tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post7393014449401614290..comments2023-10-10T20:43:00.969-04:00Comments on Books and Chocolate: The Little Stranger by Sarah WatersKaren K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/13483190930383406559noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-75634149599114576322011-10-19T11:13:16.364-04:002011-10-19T11:13:16.364-04:00I was so amazed by Fingersmith that I bought this ...I was so amazed by Fingersmith that I bought this book without any hesitations. I have to say I was also a bit disappointed - especially the ending was a bit "off" and it took quite some time to really get into reading. All those characters may have been well-written, but I couldn´t feel sorry for them /or feel any emotion when I think about it. But some parts of the book gave me those nice chills you feel when you read some "mysterious" stories. All in all, it was a good read, but I probably won´t read it again :)Lennahttp://veganlenna.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-22292403644778561202011-10-09T13:21:33.188-04:002011-10-09T13:21:33.188-04:00I see a trend...am I wrong, but it looks like peop...I see a trend...am I wrong, but it looks like people who loved Fingersmith disliked this one (or at least liked it a lot less), whereas people who loved this one disliked Fingersmith (or liked it a lot less)?<br /><br />I'm in the latter group and nearly with Amanda on it, since I disliked Fingersmith so much I never wanted to touch another Sarah Waters book again. I don't know why I picked this one up (charity shop?) but I'm ever so glad I did. But this also means the author is batting .500 for me: loved The Little Stranger, but hated Fingersmith; any other book of hers is suspect in my eyes.<br /><br />That said, though, I also loved the ending of this one. I like the subtlety of it, and stayed awake thinking of it long after I'd finished reading. One complaint (and praise) that I've seen over the oft-reviewed-for-this-RIP The Woman in Black is that it's a just ghost story - no less, no more, there's no ambiguity about that one. But to me I prefer the more subtle, the open for interpretation, the less-is-more.<br /><br />In any case, great review. Thanks for making me think about this book - and others - all over again!Katehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09314153391153507955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-43714998111524589222011-09-29T12:01:18.023-04:002011-09-29T12:01:18.023-04:00I love your friend Jason's comment! Brilliant!...I love your friend Jason's comment! Brilliant!<br /><br />I have read this one and also Affinity (but none of her others yet). I really enjoyed TLS but agree that the ending was unsatisfying.<br /><br />Also, I have received my book today! Thank you so, so much. Can't wait to read it in the next few months (I've already had a flick through and love the writing so far).<br /><br />I have a recommendation for you too - have you read East Lynne by Ellen Wood? It's one of my favourite books and if you enjoyed Lady Audley and like Victorian madness you may just love this too :)The Book Whispererhttp://boofsbookshelf.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-32120862271236623372011-09-28T22:34:33.106-04:002011-09-28T22:34:33.106-04:00I was disappointed in the ending too - I think I n...I was disappointed in the ending too - I think I needed something a little less.... elusive. I like to have and ending at the end of my books (and movies for that matter), I don't usually like to be left guessing. Sometimes a good book can leave you guessing but you are so convinced that you know the conclusion it barely matters (Turn of the Screw comes to mind), but this book really needed a more satisfying ending.Rebecca Chapmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14144719070318640603noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-53848365819844751252011-09-26T15:22:58.931-04:002011-09-26T15:22:58.931-04:00I'm one of the few who counts this as their fa...I'm one of the few who counts this as their favorite Sarah Waters (and Fingersmith is probably my least favorite). Oh well! I'm glad that she writes such a variety so that there's something for everyone.Kristen M.https://www.blogger.com/profile/02335598194501733541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-59841237320287028922011-09-26T02:52:54.991-04:002011-09-26T02:52:54.991-04:00I re-read this book recently for bookclub, and I s...I re-read this book recently for bookclub, and I still think I preferred it to Fingersmith, even though I loved Fingersmith. I found it pretty creepy, and the ending was in keeping with the book, I thought.Tracyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03070070360087765540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-35976428279184779312011-09-24T19:51:14.312-04:002011-09-24T19:51:14.312-04:00Jo -- I also want to read The Night Watch so I'...Jo -- I also want to read The Night Watch so I'm glad you liked it. WW2 is one of my favorite periods to read about.<br /><br />FleurFisher -- I think I just didn't understand the ending. If it was more definite, I think I would have liked it better.<br /><br />Jenny -- I think there was a lot of good creepy stuff, but the payoff was disappointing. It felt unresolved.Karen K.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13483190930383406559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-69722369951440534572011-09-24T19:41:08.346-04:002011-09-24T19:41:08.346-04:00I thought The Little Stranger was not Sarah Waters...I thought The Little Stranger was not Sarah Waters' best. I loved the idea of having the supernatural stuff, but yeah! I wanted it to happen in a better way. I wanted it to be creepier than it was.Jennyhttp://jennysbooks.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-80287814821941182352011-09-24T17:45:04.674-04:002011-09-24T17:45:04.674-04:00I liked the ending, but I can understand why some ...I liked the ending, but I can understand why some people didn't. Overall I couldn't love this book the way I did her earlier novels, but I loved that she did something different and something less obvious.<br /><br />Affinity was the first Sara Waters I read. I loved it, and I am sure you will too.FleurFisherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00096222149445024649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-33092013429064031792011-09-24T12:47:07.253-04:002011-09-24T12:47:07.253-04:00I think also this book promised a lot but did not ...I think also this book promised a lot but did not deliver it. I was bored expecting much more but did not get it. Over-hype perhaps? I did not find myself spooked by it all, though I think says more about me than the book and the writing. I have only read The Night Watch which I loved and have Fingersmith on my shelf to read at some point.Johttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17356433191383783293noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-32048397195241427962011-09-24T12:27:42.156-04:002011-09-24T12:27:42.156-04:00Tom -- I feel exactly the same way, after Fingersm...Tom -- I feel exactly the same way, after Fingersmith! And have you read anything besides Fingersmith and The Little Stranger? <br /><br />Amanda -- well, there's no criminals in this one, but i know the English gentry are not your thing, so this might not be the one for you either. I'll have to let you know about Affinity. Or you might like Tipping the Velvet, but I haven't read it yet.<br /><br />Reviews by Lola -- I was going to read one of those next! I've heard the BBC adaptation of Tipping the Velvet is also good.<br /><br />Anbolyn -- I'm also looking forward to The Night Watch, since I love WWII era novels -- it's my other favorite historical period after the Victorian era.<br /><br />Joanne -- it was pretty spooky, but not sleep-with-the-lights-on spooky for me. But a great big house like that would definitely creep me out.<br /><br />Joan -- Yeah, I was a bit disappointed with the ending. I wish I'd read it with a book group so I could discuss it with someone and figure out what the heck it meant!<br /><br />Natalie -- Jason always cracks me up. I had to borrow that line! If he's going to that book group meeting, I'll be there. He's a hoot.Karen K.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13483190930383406559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-65847329411539036072011-09-24T11:50:18.604-04:002011-09-24T11:50:18.604-04:00I like the line from your friend on "Nothing ...I like the line from your friend on "Nothing says Christmas like Victorian madhouses." :) I have Affinity on my Nook and a looking forward to reading it soon. It will be my first Sarah Waters read, and I'll be trying Fingersmith shortly after.Natalie~Coffee and a Book Chickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12369504951819517390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-40353179527300004222011-09-24T08:26:12.824-04:002011-09-24T08:26:12.824-04:00I agree with you about the ending. I was expectin...I agree with you about the ending. I was expecting a more engrossing and compelling book. I think it was far too long.<br /><br />This is the only Sarah Waters book I've read, but I will try another.joan.kylerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17015342608992682333noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-14474372564961972392011-09-24T04:41:50.146-04:002011-09-24T04:41:50.146-04:00I thought this was a really spooky book, but then ...I thought this was a really spooky book, but then I'm very easily spooked.Joannehttp://www.seagreenreader.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-77314553516718915122011-09-23T21:57:31.211-04:002011-09-23T21:57:31.211-04:00I liked the supernatural element in The Little Str...I liked the supernatural element in The Little Stranger and its aura of mystique. It is my favorite Waters novel after Fingersmith, but Affinity is awesome as well. I think you'll enjoy it!Anbolyn (Gudrun's Tights)http://gudrunstights.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-26072915722789204992011-09-23T21:32:35.199-04:002011-09-23T21:32:35.199-04:00I agree this was well written, but I was bored wit...I agree this was well written, but I was bored with it. I think my issue was that her books are usually pretty mesmerizing, with quite a few twists and turns, so this was too slow for me. I liked Tipping the Velvet and Affinity much more, along with Fingersmith!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-34784244456010215522011-09-23T21:21:10.038-04:002011-09-23T21:21:10.038-04:00Since reading Fingersmith, I haven't been able...Since reading Fingersmith, I haven't been able to bring myself to read any of her other books. I just really hated Fingersmith so much... :(Amandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07026099426503180472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027299943447728658.post-70471450662963014982011-09-23T20:28:23.799-04:002011-09-23T20:28:23.799-04:00I had a very similar reaction to this book. After...I had a very similar reaction to this book. After Fingersmith, I keep hoping that she'll write something that will be so completely and crushingly awesome as that book...and it hasn't happened, yet. At least, not for me.<br /><br />But! She's a terrific writer, and I thought this book was solid and good--both in terms of how it was plotted, the attention to history, and the prose.<br /><br />I liked it a lot. I just didn't love it. And I really, really want to love a Sarah Waters novel, you know?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14188615495976875613noreply@blogger.com