Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
What we're reading

Find your new favourite book or recommend one on our Book forum.

Original poster

Fingersmith

40 replies

Ineedagoodusername · 03/05/2017 22:50

Wow! Just finished this!

OP posts:
Mymothersdaughter · 03/05/2017 22:55

Have you read tipping the velvet too? Sarah waters is bloody amazing. There's an adaptation of fingersmith too, I've watched it about 5 times Blush

Original poster
Ineedagoodusername · 04/05/2017 06:41

Yes read them all except affinity. The night watch is my favourite

OP posts:
SplitInfinitive · 04/05/2017 06:44

I read Fingersmith a couple of years ago and loved it too.

EmpressOfTheSpartacusOceans · 04/05/2017 06:50

I'll never forget the first time I read Fingersmith. I was in bed, it was getting late so I thought I'd finish the chapter and then stop...

Except the end of that chapter was such a massive WTF???? that I ended up reading the whole book in one go and finishing an hour or two before I had to get up for work.

Original poster
Ineedagoodusername · 04/05/2017 06:52

So many twists, so clever. I will have to watch it now.

OP posts:
Mymothersdaughter · 04/05/2017 07:03

I've just finished the paying guests. It was good but prefer the ending of fingersmith

Seachangeshell · 04/05/2017 16:36

I've read all her books. She is a brilliant writer and Fingersmith is her best novel imo.

TheHiphopopotamus · 04/05/2017 17:58

Love, love, love Sarah Waters!

The tv adaptation of Fingersmith is excellent too and there's just been a Korean (I think) remake of it set in WW2 rather than the Victorian era which is also rather good. Think it's called The Handmaid.

troodiedoo · 04/05/2017 18:02

Sarah waters is some kind of genius, think I need to re read.

Original poster
Ineedagoodusername · 04/05/2017 21:07

What's affinity like? I might buy on amazon.

OP posts:
southeastdweller · 04/05/2017 21:45

Affinity is the one book of hers I couldn't finish. Too dense, too dull.

Original poster
Ineedagoodusername · 04/05/2017 21:48

Oh pants :(

OP posts:
Chewbecca · 04/05/2017 21:57

Reading Fingersmith now! Not long into part 2, still reeling from the ending of part 1. Thoroughly enjoying it.

Had previously read & loved The Paying Guests.

Surprised how different the two books are in style, though there are similarities, I'm impressed how she writes in different eras.

TheHiphopopotamus · 04/05/2017 21:57

Yeah, Affinity is my least favourite book (and tv adaptation) of hers as well.

The Night Watch is good though.

Original poster
Ineedagoodusername · 04/05/2017 21:59

She's an incredible writer. Just amazing.

OP posts:
TheCountessofFitzdotterel · 04/05/2017 21:59

Yes, Fingersmith is her best. The others are all excellent in atmosphere and character but none of the plots are half as good.
One day I am sure she will hit on another equally good plot and meanwhile there's enough to keep me hooked, but some of the endings have been a bit disappointing.

Chavelita · 04/05/2017 22:03

Affinity is good, and not dissimilar to Fingersmith in terms of some themes and a massive plot twist. Probably rather gloomier in tone, though as the main setting is a Victorian prison, with the occasional seance thrown in but definitely worth a try if you liked Fingersmith.

It's her more recent Ines I don't much care for. I found The Paying Guests lengthy and not terribly absorbing.

Chavelita · 04/05/2017 22:03

Her more recent ONES -- who is Ines??? Grin

Original poster
Ineedagoodusername · 04/05/2017 22:06

I liked the paying guests!

OP posts:
PinaGrigio · 08/05/2017 16:12

Sorry to see Affinity is getting a bit of a kicking. I liked it a lot. In fact I re-read it only the other day and it was still as good . It's not a happy read, I'll give you that, but the end twist is well done, and the background on the Victorian spiritualist movement is interesting.

My favourite is still The Night Watch, though. Loved the structure and the characters. I thought the TV series really didn't do it justice, though it was a good cast.

Liska · 08/05/2017 17:38

I think The Night Watch and The Little Stranger are her best but tbh I love all of them. Fingersmith is probably the best page Turner (I must read it again!) but The Night Watch was so beautiful it made me cry.

lucydogz · 08/05/2017 18:06

I still remember sitting, with my mouth open in shock, when I came to the end of THAT chapter. Fantastic. The film is very poor, IMO. I also enjoyed Affinity very much, but Tipping the Velvet read as though she'd done a thesis on Victorian sexuality and regurgitated all her research.

lucydogz · 08/05/2017 18:08

Also, if you enjoyed Fingersmith, you'll probably enjoy The Lady in White by Wilkie Collins as they're quite similar

HorraceTheOtter · 08/05/2017 18:10

I really loved all her books! DH is in the TV adaptation of the night watch incredibly briefly, he was the husband in the flash backs and photos. Best haircut he's ever had and he was paid to have it done.

DungballInADress · 08/05/2017 18:15

I found a battered copy of Fingersmith in the holiday cottage we stay in every year about 2 years ago - it has a take a book/leave a book kind of thing going on. I had gone through all my holiday reading unexpectedly quickly, but was a bit hesitant to pick it up - I worked in a bookshop for a little while and the borderline alcoholic chauvinistic pig manager deemed them all "smutty lesbian historical nonsense".

He was so wrong. I was utterly immersed. And by the end of the week I hadn't finished it, so brought it home and left the copy of The Girl On the Train I had finished in return. It really didn't feel like a fair swap.