Tipping the Velvet Review

Why Did I Wait This Long to Read This?

Let me start with this: My reviews are simply my opinions. If you disagree, I love to talk about it. Or even if you agree, let’s talk about what we loved. But simply put, they are merely my opinion. We will not always agree on what is loved and worth while, and I’m an English teacher first and foremost. I have very high standards for what I read.

So, I finally read Tipping the Velvet. For me, it was a four star read (probably an unpopular opinion that will enrage many), even though it is probably now one of my favorite reads.

I had been hearing about this book since … I don’t know. It feels like forever. Then I finally bought it, where it sat collecting dust on my TBR shelf for another round of like forever.

My excuse for that is I don’t typically like historical romance. Well, I thought I didn’t until I read The Ladies Guide to Celestial Mechanics and loved every second of it. So, now I know. I love books with lesbians set in Victorian era England.

And now I hate myself for having waited so long.

I absolutely loved the journey of Nan King and how she went from the heights of being in love and finding herself, to the lows of heartbreak, and the resounding numbness that followed, and then her ultimate redemption.

Love is something that can heal, for sure. But love is also a force of destruction.

I enjoyed the inner dialogue and the relationships and the depth of Nan.

So why four stars and not five?

The ending felt rushed for me. The part where Nan figures it all out happens in the last 15 pages. At this point I was assuming the worst. And it call comes crashing down on her in one incident. But even though it was rushed, I did still enjoy it. And I did cry. A lot.

The only other thing that bugged me a bit was even though Nan was fully developed and we got amazing layers with her story- none of the other characters really had a lot of depth (again, just my opinion).

After I finished part one of the novel, I did start the BBC series. That I’m only giving like 3.5 stars (because in no way shape or form is it going to be as good as the book (as film adaptations rarely are). I think had I never read the book, I would love this three part series.

Where it wins the most points is the costumes. I love it - especially when Nan is with Diana and her suits (I’ve said before and I will say it again- I’m a sucker for a soft butch in a suit). Also, I feel like for the most part, they did an excellent job of following the book, up to and including some of the dialogue.

What is causing me to not love the series is that there is no way in three hours you can really translate the depth of Nan and her journey. I feel like by cramming it into three hours, they did it a great disservice. I could easily see this as a longer mini series with two or three episodes per part. But again, just my opinion.

The highlight of watching the series is when Nan sees Kitty on the stage for the first time. My wife turned to me and said, “You look at me like that when I get dressed up.” Yes, ma’am. I certainly do. No denying it.

So overall… I do recommend both.