You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
All in all a well-written story about life in the wartime. The characters were mostly interesting and their wartime jobs were fascinating.
The structure where time flows backwards was promising, but I was somewhat disappointed by the short 1941. With all the foreboding, I was expecting some dark secrets to be revealed, but the 1941 section felt banal and mundane after all the expectations that were piled on to it.
Not bad, but perhaps a bit long-winding.
The structure where time flows backwards was promising, but I was somewhat disappointed by the short 1941. With all the foreboding, I was expecting some dark secrets to be revealed, but the 1941 section felt banal and mundane after all the expectations that were piled on to it.
Not bad, but perhaps a bit long-winding.
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3.5.
This isn't my favorite Sarah Waters book, but it also wasn't my least favorite. It follows a handful of people in England during WWII and goes backwards in time, starting in 1947, then jumping back to 1944 (I think) and then 1941. I expected it to jump back to 1947 at the end, but it doesn't, which felt a little weird because you're basically reading the end at the beginning. This book is character driven without much of a plot, so I understand why people don't love this one. I love historical fiction that includes queer people because we tend to be left out of history, and this is what Waters excels at, so I was fine with reading about all the characters and finding out their different interactions. It's not a very exciting read, and I'm glad it wasn't any longer than it was, but if you're queer and need some comfort in knowing that our community has always been around and cared for each other, pick this one up. Because it takes place in the 40s there is some homophobia and sexism (and the n word was used once), so TWs for those.
How easy it was, she thought unhappily, for men and women. they could stand in a street and argue, flirt--they could kiss, make love, do anything at all--and the world indulged them. Whereas she and Julia---
Yup.
This isn't my favorite Sarah Waters book, but it also wasn't my least favorite. It follows a handful of people in England during WWII and goes backwards in time, starting in 1947, then jumping back to 1944 (I think) and then 1941. I expected it to jump back to 1947 at the end, but it doesn't, which felt a little weird because you're basically reading the end at the beginning. This book is character driven without much of a plot, so I understand why people don't love this one. I love historical fiction that includes queer people because we tend to be left out of history, and this is what Waters excels at, so I was fine with reading about all the characters and finding out their different interactions. It's not a very exciting read, and I'm glad it wasn't any longer than it was, but if you're queer and need some comfort in knowing that our community has always been around and cared for each other, pick this one up. Because it takes place in the 40s there is some homophobia and sexism (and the n word was used once), so TWs for those.
How easy it was, she thought unhappily, for men and women. they could stand in a street and argue, flirt--they could kiss, make love, do anything at all--and the world indulged them. Whereas she and Julia---
Yup.
Apparently the only books I'm interested in lately are novels about British ladies being badasses during World War II.
dark
emotional
informative
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I wanted to like this more than I did. But the wartime London didn't come alive here nearly as well as Connie Willis managed in [b:Blackout|6506307|Blackout (All Clear, #1)|Connie Willis|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1433715206l/6506307._SY75_.jpg|6697901] and the characters never really mattered to me. I had a hard time keeping the three women straight and could sometimes forget which one was narrating until I was reminded about their romantic interest.
The story unfolds backwards--starting in 1947, then back to 1944, then ending in 1941. There was some cleverness to this, but mostly I found it too cute. Knowing where the characters ended up took away some of the enjoyment of the story and some of the suspense that would otherwise be there, particularly for the final section of the book.
Overall, not a book I'm sorry to have read, but probably not one I'll be rushing to recommend.
The narrator for the audiobook made an effort to differentiate the voices, but that turned out to be more grating than helpful. A perfectly adequate narration, but also not one to make me particularly recommend the audio format.
The story unfolds backwards--starting in 1947, then back to 1944, then ending in 1941. There was some cleverness to this, but mostly I found it too cute. Knowing where the characters ended up took away some of the enjoyment of the story and some of the suspense that would otherwise be there, particularly for the final section of the book.
Overall, not a book I'm sorry to have read, but probably not one I'll be rushing to recommend.
The narrator for the audiobook made an effort to differentiate the voices, but that turned out to be more grating than helpful. A perfectly adequate narration, but also not one to make me particularly recommend the audio format.
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I loved Fingersmith and I adore Sarah Waters' writing. In this book as well her writing was gorgeous. A few passages even made me feel awfully tense, almost sick because of the author's description.
The writing is the reason for the three stars.
My problem with this book is mainly the lack of plot. She tells the story backwards. Four people in London after the war (1947), and during the war (1944, 1941).
After the first part she abandons the characters in 1947 in a very open ending. And I honestly wanted to know what happens to them and not how they got there.
It's most definitely not a bad book and I did enjoy reading it. She's a gifted writer.
The writing is the reason for the three stars.
My problem with this book is mainly the lack of plot. She tells the story backwards. Four people in London after the war (1947), and during the war (1944, 1941).
After the first part she abandons the characters in 1947 in a very open ending. And I honestly wanted to know what happens to them and not how they got there.
It's most definitely not a bad book and I did enjoy reading it. She's a gifted writer.