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ellipher's review
3.0
Very interesting. Really enjoyed knowing the events were real - especially the Draconian divorce laws - but wonder how much artistic liberty the author took. It seemed that she lacked information but also wilfully made it more titillating than it probably was.
ch6erry's review
4.0
It is very political, but really good at history. Some of the characters are a bit unrealistic, others are really sharp and soulful. Around the final court scene I would tell loudly "Fido, I would slap you.." but I did not do anything but bought another E. Donoghue book.
autumnwonders's review
4.0
From the author of 'Room'. This was very different from 'Room' but even better.
robforteath's review
3.0
This is so much in the Victorian style that you occasionally forget it is a contemporary novel. The setup is fine, although the first part is often tedious. Once the action picks up, it is more of a page-turner. Nothing feels forced, which is something of a feat considering how many little nuggets of historical fact had to be respected when designing the plot.
I didn't take anything much away from the book, but it's a decent enough story to read.
I didn't take anything much away from the book, but it's a decent enough story to read.
jennpellecchia's review
3.0
A quick read in spite of the length - or maybe I was just really into it - but it got a little bogged down with the courtroom stuff. I sympathize with the author's desire to describe what went down, but given the timing with in the book, it could be redundant.
There's kind of a twist at the end, and I'm not big on those - especially when I feel they're not true to the character as established.
There's kind of a twist at the end, and I'm not big on those - especially when I feel they're not true to the character as established.
pipipops's review
3.0
I read this because I enjoyed Room so much but found the writing completly different and very dificult to read. Good story, told well however.
drjoannehill's review against another edition
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Emma Donoghue writes such a great variety of subjects and time periods and although this is not my favourite of hers (last year I listened to Haven and, a bit surprisingly, found it excellent) The Sealed Letter is really interesting in entwining 1860s feminism with a divorce case in which women (the respondent and a friend) don't come out well at all. Using the newspaper records about the real case, Donoghue fills in some gaps and background with a good story featuring themes of friendship, manipulation, naivety... I learned a lot about 19th C divorce law and perspectives on women as wives and business owners. There's a long section in the court room which could be a slog for readers but I found the detail interesting (interspersed with internal monologue from the accused wife, listening in the gallery, about how her life was going to be made public and how it would be twisted by the barristers). Plenty of opportunity to decide whose side you are on.
Also my first TBR shelf read of 2025! I've had this on my shelf for years!
Also my first TBR shelf read of 2025! I've had this on my shelf for years!
Content Warnings
Minor: Infidelity and Toxic friendship
paperdove980's review
2.0
I was so disappointed by this book. After reading the blurb, I've had it on my to-read list for ages, and it really didn't live up to expectations.
On the positive side, I found the description of the divorce case, and the parts about the early feminists very interesting. The book was clearly extremely well researched, and written in a way that really drew me in. I learned a lot from this book, and so I don't regret reading it too much.
However, the plot is so tedious and slow moving. It's one of those books where I sat and wondered when is something actually going to happen? All this would not be so bad if I had become invested in the characters, but I found them all a bit irritating and unlikeable.
Also, the intriguing sealed letter of the title? It doesn't appear until three-quarters of the way through the book and is a real anti-climax.
Read it if you are interested in historical information regarding women in Victorian times, but if not, doesn't live up to the hype.
On the positive side, I found the description of the divorce case, and the parts about the early feminists very interesting. The book was clearly extremely well researched, and written in a way that really drew me in. I learned a lot from this book, and so I don't regret reading it too much.
However, the plot is so tedious and slow moving. It's one of those books where I sat and wondered when is something actually going to happen? All this would not be so bad if I had become invested in the characters, but I found them all a bit irritating and unlikeable.
Also, the intriguing sealed letter of the title? It doesn't appear until three-quarters of the way through the book and is a real anti-climax.
Read it if you are interested in historical information regarding women in Victorian times, but if not, doesn't live up to the hype.
thisociativemoth's review
3.0
this did not go the way I expected and I think I lost interest when all the legal jargon started..
the storyline I enjoyed as well as the history lesson but I'm afraid this one just didn't quite make it for me.
the storyline I enjoyed as well as the history lesson but I'm afraid this one just didn't quite make it for me.
geowhaley's review against another edition
4.0
My Recommendation: This is a very slow starting book. The first 50-75 pages were a bit of a slog, but once things picked up it went a lot faster. Donoghue is a fantastic writer of historical fiction and I'm glad I read this one, but it's somewhere in the middle of the works I've read by her. Honestly, I would've preferred more focus on Fido and her story rather than Helen, but that's not where the drama was, so I get it.
My Response: A few months ago I went through my bookshelves and made a couple of piles of books. The only qualifications were that they had to be on my shelves for a while (this has been on my shelves since April 2014) and that they probably be a quick read. This one falls somewhere in the middle of the pack of Donoghue's books that I've read. It's definitely not as good as Room or Slammerkin, but I do think it's a little better than Hood, mostly because Donoghue really excels at historical fiction.
Continue reading on my book blog at geoffwhaley.com.
My Response: A few months ago I went through my bookshelves and made a couple of piles of books. The only qualifications were that they had to be on my shelves for a while (this has been on my shelves since April 2014) and that they probably be a quick read. This one falls somewhere in the middle of the pack of Donoghue's books that I've read. It's definitely not as good as Room or Slammerkin, but I do think it's a little better than Hood, mostly because Donoghue really excels at historical fiction.
Continue reading on my book blog at geoffwhaley.com.