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  & 1 users

• Current

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Type: fiction

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Status: liked

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Author: Tracy Chevalier

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Tags: women history art religion france historical catholic protestant ancestors genealogy

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Description: In this, her first novel, Chevalier strikes a significantly more preternatural chord than herIn this, her first novel, Chevalier strikes a significantly more preternatural chord than her subsequent ventures in a dual-voiced narrative about a woman and her ancestors. The result is a decidedly rougher novel with less oil-painted historical ambiance and, perhaps, less grace as well. Those who find a bit of fanciful otherworldliness a welcome addition to another historical novel may enjoy The Virgin Blue more than some of Chevalier's more successful work. Others may see why the later novels are the more lauded. --EEB...

2006-09-04

  & 18 users

• Current

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Type: fiction

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Status: liked

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Author: Curtis Sittenfeld

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Tags: women school apocalypse coming_of_age teenage academia identity boarding_school class_issues

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Description: Like Tobias Wolff's Old School, Prep meanders a well-worn and familiar path of "outsiderLike Tobias Wolff's Old School, Prep meanders a well-worn and familiar path of "outsider amongst wolves" wherein the outsider is the blue-collar, insecure, and identity-challenged teenager and the wolves are the wealthy peers with whom she is trying to fit in.

Unlike Wolff's novel, the protagonist seems to have no redeeming qualities of self-awareness and the book seems to end without a satisfying conclusion (whether that is a knock against it or not is a matter of personal taste).

That said, the atmosphere constructed was pleasantly appealing, and the characters were believable and somewhat realistic. Worth checking out. Recommended. --EEB...

2006-09-02

  & 3 users

• Current

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Type: fiction

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Status: I recommend

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Author: Michel Faber

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Tags: women british england victorian 19th_century prostitutes

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Description: The first of a trifecta of historical novels about English prostitutes that I review, The CrimsonThe first of a trifecta of historical novels about English prostitutes that I review, The Crimson Petal and the White is probably also the most entertaining. Written in somewhat ironic fashion, the book is a little long-winded (and just long) but highly recommended in its subject. The whole sordid sub-genre can become grim and tiresome after awhile and I suggest only reading one at a time...if it must be one, let it be this one. Interesting vignettes include some of a cathouse and some on a 19th-century perfumery. Recommended. --Erin E. Betters...

2006-07-09

  & 3 users

• Current

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Type: fiction fiction

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Status: neutral neutral

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Authors: Emma Donoghue Emma Donoghue

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Tags: british 18th historical, England, Century, prostitute, women history british england historical 18th_Century prostitute

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Description: The third of a trifecta of historical novels about English prostitutes which I will review,The third of a trifecta of historical novels about English prostitutes which I will review, Slammerkin is perhaps the most self-aware and perhaps the one I enjoyed the least. As with The Dress Lodger, Slammerkin doesn't lie about the harsh realities of life in its time period; whereas The Crimson Petal and the White shows upper-class life at its most lighthearted, Slammerkin dwells on the bleakness of the lower and middle classes, with rare glimpses of the aristocracy. For me, this was too dour without reward. Those not hoping for the occasional lighthearted breath of air will not find it here. Although I can't criticize this as a novel, it's not what I was looking for. --Erin E. Betters...

2006-07-09

  & 74 users

• Current

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Type: fiction

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Status: I recommend

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Author: Arthur Golden

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Tags: women history fiction culture japan adapted_for_film

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Description: I enjoyed this surprisingly quick read a lot more than I thought I would. An interesting viewI enjoyed this surprisingly quick read a lot more than I thought I would. An interesting view into the traditions and lifestyles of geisha, an occupation with which I previously had absolutely no familiarity. -Erin Betters...

2005-12-02