*3.5 stars.

A tough one to rate. This is nothing like "The Room" by the same author EXCEPT that she manages to match her style of writing to the story-teller and period remarkably well. So much so that had one might even think the two books were written by completely different people. This story is set in the 1800s and is based on true events. The chapters are short so it's nice to read and the way it is written is more of the old style which means there are some lovely old phrases and words that one rarely comes across in more modern novels. The book didn't wow me, but I still enjoyed the read.

There was too much leading into the small section that made this worth reading. This was my third title by Donoghue and I had high hopes, but this book fell short.

Enjoyed this read, now I'd like to know more about the true events behind it. Definitely my kind of fiction, but this one I wouldn't necessarily read again.

It took me two attempts to get going with this book (I first started it 6 months ago and put it down), but once I got passed the beginning (rather slow), the narrative romps along at a tremendous pace and I found I was unable to put it down; I believe I read two thirds of the novel in two days.
Based on the real Coderington divorce case of 1864, the author weaves an intriguing fictional yet very plausible mystery, based on the known facts as discussed in great lengths in the newspapers of the time. Inconsistencies and lingering questions as to the actions of the key characters are interpreted and explained through some brilliantly dazzling plot twists that continue until the very final page.
The key characters of Fido, Helen and Harry are thoughtfully realised and as readers we experience events both before and during the divorce case through the individual perspectives of each; thus making credible the complex machinations of the court room.
A novel absolutely to be recommended.

Not at all the type of story I expected from the author of Room, but an entertaining read all the same

40 pages in, and I am SO bored. Too many other good books out there to waste my time with a boring one. Sorry, book!

This book was boring. Boring, boring, boring. And tedious. And so hard to read.

The best thing about this book was actually the author's notes. Donoghue did a very good job discussing what was/wasn't true, discussed the case, the newspaper accounts, the actual people, and what happened to them during and after the trial. There was interesting information about the history of divorce - bringing it up even to the present. This part was fascinating, interesting, and I would have preferred to read an entire nonfiction book about the case and the participants.

But, this was fiction.

And as fiction I expect more than a recounting of a salacious divorce trial, but instead a plot with well developed characters. And in this story, I just didn't like anyone.

I expected to have some sympathies for Helen - unhappy in her marriage, with a husband who she hates, stuck, unable to do anything about it. Being denied a separation and having to find a way to carry on in the face of such unhappiness. She even asked for a separation and was denied. This experience is one that is soul crushing and why wouldn't I feel sympathy towards that? Women were the husband's property. They had no rights to their children.

But I didn't. I hated Helen. Hated her. I felt no sympathy. She was manipulative. One-sided. Hateful. Ignorant. Stupid. She took advantage of people. And I hated her and thought she deserved everything that happened to her.

And in this book - on this topic that should have enraged me about how women were treated, and how it was (and is?) unfair, it just made me feel hateful towards everyone involved.

But...isn't this book really about Fido? And her role? And how she was taken advantage of? So, yeah, I felt bad for Fido. But as a smart business woman, shouldn't she have known better? Okay - maybe she was blinded by friendship, blinded by love. And the ending I really felt cheapened their relationship. Maybe they really did have an affair. Maybe they didn't. Certainly the end notes allude to a history of close female friendship in Fido's life - most likely more than friendship. But did this story and this book have to go there? It seemed an entirely sensational way to end an entirely unsensational book.

And then it was boring. It went on and on and on and on. I think it could have been wrapped up in half the time. So this one - I just can't recommend this one. I would rather all the nonfiction books on this topic that the author references in the notes section.

I selected this book randomly by looking at books on the Stonewall Award list. I loved the book, but I wanted to smack both the main characters for different reasons.

Oof, she's good. While this is lower on my list of Donoghue, it was still very thought-provoking and well-written as always.