Affinity - Sarah Waters

I have to admit when I bought this book, I did so based on the picture on the cover, as I did not have my glasses with me. Sounds silly, doesn't it, although relevant to my review of this book since, had I read the descriptions of other works given by the Independent on Sunday, whom I can only presume did not read this book, I perhaps would not have bought it. They describe her work entitled "Tipping the Velvet" as "a sexy and picaresque romp through ...
...made my approach to the book wary, since the kind of literature that I enjoy reading would not be of this ilk. Undaunted by descriptions of her other works, I decided to take the plunge and read what is possibly the best book that I have read for a very long time. The story takes the reader into the mysterious times of the 1870's and tells of how a young lady of relatively well bred background, recovering from the death of her father, is given a ...

thingywhatsit 18.05.2006 · Read full review
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Review of Affinity - Sarah Waters

As a literature student, I groaned at the thickness of another book I had to read within a week, on my modern novels course last year. However, when I started to read this book I was really surprised & started to get into it really quickly. The story follows the upper class character of Margaret Prior, who has decided to pursue some 'good work' with the lady prisoners at Millbank, a scary & winding prison. Margaret goes to 'civilise' some of these ...
...prison, however she feels herself drawn to the spiritualist Selina Dawes. Throughout the book, Margaret's diary entries are juxtaposed with shorter extracts from Selina Dawes, describing her spiritual séances with ghosts & giving the reader an idea of what her life was like. We get the feeling that throughout the novel Margaret's family think that she is mad or unstable, due to the doses of 'chloral' that her mother seems to give her at night, and ...

angelfacecuti75 05.06.2007 · Read full review
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Review of Affinity - Sarah Waters

A well written novel. Not a lot of books can be called that these days. A lot of mystery, ideal dose of tension, sensuous but not overwhelming descriptions. I marvelled over the combination of innocence and cunning in the book. A girls go to work as a mentor in women's only prison. She has few under her care and there is one, special one she is intrigued by. Young girl who never says much. Friendships are not allowed between staff and convicted. ...
...as possible about the quiet girls. And so begins the exchanges of letters, small gifts, touches... The quiet girl is a spiritual medium, the senior staff is keeping a close eye on our mentor... The story developed in a natural, steady manner and although the subject matter was somewhat "incredible" I could not help but believe in everything that was going on. And no, I did not predict the ending. Someone might have done, some said it was not difficult ...

Agula 21.08.2008 (22.08.2008) · Read full review
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Review of Affinity - Sarah Waters

This is one of those rare books which you will have difficulty putting down. You will want to read and read it, until it is finished! It's a story of margaret prior a 30 or so year old single woman who decides to help in the Milkbank prison by talking to prisoners to help them become better people.. Little did she know that her life is about to be changed for ever. In prison, she meets Selina Dawes, she has been jailed for fraud and assault. But ...
...the story evolves, and margaret is too deep in love with selina, so she decides to help her. But how? I won't give away too much of the book. But read on, and you'll find a wicked twist towards the end. You will feel decieved just like one of characters was. ;-) Another fantastic book by Ms Waters! ...

lilmisslala 25.05.2006 · Read full review
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Review of Affinity - Sarah Waters

"Her quiet voice, that only I can hear, is the most frightening voice of them all." That voice is the narrative you encounter from the two key characters, but mostly from the protagonist - Margaret Prior who carries you through the spooky and spelling biding journey. Margaret takes us from her own Victorian upbringing with its traditional Victorian values, that of marriage and presentably. And plunges us into the gaols of Millbank prison. As she ...
...referred to as a spinster, and is despising the life she has, a life full of loss and grief. It is felt she visits the women at Millbank "to look on women more wretched than herself." And it is a particular woman whom resembles a saint or angel, one by the name of Selina Dawes, who encourages Margaret to dispose of her idle life, and resume it somewhere else. But at what cost? ...

Noodle3 04.12.2006 · Read full review
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Review of Affinity - Sarah Waters