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Fingersmith

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Fingersmith by Sarah Waters is a Victorian gothic novel filled with plot twists and turns, following the story of two orphan girls who unknowingly have intertwined lives. The book delves into themes of betrayal, ruined innocence, treachery, and madness, all set against the backdrop of Victorian London. Through multiple narrators and a complex plot structure, the story unfolds in a gripping manner, keeping readers guessing and engaged till the very end.

Waters' writing style in Fingersmith is described as evocative, rich in historical detail, and atmospheric, successfully transporting readers to the Victorian era. The novel intricately weaves together elements of mystery, romance, and intrigue, creating a dark and fiery tale laced with love, betrayal, and secrecy that is both compelling and immersive.

Characters:

The characters are intricately crafted with depth and complexity, particularly the protagonists Sue and Maud, who navigate a world of deception and love.

Writing/Prose:

The writing is rich and evocative, capturing the essence of Victorian life while maintaining an engaging and suspenseful narrative style.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot is intricately woven with unexpected twists, involving two orphan girls in a criminal scheme that ultimately becomes a tale of love, betrayal, and identity.

Setting:

Set in Victorian England, the story traverses between the squalor of London's underbelly and the oppressive environment of a secluded country estate.

Pacing:

Pacing begins slowly, allowing for character development, but picks up significantly as the plot twists unfold, creating a gripping narrative.
My name, in those days, was Susan Trinder. People called me Sue. I know the year I was born in, but for many years I did not know the date, and took my birthday at Christmas. I believe I am an orphan....

Notes:

Fingersmith is set in Victorian England and features themes of deception, crime, and complex female relationships.
The novel is compared to works by Charles Dickens, with its intricate plot and rich characterizations.
'Fingersmith' means petty thief, which is how one of the protagonists, Sue Trinder, earns her living.
The story includes surprising plot twists, often leaving readers shocked and eager to turn the page.
The book was adapted into a Korean film called 'The Handmaiden,' which received acclaim for its interpretation of the story.
The novel explores love in the context of societal constraints and expectations faced by women during the Victorian era.
The narrative is told from multiple perspectives, alternating between Sue and Maud, which adds depth to the plot.
It tackles issues like mental illness, child trafficking, and the harsh realities of life in the lower classes of Victorian society.
Fingersmith received critical acclaim, including being shortlisted for the Booker Prize and winning the CWA Ellis Peters Dagger Award.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Triggers include themes of mental illness, abuse, incarceration, and deception, which may be distressing to some readers.

Has Romance?

There is a significant romance aspect, particularly between the two main female characters, with emotional complexity and depth.

From The Publisher:

"Oliver Twist with a twist…Waters spins an absorbing tale that withholds as much as it discloses. A pulsating story."-The New York Times Book Review

The Handmaiden, a film adaptation of Fingersmith, directed by Park Chan-wook and starring Kim Tae-Ri, is now available.

Sue Trinder is an orphan, left as an infant in the care of Mrs. Sucksby, a "baby farmer," who raised her with unusual tenderness, as if Sue were her own. Mrs. Sucksby's household, with its fussy babies calmed with doses of gin, also hosts a transient family of petty thieves-fingersmiths-for whom this house in the heart of a mean London slum is home.

Ratings (54)

Incredible (12)
Loved It (26)
Liked It (10)
It Was OK (4)
Did Not Like (2)

Reader Stats (187):

Read It (56)
Want To Read (111)
Did Not Finish (2)
Not Interested (18)

2 comment(s)

Incredible
3 months

****5.0****

I could only say "What a book!! Lord". Just swept me away !! I never saw this kind of con anywhere!

My first Sarah Waters and I am so so so reading her books. I already have some in my real TBR.

“She was like milk - too pale, too pure, too simple. She was made to be spoiled.”

Susan Trinder is an orphan but is cared by a particular Mrs. Sucksby. Mrs. Sucksby's household , which is in dark streets of London slums,has many infants, all orphans, along with she shelters few petty thieves. So, a particular thief, called "Gentleman" comes to Mrs. Sucksby's with a scheme, where he is to cheat a Maud Lilly, a naive gentlewoman, but with a good fortune to come to her once she is of age. He wanted to take Susan as a maid to Maud and she was supposed to help him make Maud fall in love with him. Then when he marries Maud, she will be sent to a Mad-house passed as a mad woman (just like her mother) and they will share her vast fortune.

“But the more I think it, the more I want her, the more my desire rises and swells.”

But the plan turns and someone else is cheated and the cheating goes to different level turning the story into "hard to put down" kind. I had heard that the story resembles "Dickens/Oliver Twist" ish with Lesbian twists. Well, lesbian twist is right, though I found it hard to compare with Dickens. The setting was kind of same, old london, slums etc but the narration is too different and also the characters.

“What does it say?" I said, when I had. She said, "It is filled with all the words for how I want you...Look.”

Dickens is mild and Waters is like a slap on your face. Each character is bold and language is true to the hardships of the character. I loved this book so much. I am going to re-read it now and then in my life :) Fiendishly clever and unimaginably suspenseful!!

“PIGEON MY ARSE!”

Happy Reading!!

 
It Was OK
7 months

Eventually it just got too long and drawn out. I lost interest in pretty much everyone's story.

 

About the Author:

Sarah Waters is the New York Times bestselling author of The Paying Guests, The Little Stranger, The Night Watch, Fingersmith, Affinity, and Tipping the Velvet. She has been shortlisted three times for the Man Booker Prize, has been a finalist twice for the Orange Prize, and was named one of Granta's best young British novelists, among other…

 
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