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novella42's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I picked it up again this year in the delicious audiobook format, savoring it slowly to really appreciate the lyrical writing and elaborate plotline.
I described to my friends what an impact it had made on me and a friend of mine who is trans said he had had his own epiphanies with it, too. We both agreed we were very glad to have stumbled onto it when we did.
The historical aspects of the book are written with such rich attention to detail, especially the nuances of fashion, gender, and sexuality. It's made me want to set my own current WIP at the same time period. I just want to immerse myself in it again and again.
Also, this might be a strange thing to appreciate, but (mild spoilers about the protagonist's personality)
Graphic: Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Grief, Lesbophobia, and Classism
Moderate: Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Ableism and Miscarriage
thatchickengirl23's review against another edition
- 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
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
amina_writes_books's review against another edition
- 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
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
- 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
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Homophobia, Infidelity, Grief, and Sexual harassment
jesshudzik's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Homophobia
Minor: Suicide
kadomi's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
I did not always care for Nancy, the protagonist. She's selfish, narcissistic and definitely flawed, and I wanted to smack her up the head multiple times. But she gets a happy ending, Florence is a wonderful character, and well, if you ever wanted to read about strap-on dildos in times of yore, there's a book for you.
It made me appreciate how much easier it is for me today to be an out-lesbian, how far we've come, and how far we still have to go.
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Sexual content
katewhite77's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Our heroine tells her own story form the age of 19 to 25. She starts out as a sheltered music hall fan, working in the family oyster business. She ends up at a socialist convention in Golders Green.
The tale between those two points is a captivating 19 hour listen but it is definitely not one for small ears. As always Waters writing is amazing she really brings the 19th century to life using all five senses. She really made me route for Nancy even though at times I wanted to scream Have A Word With Yourself at her.
I consider this a classic of my life time and can't believe it has taken me this long to get to, but now I have and I loved it.
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Sexual violence
Minor: Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Lesbophobia
outerscout's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Lesbophobia, and Classism
Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, Transphobia, and Abandonment
tiernanhunter's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Grief, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Classism
marleywrites's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Infidelity, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Grief, Lesbophobia, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Outing, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Classism
Minor: Miscarriage and Racism