Bí Mật Hồ Cá Thần tải xuống LIT miễn phí

Ahmed Alnasheet _hmed_lnasheet — As close as you're going to get to be inside the mind of an autistic person. Really interesting and enlightening perspective...

Vidisha Ghatpande vidisha — The Crimson Petal and the White is a period drama set in Victorian London. The book follows a young prostitute called Sugar who catches the eye of a young gentleman who becomes a captain of industry as the head of Rackham Perfumeries. Sugar shares in the rise of his social fortunes and is transported from the whorehouse first to a 'love nest' in Notting Hill and finally into the Rackham household itself. In a superficial sort of way you could almost consider this tale a Victorian version of 'Pretty Woman'...although it is much more than that. Apparently the author researched this book for 20 years, and this labour of love has certainly paid off in the richly described historical backdrop to this book. It is set in a very socially interesting time: the industrial revolution is getting into gear and Darwin has just published his Origin of Species. It seems that the whole of society is undergoing a period of transition, as the dawn of the 20th century approaches. There are an exciting mix of characters in this book, and they are given plenty of scope to grow. William Rackham begins as a foolish, lazy dandy until his desperate desire to be able to afford exclusive rights to Sugar turn him into a diligent business man. Sugar herself starts as a man-hating cynical whore who wants to take Rackham for everything she can get, and throughout the novel becomes more refined, more grown-up, and it seems at times she's actually in love with William. It's interesting to watch the balance of power between Sugar and William as it changes back and forth throughout. There is also Agnes Rackham, Williams demented wife, whos insanity and Williams efforts to keep it hidden are reminiscent of Jane Eyre (which even Faber admits to in the book itself) and make an exciting subplot. What I disliked about this book was that ultimately I didn't fully believe in the main characters motivations, or some of their actions. William apparently is transformed into a successful businessman overnight by his need for money to finance his relationship with Sugar, yet when he becomes successful he virtually ignores her. Sugar starts out as a hardened cynic studying her prey to make sure she gets the most out of him, and ends on a much weaker note where she apparently loves William, is desperate for his approval, and harbours delusions of their becoming a family - something surely no intelligent woman in her position would believe possible. I was also a little put off by some of the writing style. At the start of the book the narrator addresses the reader directly, and leads you through the opening chapters as though you are some sort of voyeur tourist. Thankfully this odd narrative device is dropped a few chapters in and only makes an appearance again at the very end. Without giving away any spoilers I must say that the ending itself left me feeling vaguely dissapointed and unsatisfied. Overall this is an excellent book and I would recommend it. At 800 pages long it might seem like a daunting length but the story is well paced and doesn't feel too long at all. Lovers of charming period pieces though beware: some elements are not for the faint-hearted or the easily offended.