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A review by cvbattum
Fingersmith by Sarah Waters
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
This was one of those books that took over my life for a few days. It's completely gripping, vivid, atmospheric, if a bit long.
I loved the use of language in this book. It is written in an older style, close to what would've been used in the time period it is set in (1862). This creates just an extra layer of immersion.
I did think the middle part of the book was too long and boring. The first part was absolutely amazing, and then I loved seeing the same events from the other character's perspective in part 2. However, from the moment where the plot turns, both characters fall into a sort of slump and that is refelcted in the book, with some 200 pages on which barely anything happens but misery. I didn't likeSusan's time in the asylum at all, it was too much misery that barely served the story in my opinion .
The plot is amazing though. It was genuinely surprising and twisting. I had not seen most of it coming, though it's made clear there are some huge secrets.
The characters themselves are very interesting, well-written, and lively. Their dilemmas are real ones, that don't have a clear "good" solution. Morality is blurred. The feminism in this book is strong, sometimes depressingly by showing the sheer injustice towards women at that time and their powerlessness against it, but other times also by the power they do claim. The women in the story are just subversive enough to make them quite badass, but not so much that it becomes unrealistic.
The ending I have mixed feelings about. On one hand it was satisfying, on the other I would've liked to see more happen. I don't like how long Susan was kept in the dark of everything, until way past the climax; I'm not sure that served a purpose.Our ladies end up together though, and that counts for something. Dainty, the only character who actually had good intentions, should've gotten a good ending too, but I'll just imagine Susan and Maud cashed in their inheritance, lived long together at Briar, and hired Dainty as their maid .
I loved the use of language in this book. It is written in an older style, close to what would've been used in the time period it is set in (1862). This creates just an extra layer of immersion.
I did think the middle part of the book was too long and boring. The first part was absolutely amazing, and then I loved seeing the same events from the other character's perspective in part 2. However, from the moment where the plot turns, both characters fall into a sort of slump and that is refelcted in the book, with some 200 pages on which barely anything happens but misery. I didn't like
The plot is amazing though. It was genuinely surprising and twisting. I had not seen most of it coming, though it's made clear there are some huge secrets.
The characters themselves are very interesting, well-written, and lively. Their dilemmas are real ones, that don't have a clear "good" solution. Morality is blurred. The feminism in this book is strong, sometimes depressingly by showing the sheer injustice towards women at that time and their powerlessness against it, but other times also by the power they do claim. The women in the story are just subversive enough to make them quite badass, but not so much that it becomes unrealistic.
The ending I have mixed feelings about. On one hand it was satisfying, on the other I would've liked to see more happen. I don't like how long Susan was kept in the dark of everything, until way past the climax; I'm not sure that served a purpose.