Helpful Score: 9
Though it takes a little while to get into the rhythm of the story, since it deals with one character's background interspersed with the main character's present story, it readily draws you into a very gripping "what'll happen next" plot. The dreary background only heightens the tension and mystery.
Helpful Score: 7
This was a very well-written book, as are all Sarah Waters' novel. And there is always a twist that is relatively surprising. I enjoyed the read but I do get a little frustrated with the fact that things never seem to turn out well for most of Waters' lead characters. It adds to the victorian noire feel of the piece, but I still like a happy ending once in a while.
Helpful Score: 3
I found this book slow to get into but definitely educational about the prisons in Victorian England. It also depicted the spiritualist subculture of this time period. An intersting undertone of lust from different characters perspectives runs throughout the story with a great surprising twist in the end.
Helpful Score: 3
Sarah Waters is a wonderful writer! This is my least favorite of her first three novels that I've read, but that doesn't mean it's bad in any way. The twist at the end was good, but it did bum me out. I'm swapping this copy, but there is no way anyone could pry my copies of "Fingersmith" or "Tipping the Velvet" from my grubby hands, lol. I believe this was her 2nd novel, and as such I think more authors would wish for a "sophomore slump" like this one. Her language is beautiful, like always, and she has a great way of describing scenes and people. Wonderful gothic Victorian feel.
Helpful Score: 2
Some people love her books, and I thought "Fingersmith" was excellent. On the other hand I read "Affinity" a few years ago and can't recall a thing about it. It made no impression on me at all.
Helpful Score: 2
Great book!! I truly love the way Sarah Waters describes the era. Almost feels like you are really there.
Helpful Score: 2
Historical fiction set in 1870's London in which Margaret, a lonely woman approaching 30, becomes a âLady Visitorâ in the women's ward at Millbank Prison and befriends one of the inmates who is a spiritualist who holds séances and the like. It's a tale of ghosts, grief and longing, with a wicked twist that I should have seen coming but didn't. Quite similar in some ways to one of Waters' other works which I've read, so I was not as gung-ho about this one as I might have been had I read it first
Helpful Score: 2
I was definitely surprised by the ending, and enjoyed the Victorian style writing, which while being appropriate for the time period, since it was written recently adds a touch of irony and perspective. Very cleverly done.
Interesting read. This is the first book by Sarah Waters that I've read. It was very hard for me to get into at first. I read it for a book club, so I felt obligated to keep going, when in another circumstance, I may have quit. I am glad that I kept going though, as I got intrigued by around page 85 and then I couldn't put it down.
Helpful Score: 2
A Victorian-era ghost/spiritualism story. Good read for those interested in historical fiction.
Intriguing plot with well-portrayed characters.
Pretty good book. I love Sarah Waters.
So far, my least favorite Waters novel, mostly because of the ending.
I have read several of Waters' novels and have always found them entertaining and enjoyable. AFFINITY was no exception. The protagonist in this one is Margaret Prior, a highborn lady who makes visits to London's Millbank Women's Prison offering solace to Millbank's wretched inhabitants. This is part of Margaret's therapy after recently attempting suicide because of her father's death. While at Millbank she meets and becomes friends with Selina Dawes who is a âspirit mediumâ and is blamed for the death of a client during a séance. Selina draws Margaret close to her and eventually Margaret falls in love with her especially after Selina is able to send Margaret such things as flowers through the spirit realm. But is Selina really a true spiritualist who is in contact with the spirit world? And what are the motivations here?
This novel takes place in the late 1800s when spiritualism was at its peak. I thought the novel did a good job of delving into this religious phenomenon as Margaret tries to seek out its beliefs and practices. And as usual with Waters, one of the book's themes is Lesbian love. The ending to the novel was somewhat surprising although it was to be expected. Overall, I enjoyed this look at 19th century lifeâincluding the believers in spiritualism and the appalling life inside a women's prison.
This novel takes place in the late 1800s when spiritualism was at its peak. I thought the novel did a good job of delving into this religious phenomenon as Margaret tries to seek out its beliefs and practices. And as usual with Waters, one of the book's themes is Lesbian love. The ending to the novel was somewhat surprising although it was to be expected. Overall, I enjoyed this look at 19th century lifeâincluding the believers in spiritualism and the appalling life inside a women's prison.
Affinity, second in line behind Sarah Water's debut novel Tipping the Velvet, continues the same lesbian-Victorian England theme, with gothic splashes added in with exploration of the Spiritualist movement. The narrative is carried by the two protagonists across two different timelines. We are allowed to read the secret diary of Margaret Prior, who takes up a role as a Lady Visitor at Millbank Prison (where the Tate Gallery now stands) as part of her recovery from a suicide attempt. She becomes progressively drawn to Selina Dawes, a young spirit-medium charged with fraud and assault after a séance gone bad, who shares the events leading up to her imprisonment. Less overtly sexual than Tipping the Velvet, Affinity is much more subdued in tone. The first three parts forming much of the background of Margaret's home life and prison life seem dreary and go slowly, but towards a clever and suspenseful climax. As usual, Waters's prose transports us to the period, showing how the role of women is quite stifled. In summary, a good historical novel with gothic and lesbian overtones.
A pretty decent book (though nowhere near as good as her book, Fingersmith!), but the "twist" was pretty predictable, so I was not overly surprised when it revealed itself. It gets a bit tedious in places, but not enough to make me want to quit reading, as I really did want to see how it ends. Three and a half stars for me (but don't quit on this author -- Fingersmith is excellent!)
This book I think is one of the best by Sarah Waters. I liked it very much over her latest book The Little Stranger. I found this book very intriguing unlike the newer one and I love the twists it took. It was hard to get started in it but as the pages went back I found it more and more interesting! A good read.
I love this book. I think it is my favorite of all time. I just found myself relating to Margaret so much even though my life is so much different than hers. I guess she just behaves the same way I probably would in her situation :P (gullible and obsessive) But that's all I have to say about that!
Honestly...its a little slow for the first 6 pages, then it starts to get good. You however might think diffrently.
Excellent read. Story moves slowly with a nice payoff at the end. Read this one carefully so you do not miss anything.
