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Prized Possessions
This story of a young woman's rape and its effect on her family takes place in the world of Manhattan's upper middle class, tracing Elizabeth Mason's recovery, her parent's pain and guilt, and the family's gradual transformation.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published January 15, 1991
20 people are currently reading
63 people want to read
About the author
Avery Corman
36 books22 followersAvery Corman (born November 28, 1935, in the Bronx, New York) is an American novelist.
He is the author of the novel Kramer vs. Kramer (1977) which created a sea change in attitudes toward child custody with the public and in the courts in the United States and internationally. Robert Benton wrote the screenplay and directed the movie of the same name Kramer vs. Kramer (1979) starring Dustin Hoffman and Meryl Streep. It won 5 Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Adapted Screen Play. A previous Corman novel, Oh, God! (1971) was the basis for the movie comedy Oh, God!, screenplay by Larry Gelbart, starring George Burns and John Denver. His other novels include The Old Neighborhood (1980), 50 (1987), Prized Possessions (1991), The Big Hype (1992), A Perfect Divorce (2004), and The Boyfriend from Hell (2006).
In a characteristic assessment of Corman's writing, critic Stefan Kanfer said in Time magazine about the novel, 50, "Avery Corman has a literary gift for dialogue and predicament. Sealed in a time capsule, 50 could tell future generations more about contemporary middle-aged mores than a library of sociological theses."
Foreign language editions of Corman's novels have been published throughout the world. He is the author of articles and essays in a wide number of publications, including The New York Times for which he has written for various sections of the newspaper.
He turned his attention to writing for the stage and collaborated with the composer Cy Coleman on a musical, The Great Ostrovsky, for which Corman wrote the book and also co-wrote the lyrics with Mr. Coleman. It was produced in regional theater in Philadelphia in 2004, a project curtailed with the passing of Mr. Coleman that year.
He is the author of the novel Kramer vs. Kramer (1977) which created a sea change in attitudes toward child custody with the public and in the courts in the United States and internationally. Robert Benton wrote the screenplay and directed the movie of the same name Kramer vs. Kramer (1979) starring Dustin Hoffman and Meryl Streep. It won 5 Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Adapted Screen Play. A previous Corman novel, Oh, God! (1971) was the basis for the movie comedy Oh, God!, screenplay by Larry Gelbart, starring George Burns and John Denver. His other novels include The Old Neighborhood (1980), 50 (1987), Prized Possessions (1991), The Big Hype (1992), A Perfect Divorce (2004), and The Boyfriend from Hell (2006).
In a characteristic assessment of Corman's writing, critic Stefan Kanfer said in Time magazine about the novel, 50, "Avery Corman has a literary gift for dialogue and predicament. Sealed in a time capsule, 50 could tell future generations more about contemporary middle-aged mores than a library of sociological theses."
Foreign language editions of Corman's novels have been published throughout the world. He is the author of articles and essays in a wide number of publications, including The New York Times for which he has written for various sections of the newspaper.
He turned his attention to writing for the stage and collaborated with the composer Cy Coleman on a musical, The Great Ostrovsky, for which Corman wrote the book and also co-wrote the lyrics with Mr. Coleman. It was produced in regional theater in Philadelphia in 2004, a project curtailed with the passing of Mr. Coleman that year.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 11 reviews
October 27, 2023
Received this as a mystery book, I was pleasantly pleased. This does discuss date rape and I've never seen a book about this topic. I'm glad to have read it, but it does have rape and date rape throughout the book.
July 20, 2017
Terrific book- my best feel is that the author somehow has some personal experience in knowledge, likely with someone he knows, relative to this all-too-common college experience. Corman's book is very well written, and takes the reader in right from the start. You find yourself, being human, being drawn into the story, and, frankly, becoming more angry as the book moves along.
This poor young woman's ordeal- all of it, all aspects.... and perhaps most especially after the fact.....are compelling, illuminating and frightening, in that they are likely repeated many, many times over every year throughout the country. The sickening influence of money and power depicted in the novel are, too, very likely all too real in this nation.
This poor young woman's ordeal- all of it, all aspects.... and perhaps most especially after the fact.....are compelling, illuminating and frightening, in that they are likely repeated many, many times over every year throughout the country. The sickening influence of money and power depicted in the novel are, too, very likely all too real in this nation.
September 29, 2020
I kept reminding myself that this book was written in the early 90s. The topic of date rape, especially in college, is pretty well covered today - and attitudes are generally enlightened that it happens and it’s criminal behavior. I don’t recall it being discussed much that long ago. Some of the characters’ attitudes were exactly as I recalled - the girl must have led him on. But the development of rake curriculum and awareness activism was likely right on target, timing wise. Interesting to think back in what likely influenced today’s rape awareness and rake prevention actions on college campuses. Didn’t like they ending at all though. Very dissatisfying.
August 18, 2017
Just don't.
August 15, 2014
The Masons are a perfect family, with every piece of their family portrait firmly in place. They have high hopes for their children's success, and the money to give them the world. Elizabeth Mason grew up with every advantage in life, her parents sparing no expense on her education and upbringing. Now, on the verge of starting her freshman year at prestigious Layton College, Elizabeth has blossomed into a brilliant and compassionate young woman; if a little entitled and naive.
However, one shattering night will throw Elizabeth Mason's once-tranquil life into spiraling chaos. At a campus party during freshman orientation, she meets Jimmy Andrews - a handsome, athletic senior; and a popular tennis phenom. That night, the one thing that Elizabeth never expects to happen to her, does. She is raped.
At first, she tells no one. She numbly slips through her first months of college, keeping her humiliation and shame to herself. Eventually, Elizabeth's self-imposed isolation becomes too much for her and she reports the assault - a decision that launches her on a personal crusade; determined to bring Jimmy to justice, by any means necessary.
In this powerful and emotionally poignant novel, Avery Corman explores the devastating repercussions - both private and public - of campus date rape and the double standard that surrounds sexuality for both young men and women. In my opinion, this book deals with a subject which is just as topical and significant now as it was at the time that this book was written.
As I've said before, Mr. Corman is a new author for me, and this is the first book of his that I've ever read - although, Mareena and I did see the movie adaptation of his 1977 book Kramer vs. Kramer when it was broadcast on television about four years ago. I give this book a definite A+! and I am eagerly looking for more books by this author to put on my Wish List.
However, one shattering night will throw Elizabeth Mason's once-tranquil life into spiraling chaos. At a campus party during freshman orientation, she meets Jimmy Andrews - a handsome, athletic senior; and a popular tennis phenom. That night, the one thing that Elizabeth never expects to happen to her, does. She is raped.
At first, she tells no one. She numbly slips through her first months of college, keeping her humiliation and shame to herself. Eventually, Elizabeth's self-imposed isolation becomes too much for her and she reports the assault - a decision that launches her on a personal crusade; determined to bring Jimmy to justice, by any means necessary.
In this powerful and emotionally poignant novel, Avery Corman explores the devastating repercussions - both private and public - of campus date rape and the double standard that surrounds sexuality for both young men and women. In my opinion, this book deals with a subject which is just as topical and significant now as it was at the time that this book was written.
As I've said before, Mr. Corman is a new author for me, and this is the first book of his that I've ever read - although, Mareena and I did see the movie adaptation of his 1977 book Kramer vs. Kramer when it was broadcast on television about four years ago. I give this book a definite A+! and I am eagerly looking for more books by this author to put on my Wish List.
November 6, 2010
This novel focuses on the fallout of the date rape of a brand new college coed. Written by the autor of Kramer vs Kramer, it was reminiscent of the book about the Duke lacrosse players, not only due to the college campus locale and rape, but the reaction of the other students, the college staff, friends, and family.
September 1, 2014
Great book club selection because you definitely want to talk about this book after reading it. Fast, thought-provoking read that appealed to my feminist side. I've added Kramer vs Kramer to my 'to read' list now. It's by the same author.
January 14, 2011
Every parent must read this book with their highschool student.
June 25, 2015
Bellissimo. Ben scritto e coinvolgente.
December 19, 2016
The book was published in 1991 but subject matter is still current.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 11 reviews