Fingersmith by Sarah Waters
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Book Reviews of Fingersmith
Book Review: Dickens would be proud!
Summary: 5 Stars
To reduce this Victorian style tour-de-force Dicken's would be proud masterpiece to the label of lesbian fiction does a great disservice to the incredible talent that is Sarah Waters. Yes, the two main characters in Fingersmith are lesbians, but more importantly, they are thieves, victims, pickpockets, connivers, lovers, and a dozen other complex and intriguing character types that make this book such a compelling and intriguing work.
The story starts off in the back alleys of London- that dirty, seedy, criminal underbelly of a bustling city where the ability to survive depends on wits and quick thinking as much as it does on luck. A plot is hatched among a handful of life long petty thieves to aim big and go for more than the meager earnings from a day's work of pickpocketing and petty thieving. Young Sue Tinder is convinced to play a major role in the lengthy scam, moving into the country in the guise of a maid to befriend and ultimately betray a more well to do young lady.
To give away much more would ruin the sheer surprise and unpredictability of this Waters' masterpiece. Let's just say that the old adage, "One good turn deserves another" applies, and just when the plot looks like it is safely headed in one direction, it turns around and heads in the exact opposite. There is no honor among thieves in mid-nineteenth century London.
This is Charles Dickens at his best written with the sensibility and intelligence of a late twentieth century woman. Lesbian fiction? Yes, but it is way more than that.
Book Review: surprising, fresh, well written
Summary: 5 Stars
Definitely, I don't like the segregation of books into artificial "sub-genres". "Gay and lesbian fiction"? I don't get it, frankly. This book is about love and two women are in love here (and this is probably the most innocent thing happening), but if they were two men or a woman and a man, would it change anything? Obviously, the plot needs two girls for reasons other than the love story, and here we get to what this novel is about. This is a historical suspense thriller, very well researched, with excellent background and care of every smallest detail. The petty pick-pocket, Susan, is tricked by the "family friend" called Gentleman, into a plot aiming to get the money of the rich bibliophile. This is also a novel about books, the love of them, the emotions books can evoke in people (a special kind of books, maybe, but books anyway). The landscape and atmosphere of Victorian England, both the countryside and London, are painted with truly artistic strokes, gloomy and grey. The twists in the plot are really unexpected (beware!) and the tension is sometimes almost unbearable, so much, that it is difficult not to get to the end and get some relief as soon as possible, reading well into the night. The psychological portraits not only of the main characters, but also of the supporting ones, are superb. The lifestyles of various social classes are vividly depicted. Sarah Waters reached very high with this novel, gradually developing her style, and I must say - it will be difficult to match it with the next one.Book Review: Lovely book combining Victorian era with unallowed realism
Summary: 5 Stars
Sarah Waters' "Fingersmith" was one of the most beautiful novels of the year. This year had a number of special novels for the literary world, but this one has a great place among them. Set in 1860s Victorian world, it shows the life of Sue Trindon in a harsh Gothic atmosphere. It shows London as a city where pornography, emotional abuse and rape are the natural bedfellows of greed and lovelessness. The herione knows that her mother has been hanged for murder. She is brought up by two women who are into crimes that are scary. It's a rough, crooked yet comradely household, which is occasionally visited by one Richard Rivers, a debonair criminal, forger and seducer. This book shows how the person copes with the different circumstances she is in, and comes to like them.
This books shows that the story is many things, a thriller and a love story. It is passionate and startling in its portrayal. Sufficient to say, it is erotic and unnerving in all the right ways. Long, dark, twisted and satisfying, it's a fabulous piece of writing, but Waters's most impressive achievement is that she also makes it feel less like reading, more like living: an unforgettable experience. Despite the excessive attention to detail, one is not put off from the tension that the book depicts, especially in the end. It cleverly shows the Victorian world in all its detail with a modern touch. Sarah Waters is one of the most respected authors of the younger generation and this novel proves it.
Book Review: Breath taking
Summary: 5 Stars
The beginning of this novel starts out dark, very dark when talking about Sue Trinders past. Sue lives with a bunch of thieves and witnesses illegal activity every day of her life. When presented with an opportunity to scam a woman with a lot of money, she doesn't give up on the idea but considers it completely before finally accepting.
When she arrives she's not sure what to make of the place and is not sure that her new mistress will be convinced that she really is a maid. Eventually she falls into step with her maid duties and really becomes comfortable in the role of helping her longtime male friend scam this woman to ultimately get her put away forever and to get her share of the fortune.
However, things do not go as planned. Both women decieve each other, and in the end, her mistress is scammed as well. Sue and Maud both discover they have very deep feelings for each other and when Sue can stand it no longer, she finds her way back to Sue.
All in all, I found this a wonderful read with many plot twists that will make it hard to put this book down. The only thing that upsets me about this book is that we don't get to really experience the depth of love that both women feel for each other. I wish we'd experiece it more instead of just in fleeting glances before the book ends.
If you're planning on buying this, make sure you start reading when you have nothing left to do because you will not get any work done!
Book Review: Trust No One
Summary: 5 Stars
As in Sarah Waters first two novels, "Fingersmith" once again gives us a close view of the seamier side of life in London during Victorian times ? this time we make the acquaintance of a den of thieves & pickpockets among the dregs of society and get a glimpse of the world of pornography & kinky inclinations for gentlemen. This author is an expert at plot twists and surprises which really shock the reader, allow yourself uninterrupted time for this book, it is a real page turner, melodramatic, a love story, a murder/crime thriller and great historical fiction.There are so many twist and turns to this story that I find it hard to say much about it without revealing crucial parts of the plot. The main characters are 2 orphans, Maud and Sue, that have grown up leading vastly different lives and are brought together in their late teens. At the beginning we are introduced to Sue and the family of thieves she lives among at the house of Mrs. Sucksby. Sue is presented with a mission by Mrs. Sucksby?s friend whom she calls ?Gentleman? ? The plan, in brief, is that Gentleman will marry an orphaned, isolated heiress then have her locked up in an asylum, stealing her money, Sue will pose as the lady?s maid and assist Gentleman in making his wife appear insane. And that is all I will say.
I look forward to rereading this one day to look out for all the little clues I missed the first time.