Fingersmith

I average about 3 audio books a week, so believe me, when I say this was my best listen of the year, it is not faint praise! If you love books set in England of the 1800's, books with intrigue, mystery, villany and even a slight bit of eroticism. This is the book for you also. The twists and turns are so remarkable, I actually stayed up because I had to finish. I found myself sometimes laughing and sometimes gasping at the sheer audacity of some of the characters. Just as I knew I had the game figured out, the book revealed something else that blew my theory totally away. Forget "The Crimson Petal and the White", Ms Waters knows how to write a totally spellbinding period novel that revels the ugly underside of London, and for that matter the ugly of the upperclass also, and she still managed to end the book in the most satisfactory manner. I highly recommend. Now, onto my next Sarah Waters novel! First, I must read about this author!

This book is broken into 3 parts. The first part follows a young orphan Susan Trendor raised in the manner of Oliver to be a thief by Mrs. Sucksby. Mrs. Sucksby treats Susan like a daughter and encourages her to go along with Gentleman's plot to defraud the rich young woman Maud Lilly by becoming Maud's maid in the great country estate where Maud is being raised by her uncle. Susan will be able to bring home 3000 pounds to her beloved Mrs. Sucksby if she helps Gentleman to woo and wed Maud. Gentleman's plan involves defrauding Maud of her fortune by having her placed in an insane asylum. The problem arises when Susan falls in love with Maud. Will she be able to carry out the plan?

The 2nd part centers on Maud after her marriage to Gentleman. We now discover some unpleasant truths about the true nature of the fraud and who is hurt by it. The 3rd part has both Maud and Susan seeking retribution for all the wrongs done against each of them.

This was an immensely listenable book even though it is long. I enjoyed the way the author described life in the truly dirt poor part of London where Susan is raised to be clever with her fingers at stealing. While Maud is raised in a great, dark, dreary, country estate in the country to be a different kind of fingersmith--a sort of secretary to her brutal and crazed uncle--in pornography.

Waters characterizes both girls as neither wan nor fragile even in the most horrific circumstances. She gives them personalities that make you cheer for them as the same time that you question some of their choices.

This book is well written with enough mystery to keep you listening long after you should get out of your car and go into the house to fix supper. I highly recommend this if you love period novels without the typical bodice rippers.

The story and the narration are gripping, mesmerizing. I could not stop listening. This book kept me awake, feeling exited and edgy. Twists of the plot are surprisingly unpredictable, portraying of human condition so vivid, so true. The narration was wonderful, masterfully conveying depth of emotions, inner life of the characters.
A friend called the book "soft Victorian, lesbian porn". I completely disagree. This story is so genuine, it feels like it is reaching down into the very depth of the human heart. Loved it.

If you like backdrops of tough, old timey England, and you like strong female characters with pluck, then read this book. You'll get all that and more with Fingersmith. This story pulled me in like a bedtime story for grown-ups. I felt I was on an magical ride with the heroine, caring about her ups and downs, and wishing it all lasted longer.

I enjoyed parts of it. The hatching of the two schemes was interesting and intriguing, but the details became long, heavy, dreary and laborious. By the third segment, I was fast-forwarding through whole chapters.

No, unfortunately not. The story could have been told in a tighter, more succinct manner. The plot line was actually good with some neat twists. But it just took too long to develop.

No it did not. I'm sure the narrator is a fine theater actress, but I grew very weary of all of the East London accents and the soft, spooky way she portrayed Maude. Way too many long pauses for effect. At times, I just wanted to scream "Just read it!!!!"

No. I was happy to say goodbye to the characters.

This would be a great read as an abridged novel.

It is an amazing book that grips you to the end. Extremely well narrated as well.

If the characters had been at all empathetic I may have cared. This book has gotten such good reviews, am I missing something I just could not get into it. I gave up half way through part two.

Probably not.

That was the only good thing about it.

If you like dickens you will probably like this. If you need to care about the characters and feel like at some point in history they could have been real then don't even try.

It's in my top ten listening list !

No, but I intend to, very soon !

It's a long book, but thanks to Juanita McMahon's performance, I flew through the story.

It's just great writing, I'm going to check out all of Sarah Walter's other books!

Rich description of Victorian England, characters well-described. The reading couldn't have been better. Wonderful!

I could never see very far around the bend ahead, and the story galloped for most of the read. Sarah Waters writes scenes that are richly atmospheric, and Juanita McMahon's voices are magic in themselves, so even when we're in suspense, waiting for what seems inevitable (so you may think), the wait is interesting and I always felt as if I were in the room with these characters.

I love historical English fiction and it's nice to get away from historical figures and into the lives of ordinary people. The comparison to Dickens is inescapable in that these are the struggles of the poor and it's a cruel world out there. It's also sexy and tricky. This is smart and well-crafted and an escapist reader's delight.