Naughty & Bizarre (Tipping the Velvet - Sarah Waters)

Member Name: little_pandora

Product:	Tipping the Velvet - Sarah Waters
Date:	30/03/05 (993 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great plot

Disadvantages: Bad characterisation, Unnecessarily sexually graphic at times

With lesbian escapades galore, Victorian ideals, a fish shop and even the highs and lows of theatre, ‘Tipping the Velvet’ appears to be a bit of an eclectic read. Most of you will know that author Sarah Waters territory lies firmly in the ‘I write bizarrely set lesbian tales’ category. When I began reading ‘Tipping the Velvet’, I was quite unaware of this, which made for a surprising read indeed. In the end, I can’t quite comprehend this novel. The only thing I can say for sure is that it is certainly unique.

Set in the late 19th century to early 20th , ‘Tipping the Velvet’ follows the lives of Nan and Kitty, two young ladies who happen upon each other, fall in love and embark on an exciting relationship that entails a whole lot of graphic sexual experimentation and becoming a double act for the stage. Strange stuff indeed. Then again, I read science fiction novels, so who am I to complain?

Waters’ narration is of a good enough standard to evoke some good mental images, meaning Victorian London becomes a nice reality to place the characters in. This becomes especially useful as the story develops and Nan spends her time in the city alone. Waters’ descriptions of the streets and buildings as dark, gothic and creepy images intensifies Nan’s sense of being alone. However, she’s not going to be winning any Nobel prizes. Her dialogue screams ‘average!’, excepting the many sequences in which the reader is subjected to the graphic and entirely unromantic sex discussions. These sequences are anything but average. What they really appear to be are thinly veiled sex tips for the shy or closet lesbian readership. Suffice to say I didn’t really find these sections particularly interesting, then.

In terms if characterisation, Waters falls short in skill here. I have not read any of her other novels thus I am not familiar with her style, but from this I have ascertained that she has little grasp of what makes fictional characters engaging. There have been ANTI-HEROES more likable than Kitty and Nan. At the beginning of the novel she portrays Nan well enough as the shy and sweet fish girl and Kitty as the sophisticated adult of the piece. However, as she attempts to develop the two girls she loses sight of their essential personalities. It is fair enough to say Nan comes out of her shell through Kitty’s influence, but when as she develops a backbone, she also develops a nasty streak that is very unpleasant to read. Kitty is far worse in that Waters has her do so many awful things and remain quite unrepentant for them that by the end of the novel you find yourself detesting the girl. The only light at the tunnel comes in the form of Nan’s later ‘friend’, who appears to be the only character who has escaped Waters’ obviously cynical take on human nature. However, I did get the impression that in this character Waters was merely trying to channel herself, which merely came across as a bit arrogant. In short, then, her characterisation needs a LOT of work.

Finally, I come to the one redeeming aspect of this novel, and that is the plot. As fantastical and absurd as it is, it is the one compelling factor that kept the pages turning for me. Amidst the several incredibly unlikable characters, there is at least some interesting developments. The Victorian setting in itself is bizarre enough, since it hasn’t been the standard era for ‘lesbian novels’. The later portrayal of the upper class yet seedy lives of a certain London ladies club is quite brilliant. The grotesque events during this section are shocking but very emotive, and thus really quite enjoyable to read. It was this plot development alone that had me rooting for Nan, who up until this point had merely annoyed and repulsed me.

When I finished reading the last page of this novel, I was quite nonplussed. Perhaps it was merely due to the fact that I am unfamiliar with a novel of such an extremely overt sexual content. With retrospect, though, I must say I just couldn’t decide whether or not I had actually liked the book. I did adore the plot, which was funny if nothing else. However, I hated Waters characterisation and poor dialogue. In this sense this is a bit of a dicey review…as I write this I am still unsure of whether or not I want to give it one, two or perhaps three stars.

Like I said previously, if you’re a closet lesbian or perhaps one who is just shy in the bedroom department who wants to add some spice, forget a sex manual, it’s all in here. In graphic detail, may I add. Thus, it’s not one for the kids, or those of a weak disposition. If, however, you want to read something different from your bog standard romance, why not give this a go, because it’s no Mills and Boon.

I’m thinking three stars….but JUST.

Thanks for reading,
Louise

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