Affinity

Rating:
Summary: Great Book!
Review: I've read tons of books over the years, but the only time I ever read anything that had to do with homosexuality was always over done and unrealistic. This however I could not put down I think i was trying to read this rather than sleep! Although the beginning is a bit slower then usual it grips onto you and you feel it impossible to even put down. Not only was i completely into this book, the ending had such a twist that i was takin completely back by it. Great book all around. Im sure you will love it as well!

Rating:
Summary: An Enchanting Book
Review: I have just finished reading Affinity, not more than 5 minutes ago. This book was surprisingly intruiging to me, as I am not one to enjoy stories set in old time periods. I could not put this one down, however, and found the author's style of writing quite easy to read.

Having received this book in a bookcrossing.com book ring without knowing the exact pretense of the story, I went into reading it with several pre-conceived notions. Knowing that it was set in the 1800's, I thought that the text and storyline would prove to be difficult to follow. That could not have been further from the truth!

I will refrain from giving my synopsis of the book, as you should be able to gather that based on the excellent review entries above. I will, though, make some personal comments on some issues that personally spoke to me:

I understood the plight of our protagonist, Margaret, to be one of overcoming and/or enduring the challenge of being a lesbian woman attempting to find her place among the socialite set of 19th century England. She clearly had an understanding of being "different" from other women in her class, and felt considerable shame associated with her sexual desires. I think only her father understood her completely, and his death left her unable to envision a time or place in which she would feel free to be herself. Her realtionship with Helen (her brother's wife) was never expanded upon, but one can surmise that there must have been some sexual experience in their past that Margaret longed for, but Helen was unable to continue. After experiencing the loss of her father and the rejection of her lover, Margaret was lonely and vulnerable upon her arrival as a Lady Visitor at Millbank Prison.

The ending was perfect, and I had not guessed what was to come before it was right upon me. The author did an excellent job of slow-dripping clues throughout the story that all made sense in the end. I can't wait for the rest of the members of this book ring to make their comments! I will be recommending this book to my friends and family, and also hope to read more work by Sarh Waters.

Rating:
Summary: Page turner
Review: I couldn't stop reading this and stayed up until 1:00 AM to finish it. It was really compelling. The Victorian gothic atmosphere was well done; it could have been cliched but it wasn't. I was haunted by the story afterward. I give it a high recommendation.

Rating:
Summary: Spirtual Snake Pit
Review: The first two thirds of Affinity reminded a great deal of The Snake Pit by Mary Jane Ward, a novel from the point of view of a woman in a sanitarium recovering from a nervous breakdown. But by the middle of second act, as Margaret Prior researches mysticism, the blandness of her life and the lives of the inmates begins to reveal pent up emtions. Under the guise of communion with the "spirits" Affinity spirals into a story filled with sexual tension, intrigue and madness. I was so caught up in Margaret's emotions that I completely missed Selena's devious playing of all the people in her life to ultimately win her freedom and prove in the process that she really did deserve her sentence in Millbank!

Rating:
Summary: An excellent piece of Victoriana
Review: Please do yourself a favor -- if you like historical fiction, and especially if you like Victoriana, read this book. You won't be sorry; it's among the best of the best.

Now, do prepare yourself for the fact that there is not a lot of action in this book, beyond psychological action. It's a thinking person's book. However, it is quite suspenseful and the characters are fascinating, so you won't mind the fact that the events aren't happening at the speed you may be used to.

I gave this book four stars and not five because of some uneven editing in the book, especially in the antagonist's diary entries.

Overall, however, this book is top-notch. Read it and like it very much.

BTW, this isn't a "lesbian book" as it is often billed. There's nothing sexy in this book, and nobody comes out of the closet as a lesbian; it's all implied.

Rating:
Summary: Once again a triumph for Ms. Waters
Review: Ater finishing Affinity, I can hardly wait for her next book. Ms Waters write such a totally consuming story that it's hard to pull yourself away. I found myself sitting up way into the night and picking up the book at every opportunity just to find out what happens next. However, I didn't want to read it too fast because I knew there wasn't another yet. I hope Ms. Waters continues writing in the fashion of Affinity, Fingersmiths and Tipping The Velvet. I will definitely be first in line for her next masterpiece.

Rating:
Summary: Great...for any other author
Review: This is a tough review. I have read both of Ms. Waters other books, 'Fingersmith' which is fantastic and 'Tipping the Velvet' which is very good. 'Affinity' is her middle book the second one. And its good well written etc but there's the rub for me, the style is there but not the substance. Maybe its the style of writing, diary entries back and forth or something, the book just does not seem to flow as well as the others to me. Ms. Waters' books are very character driven and I just did not 'connect' to either of the characters in this one. As always the surroundings and feel of the period are there but in this book that almost overwhelms the characters themselves.
But again this is a good book. Its a good read..an afternoon into the evening type thats hard to put down. Four stars, to me, mean a better then average read and this book clearly is that. Its just not as great as her other two books in my opinion.