Helpful Score: 8
This book was like a lesbian tour of 19th century England. I was fascinated by the historical context even as I wondered how accurate it was. The writing was very vivid and the sense of "place" very strong--from London's theaters to London's slums--which made me convinced the author had done her research. This is often pegged as an 'erotic' book, and while I understand why that term is applied to it, the long stretches between erotic scenes were actually my favorite. The sexual tension at the beginning of the story, as Nancy falls in love with a woman for the first time, brings you quickly through the first 150 pages. A curiosity about whether she'll ever reunite with her first love pushes you through the last 350. For such a long book, it was a remarkably quick read.
The descriptions and character development were excellent; I was also impressed by the way the author adopted a 19th century tone. The writing style, with its occasional vague-osities and passive voice construction, fit very well with the time era--the lesbian, erotic Jane Austen. (Of course, many would say Jane Austen was a lesbian anyway.) I admire Sarah Waters for attempting to mimic a 19th centurty tone, and for being able to keep that tone consistent through the book, even though the subject matter itself was very different from what was published back then.
The story was rather melodramatic at places and reminded me a bit of the type of stuff I was writing at 16, which made it fun. It also kind of smacks of "first novel," which also made it fun. It's also VERY queer, which may have made it funnest of all--we've got all sorts of lesbians, cross-dressers, gay men, even a 'dyke tyke'. And within its queerness, it keeps all the characters multi-dimensional and doesn't fall back on stereotypes. And the ending was very satisfying.
The descriptions and character development were excellent; I was also impressed by the way the author adopted a 19th century tone. The writing style, with its occasional vague-osities and passive voice construction, fit very well with the time era--the lesbian, erotic Jane Austen. (Of course, many would say Jane Austen was a lesbian anyway.) I admire Sarah Waters for attempting to mimic a 19th centurty tone, and for being able to keep that tone consistent through the book, even though the subject matter itself was very different from what was published back then.
The story was rather melodramatic at places and reminded me a bit of the type of stuff I was writing at 16, which made it fun. It also kind of smacks of "first novel," which also made it fun. It's also VERY queer, which may have made it funnest of all--we've got all sorts of lesbians, cross-dressers, gay men, even a 'dyke tyke'. And within its queerness, it keeps all the characters multi-dimensional and doesn't fall back on stereotypes. And the ending was very satisfying.
Helpful Score: 5
A Very Good Read!I enjoyed this novel on so many levels. The plot has a lower class, oyster-monger's daughter sees a stage performer and is so struck by her that she runs off to London as her 'dresser', beginning a fabulous tale of coming of age, sexual awakening and learning about forbidden love. The book details 3 relationships of its main character, each of which teaches her something about herself. That they are lesbian relationships offers a glimpse of gay struggle at the turn of the last century. The novel reads easily and quickly, like a story told to you over tea, and is a refreshing read.
Helpful Score: 4
I can never decide which Waters book I like better, Fingersmith, or this. Both are definate must-reads for lovers of historical fiction, lesbian coming-of-age tales, or both.
Helpful Score: 4
This was definitely a captivating, enjoyable story! Sarah Waters takes us into the underworld of 19th century London from a perspective that I certainly had never read about before. Okay, being a straight male, this world of lesbian love was a little outside my experience but it certainly was a story that holds your interest. I especially liked how Waters colorfully described this period in time and all the slang that she used -- "tom," "masher," "gay girls," "rent boy," "saucy," etc. And the story was definitely erotic - the sex scenes were quite explicit (I hope other readers are not easily offended). The characters in the story were very well-developed and quite believable. Nancy, especially, was a great character from her beginning as a Whitstable oyster girl, to her up and down experiences searching for happiness. Overall a very SAUCY story!
Helpful Score: 3
Historical fiction and coming of age story about a young woman living in Whitstable, an 'oyster girl' in the 1880's with a love of dance hall songs. She falls in love with a dance hall singer who comes to town, a young lady who dresses in men's clothes for her act, and eventually moves to London with her, unaware that she is anything but unique, that there are such things as "toms" as lesbians were called in the day. The book is the story of Nancy's life, of love and betrayal and heartbreak and growing up and actually had a rather satisfying ending. I enjoyed it very much, though having read several of Waters' other books, the plot twists didn't surprise me as much as the first one I read.
