Rating: 
Summary: engaging lesbian romance
Review: No one would say that Tipping the Velvet is a great work of literature that will live on for time unending. Rather, it's an engaging historical romance of a lesbian nature. It is written far better than your average romance novel, but follows the same basic plotline of girl meets girl, girl loses girl, girl finds love in the end. The novel paints a bright and dark picture of Victorian London, of music halls and renter boys, toms and socialists. In this way, it goes beyond the typical romance material and explores the social issues of the time in great depth, always from the perspective of the characters. The sex scenes are quite eye-opening, and are the only reason I could not recommend this to my mother. That is not to say that I did not enjoy reading them! In fact, all of Sarah Waters' first book is quite good at putting the reader in the moment, your hopes soaring along with the main character and dropping like a stone when she experiences heartbreak. I am looking forward to reading the author's other books, because this book's ending was bittersweet. Nancy, our protagonist, has found love, but I, the reader, must put the book down and leave this lavishly painted world for the 21st century.
Rating: 
Summary: Great story set in the shadow world of love between women
Review: This book is set in Victorian England and deals with the shadow world of love between women. Nancy Astley leaves home at the age of 18 to work as a dresser for Kitty Butler, a young music hall performer who dresses like a man for her act. Nancy's in love with her and soon they're secret lovers. Later, Nancy learns to dress as a man and pick up other men for money and is also cast into the world of a wealthy lesbian woman who uses Nancy as she would a boy toy. Eventually, Nancy finds true love, but only after the reader is taken with her on her many adventures through this shadow world.The book is 472 pages, but I couldn't put it down. I related to Nancy and her trials and tribulations and fascinated by the world the author created. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I knew it existed. But this book brought me right into its center, viewing the London's music halls and filthy streets as well as the opulent private clubs through Nancy's eyes. I felt her pain and admired her feistiness as she rose above one obstacle after another. I also liked the fact that the romantic scenes were explicit and compelling. Most of all though, I loved the story and the way the author told it. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Good read
Review: It took me awhile to get into this book, but once I did it was a great read. Good escape novel.
Rating:
Summary: Very Well Done !
Review: I just love how Sarah describe the 1880s it really is a pleasant read and I couldn't put it down. I read it all in one day and I just completely fell in love with it. 'Til I moved on to another book at least (heh). I really felt it when the main character Nancy was hurt by Ms. Kitty. I think I even shed a tear on that one. But I laughed when Nancy got kicked out by the widow and got annoyed again when she lied to Florence. But at the end made me smile because its a happy ending and that's always good in my book.
Rating: 
Summary: victorian fluff pandering to lesbians
Review: this book made me angry. it was recommend by a neighbor, presumably because she knows i'm [gay]. i finally picked it up and was disgusted. what fluff! what unabashed pandering to the lesbian literary audience. i was unmoved by Nan's emotional plight, and just as unmoved by her poorly crafted sex scenes. down with badly written fiction, be it [gay] or otherwise.
Rating:
Summary: Beg, borrow or steal...but read this book!!!
Review: This book has everything I have ever wanted in a book. The heroine is incredible, and also incredibly human. If you're thinking a novel about Victorian London might be boring think again. Tipping the Velvet is a great read...you won't be able to put this one down.
Rating:
Summary: "SHE LOOKED LIKE A VERY PRETTY BOY"
Review: TIPPING THE VELVET is my favorite novel by Sarah Waters to date. I enjoyed her other novels but this book was much more enjoyable for me. As always, Waters' does an excellent job in recreating the hostility and desperation of Victorian London streets. I could actually vision the damp streets and feel the cold winds. TIPPING THE VELVET follows the life of Nancy as she discovers her true sexuality and comes to grip with it while living in a society that is not accommodating to lesbians. Her adventures are indeed risky and she is always one step ahead of living in the streets. This book provides a rare glimpse into lesbian life in Victorian society that should entertain all readers alike. I avoided watching the mini-series until I read the book (film adaptations rarely live up to the book). But now I can't wait to see this book on film. TIPPING THE VELVET was indeed difficult to put down and I constantly found myself thinking about it when I did. If you like reading about this type of book you may also enjoy THE CRIMSON PETAL AND THE WHITE, which follows the life of a prostitute named Sugar. Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: every "tom" needs to read this
Review: Okay, so I admit I cheated. I DID catch the miniseries before I read this book... and after finishing "Fingersmith", I ran out and bought this book immediately. Oh my LORD! All the same intriguing plots and attention grabbing-ness as "Fingersmith" but with about 5 times the eroticism. This is another novel where the reader can completely identify with the protagonist (...) and it's just... I don't know. Sarah Waters is not only the best lesbian author of all time, but I'd venture to say that I personally think she is one of the greatest authors, period.
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting but a little to stereotypically "lesbian"
Review: This novel seems to be more about a lesbian who has adventures rather than an adventurous woman who happens to be a lesbian, as Fingersmith is. Nan's sexuality is at the forefront and it seems that many things occur simply because she is a lesbian. The story is overly dramatic, but there are some good sex scenes. It is nice to see that Sarah Waters has grown as a novelist since this first foray into lesbian fiction. A titillating story that definitely contributes little to the quality of lesbian lit.
Rating:
Summary: Gay or Straight--a fantastic book
Review: I heard an interview with Sarah Waters on National Public Radio and said, "What the hell, I'll try it." Her writing is superb and although this is a triumph in gay fiction it is also beautiful writing in and of itself.
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