Reviews

The Crimson Petal and the White by Michel Faber

katiegilley's review against another edition

5.0

I first learned of this book on Library Thing and read an article on The Independent by Michael Faber regarding his experience watching the BBC mini-series. I knew that I just had to read this.returnreturnIn my unprofessional opinion, the writing of this novel was quite good. While reluctant to read a book about a prostitute written by a man, I was pleasantly surprised at the complexities and subtleties each character brought to the story. Mr. Faber did an excellent job of allowing me to feel as though I were walking down a dirty London street and following the characters wherever they may go. He also used the interesting technique of speaking directly to the reader - which served to pull me back into the story at the exact moment I found myself drifting away. The gender roles constructed by Mr. Faber were quite interesting and thought provoking.returnreturnSet in Victorian London, this is a complex story that centers around Sugar, a prostitute known for doing whatever a man wants her to do. Sugar was trafficked into prostitution at a young age by her mother but had dreams of being a writer. The novel that she stoops over in her tiny room in the brothel tells a tale of a prostitute taking her revenge on her customers in the most brutal ways. returnreturnA struggling businessman, William Rackham (of Rackham Perfumeries), seeks Sugar out after reading a pamphlet of the best prostitutes in London. Sugar comes highly recommended. William eventually rescues Sugar from her mother's brothel and gives her a private suite of rooms in a cleaner, more proper part of London. The once independent and fierce Sugar becomes obsessed with keeping William in her life because she has come to depend on him in order to live her new lifestyle. Without giving away any spoilers, it is at this point that I believed the novel became most interesting.returnreturnI would recommend this to those that are interested in archaic gender roles and the culture of prostitution. Don't let the length scare you away - I found myself hiding out during the day and late into the night to get in just a few more pages here and there!

novelette's review against another edition

3.0

Racy, and good. The subject matter had a chance to be trashy, and thank god. Loved the ending....

catbrigand's review against another edition

3.0

This book exhausted me to the point of tedium--and not necessarily because it was 900 pages long, but because it was so full of minute detail and so many characters that I didn't care enough by half. The ending, while a little unfulfilling, made up for the tedium. Mostly. I caution you not to look at this as a serious statement on Victorian society and more as a comedy of errors of stupendous proportions.

eliseletters's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.25

usnebojemesa's review against another edition

5.0

It's definitely one of the best fiction books I ever read. It talks about prostitution, Victorian London and filthy men! What can outdone that!?

aproposofnathan's review against another edition

adventurous funny inspiring reflective slow-paced

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

5.0

novellenovels's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective 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

4.0

ridanwise's review against another edition

3.0

2.5⭐️
Beautiful and superior writing that carries a story 250-300 pages too fat. A test of patience to read, for so long, about characters to deeply unlikable.

anklelee's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.25

hieronymusbotched's review against another edition

4.0

4.hay-penny

Given it's nearly 900 pages I blitzed this one in a week (a credit to Faber's silky-smooth writing). Extremely well-paced with fully formed characters, however half-baked their sense of moral decency may prove to be.

Ends like a lifetime - right in the middle of things. I loved that, as it felt 'true', but will turn the story to soot in a lot of people's mouths, I'm sure.

TL;DR

Meta-Dickens, innuendo.