I've read a few other novels by Waters including FINGERSMITH, TIPPING THE VELVER, and THE LITTLE STRANGER. All were quite enjoyable reads although they were for the most part outside of my normal reading preferences. THE PAYING GUESTS was another very well-written novel that I found quite compelling although I thought it could have been edited and shortened. At over 600 pages, the opening part of the novel went on for over 200 pages without really a lot happening but I did think the wait was worth it. The novel really picks up after that.
It takes place in London in 1922 where Frances Wray lives with her mother in a big house that is in need of repair. Her two brothers were killed in the war and her father died soon after, leaving behind a shocking mess of debt. To alleviate the debt they decide to rent out part of their house to some "paying guests", Leonard and Lilian Barber. The Barbers are from a lower class who the Wrays would probably not normally associate with but they desperately need the added income. The first half of the book did kind of drag and if you have ever read anything else by Waters, you can probably guess that Frances falls for the beautiful Lillian. The tension builds as they come to express their love for each other. But then the rest of the book explores what happens after a shocking act of violence. Will Frances and Lillian be able to survive this and will their love remain intact?
Waters is a real wordsmith and is great at describing the mores of the times in which she writes. In this case it is shortly after WWI which greatly affected all those left behind when most men were killed or savaged by the war. Crime and poverty are prevalent. Overall, I did find this to be on a par with her previous novels although as I said, I felt it could have been shortened somewhat. But overall, I would still give it a high recommendation.
It takes place in London in 1922 where Frances Wray lives with her mother in a big house that is in need of repair. Her two brothers were killed in the war and her father died soon after, leaving behind a shocking mess of debt. To alleviate the debt they decide to rent out part of their house to some "paying guests", Leonard and Lilian Barber. The Barbers are from a lower class who the Wrays would probably not normally associate with but they desperately need the added income. The first half of the book did kind of drag and if you have ever read anything else by Waters, you can probably guess that Frances falls for the beautiful Lillian. The tension builds as they come to express their love for each other. But then the rest of the book explores what happens after a shocking act of violence. Will Frances and Lillian be able to survive this and will their love remain intact?
Waters is a real wordsmith and is great at describing the mores of the times in which she writes. In this case it is shortly after WWI which greatly affected all those left behind when most men were killed or savaged by the war. Crime and poverty are prevalent. Overall, I did find this to be on a par with her previous novels although as I said, I felt it could have been shortened somewhat. But overall, I would still give it a high recommendation.
