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Original poster

Sarah Waters, The Paying Guests SPOILERS!!

61 replies

VerucaInTheNutRoom · 09/10/2014 12:43

I've just got to the part where Leonard's body has been discovered and I've stalled. The writing is wonderful but I just can't seem to care about the two main characters and I'm finding it a bit tedious. Is it worth continuing ?

OP posts:
Original poster
VerucaInTheNutRoom · 22/10/2014 08:07

Lol, don't worry, I may have already had a sneaky peek at the last chapter. Oh the shame !

OP posts:
riverboat1 · 22/10/2014 07:18

Oh no, I'm so sorry! I was dying to discuss it and when I saw the spoiler warning in the thread title I got carried away and just assumed we could post all. Really hope I haven't ruined it for you...

Original poster
VerucaInTheNutRoom · 21/10/2014 22:31

Ach well, now you've told me what happens at the end, I don't need to finish it... Wink

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riverboat1 · 19/10/2014 23:00

I kind of agree with that. I loved the first half, Frances and Lillian were great characters and I thought their love story was really beautifully written, and pretty damn hot, to be honest.

So the second half really brought me back down to earth with a bump, and I found it really miserable reading. There wasn't anything to hope for, because both the 'dark paths' - getting away with murder but barely being able to live with yourself, or coming clean and feeling liberated of your moral burden but going to prison or even to the gallows - seemed equally awful prospects really. Yes, it had a kind of happy ending in so far as they got away with it and managed to stay together, but it didn't really feel believable that their relationship would survive all they had been through up to that point.

I think I would have preferred it to be EITHER

  • a second half without any kind of murder, where it was more about Lillian and Frances overcoming all the 'normal' barriers of society, their family, their finances etc to be together
  • a second half with the murder, but without us actually knowing who killed Leonard. We, with Frances, could be led to suspect it was Lillian but actually there could be more to it than that, maybe it was someone else entirely, which could come out over the course of the investigation trial. Or, we could be led to believe it WASN'T Lillian, only to find out it was and she had really done the 'desparate act' in order to be with Frances, and covered it up in a very calculated, cold-hearted way that made Frances not want to be with her any more.
Original poster
VerucaInTheNutRoom · 19/10/2014 14:36

That's exactly how I feel, Zara.

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ZaraW · 17/10/2014 15:41

I was really disappointed, the start was good but then there were none of the twists and turns associated with Sarah Walter's novels I was waiting for something dramatic to occur and nothing did. It was all a bit tedious.

BettyMoody · 11/10/2014 06:16

I loved it

Original poster
VerucaInTheNutRoom · 10/10/2014 16:00

I will probably finish it as I hate to give up on a book. Good to know the pace picks up a bit, thanks!

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AmeliaPeabody · 10/10/2014 12:16

I loved it too! One of her best I think.

If you're still not liking it by this point and finding it tedious then I'm not sure. Personally, I would finish it.

hackmum · 10/10/2014 09:41

I loved this book, and you clearly don't, but I can say that the pace hots up from the discovery of the body onwards. It's very tense, and if you enjoy courtroom dramas, then there's lots to savour. On the other hand, if you're not liking it so far it may just not be your thing.

Ellisisland · 09/10/2014 13:59

I fisnished it the other day and didn't think much of it to be honest.

I loved the writing style and have really enjoyed her other books but I didn't really feel this one went anywhere. It's one I've passed on as I won't read it again

I was disappointed as the reviews made it sound amazing !