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castorpolluxx's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
ina_'s review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
musicsaves's review against another edition
5.0
FIRST LINE REVIEW: "My name, in those days, was Susan Trinder." With that very Dickensian opening line this fascinating and richly-rewarding novel takes the reader on a complicated, twisting and very surprising journey. A fingersmith is a pick-pocket and this novel is set in the Victorian world of deception, intrigue and criminal plotting. Baby smugglers, pornography, insane asylums, creepy country mansions and sexual intrigue abound!
yoursisterscanary's review against another edition
2.0
I like Sarah Waters but this book was a horrible waste of time.
lilylanie's review against another edition
5.0
This is an absolutely incredible book, and I am completely blown away by Sarah Waters' talent and imagination.
Despite its critical acclaim I didn't know much about this book - or even that 'fingersmith' was a term for thief, though it makes excellent sense. It's the story of two young women, both orphaned as infants, one raised among criminals, and the other more or less as a lady. A nefarious plot becomes more and more difficult to execute as the girls find a rare friendship, punctuated by moments of love and lust.
Fingersmith is one of very few novels I've read in recent years that quite literally kept me guessing throughout, and right down to the last page I couldn't be certain how it would end. And thankfully - again unlike so many novels - the end was richly satisfying with no disappointments.
Written in modern times, it also unveils aspects of 19th Century life that certainly never entered the mind of a Bronte sister.
I have two more of Waters' novels on my shelf, and I can't wait to read them.
Despite its critical acclaim I didn't know much about this book - or even that 'fingersmith' was a term for thief, though it makes excellent sense. It's the story of two young women, both orphaned as infants, one raised among criminals, and the other more or less as a lady. A nefarious plot becomes more and more difficult to execute as the girls find a rare friendship, punctuated by moments of love and lust.
Fingersmith is one of very few novels I've read in recent years that quite literally kept me guessing throughout, and right down to the last page I couldn't be certain how it would end. And thankfully - again unlike so many novels - the end was richly satisfying with no disappointments.
Written in modern times, it also unveils aspects of 19th Century life that certainly never entered the mind of a Bronte sister.
I have two more of Waters' novels on my shelf, and I can't wait to read them.
myparisbookshelf's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
ilabeets1898's review against another edition
3.5
It was a fun and exiting read but it felt like it was trying to tell the reader too much and make a grand interconnected and twisting story at every point rendering it almost a bit confusing in the end. I would’ve appreciated some more exploration of the two main protagonists in perhaps more quiet settings. For it being such a long book, it felt in turn rushed and too slow.