http://www.toomik.net/helen/blog/2006/07/30/michael-faber-the-crimson-petal-and-the-white/ Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:17:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 http://www.toomik.net/helen/blog/2006/07/30/michael-faber-the-crimson-petal-and-the-white/comment-page-1/#comment-77 carol scates Tue, 14 Aug 2007 22:17:37 +0000 http://www.toomik.net/helen/wordpress/?p=134#comment-77 I loved the book. I was dismayed by the length at first, but I was surprised that I wanted to know more about what was going to happen next. The characters are three dimensional, so you find that you care about them. You can see, hear and taste everything that is going on. However, I have some issues with the plot. In the beginning, when Rackham was in that pub, what was the act that the other prostitutes would not do, that Sugar would? When Sugar was installed as the governess, why wasn't there more intrigue with Clara, and Chessman the coachman? Was that really Agnes's corpse? I also bet my friend (who also read the book) that Sugar was headed to America with Sophie. I loved the book. I was dismayed by the length at first, but I was surprised that I wanted to know more about what was going to happen next. The characters are three dimensional, so you find that you care about them. You can see, hear and taste everything that is going on. However, I have some issues with the plot. In the beginning, when Rackham was in that pub, what was the act that the other prostitutes would not do, that Sugar would? When Sugar was installed as the governess, why wasn’t there more intrigue with Clara, and Chessman the coachman? Was that really Agnes’s corpse? I also bet my friend (who also read the book) that Sugar was headed to America with Sophie.

]]> http://www.toomik.net/helen/blog/2006/07/30/michael-faber-the-crimson-petal-and-the-white/comment-page-1/#comment-76 Anonymous Tue, 05 Sep 2006 06:49:53 +0000 http://www.toomik.net/helen/wordpress/?p=134#comment-76 I've read this book four times now. It's like a good symphony, better each time you hear it. I love the depth of characterization. Reading some of the comments here I am simply amazed at the lack of comprehension of the average reader... makes me want to shake them. Maybe they need some drippy Romance Writer to spell things out in black and white, instead of all those confusing shades of grey exhibited by actual humans like the ones in 'Crimson Petal.' Agnes reminds me of someone I know, a professional delicate beauty with the depth of a teacup and bulldog determination, toddling on through horrible obstacles. I've known a million guys like William, lost in the trenches of good intentions. Sugar speaks for women so powerful and unique they're considered monsters. Henry and Emmeline are glorious fools. And then there's that Cat! The potential for a sequel is there all right: nobody seems to notice that Agnes may be alive and pregnant. Sugar is obviously going to give herself and Sophie an eclectic and interesting life, sans prostitution. Where are the naysaying bozos coming from, those dismissive, literal-minded cranks? The book does exactly what a great book should do: it says something unusual in a most accessible manner. Pearls before swine, indeed! I’ve read this book four times now. It’s like a good symphony, better each time you hear it. I love the depth of characterization. Reading some of the comments here I am simply amazed at the lack of comprehension of the average reader… makes me want to shake them. Maybe they need some drippy Romance Writer to spell things out in black and white, instead of all those confusing shades of grey exhibited by actual humans like the ones in ‘Crimson Petal.’ Agnes reminds me of someone I know, a professional delicate beauty with the depth of a teacup and bulldog determination, toddling on through horrible obstacles. I’ve known a million guys like William, lost in the trenches of good intentions. Sugar speaks for women so powerful and unique they’re considered monsters. Henry and Emmeline are glorious fools. And then there’s that Cat! The potential for a sequel is there all right: nobody seems to notice that Agnes may be alive and pregnant. Sugar is obviously going to give herself and Sophie an eclectic and interesting life, sans prostitution. Where are the naysaying bozos coming from, those dismissive, literal-minded cranks? The book does exactly what a great book should do: it says something unusual in a most accessible manner. Pearls before swine, indeed!

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