Tipping the Velvet: A Novel by Sarah Waters
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Book Reviews of Tipping the Velvet: A Novel
Book Review: Sarah Waters Captures the Complexities of Love
Summary: 5 Stars
Usually I pick up a book with about 500 or so pages, and six months later I trudge to the finish. This book, however, took only one short week of sheer addiction to complete! As previously stated in other reviews, Sarah Waters is like air to read and keeps the momentum streaming to a triumphant end. If you have forgotten how to love, how to make love, how to romance, how it was before we were so jaded, please, let Sarah remind you.
Nan King/Nancy Astley/Tom Kitty is a wonderful, unsung hero. As I flipped page after page, I could not help indentifying so much of myself with her. Starting with her pre-theater life, reminding us of those first budding crushes, so innocent and sweet. Moving into an intense and awkward relationship, leading to, well, the usual. And while I have never been a "renter", I understand how easily Nan got to that point. And I'm sure anyone who's felt even mildly repressed by their partner and/or emotions, only to be betrayed, will also feel that spark of aggressive autonomy. I, myself, let a few explicatives fly from my mouth while reading. My only disappointment, the book should end too quickly. And hey, where's my Diana!?!
Book Review: Great Book
Summary: 5 Stars
I loved everything about this book except the cover art and the fact that it is not available in hardcover. I love the cover art in the limited edition but when I ordered that the seller balked on delivering it and although my money was returned I was not notified until it was too late to reorder it (I wanted it for a plane ride to Taiwan) so I had to settle for the normal edition and pay the exorbitant bookstore price because I needed it in 2 days. Now on to the actual book. This book is a masterpiece however someone like me ( a 22 year old straight male) would not be able to enjoy it with out being called a pervert. This book has amazing character development and for those who think this is a porno book, it is not. There is as much lesbian action as there should be but that is not the focus of the book. This is a great story about a girl growing up in Victorian England and I think anyone who is not repulsed by lesbians should read this book and then check out the movie which is inferior to the book like almost all movies made from books but it's still great, and to those who are repulsed by lesbians then this book is obviously not for you.Book Review: An amazing novel!
Summary: 5 Stars
This book was one I purchased on a whim. I was not sure what it would be about, but it was recommended to me so I bought it. I was so sorry I even regretted purchasing it!
The book is just a masterpiece. The story is one that is hard to forget and keeps you reading. I could hardly put it down once I got started. I loved every bit of it.
Nancy is a very strong character with a striking transformation. She goes from being shy and introverted to bold and extroverted. After her first female love, Kitty, leaves her, she is forced to strengthen herself and begins to live life carelessly, wanting no love at all.
Soon she is taken in by Diana, a cruel and wealthy woman that holds Nancy's life and libido in her hands. Diana's cruel nature leaves her to abandon Nancy, who moves on with nothing.
She meets Florence again, having left Florence waiting a year and a half prior. Florence, a socialist, takes Nancy in, and here, in the latter part of the book, is where Nancy finds her peace.
You will laugh and cry at this book. Be astounded and shocked. Buy it and you won't regret it!
Book Review: "SHE LOOKED LIKE A VERY PRETTY BOY"
Summary: 5 Stars
TIPPING THE VELVET is my favorite novel by Sarah Waters to date. I enjoyed her other novels but this book was much more enjoyable for me. As always, Waters' does an excellent job in recreating the hostility and desperation of Victorian London streets. I could actually vision the damp streets and feel the cold winds. TIPPING THE VELVET follows the life of Nancy as she discovers her true sexuality and comes to grip with it while living in a society that is not accommodating to lesbians. Her adventures are indeed risky and she is always one step ahead of living in the streets. This book provides a rare glimpse into lesbian life in Victorian society that should entertain all readers alike. I avoided watching the mini-series until I read the book (film adaptations rarely live up to the book). But now I can't wait to see this book on film. TIPPING THE VELVET was indeed difficult to put down and I constantly found myself thinking about it when I did. If you like reading about this type of book you may also enjoy THE CRIMSON PETAL AND THE WHITE, which follows the life of a prostitute named Sugar. Enjoy!
Book Review: Great storytelling
Summary: 5 Stars
Let's get right to it, shall we? This is one fine novel. Period. Regardless of the fact that it deals with lesbian society during the late 19th century doesn't mean that it will alienate everyone save its target audience, as gay novels sometimes tend to do. These characters are first and foremost 3 dimensional and they leap off the page at the reader and grab him by the throat (in a good way, of course). I wanted to become more familiar with every single one of them, including the loathsome Diana and her coven of sadistic sisters in Sappho. The story moves at a swift clip and just when the reader thinks he has it all figured out, there's a nice turn of events that both surprises and delights. Sarah Waters's ability to create a sense of time and place is truly admirable; the drudgery of Dickensian London coat the pages as did the saline tinged odors of a coastal fishing village As I previously stated, this is a novel for anyone who enjoys great storytelling, be you female, male, Lesbian or straight. Quality is quality, regardless of anything else. Pick it up, you'll really enjoy it.