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bethbarnham's review
5.0
This book is everything that I love about fiction. An historic crime thriller with a twist of fleeting, forbidden romance.
Leonard and Lillian Barber are a part of the increasing clerk class in 1920s post-war Britain. Frances and her mother, after the death of her father, are forced to seek tenants to assist with the upkeep of their large London villa after discovering they are not quite the upper class they thought they were. The Barbers are the perfect fit as lodgers - an upstanding young married couple - at least on the outside.
Frances lives with her mother and her daily chores consist of things only ‘maids’ should do - scrubbing the floor, laundry, cleaning. Frances is a spinster but one who has been associated as ‘odd’ for having rather strange relationships with her friends. We go on to find out that the ‘oddness’ referred to is actually because Frances is a lesbian. However, we’re never told this directly, with Sarah Waters being careful of the time period and not giving the ‘behaviour’ a label. It is perfectly written and the understanding - or lack of - surrounding the issues is timely for that post-war period.
The book deals with a plethora of issues for its time, hidden love, social issues within 1920s England, class issues, complex marriages built upon appearances rather than connection and love, poor relationship dynamics within families and friends. The Paying Guests has it all, the exploration in this novel, the detail, makes it one of my favourite reads, maybe of all time.
agavemonster's review
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Brilliant! I loved the motif of women smoking cigarettes, the disruptive class dynamics of the Barbers' introduction into the Wray household, the depiction of postwar politics and society, the sex writing (a notable bravura was the women's abortive makeup sex), the subtle reveal of Frances' relationship with Christina, the slow-slow-slow burn of the whole story. A quarter-star off because a few moments were handled just slightly less delicately than I would have hoped—the violent swerves of Frances' emotions about Lilian, the discussions of pregnancy and miscarriage which struck me as an incorrect attempt at historicization of terminology, and the very ending, which seemed like it didn't know what it wanted to do with itself. But overall fabulously moody, a great capture of the interwar period, and a wonderful page-turning piece of art.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Murder, Abortion, Blood, and Infidelity
Minor: War
carlat22's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I thought this book was superb. I don't usually enjoy fiction written in the present day, but set in the past, as the language often jars and sounds inauthentic, or errors are made.
I could have believed this book was written in the 1920s. Frances does say "Christ!" a few times, which is believable language, but I don't think it would have been used in a book published before WW2.
The story and character development were really engaging. Much of the text describes Frances' inner turmoil, something that can become repetitive and dull, but in this case felt very much part of the plot, and was interesting and believable.
I could have believed this book was written in the 1920s. Frances does say "Christ!" a few times, which is believable language, but I don't think it would have been used in a book published before WW2.
The story and character development were really engaging. Much of the text describes Frances' inner turmoil, something that can become repetitive and dull, but in this case felt very much part of the plot, and was interesting and believable.
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