Angels and Insects by A.S. Byatt is a book that has several aspects that I truly loved.

The references and discussions about God, Christ, and religion are deeply thought-provoking. It makes one question and reflect on the nature of faith and belief.

The astonishing life of insects, ants, and butterflies brought into the book is equally captivating. We learn so much about the queens, witness thousands of butterflies, and are amazed by their complex behaviors.

The presence of native people with their interesting and odd behaviors adds another layer of intrigue. For example, when the explorers reach New Zealand and the local people act as if they don't see the rather large boat, only to have a frenzy of activity once the visitors come to the shore.

The image of a cloud of blue butterflies being released into a room is truly powerful and mesmerizing. It's something that I've even seen on the news, where companies offer to bring hundreds of butterflies for weddings or ceremonies.

The life of ants, presented in various National Geographic, Discovery, or BBC Knowledge channels, is still fascinating to read about in this book. Their specialized society, with lazy loafers and hardworking ants all struggling for the queen, is both beleaguering and impressive.

The pronouncements on God are also very provoking. Quotes like "Homo homini Deus est" make us think about the concept of God and how we create our own versions of it.

However, at one point in the book, I got lost or the plot seemed to go astray. It developed into another story with a thread similar to The Odyssey, but then took a strange turn when the hero turned into an ant and met characters from something like Alice in Wonderland.

My interest waned at this point, which is a pity because I had intended to read Possession, which is included in the TIME top 100 books. I had also seen some of the movie with Gwyneth Paltrow and it seemed interesting.

Overall, Angels and Insects both attracted and distracted me at various stages. At the end of my encounter with this book, I realize that I have no idea who the angels are, but the insects that kept creeping in are clear cut.

I had extremely high hopes for this book. The story, in and of itself, was truly riveting, capable of captivating the reader's attention from the very beginning. However, as I delved deeper into it, I couldn't help but notice that it meandered a great deal.

It seemed to go off on tangents that didn't necessarily add to the overall narrative. Moreover, it constantly repeated a very obvious metaphor about insects and humans. This repetition became tiresome after a while and detracted from the otherwise engaging story.

A few members of my book club also shared their thoughts, stating that it would have worked better as a short story. I found myself having to agree with them. While there were moments of brilliance in the book, the excessive meandering and repetition made it feel a bit drawn out.

Nevertheless, when it wasn't labouring the point, it was a nice little read. It had its charm and could hold the reader's interest. Now, I am looking forward to watching the film adaptation. I think that the story, with its strong visual elements, would translate well to the screen.

I'm eager to see how the filmmakers will bring the story to life and whether they will be able to capture the essence of the book without getting bogged down in the same issues that I had with the written version.

Premessa necessaria: Antonia, quanto la Amo!

Detto ciò, questo volume è composto di due storie lunghe: Morpho Eugenia e L'angelo del focolare.

I believe that the strength of both, is not so much the plot but Byatt's ability to intertwine the elements coherently and fascinatingly.

In Morpho Eugenia, what I loved most is all the naturalistic knowledge that Byatt puts on every page. The charm of the first observations on the natural world and the debate that emerges from it.

L'angelo del focolare starts in a rather cumbersome way (maybe that's not the right word but it's the one that comes to mind at the moment) but after a few pages Byatt's writing opens up and becomes pure musicality and I almost didn't care anymore about the story she was telling (I admit she could have told it better) but simply the rhythm charmed me so much that I wanted it never to end. And then the charm of Tennyson's verses and knowing that the inspiration for the story comes from a real-life moment of the poet. The last few pages of the story get lost again a bit, like the first ones. But the ending left a smile on my lips and a nice feeling inside.

Four and a half stars. But I round up. Because I love her.

I find that I have contradictory feelings for Byatt's fiction.

On one hand, I strongly admire what she writes. Her works are filled with stimulating ideas, in-depth research, clever structuring, and a profound examination of human nature.

However, I can't say that I love the handful of her novels that I've read. It's not because they seem overly intellectual; in fact, I don't think that's necessarily a deterrent.

Rather, it's that I don't always believe in, let alone warm to, the characters she depicts.

This is especially true of "Angels & Insects," a pair of loosely-linked novellas set in the 19th century and infused with the obsessions of that era.

"Morpho Eugenia" and "The Conjugial Angel" explore different aspects of the Victorian age, from the urge to explore and catalogue in the biological sciences to the rush towards spiritualism and beliefs in otherworldly beings.

Along the way, we encounter a cast of lonely individuals, taboos broken in the midst of Christian communities, and grief and loss suffered in comfortable surroundings.

Readers may feel sympathy for those who suffer, but I wonder if they really know or care about them.

"Morpho Eugenia" centers on William Adamson, who, after a decade in the Amazon jungle and a disastrous shipwreck, finds himself cataloguing specimens at the country pile of the Alabaster family.

Here, he falls in love with Eugenia, one of the daughters of his patron, and eventually marries her.

Despite his happiness, he remains a bit of a cold fish for much of the novel.

"The Conjugial Angel" is set in Margate a few years later and follows a circle of spiritualists united by Swedenborgian beliefs.

The novella seems to ramble at times, but towards the end, it starts to take shape as closure beckons for some of the participants.

I found myself feeling sorry for the leading characters, but not exactly warming to them.

Overall, "Angels and Insects" takes its cue from overarching themes in the two novellas, and Byatt binds her narratives in a web of associative words.

While "Morpho Eugenia" is often regarded as the more effective of the two, I grew to prefer "The Conjugial Angel" for its more engaging cast of characters.

Both tales have an air of melancholia, but also moments of optimism and happiness, leaving me with a lasting impression of Byatt as a detached yet passionate observer of human nature.

http://wp.me/s2oNj1-morpho

Life does get busy sometimes.

There are countless tasks and responsibilities that demand our attention, leaving us with little time to spare.

But in the midst of it all, to curl up with a book like Angels and Insects is a pure delight.

I must confess that A.S. Byatt is a favorite of mine.

I came to these novellas with high expectations, anticipating sensuousness in the words, depth in the insights, and mystery in the storytelling.

And I was not disappointed. In fact, I got so much more.

The book explores a wide range of themes, including death, life, love, betrayal, and the afterlife.

It made me pause in awe at the brilliance of Byatt's mind.

The first novella tells the story of a man's obsessive love for a woman.

He holds her in the highest regard, only to discover that she is a liar and has engaged in incest.

He is forced to leave without telling anyone, as the knowledge is too painful.

The second novella is filled with angels, people returning from the dead, and an insatiable desire to have a part of them back.

Byatt makes these elements seem so real that one could easily forget they are reading fiction.

Overall, Angels and Insects is a beautiful book that I would highly recommend.

Give me A.S. Byatt anytime.

The second story has appealed to me much more than the first one.

I found the second story to be more engaging and captivating. It had a unique charm that drew me in from the very beginning.

The details and the way the story was crafted were truly remarkable. It made me feel as if I was a part of the story itself.

On the other hand, the first story didn't have the same impact on me. It felt a bit平淡 and lacked the excitement and depth that the second story had.

I'm really glad I came across these stories, especially the second one. It has left a lasting impression on me.

If you're interested in reading some great stories, I highly recommend checking out the link provided: https://liblit.com/a-s-byatt-angeles-.... You won't be disappointed!

The world seemed to have undergone a remarkable transformation. It appeared not only different but also larger and brighter. Gone were the soft water-colour washes of green, blue, and grey. Instead, it was a dazzling spectacle of fine lines and dizzying pinpoints. There were jet-black hues, stripes and spots of crimson, iridescent emerald, sloppy caramel, and slime-silver.

There is a particular kind of tree known as the Sipo Matador, which when translated means the Murderer Sipo. It grows tall and thin like a creeper and clings to another tree. It ascends the thirty or forty feet to the canopy by eating its way into the very substance of its host until the host tree dies, and then the Sipo inevitably crashes down with it.

There are numerous frustrated lovers who are engaged in sorting seeds.

Larger insects were making their way along the black floor, their wings spread wide. More could be seen forcing their way through a small hole in the pane of the conservatory door. Even more were sailing down from the roof, hurtling blindly forward in the semi-darkness. The small concussions of these creatures on the glass walls and roof increased both in number and volume. They advanced like a disorderly, driven army, beating about Eugenia's head, making a buzzing sound against her skin. There were thirty, forty, fifty, a cloud of them. The male Emperors were propelling themselves out of the night towards the torpid female. More came. And still more. Eugenia tried to push them off. She brushed her skirts and plucked at those that were lost in her sleeves and in the crevices of her dress.

Everyone else seems more impressed by the title story.

They might be drawn to its allure and the elements that catch their immediate attention.

However, for me, "The Conjugal Angel" holds a special place in my heart.

There is something about this particular story that speaks to me on a deeper level.

Perhaps it's the unique characters, the complex relationships, or the underlying themes that resonate with my own experiences and emotions.

While the title story may have its own charm, "The Conjugal Angel" has a certain magic that keeps pulling me back.

I find myself getting lost in its pages, completely engrossed in the world that the author has created.

It's a story that I can read over and over again, and each time, I discover something new and wonderful.

In conclusion, although others may prefer the title story, my love for "The Conjugal Angel" remains unwavering.

A.S. Byatt, who is arguably a genius, does not present as remarkable an effort in "Angels & Insects" as she does in "Possession" and "The Djinn in the Nightingale’s Eye".

"Angels & Insects" consists of two novellas, namely "Morpho Eugenia" and "The Conjugal Angel". Both are set in the past in England and involve a certain degree of betrayal by lovers.

"Morpho Eugenia" tells the story of an explorer, Edgar Alabaster, who is stranded in civilized society due to lack of funds and falls in love with a woman he assumes to be civilized. It feels like a Gothic romance set in a castle, although it is actually set on a large estate and the characters are not royalty. Edgar spent several years in the jungle studying insects, found a patron, married his daughter, but still yearned to explore. Here, things take a strange and Gothic turn. Without spoiling too much, before the existence of vampires, people already had strange fetishes and sexual practices. However, the excessive description and philosophy manage to drain all the fun from the perversion.

"The Conjugal Angel", despite including ghosts and spirits, is also somewhat dull. The overuse of quoted poetry hampers any excitement in the plot. Lilias Papagay, a widow with no inheritance, has become a medium to support herself and has been fortunate enough to have consistent customers, including Emily Jesse, the sister of Alfred Tennyson. Emily's fiancé died many years ago, and she has since married another man. Lilias happens to have an assistant who is the real deal, which leads to problems in the story as people like to pretend to contact the dead but do not actually want to hear the truths from them.

Overall, it is an interesting read, but one's time would be better spent reading Byatt's "Possession". Incidentally, Byatt's first book, "The Shadow of the Sun", was published before she was thirty, in case you were counting.

Sabía del fuego sin fruto en torno al cual volaban sin quemarse las alas, sin consumirse.

Dama Antonia es una escritora difícil, dicen. Sus novelas son densas y llenas de juegos de planos de realidad y literarios. En ellas, da vida a antiguos poemas y cartas, a eternos anhelos y temores, y temblores que hacen arder ante nuestros asombrados ojos. Es Maravillosa.

Estoy de acuerdo en que el segundo de estos relatos, El ángel conyugal, se hace un tanto escarpado, sobre todo en esa prolongada ensoñación de Tennyson. Pero es arrumbado al final de este tour de force de espiritismo, de lucha entre lo carnal y lo divino.

El primero, Morpho eugenia, me ofrece mucho mayor interés. Es un cuento de princesas y hadas en la época de la Evolución, con un estudio de entomología extremadamente interesante. Se deshilvana como una fábula entre los prados señoriales y las indómitas selvas del Amazonas. Tiene una Cenicienta, Matilda, que triunfa por su talento y se apresta a cruzar el ancho océano, llena de ilusión y esperanza.

Estas historias son elaboradas e intrincadas, con una pasmosa riqueza de matices y significados. Es una pervivencia de lo mejor de los prerrafaelitas, con William Morris y sus utopías siempre presentes. La escritura es compleja, trabajada con tesón, pero nunca llega a ser molesta. Cada libro que leo de A. S. Byatt es una sorpresa renovada, un goce seguro, una Belleza.

Y entonces algo perfecto y bellamente formado se dejaba ver y te cortaba la respiración.

En aquel entonces, allí todo tenía dos caras: era verdadero y querido, cercano y actual, y a la vez relucía mágicamente y despedía un vago perfume frío a mundo perdido, a huerto de rey, al jardín de Harum-al-Raschid.

Respiran aire salado y esperanza, y su sangre fluye cargada de ilusión de futuro; y éste es un buen lugar para dejarlos, en la cresta de la ola, entre los setos y los campos verdes y ordenados y la masa de selva serpenteante y tenaz que se extiende por la costa amazónica.

Me gustaría afirmar que nuestra capacidad humana para amar la belleza de todas estas cosas indica en nosotros algo desinteresado y espiritual. ¿Un hombre que admira una mariposa es más que una bestia bruta, William? Desde luego es más que la propia mariposa.

Se sentó a su lado en el banco, y su presencia lo inquietó. Estaba dentro de la atmósfera, o la luz, o la fragancia que ella desprendía, como un barco se ve arrastrado por un remolino, como una abeja cae en el lazo del perfume procedente del cuello de una flor.

No se podía convertir a un hombre en un poema, ni al cantante ni a la canción, ni a la garganta trémula ni al rígido cadáver.

Los nombres, mire usted, son una forma de entretejer el mundo relacionando unas criaturas con otras, y una especie de metamorfosis, podría decirse, derivada de una metáfora, que es una figura retórica para que una idea se impregne de otra.

Entomologia e vita, e digressioni filosofiche sulla immortalità dell'anima e sulla poesia con tanto di sedute spiritiche... Patapam!

In fact, I could limit my view of this novel to just these two single lines, but I would like to go a little deeper.

How one suddenly decides to abandon the two extremely boring hours of physics and turn to entomology: but wouldn't you also feel the desire to do so when you see that your professor, instead of explaining, writes the most obvious, elementary and arid slides on the blackboard, which, by the way, you already have and can also study on your own? So, I admit, after an hour of suffering, with a drooping head and good intentions of being attentive and patient, I committed my little subversive act. I took my beautiful book and dedicated myself to Morpho Eugenia (such is the name of this first story). And so the good intentions for that day went up in glory, and I didn't take my nose out of the book until the end, feeling then damn satisfied and damn guilty. Then I rushed out (a small clarification, I was located in the middle of the countryside). And in the short time that separated me from the arrival of the bus, I studied the poor ants that passed around me with a morbid interest, so much so that it worried the people around me. And if before entomology I didn't care a fig, now, I really think, I will look at it with more attention.

But enough of the chatter, leaving aside my usual digressions. Morpho Eugenia is a little jewel. Story, essay, story within a story, and whoever has more can put it in. But above all, it is a kaleidoscope of Victorian culture, and its most hidden and private sides, not excluding those ehhhmmm let's say not exactly "moral" for the era, because my morality leaves something to be desired.

How instead one continues the missing pages at the end, trying desperately to grab the beginning, not to yawn and to understand something: This was the Conjugal Angel, in short, a torment, but it doesn't matter because Morpho Eugenia had already highly rewarded me for everything :D

What does the Conjugal Angel talk about? Well... Puff, a puff of smoke...

Apart from this, of the spiritual sessions organized by Emily Tennyson (yes, exactly her, the sister of the famous poet), of her company of strange characters and animals, and of the consequences that this desire at all costs to pursue the dead can bring.

Also this story is a kaleidoscope of Victorian life and contains a myriad of information (I start to think that Byatt is the living Victorian encyclopedia), especially of a literary and philosophical order, very, very interesting or very, very barbaric depending on how one is disposed.

P.S. A particular praise goes to the cover of my edition, which is not the one in the photo, but the one that made me discover the wonderful painting: Sense of Sight by Annie Louisa Swynnerton.

Precisely this:

http://s3.amazonaws.com/magnoliasoft....

Morpho Eugenia is truly terrifying. Byatt constructs dread in a fantastically effective way, and yet the revelation is still horrifying.

I really appreciate how she weaves in Victorian themes of dominance over nature and extends that Cartesian-shift based decay to the colonial enterprise and into the hearts of her characters.

The Conjugal Angel is both funny and very sad. Tennyson and the women spiritualists in his circle are extremely accurate portrayals of society, and it was truly creepy as well.

Once again, I'm not sure if this is just an alignment of character traits, but Byatt's books are so romantic to me. There's something about research, care, and longing that really speaks to me.

It's as if Byatt is able to capture the essence of these emotions and bring them to life on the page, making her stories not only engaging but also deeply moving.

Her ability to blend horror, romance, and social commentary in such a seamless way is truly remarkable and makes her books a must-read for anyone who loves literature.

Whether you're a fan of Victorian literature or simply looking for a good read, Byatt's works are sure to satisfy.