A review by kadomi
Tipping the Velvet by Sarah Waters

emotional medium-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

4.25

Sarah Water's debut novel is a story of a butch lesbian living in Victorian London. First arriving as part of a 'masher' act, women acting as men in dancehalls, falling in love with her partner Kitty, she falls on harder times when Kitty breaks her heart and refuses to be a 'tom'. 

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.
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