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parsleyperson's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25
katykelly's review
4.0
4.5 stars. I found this more of a struggle to get through initially than Fingersmith and Tipping the Velvet - you don't quickly know where the story is going. Once you see the direction, it becomes much more involving.
A mother and daughter in 1920s London, brought low by wartime deaths are forced to take in lodgers, 'paying guests'. Frances, only 26 herself has mixed feelings about the Barbers. She runs the household, having no money for servants and soon finds herself spending more and more time with Mrs Barber, Lilian at home.
The story suddenly takes an unexpected and violent turn ending in a tense court case that leaves the fate of both women dangling precipitously. Decisions must be made, morals questioned, futures reappraised.
I did enjoy the beginning but I just couldn't see where the plot was heading for another 400 pages. Then I got it. And I Ioved it. I liked Frances, Lil grated a little (she's a little whiny later on, needy and weakens) I'd have liked Frances's mother to have been more involved I the later plot, she ends up being secondary and a looker-on, her perspective would have been interesting.
The plot twists just a little but it's fascinating stuff. The period detail and post-war world are vividly portrayed.
There's love, sex, murder, betrayal, paranoia, guilt - it's full and fresh. If you can make it through the first part where you're not sure what you're getting into, you should love it. I've loved the Sarah Waters I've tried, and I did love this but it's not my favourite of hers. The others had more delicious dark humour, this was a more serious affair.
It has payoff if you have patience.
A mother and daughter in 1920s London, brought low by wartime deaths are forced to take in lodgers, 'paying guests'. Frances, only 26 herself has mixed feelings about the Barbers. She runs the household, having no money for servants and soon finds herself spending more and more time with Mrs Barber, Lilian at home.
The story suddenly takes an unexpected and violent turn ending in a tense court case that leaves the fate of both women dangling precipitously. Decisions must be made, morals questioned, futures reappraised.
I did enjoy the beginning but I just couldn't see where the plot was heading for another 400 pages. Then I got it. And I Ioved it. I liked Frances, Lil grated a little (she's a little whiny later on, needy and weakens) I'd have liked Frances's mother to have been more involved I the later plot, she ends up being secondary and a looker-on, her perspective would have been interesting.
The plot twists just a little but it's fascinating stuff. The period detail and post-war world are vividly portrayed.
There's love, sex, murder, betrayal, paranoia, guilt - it's full and fresh. If you can make it through the first part where you're not sure what you're getting into, you should love it. I've loved the Sarah Waters I've tried, and I did love this but it's not my favourite of hers. The others had more delicious dark humour, this was a more serious affair.
It has payoff if you have patience.
lurker_stalker's review against another edition
5.0
Another fantastic, twisted story from Sarah Waters. Wow. There's no predicting where the story will go. I found it to drag a bit in one section but I was too invested to even consider stopping. And I felt on the edge of my seat until the very last word.
There are few authors who can weave a tale like Waters and I'll certainly pick up her next book.
**7/2015 Re-reading and enjoying it just as much as the first time. Maybe a little more.**
There are few authors who can weave a tale like Waters and I'll certainly pick up her next book.
**7/2015 Re-reading and enjoying it just as much as the first time. Maybe a little more.**
spyderqueen33's review
challenging
dark
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
mickaroni's review
4.0
the ONLY reason this book doesn’t have 5 stars is just because it took me several chapters before i was really into it. its historical, and the beginning was fairly uneventful. but it gets VERY eventful quite suddenly, and it was such a good read. it’s sapphic, murder-y, and the author is wonderful at capturing a certain time in the past
burnsreadsbooks's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
katieinca's review
4.0
4.5? I didn't fall into it quickly, as expected, because I like Victorian Era Sarah Waters better than postwar Sarah Waters. But. Certain people/feelings/moments are captured so perfectly, and she builds the plot and suspense to beautifully and ... Sarah-Waters-ly ... that even with the drab backdrop I think I might like this one better than Tipping the Velvet.
Spoiler
How do we get an ending this happy? I mean, all things considered. Thanks to Fingersmith and Tipping the Velvet I kept waiting for Lilian to utterly betray Frances, or even vice versa. I was looking for scheming where there was none, and I can't tell if there were hints dropped in to make me doubt, or I just expect Waters to sucker punch me.hesmykindofgirl's review
2.0
yeah… not for me.
it started off well! I quite liked frances at the beginning, and I was intrigued by her status as an activist-turned-spinster. but I kept wishing for something to happen and like, it didn’t. lol. which is sad, considering how much I loved tipping the velvet.
it started off well! I quite liked frances at the beginning, and I was intrigued by her status as an activist-turned-spinster. but I kept wishing for something to happen and like, it didn’t. lol.
Spoiler
and the stuff that did happen towards the end was more just anxiety-inducing than suspenseful, so did not engage me at all.lastpaige111's review
5.0
I discovered this novel on a shelf in the tiny Reading Lasses in Wigtown, Scotland, and as soon as I opened it, I was hooked. It was my friend on my return flight--every time I awakened from a doze, I reached for it. I expected a good read--I found a literary achievement that blew my socks off.
In this gripping and nuanced exploration of human passion, relationship, morality, and fear, Waters conveys the brain swirls that affect all of us who have a conscience. Her early 20th Century London isn't very far off from today's world of socio-economic and gender biases and how they intersect.
Warning: There are moments of emotional darkness so vivid you'll have trouble coming up out of them.
In this gripping and nuanced exploration of human passion, relationship, morality, and fear, Waters conveys the brain swirls that affect all of us who have a conscience. Her early 20th Century London isn't very far off from today's world of socio-economic and gender biases and how they intersect.
Warning: There are moments of emotional darkness so vivid you'll have trouble coming up out of them.
eileenthecrow's review
1.0
i was under the impression that affinity was less popular than this, and hence thought (affinity) to be a worse book (for some reason) (popularity =??? quality??? no??? what was i thinking) and since i loved affinity so much, i had really high hopes for the paying guests......... i was wrong. this was dreadfully boring. i don't know how she managed to make it this boring. i had to skip half of it and i was still bored. i was skipping 10 pages and the story was still dragging on. how is that even possible