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wordsofclover's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Starting in the 1990s, Becky follows the ambitious Rebecca Sharp as she makes her way into the world, determined to make something of herself - and achieve her dream of becoming a successful journalist. Fast forward 5 years, and she is now a writer in The Mercury, and about to break a Royal scandal of epic proportions.
This book is a mix between Vanity Affair (the character names and relationships and the drive we see in Becky), and also mimics the career path of IRL journalist and news editor Rebecca Brooks, and the News of the World phone hacking scandals at the time. I thought I was making up the connections between Becky, and the IRL Rebecca until I double checked my facts and realised this was 100% a connection the author was going for, with a fairly heavy hand.
This book is mostly about ambition and striding towards it with everything you have. The relationships Becky forms in her life, from that with her husband Rawdon, her lover George and frenemy Amelia, are minor compared to her relationship with The Mercury and her love of her job. And while I wouldn't say by any means Becky is a likable protagonist, that doesn't mean I didn't like her. I actually quite admired her one track mind, and her ballsy movements within a world saturated by men. This book was also a reminder of that mad tabloid era from the 90s Princess Di moments to the early 2000s - and while I wouldn't say by any means the tabloids are better now, there was just something bigger, splashier about them then before social media and online news.
I found this book entertaining, and when I connected the story with its IRL inspiration, I actually enjoyed it more.
This book is a mix between Vanity Affair (the character names and relationships and the drive we see in Becky), and also mimics the career path of IRL journalist and news editor Rebecca Brooks, and the News of the World phone hacking scandals at the time. I thought I was making up the connections between Becky, and the IRL Rebecca until I double checked my facts and realised this was 100% a connection the author was going for, with a fairly heavy hand.
This book is mostly about ambition and striding towards it with everything you have. The relationships Becky forms in her life, from that with her husband Rawdon, her lover George and frenemy Amelia, are minor compared to her relationship with The Mercury and her love of her job. And while I wouldn't say by any means Becky is a likable protagonist, that doesn't mean I didn't like her. I actually quite admired her one track mind, and her ballsy movements within a world saturated by men. This book was also a reminder of that mad tabloid era from the 90s Princess Di moments to the early 2000s - and while I wouldn't say by any means the tabloids are better now, there was just something bigger, splashier about them then before social media and online news.
I found this book entertaining, and when I connected the story with its IRL inspiration, I actually enjoyed it more.
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual assault and Suicide
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