The Crimson Petal and the White (2002)

Great except for the non-existent ending. It just stopped!

Interesting approach using the concept of walking the streets of 1870s London and meeting various characters that will play a part in the story. Gave a lot of info about living both poor and wealthy in that time period but the book was way too long for me. Enjoyed Sugar as the prostitute and her way of looking at life, trying to make things better for herself yet disappointed me when she did not help those of her former life later on. Thought William was becoming a better person but he really let me down at the end. Never understood his wife. ( )

I remember it as being a very pretentious author writing about a very pretentious prostitute and a 'oh look how terrible Victorian life was which I know due to my extensive research'. Meh. ( )

Took me months to read, I find it hard to knuckle down on large books, but was always a joy to tuck into. Such a beautifully crafted world, the narrator drifting in and out of characters lives; all fully rounded, the book far better for the fact that it's almost entirely character driven rather than plot-driven.

I'm not sure who wouldn't like this (unless you're some massive prude or something), it's an easy read but it's expertly written with no noticeable dips in quality or pace. Nearing 900 pages it's a bit of a doorstop but well worth the time investment. ( )

There is not a trace of intrigue until about 600 pages into the novel. ( )