The Crimson Petal and the White in Around the Year in 52 Books

Sep 23, 2013 Nadine in NY Jones rated it did not like it

Shelves: literary-schmiterary, did-not-finish

I got to some passage about the streets flowing with semen, and I was done. I'm not one of those readers who digs allegory and stylized whatever. If you liked Ballard, you'll like this. Just not for me. ...more

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Nov 28, 2007 Graceann rated it it was amazing

Shelves: historical-fiction

This book captivated me immediately and I suspended all but the most necessary of my obligations until I could finish it. But, alas, it was over too soon. At over 800 pages, I would have thought I'd be exhausted and ready for a new read, but I want to know what happens next for Sugar, Agnes, Mrs. Fox, William Rackham, and even Caroline, who only appears briefly but ties the book together in a subtle thread.

The device this author uses is pure genius - knowing that he's writing across a century to ...more

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Jul 06, 2011 Hilary rated it liked it

Shelves: library_books, novels, historical_fiction

Started out titillating, and I liked the writing. But I felt like he got bogged down in details (a lot of what he described was boredom, in great detail, which guess what, is boring!). I felt like the end of the book didn't make sense, and the post-modern voice (only present in the first 50 pages or so and the last 15 pages or so) was unnecessary and out of place. But although it was too long, there were parts of this book I enjoyed -- interesting window into that period. ...more

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May 02, 2014 Jason McKinney rated it it was amazing

A long one, but worth it. It could have used a little bit of editing in parts, but I can't complain too much. Faber has a knack for holding hopeful possibilities for his characters within our reach and then snatching them away. A must read if you're a sucker for Victorian novels. ...more

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