Chicks On Lit discussion

We're only just over a week away from August! I thought I'd get a schedule up for our group read of Fingersmith. Who's in?

By August 6 read Part 1, through chapter 6, about 160 pages.
By August 13, read through chapter 10, about another 100 pages.
By August 20, read the rest of Part 2, through chapter 13, about another 100 pages.
By August 27, finish the book.

I'm definitely in and very much looking forward to it. I've read one other book by this author and thought it was fabulous.

I'm planning to join this discussion. This book has been on my want to read list for some time.

I'm in. Have my copy ready!

I'm ready.

Still waiting for my copy :-(

Started reading last night. Looking forward to a great discussion. :-)

I have been reading, my brain is excited. lol

How's everyone doing? Any first impressions? Characters you like or don't like? How do you feel about the main character being a thief and criminal?

Argh my library sent the wrong book!

I am enjoying it and curious to see where it will go. I wasn't impressed that Sue was a thief, and I'm hoping that in the long run she will have a change of heart about going along with the gentleman's scheme against Maud. She seems to be having some minor doubts and thoughts of kindness to Maud, so I have hope! The money promised her would be a big deal though. I feel a bit bad for her having had her mother hung, but all in all I like both of the girls and hope they develop a true friendship.

I'm enjoying the novel. It's a great read. I like the way the author writers in enough details to keep mental pictures going, especially the scene with the chair as Maud. I wonder if Mrs. Sucksby is related to Sue somehow.

I have read only the first 3 chapters. I also loved the dressing of the chair. I also appreciate that we have a household of petty thieves who are also portrayed as more than mere brutes. Susan is loved and cherished by Mrs. Sucksby, even though she has no obligation to this orphan. I like the pacing of the novel so far and I think the characters are developing depth.

I am finding it very atmospheric. I feel like Charles Dickens should be walking around the corner any minute!

I get the sense that Susan is, in some ways, as naive as Maud. Despite her upbringing, she seems unaware of the wider world.

I get the sense that there is a stronger bond between Susan and Mrs. Sucksby than the story that has thus far been presented. I'm not sure what, though.

What do you think of Maud's house? What do you make of her uncle? Is Maud as "simple" as Gentleman is making her out to be?

The house has many rooms and staircases. It's dark and gloomy. It's on a great piece of land. The house is not well built with the draft and mold. There is money, but who's money is it? What happened to Maud's parents?
It sounds like a boring life. They do the same thing every day. Yikes, don't think I would survive.

Almost to the end of this weeks reading. Hmm, there was a sudden relationship twist between Sue and Maud that I wasn't really expecting.

Maud and Sue are bonding. Will Sue be able to pull off the plan? One thing to con a stranger, it's another to do it to someone cared about. But Sue, being who she was raised to be, a thief and con artist, in an under-resourced home, she can go either way. If she considers her survival, she will go with the plan.

But, Sue had misgivings about conning this woman even before she left home and met her. So....

I agree. Either Sue wasn't ever a very good conwoman, or there was something afoot early on...

She does seem to be struggling against the moral code she was raised with.

Taylor wrote: "She does seem to be struggling against the moral code she was raised with."
Who are you referring to?

Irene wrote: "But, Sue had misgivings about conning this woman even before she left home and met her. So...."

How so?

On page 43 of my book, Sue and Mrs. Sucksby are in the attic talking:

I chewed the inside of my lip. Then: 'Ought I to do it, though, Mrs. Sucksby? Ain't it a very mean trick, and shabby?'

At that point, she hadn't met Maud.

When Gentleman arrives, little outwardly changes, but Maud's behavior does. Is the plan working? What does the first kiss mean? How is Sue feeling about the plan and her part in it?

I'm still not fully caught up, but Maud is obviously infatuated with Gentleman and the hope that his affection could mean a move to London. Sue is ambivluant about her part. On one hand, she is trying to manipulate Maud in that direction by things like the fortune telling and she is dreaming of the money. But she is also coming to care about Maud as a person and feeling twitches of conscience when she contemplates the plan.

Still waiting for everyone to get to the end of chapter 5 and see if anyone else was surprised by the change in the girl's relationship.

Jennifer W wrote: "On page 43 of my book, Sue and Mrs. Sucksby are in the attic talking:

I chewed the inside of my lip. Then: 'Ought I to do it, though, Mrs. Sucksby? Ain't it a very mean trick, and shabby?'

That's right. She keeps talking herself into in constantly. I think in her heart she doesn't want to con her.

End of chapter 5, yikes! Maud and Sue

Sheila wrote: "Still waiting for everyone to get to the end of chapter 5 and see if anyone else was surprised by the change in the girl's relationship."

Yes, I guess showing Maud like Dainty had shown Sue was different. Same act but it sparked up some urges and feelings of sexual nature. That made awkward between them to continue their, "sister" like relationship.

It's even getting better. What a twist!!!!!

So Sheila was surprised by the change in the girls' relationship, anyone else? Does it add to the story for you, or was it too jarring? Does it feel authentic?

I was expecting the change in relationship as I've read this author before. I'm wondering what bearing it will have on the rest of the story.

It was jarring for me because I just wasn't expecting it and didn't see it coming. And there was nothing leading up to the sex scene that had me thinking that these girls had any feelings of attraction for each other. I guess I should have read some of the reviews on this first, since one of the highest rated reviews here on Goodreads calls the book "Lesbian Dickens". LOL!

I finished chapter 6 (end of Part 1) last evening. Wow, I did not see that twist coming. I love it when an author can catch me so completely off guard with a twist that seems natural. It was unexpected, yet, in hind-sight, it was prepared for many pages ago. Now I am excited to keep reading and see where this goes. The sexual encounter between Sue and Maud did not surprise me as much as the twist at the end of chapter 5. I have heard many times that, in situations where adolescents/young adults are isolated in single sex groups, same sex exploration is not uncommon. Since neither had any sexual experience with a man, the arousal they would have felt by the physical contact would have been interpreted as "love".

That was quite the twist, wasn't it?

I'm with Irene, the twist at the end of this part surprised me more. I'm not surprised that the hunted became the hunter, but I'm surprised at the way it happened.

So... who the heck is Maud?? Is she in love with Sue? Gentleman? Both? Neither? What's in it for her? If she and Gentleman preplanned this, why did they need Sue?

How will Sue get out of the institution? In Victorian times, you couldn't just behave yourself and be released, they typically kept you. And your insistence that you're not crazy is taken as proof that you are...

My mind is racing with questions too. I'm wondering if Mrs. Sucksby was involved in this. She was certainly a mother figure to Sue but, I think, is foremost a businesswoman.

Ooh, I hadn't considered that Mrs. Sucksby might be involved! I hope not, but given that no one else is who they seem...

I think Maud was acting like she loved Sue, but Sue really had those feelings.

Mrs. Sucksby was a little nervous about letting her go. I hope she is rescued. Back to reading.

I knew that Maud was covering up something from some of the comments in Sue's narration of events, but I did not see that twist coming. Like you, I wonder if Maud had cultivated Sue for this twist from the day she came to the house or if she made the decision at some point closer to the marriage. If this was preplanned with Gentleman from the start, then she is an amazing actress. I started Part 2 last night and Maud is now our narrator. Love the double intrigue of this novel.

The twist at the end of chapter 6 was a shocker! I have a feeling this book is going to keep my on my toes guessing what is going to happen next, and I may be wrong a lot!

I am wondering if Mrs. Sucksby was involved also. Who has the most to gain? Who would benefit from the money?

I'm even beginning to question if the inheritance upon marriage is fact or fiction. This book is making me question everything.

Ooh, you ladies are so clever! :)

I am suspicious, too, of the consummation of the marriage. Sue was intentionally being deceived the whole time (it seems), so who knows what really happened since she left London?

It's been a long time since a book has caught me so off guard, I'm loving it!

I agree, Jennifer, the whole change the sheets consummation thing could have been faked too!

I don't think I am going to be able to keep to this reading schedule. I finished chapter 10 last night and want to/need to keep going. I love it when a book sucks me in like this and I just can't wait to see what is going to happen.

Am I correct to think the uncle has Maud read books about sexual behavior?

Yes, it appears he is making her read to visiting men, and transcribe, pornographic books.

Yes, he collects porn, not sure if the art work that Gentleman is working on is also porn or if it is just the books.