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mizpurplest's review against another edition
3.0
Well, I was not expecting that.
I put this book down for a long time because I disliked the protagonist, and didn't like where I thought the story was going. Now that it's over, I think I imagined worse but also better than how it actually ended. The story and characters help buffer the reader from what happens, but it was still harsher than what I typically choose.
I put this book down for a long time because I disliked the protagonist, and didn't like where I thought the story was going. Now that it's over, I think I imagined worse but also better than how it actually ended. The story and characters help buffer the reader from what happens, but it was still harsher than what I typically choose.
sarkstheobscure's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
miajmu's review against another edition
3.0
Picked this up when I saw it was by the author of Room, which I really enjoyed. Not my usual pick- a fictionalized story of a real teenaged prostitute in 1700's London- but the writing was so good that I couldn't put it down.
marie_gg's review against another edition
4.0
Sad but compelling and beautifully written story about a young girl who falls into prostitution in 18th century England.
cakesaretasty3's review against another edition
5.0
Despite having a bad headache while reading this, I couldn’t put this book down because it was brilliantly written. Many of the reviews on here didn’t take to Mary’s character, calling her arrogant, unrelatable, and a psychopath. But, I don’t agree. I think she was human, flawed, and simply desperate for a better life – and she manipulated and lied and cheated her way to try and get it – but she didn’t have a lot of choice. She lived in the 18th century, when it was near impossible to improve on the life you were born into.
The book felt very well researched, with every character vividly drawn, so I wasn’t surprised to read many of the characters and events were based on real life. Some of the most memorable fragments really existed, which I found fascinating – from how Ma Slattery’s backstreet abortion cellar operated, to the Magdalen Hospital for Penitent Prostitutes, Mrs Farrel bleeding her tenants dry, that Mary Saunders had been a servant to a real Mrs Jones in Monmouth, and even that a real life Ann Pullen (Nan Pullen) was charged with stealing her Mistress’ clothes in 1763.
It’s one of the best books I’ve read in ages, and having finished it, I’m sad to leave Mary and Doll behind. They weren’t perfect, but I grew to care about them very deeply.
One thing I do wish – that the Goodread’s book description hadn’t given away the ending!!!!!
The book felt very well researched, with every character vividly drawn, so I wasn’t surprised to read many of the characters and events were based on real life. Some of the most memorable fragments really existed, which I found fascinating – from how Ma Slattery’s backstreet abortion cellar operated, to the Magdalen Hospital for Penitent Prostitutes, Mrs Farrel bleeding her tenants dry, that Mary Saunders had been a servant to a real Mrs Jones in Monmouth, and even that a real life Ann Pullen (Nan Pullen) was charged with stealing her Mistress’ clothes in 1763.
It’s one of the best books I’ve read in ages, and having finished it, I’m sad to leave Mary and Doll behind. They weren’t perfect, but I grew to care about them very deeply.
One thing I do wish – that the Goodread’s book description hadn’t given away the ending!!!!!
solaana's review against another edition
2.0
Honestly, I might have finished this, but it was in the midst of my Victorian-prostitute-reading-spree, so I get them all mixed up now. And this book was one of the lesser novels I'd read during said spree.
suvata's review
4.0
I just finished this book and have to say that I really enjoyed it. It was just trashy enough that I hesitate to recommend it to the ladies in my book club. It was such a sad story and rather haunting. I have only read two books by Emma Donoghue but it seems to me that she has some real sexual issues. Both Room and Slammerkin showed women in situations where they were having sex in order to survive rather than for pleasure.
crey18's review against another edition
4.0
Emma Donoghue might be one of my all time favorites authors. There is something about her writing, her characters, her message through literature that I find very engaging. I admit some points of this novel dragged a bit, but I really was not expecting the final pages to be so dramatic. Based on the prologue, the reader has a clue as to what will happen - but the reason why - a complete surprise!