Vaginal Fantasy Book Club discussion

Felicia has picked Karen Memory by Elizabeth Bear for March's MAIN. Use this thread to discuss the novel. As always, expect spoilers for the full book.

"You ain't gonna like what I have to tell you, but I'm gonna tell you anyway. See, my name is Karen Memery, like memory only spelt with an e, and I'm one of the girls what works in the Hôtel Mon Cherie on Amity Street. Hôtel has a little hat over the o like that. It's French, so Beatrice tells me."

Set in the late 19th century—when the city we now call Seattle Underground was the whole town (and still on the surface), when airships plied the trade routes, would-be gold miners were heading to the gold fields of Alaska, and steam-powered mechanicals stalked the waterfront, Karen is a young woman on her own, is making the best of her orphaned state by working in Madame Damnable's high-quality bordello. Through Karen's eyes we get to know the other girls in the house—a resourceful group—and the poor and the powerful of the town. Trouble erupts one night when a badly injured girl arrives at their door, begging sanctuary, followed by the man who holds her indenture, and who has a machine that can take over anyone's mind and control their actions. And as if that wasn't bad enough, the next night brings a body dumped in their rubbish heap—a streetwalker who has been brutally murdered.

Bear brings alive this Jack-the-Ripper yarn of the old west with a light touch in Karen's own memorable voice, and a mesmerizing evocation of classic steam-powered science.

Karen Memory is the first book in the Karen Memory series. The second book is scheduled to be released on March 20, 2018.

Noooo! I was hoping for a trashy romance novel with bad characters and lots of sex. :(

I’m not too far in but the characters grammar is killing me a bit. It works for them but it’s hard to hear (listening to audiobook)

Kat wrote: "I’m not too far in but the characters grammar is killing me a bit. It works for them but it’s hard to hear (listening to audiobook)"

I can see how it would be hard on audiobook but reading it, you get used to it. It fits the characters.

Just FYI this was my pick Bonnie will pick next one!

I linked these on the discord, but I'll put them here too. :)
In case anyone is having trouble visualizing what the street/sidewalk situation would be like.

Historical scenes of Seattle during the re-building
https://99percentinvisible.org/episod...

and modern photos from a tour of the area
http://urbansome.com/seattle-undergro...

Thank you for those links! I was really confused the first time I read the description in the book and had to go back to reread it. I got the gist if it the second time around, but I think the book failed to mention the buildings would be constructing new entrances on the second level, so I was confused as to what would happen when the sidewalks got filled in too. And by the way, I had NEVER heard of Seattle Underground before! Am I the only one?

Just finished. It was good but wouldn't say great. There wasn't as much character development that I had hoped for.

One of my quickest reads (under 4 days), found that i couldn't put it down. I found the entire cast of characters to be intriguing, from Francina and madame to the marshall....even the cat.

I will admit i was confused at times of how the main building was situated, but thought it was well paced overall.

And karen and priya made for a cute couple

I thought this book wound up being a lot of fun! Here is my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Kate wrote: "Just finished. It was good but wouldn't say great. There wasn't as much character development that I had hoped for."

I agree with you Kate, I finished it but it still felt it was missing something. But I can't quite put my finger on it.

Does it annoy anyone else that her name is Karen Memery but the title of the book is Karen Memory?

Caitlin wrote: "Does it annoy anyone else that her name is Karen Memery but the title of the book is Karen Memory?"

Yes! I kept expecting it to be some major plot point. Then, when I finished reading, I was just annoyed.

The wink wink while she explains out every friggin detail is grating. Its hard to see Karen as an adult.

Patricia wrote: "The wink wink while she explains out every friggin detail is grating. Its hard to see Karen as an adult."

I got the impression she was only 16 or 17. Or at least that she had started sewing at that age, and wasn't much older yet.

It was my impression too, that Karen is 16 or thereabout, but to me she read more like 20-25.