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51st out of 267 books
—
1,251 voters
The Typewriter Girl
by
Alison Atlee (Goodreads Author)
A passionate historical debut novel about a young woman in turn-of-the-century England who finds love and independence at a seashore resort.
In Victorian London, there’s only so far an unmarried woman can go, and Betsey Dobson has relied on her wits and cunning to take herself as far as she can—to a position as a typewriter girl. But still, Betsey yearns for something more…...more
In Victorian London, there’s only so far an unmarried woman can go, and Betsey Dobson has relied on her wits and cunning to take herself as far as she can—to a position as a typewriter girl. But still, Betsey yearns for something more…...more
Paperback, 384 pages
Published
January 29th 2013
by Gallery Books
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Mar 16, 2013
Misfit
marked it as abandoned
Quote from page 2:
"A fuck made him a sound sleeper..."
I really didn't need the f-bomb dropped on page two in such a crude manner. Moving on.
"A fuck made him a sound sleeper..."
I really didn't need the f-bomb dropped on page two in such a crude manner. Moving on.
Lovely and gorgeous! Just a swooning, exquisite, and genuine story.
5 likes · like · see review
My two main complaints of The Typewriter Girl are that it never really identified the time period it takes place in and the syntax of the sentences was confusing and takes a large portion of the book to finally get the hang of it.
For more than half of the book, I was quite confused as to the setting. The attire and decorum of the character could not be in the thirties or beyond because it was too conservative, nor was there any mention of the Great War or World War II. However, I was unaware of...more
For more than half of the book, I was quite confused as to the setting. The attire and decorum of the character could not be in the thirties or beyond because it was too conservative, nor was there any mention of the Great War or World War II. However, I was unaware of...more
I guess when it comes right down to it, I was uncomfortable with this main character; with her morals, the way she used sex to get what she wanted (regardless of the fact men do the same thing with impunity, so why shouldn't she). I don't blame her for her choices, but I like to read about characters who rise above their circumstances. Eventually Betsey triumphs and makes the hard, personal choices, but it was her ideas about sex and the vulgarity with which it was described, that rubbed me the...more
I had mixed feeling about this one. I was drawn to this one by the cover right away, I thought it was beautifully done. I also enjoyed reading about the two main characters, Betsey and John. Betsey was smart and capable and brutally honest. She never tried to be someone she was not and never shied away from admitting truths about herself and I admired that about her. Mr. Jones was hardworking, intelligent, and a good solid man. I liked how they both came from poor families and worked hard to mak...more
This book is a sort of hybrid of historical fiction and historical romance, which is probably my favorite kind of story, and I'm pretty easy to please in that genre. This one's written by an exceptionally talented author. The writing, the characters, the story, the historical details--all the elements of a great novel were so well done. It was a pleasure to read, for the most part. I felt that the author sometimes got a little lost in her own prose, where attempts at subtlety became awkward or t...more
I had high hopes for The Typewriter Girl by Alison Atlee. I mean, I read that this book would be for lovers of Kate Morton and trust me... I'm right up there in fangirl status when it comes to Morton. So I thought okay - great recommendation, great cover, interesting premise, and feminist leanings! Perfect!
But it wasn't so perfect. What I expected was to read about a woman who, in spite of the limitations placed on her by the time she was living in, managed to rise above it all and make a life f...more
But it wasn't so perfect. What I expected was to read about a woman who, in spite of the limitations placed on her by the time she was living in, managed to rise above it all and make a life f...more
6 likes · like · see review
3.5 stars
I think she (Alison Atlee) took a big risk exposing some of the more riske' parts of Betsey's past before we get to know her. Its not a spoiler because on page 2 she is talking about how Alton sleeps better after a ****. You don't really find out where she is coming from, truly, until 100 pages or more into the book and I think a lot of readers may be put off before then. She is a strong character who has done what she felt she had to, to survive and make things better for herself. Even...more
MY THOUGHTS
LOVED IT
Betsey works at an insurance company as a TypeWriter Girl, typing endlessly and monotonously day after day. She dreams of a better life and more independence, something women have little hope of during the nineteenth century. Moving against convention, Betsey take a chance when she is offered a job in Idensea on the ocean, booking tours for day trippers. She has no experience but enough gumption to try anything to get out of her rut and no chance for advancement. The problem B...more
LOVED IT
Betsey works at an insurance company as a TypeWriter Girl, typing endlessly and monotonously day after day. She dreams of a better life and more independence, something women have little hope of during the nineteenth century. Moving against convention, Betsey take a chance when she is offered a job in Idensea on the ocean, booking tours for day trippers. She has no experience but enough gumption to try anything to get out of her rut and no chance for advancement. The problem B...more
The story takes place about 1900 in England and the main character is a young woman named Elisabeth (Betsey) Dobson. She is employed by a large company in the typing pool, until fired. She attempts to forge a reference letter, is discovered and as fitting for the time, her protests regarding her dismissal get her no where. No money, no reference, yet her luck is about to change as she encounters a young man from Wales who is willing to give her a chance as a tour manager for an upscale, sea side...more
To me, the purpose of historical fiction is not only to be placed into a different setting with different clothes, social mores, and technology, but also to be placed into a different mindset. Understanding the past is not just about understanding how life was different, but also how people thought differently because their lives were different than ours. This book takes us back to the setting very clearly (I love the city of Idensea and its inhabitants!), but the mindsets seemed very current. P...more
This was a book I just picked up in the library; it looked interesting, and I seem to always love historical fiction.
It wasn't BAD, at all. I just didn't love it. It was more of a romance novel than I enjoy, with sex scenes that I just skimmed over. The ending was predictable, but it happened in an interesting way.
There were things I enjoyed about the book; the main character seemed realistic. She had elements about her that were idealized, but also some flaws. The male lead also had a little...more
It wasn't BAD, at all. I just didn't love it. It was more of a romance novel than I enjoy, with sex scenes that I just skimmed over. The ending was predictable, but it happened in an interesting way.
There were things I enjoyed about the book; the main character seemed realistic. She had elements about her that were idealized, but also some flaws. The male lead also had a little...more
Betsey has a bit of a problem; she's a little too smart and little too willing to do whatever it takes to find her place in the narrow-minded world of the early 20th Century.
As a typewriter girl her job is to type but not think, and above all, not get ideas above her station. She is caught typing her own character recommendation for a new kind of job where being a woman just may not be a liability. True she was planning to leave her job, but hadn't planned on being caught, humiliated and thrown...more
As a typewriter girl her job is to type but not think, and above all, not get ideas above her station. She is caught typing her own character recommendation for a new kind of job where being a woman just may not be a liability. True she was planning to leave her job, but hadn't planned on being caught, humiliated and thrown...more
Feb 19, 2013
Maggie
marked it as couldn-t-finish
I didn't finish this book so take my review with a grain of salt...
I heard of this book via Twitter and I was really excited to read it. When I started reading it I had some reservations in the first few pages. One of the opening scenes involves the main character having sex with her typing instructor, which I didn’t mind, but it definitely caught me off guard in a novel about an unmarried woman in Victorian England. As the story opened up I came to like the main character less and less. For som...more
I heard of this book via Twitter and I was really excited to read it. When I started reading it I had some reservations in the first few pages. One of the opening scenes involves the main character having sex with her typing instructor, which I didn’t mind, but it definitely caught me off guard in a novel about an unmarried woman in Victorian England. As the story opened up I came to like the main character less and less. For som...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
The cover and description of this book are completely misleading. The main character, Betsey is made out to sound like someone from a Jane Austen novel when in reality, she is more of a Sally Bowles from Caberet-huge difference!! The description claims that "all Betsy Dobson has ever asked is the chance to be viewed on her own merits..." Seriously???!!! She is completely dependent on men and continues to be..in every possible way. Honestly, I couldn't even follow the dialog n this book...kept ha...more
Mar 01, 2013
Liz
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommended to Liz by:
Janine Ballard
Shelves:
historical-fiction
I thought this was an interesting contemporary take on themes in a lot of fiction from the late Victorian period in which it's set: ambition, love (and whether it's in conflict with ambition), class, the limitations on women. The romance was really engaging, but it did create a kind of generic tension, in the sense that dedicated as Betsey and John were to their work lives, that ended up taking a bit of a back seat to the love story. Atlee has a deft hand at sketching secondary characters, a rou...more
I so wanted to like this book. The cover is gorgeous and the premise sounded intriguing and if something is compared to Downton Abbey, I am there. Unfortunately, this one falls very flat from almost the very beginning.
Betsey isn't a character I remotely cared about. While I think the author wanted to show her as a feminist and someone who disregards social mores, truly she had no redeeming qualities. There is also prolific profanity and a vulgarity that was unnecessary and disconcerting. As many...more
Betsey isn't a character I remotely cared about. While I think the author wanted to show her as a feminist and someone who disregards social mores, truly she had no redeeming qualities. There is also prolific profanity and a vulgarity that was unnecessary and disconcerting. As many...more
I thought this book was a lot of fun and felt instantly taken back into the past. I loved Betsey from the get go and was so excited to finally get to read such a strong and forceful female literary character (it has been a while) and I love that she truly fights for what she wants. The chemistry between Betsey and Mr. Jones definitely took hold of me during my reading and I was so eager to get to the end, only to be disappointed that the book was over and I wouldn’t be able to read anymore. Over...more
I edited this book, so it's no surprise that I love it. I acquired THE TYPEWRITER GIRL because Betsey was so unlike most heroines of the period--I loved her flouting of sexual mores, her ambition, and her independent streak that was both flaw and virtue. I think that Betsey can be her own worst enemy at times, but repeatedly finds inner resources that help her make the most of herself. I was charmed by Mr. Jones, whose cagey confidence covers up a well of pain and insecurity...and I couldn't res...more
Update: Downgraded to 2 stars, see comment for reasons.
I really wanted to like this more than I did. It is a competently written novel but I kept waiting for that "spark of unexpected". Spunky, modern nonconformist heroine & self made man, irrefutable drawn to each other. It felt like the author was doing one of those "paint by numbers felt posters", hitting every expectation a reader may want. I'm so glad I didn't realize this book had a "readers guide" in the back, because seriously-this i...more
I really wanted to like this more than I did. It is a competently written novel but I kept waiting for that "spark of unexpected". Spunky, modern nonconformist heroine & self made man, irrefutable drawn to each other. It felt like the author was doing one of those "paint by numbers felt posters", hitting every expectation a reader may want. I'm so glad I didn't realize this book had a "readers guide" in the back, because seriously-this i...more
I have to admit, reading The Typewriter Girl was an uphill battle...well, most of the time. The first 200 pages or so, my attention kept wandering - I wondered what to make for dinner, how on earth I was going to make the deadline for my lit papers - essentially doing everything but focusing on the book.
That doesn't really fit with the four star rating, right? I know.
I loved the amount of detail in Atlee's work. She immerses the reader right into the world of a British seaside resort, into the...more
That doesn't really fit with the four star rating, right? I know.
I loved the amount of detail in Atlee's work. She immerses the reader right into the world of a British seaside resort, into the...more
Even though I got mixed reviews from some of my reader friends, I found this to be a great first novel. I'm interested to see where the author goes in future novels. I found Betsey and John to be very fun to watch dance around each other, struggling with their own wants and desires while being pulled to each other. Sometimes it was hard to follow the dialog, as the author was switching between points of view in a single scene, but it could have been to illustrate the conflict and tension between...more
I have read most of the reviews about this book, and most of the negative ones are about the language, one word in particular. I have thought a lot about the use of this word in this book, set in the late 19th century, and honestly I don't know whether or not it is authentic usage, or not. I think the author is trying very hard for Betsey to be an accurate portrayal of a girl of lower class, and emphasizes this with an emphasis on Betsey's sharp tongue and considerable sexual experience. I liked...more
I received this book from a Goodreads First Reads Giveaway.
I had really high hopes for this book, but sadly the summary on the back of the book did not deliver what it promised. The biggest problem that I had with this book is the fact that it is called "The Typewriter Girl" and Betty who is the typewriter girl was the most uninteresting and disappointing character. I really wanted her to be a dynamic character that rises above the circumstances of her society to make a life for herself. Instea...more
I had really high hopes for this book, but sadly the summary on the back of the book did not deliver what it promised. The biggest problem that I had with this book is the fact that it is called "The Typewriter Girl" and Betty who is the typewriter girl was the most uninteresting and disappointing character. I really wanted her to be a dynamic character that rises above the circumstances of her society to make a life for herself. Instea...more
The Typewriter Girl by Alison Atlee 9781451673258
Betsey Dobson finds Victorian London hard going for an independent woman. Through sheer determination and hard work she has earned herself a position as a typewriter girl, a job overseen by an unpleasant floor-boss. The wages are a pittance and advancement will be slow coming. She jumps at the opportunity to take a job as an excursions manager at a seaside resort. Her new job stipulated good references but Betsey’s leave taking of her typewriter...more
Betsey Dobson finds Victorian London hard going for an independent woman. Through sheer determination and hard work she has earned herself a position as a typewriter girl, a job overseen by an unpleasant floor-boss. The wages are a pittance and advancement will be slow coming. She jumps at the opportunity to take a job as an excursions manager at a seaside resort. Her new job stipulated good references but Betsey’s leave taking of her typewriter...more
I first read about this book in the Historical Fiction 2013 list. I couldn't wait to read about a secret love affair in Victorian England between a typewriter girl and her boss. The scandal! Unfortunately, the book was not at all what I expected. It wasn't bad though. Just not great...
The Typewriter Girl is the story of Betsey Dobson, an unconventional woman according to Victorian etiquette, and the man who accidentally and hopelessly falls in love with her.
The plot was kind of cliché. At times...more
The Typewriter Girl is the story of Betsey Dobson, an unconventional woman according to Victorian etiquette, and the man who accidentally and hopelessly falls in love with her.
The plot was kind of cliché. At times...more
Betsey Dobson is well past the usual age of marriage, is underqualified and has no job as of late, but yet she is still determined to be viewed as an equal in a man’s world. Betsey seems to find trouble wherever she goes, or maybe it just finds her. Left all alone and without a steady income or a steady companion, Betsey sets out in search of a new life on the London train from Idensea. Little does she know that her life is about to change. On her train ride journey she meets a man called Mr. Jo...more
The Typewriter girl is one of those books you fall in love with from the start. Splendidly written and fresh and endearingly sweet. Betsey Dobson is the kind of heroine you hope for, you invest yourself into her life and you fall when she does. But then she gets back up. With pluck. Very well done. Read it for the richly flawed characters. Read it for the attention to every detail of the world in turn of the Century Britain. But, mostly, read it for the pure pleasure of it.
Betsey is trying to make a living for herself in englan during the industrial revolution. She chooses to sleep with several men in her life, not always to her benefit. She meets John Jones and is offered a good position if she can provide a reference - which she can't. But hw sees the potential in her. Even with several sexual misunderstandings they fall in love. Betsey learns to make some good decisions. She reminded me of Sara in Upstairs, Downstairs.
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Alison Atlee spent her childhood re-enacting Little Women and trying to fashion 19th century wardrobes for her Barbie dolls. Happily, these activities turned out to be good preparation for writing historical novels. She now lives in Kentucky.
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Mar 16, 2013 01:16pm
Mar 16, 2013 02:05pm