Reviews

Slammerkin by Emma Donoghue

jenniferlepstein's review against another edition

dark reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

kellyzen's review against another edition

2.0

It was an interesting story, but toward the middle of the book, the author changed the narrative voice by switching it from solely the protagonist's to the protagonist's plus like 10 other people's. It seemed like a really cheap way to expose the thoughts and motivations of the other characters in the story -- the author just spelled it out, basically. I also thought the writing was a little subpar compared to that of Donahue's later novel, Room.

coops456's review against another edition

3.0

As another reviewer put it, for most women in 18th-century England, life was no Jane Austen garden party. Young Mary Saunders' life choices in London are limited and her yearning for material comforts leads her into prostitution and ultimately A Bad End.

In other hands this story could be carping and moralistic, but Donoghue gives Mary just enough humanity to keep the reader engaged. Not dissimilar to Sarah Waters' [b:Fingersmith|45162|Fingersmith|Sarah Waters|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1266458291s/45162.jpg|1014113].

tifflovesbooks80's review against another edition

4.0

It took me a little while to get into this book, but once I did, I found it very hard to put down. I was entranced with Mary's story of her hard life and then her transformation (at least on the outside).

The ending was definitely a twist, but overall, it left things tied up neatly.

marypmcg's review against another edition

5.0

I have not read a lot of historical fiction, but tried this after it was highly recommended by a friend. I was totally engrossed in this book from start to finish, and LOVED the shocking ending. Deliciously written.

cowdisease125's review

1.0

"‘I wonder why you’d claw your way up a vast rock, only to scramble down the other side again.’ ‘So that you’d know you had,’"

Pretty much just sums up why I finished this fucking thing.

All of that - ALL of THAT - because of a ribbon?

beepuke's review against another edition

dark informative tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

awoodhouse's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

nelli_lakatos's review against another edition

2.0

DNF’d at 84%

First of all I want to say that this isn’t a bad book it was well written but it wasn’t the book for me. Historical fiction is my least favorite genre and this was that.
It was just hard for me to keep reading it and at one point I realized I don’t actually care about what’s going to happen in the end so I stopped reading it.
For some positive things I really liked the main character Mary she was a brave and admirable girl. Also I enjoyed the writing style.
I would recommend this book to you if you like historical fictions and want to read a classic coming of age story.

tammiesven's review

1.0

I, for one, am glad Mary is dead. She was a real snollygoster!