I am in the middle of reading "Affinity" by Sarah Waters. The story revolves around two young Victorian women. One is the imprisoned spiritualist, Selina Dawes. The other is the narrator, Margaret, a "Lady Visitor" who begins to visit her in prison. The book is loaded with atmosphere and intrigue.

Sarah Waters also wrote another of my all-time favorites, Fingersmith.

Hey there,

I wouldn't know what the rest of you folks think......but I think Laura Miller's one of the most engaging book reviewers out there.

I particularly admired/enjoyed the last two paragraphs of this review.

Oh...a few months ago, I turned on NPR and, having missed the opening of a segment, still found myself listening to some woman who was discussing books......and I was thinking "Boy, she is GOOD.."....

It turned out to be "Laura Miller of Salon.com", which shouldn't have come as a surprise to me.

If Salon, like some University Development Offices, allowed you to designate which department you cared to donate towards, I know where my money would be going.

thanks again,

David Terry

www.davidterryart.com

I agree, I look forward to Laura's reviews. They feel much more...useful to me somehow. She's so descriptive.

Regardless of the entertainment value of the story, seances are nothing to be played with. They are deadly serious if practiced by a true devotee or spiritualist. The results of seances may not be actually spiritualism at all but simply the result of focussing human paranormal powers (held by virtually everyone but disused). Regardless a seance can change your life and not necessarily for the best.

Dear Archie,

thanks for the tip.

I'll be sure not to invite all of my spiritualist/medium gal-pals over, have a few drinks, and do that stuff when there are children or puppies in the room.

As for all the rest of us? I expect you'll agree with me in considering that, rather like all of the times you and/or I have driven blind-drunk or while coming down off a really hard dose of some solid windowpane-acid......welll? It's YOUR life, so do with it what you please, right?

Still....that doesn't make it Safe Behavior, and you're quite justified in issuing your timely warning to the masses.

I'm pretty sure I wouldn't want our most weak & vulnerable to get hurt while I'm just having some high-jinks fun with a spiritualist.......so, thanks, for the "heads-up" shout-out.

As sincerely as ever,

David "Safety FIRST, girl-guides!!" Terry

www.davidterryart.com

This book is never anything other than beautifully written and the Victorian atmosphere is almost suffocating. For the first two thirds it's a rattling good read and a real page turner with plenty of chills and shocks; but the last third - especially the resolution - is a terrible disappointment, as by then you're expecting a finale worthy of Mary Shelley.

But I'd be happy if I could write only half as well as John Harwood.