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Book #50 Hosted by CathyThe story of a well-read London prostitute named Sugar, who spends her free hours composing a violent, pornographic screed against men, Michel Faber's dazzling second novel. We learn about the positions and orifices that Sugar and her clients favor, about her lingering skin condition, and about the suspect ingredients of her prophylactic douches. Still, Sugar believes she can make a better life for herself. When she is taken up by a wealthy man, the perfumer William Rackham, her wings are clipped, and she must balance financial security against the obvious servitude of her position. The physical risks and hardships of Sugar's life (and the even harder "honest" life she would have led as a factory worker) contrast--yet not entirely--with the medical mistreatment of her benefactor's wife, Agnes, and beautifully underscore Faber's emphasis on class and sexual politics. Amazon.com Review
Discussion Questions
1. Does Michel Faber keep the reader hooked and entertained throughout this lengthy novel?
2. Are Sugar and William ever in love?
3. The novel ends with a "what if." Speculate about the futures of Sophie and Sugar. Did you suspect William would act the way he did?
4. Why wasn't Sugar skin condition solved with the help of Williams products?
5. Do you believe that Ashwell and Bodley were merely included for comic relief?
1. Does Michel Faber keep the reader hooked and entertained throughout this lengthy novel?
2. Are Sugar and William ever in love?
3. The novel ends with a "what if." Speculate about the futures of Sophie and Sugar. Did you suspect William would act the way he did?
4. Why wasn't Sugar skin condition solved with the help of Williams products?
5. Do you believe that Ashwell and Bodley were merely included for comic relief?
Now Sleeps the Crimson Petal by
Alfred Lord Tennyson
Now sleeps the crimson petal, now the white;
Nor waves the cypress in the palace walk;
Nor winks the gold fin in the porphyry font;
The firefly wakens, waken thou with me.
Now droops the milk-white peacock like a ghost,
And like a ghost she glimmers on to me.
Now lies the Earth all Danae to the stars,
And all thy heart lies open unto me.
Now slides the silent meteor on, and leaves
A shining furrow, as thy thoughts, in me.
Now folds the lily all her sweetness up,
And slips into the bosom of the lake.
So fold thyself, my dearest, thou, and slip
Into my bosom and be lost in me.
3 comments:
Normally a lengthly novel doesn't scare me, but reading this book certainly did. I forced myself to finish reading this because I kept looking for that glimmer of what could have been a great novel. The premise was all there, memorable characters, wonderful setting, period piece but it just was lacking. Every other sentence could have been cut out though I doubt it would have helped. And to top it off the end seemed hurried after slowly trudging along and then ending with a "what if?" Also, where was the answer to what sexual perversion other prostitutes wouldn't do? How could the author tease us and not give the answer!!! Disappointing!
It was more interesting reading all the critical reviews raving about the book. I kept trying to understand what element of the book would fit a positive review other than the premise of the novel. The thoughts that kept coming to mind was "the emperor has no clothes" and where was the book editor?
There was nothing that I connected with reading this novel. The dialogue was boring most the time and hard to follow, the setting description was stilted to follow the book direction of dark and morose aspects, the characters were 2 dimensional but worse of all the sex scenes weren't even enjoyable!
Do I really even need to say anything about the ending? Tiffany - this gets my vote for for the most disappointing end of all the books so far...you?
Talking of editing there is a scene where somebody knocks on Sugar's door and she says "Whats' up". I doubt that expression was used in those times.
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