Tipping the Velvet: A Novel by Sarah Waters
|
List Price: Our Price: $7.78 You Save: $8.22 (51%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $1.87 (click here) Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of Tipping the Velvet: A Novel
Book Review: The Best Novel I Have Read In A Very, Very Long Time..
Summary: 5 Stars
This book was stunning, absolutely stunning. It stirs your heart and you are wanting to know what happens next to the characters. Sarah Waters has created a fascinating world and a world that I loved inhabiting as I read this book.
Nancy Astley works in her family's oyster restaurant and goes to the weekends to the music halls. There, she meets Kitty Butler and they become fast friends. Kitty invites Nancy to be her dresser in London and it gets really fast past then. It goes from her being with Kitty, to having her heart broken by Kitty, then being a renter and living with the cruel Diana. To lastly, meeting a young socialist by the name of Florence. The characters, all of them, are intriguing. Nancy is a pillar of strength and Diana, though cruel, is definately interesting. Florence is the perfect girl for Nancy and Kitty. I have nothing but loathing for that character, because of what she did to Nancy.
The prose, reminded me of a cross between a modern novelist, Charles Dickens and Oscar Wilde. It was highly engaging and it makes one feel as if they are with Nancy and seeing what she sees. As far as the Erotic goes, it is, definately. But I think what really makes it good is the relationships and seeing things through Nancy's eyes.
This is a must read for anyone, gay, straight or bi.
Book Review: Very readable
Summary: 5 Stars
No need to add really to the chorus of approval for this great novel other than to say how fantastically readable it is. Nan is such an engaging narrator that I defy anyone to read the first ten pages of this book and not want to read on. I think I fell not a little in love with Nan myself. I can't remember meeting someone so engaging and sympathetic in print; a brilliant creation. I enjoyed the villians too, especially the sadistic Diana Lethaby, a sort of, fin de siecle, Wildean. "Mercy Croft" (The Killing of Sister George). And what set-pieces! My favourite was the fancy dress party when Nan gets her own back on Diana's vile friends with some of the best put downs since All About Eve. Nan has a scene with Diana, someone rolls their eyes and says "What a bore". Quick as a flash Nan responds "What a bore" she turns to her "Look at you, you old cow, dressed up in a satin shirt like a boy of seventeen. Dorian Gray? You look more like the bleedin' portrait, after Dorian has made a few trips down the docks!" I laughed so loud when I read this everyone in my subway train turned to stare; I bet that shut her up! I wish Oprah would choose this for her book club as I think it would cheer a lot of people up. It is also genuinely inspirational and is as much a celebration of the human spirit as Moll Flanders or Jane Eyre....Book Review: Tasteful and Delightful!
Summary: 5 Stars
I first saw this book at the lesbian section of the book store, and even then i was interested with the title and the cover alone. Just recently i borrowed it from the library. After reading this book, i will DEFINITELY buy it!
First of all, this book is truly an erotic treat. The time era is captured so beautifully in this book that you FEEL it, and even more so you actually feel the love and the bond between the main characters, Nan King and Kitty Buttler. You feel as if you are witnessing the growth of these two characters and their passionate love affair come to life, and at the end, feel attached to it all the way. But even more so, when Nan begins a life anew after Kitty abandons her, you are instantly put into the situations that she encounters, and you even know more about her thoughts and feelings throughout all the ups and downs she goes through. What i loved the most about this book was its originality, and how it emersed you into the world of female cross dressers and "toms" during 19th century England. This is truly a good read, the erotic scenes are truly tasteful and delightful, the characters, very real, and the time era, beautifully captured. Whether you like lesbian themed novels or not, this is truly a must read. Highly recommended.
Book Review: Takes me back to "Oliver!"
Summary: 5 Stars
This book was fascinating. I read the other reviews prior to buying the book. It wasn't what I was expecting, it was so much more.I am a big "Oliver" fan, so life in Victorian Era England holds a special interest to me. To read about the lesbian lifestyle of that era was amazing. The author brought the era and the lifestyle to life for me.
I was surprised when I found myself feeling rather unsympathetic towards the main character (Nancy) mid-way through the book. I don't remember ever finishing a book in which I felt unsympathetic towards the main character. While I felt unsympathetic towards Nancy, I still cared for her. I found that very surprising. Yes, I cared very much for Nancy.
This was a wonderful novel. I had to finish it in only two sittings. Then promptly went on-line to purchase Sarah Walters two other books.
I was surprised by some reviews that felt disappointed with the book. However, based on their reviews, I believe they were looking for something that was not there. I didn't find the hot explicit sex scenes that were indicated. That's not to say there wasn't sex, but it was primarily a book about a character and her personal growth. It is not a hot/steamy novel. Just a very good, complex and complete novel.
Book Review: Great story set in the shadow world of love between women
Summary: 5 Stars
This book is set in Victorian England and deals with the shadow world of love between women. Nancy Astley leaves home at the age of 18 to work as a dresser for Kitty Butler, a young music hall performer who dresses like a man for her act. Nancy's in love with her and soon they're secret lovers. Later, Nancy learns to dress as a man and pick up other men for money and is also cast into the world of a wealthy lesbian woman who uses Nancy as she would a boy toy. Eventually, Nancy finds true love, but only after the reader is taken with her on her many adventures through this shadow world.The book is 472 pages, but I couldn't put it down. I related to Nancy and her trials and tribulations and fascinated by the world the author created. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I knew it existed. But this book brought me right into its center, viewing the London's music halls and filthy streets as well as the opulent private clubs through Nancy's eyes. I felt her pain and admired her feistiness as she rose above one obstacle after another. I also liked the fact that the romantic scenes were explicit and compelling. Most of all though, I loved the story and the way the author told it. Highly recommended.