Reviews tagging 'Sexual content'

Tipping the Velvet by Sarah Waters

53 reviews

moiraq14's review against another edition

adventurous funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual content

stellahadz's review against another edition

emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I'm not usually a big historical fiction reader, but this was my book club's pick of the month and I'm always down to expand my literary horizons. 

The pacing of the book was slower than I would have liked; it took me almost 200 pages to really get into the story. I think there's also something about the Victorian-esque writing style that doesn't totally resonate with me -- I didn't feel like I could fully connect with any of the characters, and most of them were just downright unlikeable. (My copy was the 20th anniversary edition with an afterword by the author, and I'll just say I agree with what she has to say about Nancy!) 

I can see why this book is popular; it's well-written (I especially liked the setting descriptions and worldbuilding) and explores aspects of Victorian life that aren't always included in the literary canon. However, I think the genre and writing style simply weren't for me. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Classism

Moderate: Homophobia, Racial slurs, and Lesbophobia

Minor: Miscarriage

thatchickengirl23's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Grief, Lesbophobia, Outing, and Alcohol

Minor: Death, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, and Forced institutionalization

riverdeboz's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

matildasuu's review against another edition

adventurous informative lighthearted reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual content

amina_writes_books's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

A perfect mix of Victorian, classical British literature style writing. The author is extremely clever with words. An endowing read for anyone who is struggling with coming out of just being comfortable with queerness. Excellent narrative style, and just when you think the plot could do it drag, it picks up again!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Lesbophobia, Abandonment, and Classism

Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Confinement, Suicidal thoughts, and Outing

Minor: Addiction, Child death, Drug use, Miscarriage, Racism, Slavery, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail

sleepypandaa's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Homophobia, Infidelity, Grief, and Sexual harassment

jesshudzik's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Emotional abuse and Homophobia

Minor: Suicide

lizard800's review against another edition

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.25

This book could have been dramatically shorter and still had the same impact, imo. Pretty well all of the characters are unlikable, but I don't think the author meant for it to be that way? My jaw did drop when -you know who- arrived at the very end of the book which was kind of what we had been waiting for for a while. Also, the story is being told by older Nancy and the author could have done so much more with that. The use of 'queer', 'gay', and 'fag' throughout the book was so smart. The autobook narrator was hit or miss for me. Overall I would not recommend this book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Lesbophobia

Moderate: Pregnancy

helen777's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Homophobia, Sexual assault, and Sexual content

Minor: Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Transphobia, Medical trauma, and Lesbophobia

Sex work/prostitution