A review by madelaide
Tipping the Velvet by Sarah Waters

5.0

This was one of the most unique books I've ever read. In all of the lesbian fiction I have consumed, this book rises well above the rest thanks to its authenticity and inclusion of underrepresented experiences. Nan is a treasure, an authentic and genuine representation of what lesbian life truly entails, from self-discovery to love and everything in between. Kitty is real, a poster child for the ways hatred, homophobia, and heteronormativity can only cause destruction, including (and most often) the destruction of oneself. Their relationship and dynamic perfectly illustrate the struggle to choose between safety and love, and how love often cannot win when we are not safe. I felt for both of them, and struggle to think of what I would have done had I been in their shoes.

This real, complex, beautifully written portrayal of living as a lesbian in Victorian Era England is something I will cherish for the rest of my life. Never have I come across a book as real as this one. Everything about the lesbian experience, from unique relationships with gender to compulsory heterosexuality was included with such skillful intent. This is the lesbian literature we need more of.