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mbandera's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
Lesbians!
gravys's review against another edition
5.0
actually so wholesome and actually a good positive representation of fem&butch. cant believe this was written so long ago it feels ahead of it’s time and actually has a happy ending and just feels normal. this is the type of book that everyone wishes for today it was just light hearted and simple lesbian joy
rubster's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
the need for happy queer love stories is vital, this was so cute. the og masc and fem
221bees's review against another edition
3.0
If you want to terrify Rush Limbaugh, force him to read this book, or forcibly read this book to him. Patience and Sarah is about lesbian farmers who fall in love and buy a house in the woods together in early 19th century America, and it's based on a true story. No one dies, Patience and Sarah are great characters, and the book has a celebrated spot in the queer literary canon. All good reasons to read it.
I liked it, but it was a bit too twee (favorite word) and slow-paced for me to love it.
Fun fact: apparently the book was made into an opera in the late '90s. There're a few clips on YouTube.
I liked it, but it was a bit too twee (favorite word) and slow-paced for me to love it.
Fun fact: apparently the book was made into an opera in the late '90s. There're a few clips on YouTube.
getupkid10's review against another edition
funny
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.5
evelyn_parkhouse_reads's review against another edition
Maybe I’ll return to this but I didn’t enjoy the writers voice nor the characters much and at that point what’s the point in reading something other than to just say you’ve read it?
raymond_murphy's review against another edition
4.0
Delightful. A historic lesbian romance (set in 1819) written in 1969. And it has a happy ending too!
gvdickerson's review against another edition
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
I was very unsure in the beginning but I got caught up in it around halfway. The ending came out of nowhere. Very abrupt. There are definitely worse gay classics.
amymariedoug's review against another edition
2.0
You can also read this review on my blog.
During reading, I found myself wondering why this book is heralded as a classic of lesbian literature.
Though the premise is very charming (a lesbian couple in 19th century New England's journey to owning their own farmland), it is hard to look past the basic story-telling that makes this story repetitive (and at times boring). What could have been a fascinating tale of a couple overcoming all odds in a time when it could have killed them, is reduced to a simple, coming of age story. It seems very odd that when Patience and Sarah announce their desires to live as 'mates' to their families, there is ultimately very little resistance.
What's more, is that the characters do not have any real depth to them. Yes, Patience likes painting and Sarah enjoys farm work, but describing a character is not the same as giving them character. Miller's one-dimensional characters, and a rather basic plot lead to the novel being ever so slightly dull.
This is not to say that Miller's story is entirely without it's merits. It is wonderful to read a story about a lesbian couple that isn't entirely based around tragedy, especially considering the novel's time of publication. It's also an easy, and 'cute' story that can easily be read within a day.
However the novel lacks any true substance needed for me to award it anything higher than two stars.
During reading, I found myself wondering why this book is heralded as a classic of lesbian literature.
Though the premise is very charming (a lesbian couple in 19th century New England's journey to owning their own farmland), it is hard to look past the basic story-telling that makes this story repetitive (and at times boring). What could have been a fascinating tale of a couple overcoming all odds in a time when it could have killed them, is reduced to a simple, coming of age story. It seems very odd that when Patience and Sarah announce their desires to live as 'mates' to their families, there is ultimately very little resistance.
What's more, is that the characters do not have any real depth to them. Yes, Patience likes painting and Sarah enjoys farm work, but describing a character is not the same as giving them character. Miller's one-dimensional characters, and a rather basic plot lead to the novel being ever so slightly dull.
This is not to say that Miller's story is entirely without it's merits. It is wonderful to read a story about a lesbian couple that isn't entirely based around tragedy, especially considering the novel's time of publication. It's also an easy, and 'cute' story that can easily be read within a day.
However the novel lacks any true substance needed for me to award it anything higher than two stars.
bookishrealm's review against another edition
2.0
So, I read this as a part of Bethany's book club where we are slowly working our way through some classic lesbian romances. I can admit that it is monumental for it's publication time; however, I'm was not impressed with the overall story.
Patience & Sarah follows two characters who live in a small town and eventually realize that they have a romantic attraction towards each other. Unfortunately, their families weren't as supportive of their pending relationship with each other so they are forced to leave town to make a home of their own.
What I Enjoyed: Honestly, not much. There was some interesting information about the author and the origins of the book, but other than that I really struggled with this book. I liked Sarah as a character as long as she wasn't dealing with Patience.
What I Didn't Enjoy: There was so much hinting at incest in this book and I'm not exactly sure why it was considered to be relevant to the plot of this novel. If anyone knows me then they know that I draw a hard line with the inclusion of incest in any narrative. Unfortunately, I also wasn't invested in the relationship between Sarah and Patience. Patience was a piece of work that attempted to control every facet of their relationship. She also sought to change Sarah into that type of queer woman that she was most attracted to which disgusted me. While the author may have intended to illustrate the romantic relationship between two women, there wasn't a romance to invest in.
Overall, this was a disappointing read. I can appreciate it's historical place in the world of literature, but it isn't one that I enjoyed.
Patience & Sarah follows two characters who live in a small town and eventually realize that they have a romantic attraction towards each other. Unfortunately, their families weren't as supportive of their pending relationship with each other so they are forced to leave town to make a home of their own.
What I Enjoyed: Honestly, not much. There was some interesting information about the author and the origins of the book, but other than that I really struggled with this book. I liked Sarah as a character as long as she wasn't dealing with Patience.
What I Didn't Enjoy: There was so much hinting at incest in this book and I'm not exactly sure why it was considered to be relevant to the plot of this novel. If anyone knows me then they know that I draw a hard line with the inclusion of incest in any narrative. Unfortunately, I also wasn't invested in the relationship between Sarah and Patience. Patience was a piece of work that attempted to control every facet of their relationship. She also sought to change Sarah into that type of queer woman that she was most attracted to which disgusted me. While the author may have intended to illustrate the romantic relationship between two women, there wasn't a romance to invest in.
Overall, this was a disappointing read. I can appreciate it's historical place in the world of literature, but it isn't one that I enjoyed.