Tipping the Velvet

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Summary: Tipping the Velvet
Review: Out of Sarah Waters's three novels (Tipping the Velvet, Affinity, and Fingersmith), Tipping the Velvet is to me the least accomplished and compelling. I've been a great fan of Waters since reading Affinity, a darkly moving and disturbing novel, and became an even greater one with Fingersmith, easily one of the best-written books of the last several years. But Tipping the Velvet seems to lack something of her later two efforts.

I grew rather tired of Nancy about halfway through the book. She just seems so adamantly miserable I wanted to shake her, and I couldn't help thinking Diana Lethaby, her mistress (in every sense of the word) for a thick portion of the novel, was little more than a caricature, for all her cruelty and in-your-face Sapphist traits.

The setting, too, I was disappointed in. I didn't have the same feeling of -being there- I got with Affinity and Fingersmith; Waters's portrayal of turn-of-the-century London is gorgeously written and as accurate as one could hope for in a novel, but it wasn't as real to me as Margaret's London or Sue and Maud's London. I found myself wishing more of the story were set in the music halls.

That being said, Tipping the Velvet is still an extraordinary novel. Waters writes with ease about her subject, as if she's known Nancy and the seediest parts of 19th century London all her life; and even the more graphic sex scenes come across as essential to the narrative. Her prose is beautiful and "writerly," with very few flaws or off-putting quirks.

I recommend this book, although not as highly as Affinity or Fingersmith.

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Summary: Great book!
Review: I have read numerous so-called "lesbian" books, and this is by far the best. I have just ordered her other novels for my collection.

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Summary: My absolute fave!
Review: I absolutely love this book! I have read it over 4 times and have only had it two years. It brings me to a world I would have once loved to live in. Once you read it you wont want to put it down.

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Summary: Language that is Flawless and Unsurpassable
Review: Finally, kids, a writer who doesn't dumb down the language. Sarah Waters' debut novel is full of complex and lyrical language. I thoroughly enjoyed this read because even slow, more expository parts of the book were so beautifully written that I didn't mind the wait. The language alone is enough to rate this 5 stars, but beyond that, it actually has a wonderful story as well, with complex, well-thought out characters. Moreover, Waters did her homework on Victorian London, and everything you read is easily imagineable because it is so deftly written. All in all, one of the best books I've ever read.

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Summary: Sarah Waters is incredible..
Review: I have read Sarah Waters' books (Tipping the Velvet, Affinity and Fingersmith) and have read Tipping the Velvet twice. I am planning on reading Affinity again, because I can not seem to get enough of her writings.....does anyone know when her next book is being published or if there is a next book? I am hooked on Victorian England literature and have not been able to find any other novels that compare to Sarah's vivid descriptions....Truly 3 works of art.

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Summary: as a name would suggests
Review: "Tipping the velvet" can be rather explicit at times,which as far as I'm concerned is only an added bonus,but would not alone makes a worthy read.This book fortunately has much more to offer:a great insight into the world of victorian england(late 19th century),colorful(quite rainbow like)characters and most important a terrific heroine Nancy King,who leaves her home and enbarks on an amazing journey throughout various social circles and surroundings of London.Sarah Walters is a captivating writer with an uncanny descriptive abilities,you might feel suddenly transformed a 100 or so years back,but it is Nan King,who will not let you put this book down,as you follow the story of a girl,who tips the velvet

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Summary: A Page Turner
Review: Sarah Waters makes you understand the main characters and you find yourself so involved with the book that when you finish, you feel as if you parted from long time friends, people who you have known and been with from page one to the end. I plan to pick this off my shelf many times to read over and over again and I know the characters will be as ever memorable.

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Summary: An amazing book for anyone - regardless of your sexual pref!
Review: I'm most decidedly straight, but this book was so remarkably wonderful, I had to put in my $0.02 to say that even though it's often categorized as "lesbian fiction", I think that's an injustice! It's a fantastically written book, descriptive, with a very intimate view of real life in Victorian England, including several well written love stories, and very strong, memorable and likeable characters! I picked up the book based on the cover and my interest in the Victorian Era. Not only was I very impressed with the novel itself, I was completely drawn in and couldn't put it down! Certainly it's an excellent piece of Lesbian Fiction, but I think it's so much more than that alone - it's a wonderful piece of literature and a great example of fine writing!

I think Affinity was very good as well, but it didn't have exactly the same kind of pull that Tipping the Velvet did. What a wonderful book!

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Summary: Universal Love Story
Review: A feel-good love story for all readers! Highly recommended. One of the best reads of the year. I read "Affinity" before I read "Tipping..." and liked it slightly more, but Ms. Waters has become one of my favorite authors already. I am pre-ordering her third book.

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Summary: Wow, what a book!
Review: Like no lesbian fiction you have read before, this story evokes the whole range of emotions from your spirit, which is what a good book should do isn't it?
Totally unpredictable, racey and classy, this is a harsh, but touching tale that leads you through the streets of London, with every turn a different outcome.
Truly enjoyed that the author was not afraid to enter the realm of darker emotions and desires that most people keep to themselves.
The writing is top notch, not your ordinary "see Spot run" style that so many of the lesbian love stories seem to use.
This is one for the "Classic Lesbian Novels" list.