What I am reading now

The Crimson Petal and the White has been called “the first great 19^th century novel of the 21^st century.” It has became   a BBC television adaptation  which was shown earlier this year  At 835 pages, it’s certainly not a short read,  but really it is worth every second of the time it takes to read it! The style in which it is written is unusual but brilliant and it has became one of my favorite book, The authhor speaks directly to the reader and you feel you are an invisible part of the story.  The opening scene alone is enough to pull you in;


“Watch your step. Keep your wits about you; you will need them. This city I am bringing you is vast and intricate, and you have not been here before. You may imagine from other stories you’ve read, that you know it well, but those stories flattered you, welcoming you as a friend, treating you as if you belonged. The truth is that you are an alien from another time and place altogether.”




It is set in a Victorian London and does capture those same bleak, haunting, and filthy scenes of London that Dickens is renowned for.
The main thread of the story follows Sugar, who has been forced into prostitution by her own mother. Only, Sugar isn’t like other prostitutes – she is very literate, she can read and write, and is very intelligent. She is determined to use these skills to make a better life for herself. Then there is  William Rackham – a struggling writer, who is married to a mad woman, has a daughter he never sees, and very little source of income.
I do not want to tell you more about it but if you have a chance do read it, it is worth it