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A review by bruisedtigers
Tipping the Velvet by Sarah Waters
adventurous
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I liked this book a lot to start, then found my enjoyment waning as it went on.
Nancy's story is broken into three parts. The first features her and Kitty, a stage performer who she falls in love with. For me, this was the most enjoyable part. Watching Nancy bloom from her humble roots into a star felt very tangible and the author paints a very charming atmosphere. The second part, however, changes tones and Nancy becomes a renter and eventually falls into the employment of a cruel older woman. This section, while I appreciated reading Nancy exploring gender presentation, has impending dread hanging over it. Nancy's decisions at this point (combined with another girl suffering for her mistakes) start to make her less endearing. The narrative doesn't excuse her behaviour, but it's no less frustrating to read -- and this continues for the third part. It's difficult to really feel enamoured with the third section, since Nancy spends a great deal of it being accidentally unkind and secretive. Her final and 'true' union suffers for this, sadly, since it doesn't feel as fully developed as it should.
Storygraph doesn't have an clear content warning that I can find, but I would forewarn for Nancy being forced into sex work, and the abusive relationship she finds herself in when part two begins.
Nancy's story is broken into three parts. The first features her and Kitty, a stage performer who she falls in love with. For me, this was the most enjoyable part. Watching Nancy bloom from her humble roots into a star felt very tangible and the author paints a very charming atmosphere. The second part, however, changes tones and Nancy becomes a renter and eventually falls into the employment of a cruel older woman. This section, while I appreciated reading Nancy exploring gender presentation, has impending dread hanging over it. Nancy's decisions at this point (combined with another girl suffering for her mistakes) start to make her less endearing. The narrative doesn't excuse her behaviour, but it's no less frustrating to read -- and this continues for the third part. It's difficult to really feel enamoured with the third section, since Nancy spends a great deal of it being accidentally unkind and secretive. Her final and 'true' union suffers for this, sadly, since it doesn't feel as fully developed as it should.
Storygraph doesn't have an clear content warning that I can find, but I would forewarn for Nancy being forced into sex work, and the abusive relationship she finds herself in when part two begins.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Homophobia, and Toxic relationship