Fingersmith in Our Shared Shelf

May 17, 2021 Amy (Bossy Bookworm) rated it really liked it

Shelves: gothic-noir

To see my full review on The Bossy Bookworm, or to get Bossy reviews and Greedy Reading Lists as soon as they're posted, please see Fingersmith.

Sue Trinder is a teenage orphan, the daughter of a hanged murderess who tries to live up to her fearless mother's bravery and strength. She's being raised in a household of cheats, thieves, and generally crooked characters. Yet she's been largely sheltered from the evils of the underbelly of Victorian London by her unofficial, doting adoptive mother, To see my full review on The Bossy Bookworm, or to get Bossy reviews and Greedy Reading Lists as soon as they're posted, please see Fingersmith.

Sue Trinder is a teenage orphan, the daughter of a hanged murderess who tries to live up to her fearless mother's bravery and strength. She's being raised in a household of cheats, thieves, and generally crooked characters. Yet she's been largely sheltered from the evils of the underbelly of Victorian London by her unofficial, doting adoptive mother, Mrs. Sucksby.

But when one of their group, Gentleman, comes up with a large-scale con, suddenly the makeshift family's potential fortune depends heavily on Sue. She's asked to play the role of maid to an unassuming, wealthy young woman in a dastardly plot to take the woman's inheritance and leave her to rot in an insane asylum.

When Sue meets Maud and begins dressing her, caring for her, and trying to manipulate her into the con, what seemed like a simple plan becomes more complicated and fraught.

Meanwhile, Maud's bristly uncle, a strict man of books who has raised his niece primarily to assist him in his research and work, is at the center of a widespread web of debauchery. Maud's unusual upbringing--an emotionally cold life, steeped in lascivious writings--has left her both innocent to the workings of the outside world and also closely acquainted with the details of intimacies with which most young ladies of the time would likely be unfamiliar.

Fingersmith is a delightfully dark, often menacing Victorian-era gothic tale. I listened to this as an audiobook, and it was such a slow build, I was both eager for it to ramp up in pacing and very hesitant about finding out where things were going. There's a descent-into-madness aspect that's made more powerful by Waters's measured, sometimes sluggish tempo. I was on the verge of becoming impatient, but Waters masterfully draws out the sinister threads of the story until they're taut and ready to snap, and ultimately I was in for it.

I wasn't certain how Waters would resolve the layers of deceit, secrets, and desires for revenge at play here. The story offers heartbreak, twists and double twists, hesitant attempts at unorthodox love (I recall one reader referring to this as "lesbian Dickens," but it wasn't quite that to me), and, finally, clarity and satisfying revenge. ...more

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Oct 22, 2016 Lia rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I'm rounding up to 4* but to be frank it is 3.5* in my mind.

I read this on a day when I had lots of waiting and not much else to do.
This story kept me occupied well enough, though I do feel if I did not have such a protracted non productive day then it may not have faired quite as well. I call these aeroplane books. Nothing better to do but read.

I loved the first part. The twist plots towards the end were a bit cliche I thought.

Overall a good story and served its purpose to keep me occupied ...more

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Jun 07, 2018 Stephanie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: immersive-story

"There are no girls like me."
I loved the story, but my favorite part was the very end. One of the most satisfying endings it's ever been my pleasure to read.
Love books? Victorian England? Ladies? This book is right up your alley. ...more

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Sep 10, 2017 Alicia rated it liked it · review of another edition

Enjoyable read. I think "female Oliver Twist" from another review is an accurate description - that plus lesbian overtones. ...more

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Aug 05, 2007 Alexis rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This was was totally entertaining with lots of twists and turns that I didn't see coming. I didn't like the way it turned out (too much of an obvious Sarah Waters agenda) but it was still well worth reading. ...more

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