Sarah Waters

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Loads of people on here seem to rate her highly.

I've read 'Fingersmith' and hated it and 'The Little Stranger' and was completely underwhelmed by it. But since I keep hearing how great she is, I thought I'd give her another try. I'm about 100 pages into 'Nightwatch' and am sooooooooooooooo bored by it.

Should I stop?

[piprabbit]

Of course you should stop - life is too short and there are too many great books to waste time on Sarah Waters.

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Thank you! I was beginning to think it was me missing something tbh, as so many MNers rave about her.

[TheyCallMeKipper]

Well I think she's fab, and rate her work very highly, so I'd say keep going! Not sure I think Nightwatch is her best, but I still loved it. Give it a bit longer.

Out of interest, why did you 'hate' Fingersmith? What was it about it that made you feel like that? Is it the style or subject? I picked it for my book group book one month and it is one if the only books we've all loved!

[TheyCallMeKipper]

Ah well, I can see that perspective too - life is too short to waste time on things you don't like, but I guess when you really like something you want to share it hence my reply.

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Why did I hate Fingersmith? Besides from the fact that she was so desperately trying to sound like a Victorian novelist and actually I'd rather read the original Victorian novelists who knew how to do it properly because they actually WERE Victorian novelists? Or the fact that I saw the 'twist' coming from about a mile away? Or the fact that it was so concerned with getting loads of sexy sentences in (as Nightwatch seems to be too) that it forgot that it was actually supposed to be interesting and make readers give a toss about the characters? besides that? Nope - no idea why I hated it!

Sorry but I really, really didn't like it. I respect what she's trying to do - I just don't think she's very good at it.

[scurryfunge]

Got bored by Fingersmith and gave up. Finished The Little Stranger but wondered why I had bothered.

[TheyCallMeKipper]

Well in which case definitely stop reading it now and go and find a book by a novelist who doesnt make you feel so angry! Didn't realise you only wanted people to agree with you and took your op at face value.

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

What? I don't only want people to agree with me.

[piprabbit]

Kipper, you did ask the OP why she hated Fingersmith and she has told you. Liking different novelists doesn't mean you can't rub along together.

[TheyCallMeKipper]

Ok sorry - maybe I misunderstood. Probably a good example of how the tone of posts can be hard to read. I probably took your reply as to why you hated it in the wrong spirit.

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

I was hoping that somebody would come on and tell me to keep reading because (for example) on page 125 things get really interesting because.....and therefore.....and so.....so I must keep going because I will be amazed, astounded and excited etc. I will give it a bit longer because I haven't got anything else to read at the moment - but I'd like to be convinced that it's worth doing so.

[HeavenForfend]

If you entitle your post 'Sarah Waters' you will attract Sarah Waters fans (like me).

If you want alternatives that you will enjoy, maybe retitle. HTH.

[TheyCallMeKipper]

As I said, it was the tone of the post (or the way i read it) that made me respond like that. No, actually on balance, I don't think anything is going to happen which will suddenly make you love it. Find a new book! What type of things do you like? I might not be the best person to suggest something though!

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

But that's who I WANT to attract so they can tell me why I should want to carry on reading it. I didn't set out to be bored by the book - I keep waiting for the missing link that means I 'get' why she's so popular and wondered if this book might be the one to convince me...or if somebody here could convince me why I OUGHT to love it.

Thanks for the apology, Kipper.

I love Jane Austen and know that lots of people don't - but I didn't write the books, so I don't get offended when people say she's boring etc. If everybody liked all the same things there'd be no need for any discussions about anything, surely?

[HeavenForfend]

Ah, OK. Actually to be fair I didn't love Nightwatch that much, took far too long to get going and the payoff didn't seem quite enough. But I loved Fingersmith like a brother, so I guess if you don't like that, you just won't like SW.

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

The only character I'm interested in so far is Duncan - is it worth reading on to get his story?

Dp loved Fingersmith too and he was v cross that I disliked it so much. Apparently it's because he is far more intelligent than I am! :)

[TheyCallMeKipper]

I love Jane Austen too. Have you read the Clare Tomalin biography? I absolutely loved that. Fascinating read and I though superbly written. I realise it's not a novel and might not be what you're looking for at the moment, but I would really recommend reading it at some point.

[notlettingthefearshow]

If you're not interested by now, give up. Taste is subjective so don't worry that you're missing something.

I speak as a fan.

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Read it - loved it!

[TheyCallMeKipper]

Sorry - its called 'Jane Austen - A life'. I don't think I made that clear.

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Yep- tis v good. The last one I read re JA was 'Jane's Fame' about the book/film industries that have sprung up around Jane Austen. A light read but deffo worth a browse.

[TheyCallMeKipper]

It is fab isn't it?! Clare Tomalin has written some other really excellent biographies (and I don't usually go in for biographies or autobiographies). The Samuel Pepys one is also fantastic (IMO!)

[piprabbit]

You could try Samuel Richardson's Pamela... lots of fainting and running mad and it will give you feel of the sort of things JA was poking fun at. I think it was one of the books the Austen's read as a family.

Or how about Evelina by Fanny Burney (who led a very interesting life so her bio is worth reading too).

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Not read the Pepys one - will look out for it. Thanks.

Lordy- have just noticed the time. I will go to bed and give 'Nightwatch' another thirty pages or so!

Thanks all and sorry if my ranting about Fingersmith was too harsh. I let my feelings about books run away with me sometimes - just tell me to shut up if you catch medoing it again. :)

[piprabbit]

sorry - Austens