# Tipping the velvet!! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 30, 2003, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-the-velvet/198702 "2003-08-30T23:37:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![superstar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f4b2a3/32.png) [@superstar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/superstar)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2003, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-the-velvet/198702/1 "2003-08-30T23:37:17Z")
I have just come to the end of Sarah Waters “Tipping the Velvet”. I was totally engrossed in it from page one and read it in 2 days. I couldn’t put it down, and had this strange feeling that I was sucked into the late 1800’s. I then suggested my partner read it… mainly because I was going on about it so much. After a week she finished it and said she was disgusted by the lack of morals of the main character and almost stopped reading it half way through… I was suprised totally. Has anyone else read this book? Someone back me up please. Also was anyone dissapointed with the ending? Wrong choice? (I’m being vague in case someone is in the middle of this book) ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2003, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-the-velvet/198702/2 "2003-08-30T23:58:20Z")
I loved it, also went through it at 90mph. ---
**Author:** ![Invisible\_Chimp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f05b48/32.png) [@Invisible\_Chimp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Invisible_Chimp)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2003, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-the-velvet/198702/3 "2003-08-31T03:53:59Z")
I haven’t read the book, but I saw the movie. Actually it was more of a miniseries. I think I saw it on BBC America. I am a heterosexual male, but I liked it. Of course, I almost always like girl on girl action:)(it’s not really that explicit.) ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2003, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-the-velvet/198702/4 "2003-08-31T04:04:11Z")
Haven’t read Tipping but would sure like to recommend **Fingersmith** by the same author. Not very explicit sexually – sort of delicately intense – a real page-turner. Can’t remember the last time I was so anxious to read a book to find out what was going to happen next. There was an actual story, with a plot, not just a journey to an epiphany. Praise be. ---
**Author:** ![superstar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f4b2a3/32.png) [@superstar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/superstar)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2003, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-the-velvet/198702/5 "2003-08-31T21:25:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by AuntiePam \* > \*\*Haven’t read Tipping but would sure like to recommend **Fingersmith** by the same author. Not very explicit sexually – sort of delicately intense – a real page-turner. Can’t remember the last time I was so anxious to read a book to find out what was going to happen next. > > There was an actual story, with a plot, not just a journey to an epiphany. Praise be. \*\* Read it **AuntiePam** , thought it was a better thought out plot, but not as raunchy. Get your hands on **Tipping** and then email me your thoughts… I’m sure you will be pleasantly suprised. ---
**Author:** ![mojave66](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@mojave66](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mojave66)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2003, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-the-velvet/198702/6 "2003-09-01T05:45:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by superstar \* > \*\*I have just come to the end of Sarah Waters “Tipping the Velvet”. > I was totally engrossed in it from page one and read it in 2 days. I couldn’t put it down, and had this strange feeling that I was sucked into the late 1800’s. > I then suggested my partner read it… mainly because I was going on about it so much. After a week she finished it and said she was disgusted by the lack of morals of the main character and almost stopped reading it half way through… I was suprised totally. > > Has anyone else read this book? Someone back me up please. > \*\* Lack of morals? Really? To me the whole story was about Nancy’s growth into a moral being. I adored the book EXCEPT for the ending because it was way TOO pat a morality lesson. I don’t always see Nancy as a horribly sympathetic character, but certainly one where circumstances lead her to make some horrendous choices that she eventually has to atone for. Not all main characters have to be 100% likeable. ---
**Author:** ![superstar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f4b2a3/32.png) [@superstar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/superstar)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2003, 9:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping-the-velvet/198702/7 "2003-09-01T09:35:35Z")
True! Kitty was not always likeable, but Good Lord she had a way of wrapping Nan around her little finger, the whole time knowing what she was doing. From the moment they met backstage Kitty knew she would break Nan’s heart, but if I was Nan I probably would have done the same stupid thing. I know that in the context of the time women where not meant to be alone, but do think Nan had problems being alone?She was only happy if she pursuing someone, searching for love. I don’t know if would have been able to turn my back on Kitty at the end, the only thing that would have helped me was that the thought of living a lie with Kitty, but it would have been tempting. But I’m a sucker like that!