One of the great things about my recent self-definition as a historical novelist is that I can justify the luxury of spending time reading historical novels. Often when I read really great ones I despair, thinking “I’ll never be able to write anything half as good as that!” But I’m determined not to let that inner voice stop me from reading or writing.
Here’s my review of Fingersmith, by Sarah Waters. I actually far preferred it to her more recent book, The Paying Guests, which I found moved too slowly and didn’t have any characters I could relate to.
Fingersmith by Sarah WatersMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
I’m not a big reader of Victorian-era novels and wasn’t expecting to fall in love with this one, but I did. I listened to it on audiobook, and I must say that the beautiful voicing made the experience even more absorbing. It starts with the story of a 17-year old girl who had been orphaned at birth and is being raised in a “family” of petty thieves in London in the 1860s. About a third of the way in there’s a truly stunning plot twist, and the complexities of plot and subplots keep your head spinning for the rest of the novel.
The amount of research about the 1860s is impressive (who knew about “farming babies”?), and her writing style simply draws you in. The book has a somewhat Dickensian feel in terms of both setting and plot. Not overdone, though. The characters have amazing depth and complexity. You can root for them and yet be appalled by some of the things they are doing. You want to see justice done, but the definition of justice isn’t so clear. Interesting exploration of moral dilemmas. Is it better to earn your living as a thief, as a kept woman, or as a pornographer? If someone is truly evil, and has ruined the lives of several others, can murdering that person ever be justified? Despite the moral complexities, the book reaches a satisfying conclusion. I highly recommend it.
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