722160428
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The story of a woman and a powerful family, August 10, 2000

By 

"eguisheim" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Possessions (Mass Market Paperback)

I enjoy many of Judith/Michael's novels for their fine descriptive writing of various settings and character development. In Possessions, we travel from Vancouver to San Francisco, to the Place des Vosges in Paris and the golden, languid South of France. The theme is building - whether it deals with the Hayward family's construction empire or the elements of what builds or destroys a family.

We first meet Katherine Fraser as a plain housewife caring for her husband Craig and their two children, Todd and Jennifer, in Vancouver. Startling events after the disappearance of her husband lead Katherine to discover Craig's intriguing past that he had since their marriage successfully hidden from her. All of the scandalous press attention associated with Craig's disappearance leads Katherine to the powerful Hayward clan in San Francisco - the family that Craig had left years ago - the family that believed him dead in a tragic sailing accident.

Katherine moves to San Francisco with her reluctant children, still confused over the loss of their husband and father. Both Katherine and the Haywards are immediately wary of each other and after one confontation, Katherine declares that she will survive on her own. With the help of a good friend, she provides for her children and eventually becomes more serious about her hobby of jewelry design. She slowly learns the power of image and knowledge, and how to take control of situations instead of having them control her as they had all her life. The Haywards become curious, and slowly draw her into the family.

Katherine meets Victoria, the matriarch, stern and distinguished; her brother Tobias, the literature professor, with his ever ready supply of quotations and witticisms; dark and foreboding Derek, and kind-hearted Ross whose solid dreams of building towns are demolished by his family that is falling apart. Katherine is shaped by each of her encounters with this wealthy, worldly family. Nonetheless, her own true self emerges, as she rediscovers life, love, and fulfillment.

13 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My favorite Judith Michael book, January 8, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Possessions (Mass Market Paperback)

I have read all of Judith Michael's books and loved them, but this one was my favorite. I had read it years ago and I am planning on reading it again.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not Impressed, January 15, 2010

By 

M. B. "Martin Boucher" (Montreal) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Possessions (Mass Market Paperback)

Oh, how this reviewer wanted to like this book. But, unfortunately, the whole reassembled concept of poor little poor then rich girl is scarcely inviting, due to the trite treatment this new Judith Michael (after the highly enjoyable DECEPTIONS) offering gets. Don't get yours truly wrong, the elements are all there: a beautiful heroine, a dashing hero, luscious settings and a jet-set life worthy of any rich-layered typical novels, but the overall delivery just doesn't cut it. Little do you end up getting involved with the characters and the cookie-cutter plot. The elements are so clearly evident you'll rightly guess the outcomes pages before they happen. Though the narrative is as impressive as ever the book in the end is not.-----Martin Boucher