Jules

I did love the writing (some of the prose is gorgeous!) and the period detail and vocab was fascinating. The characters were all very well drawn, and while Nancy was interesting, I never got a completely clear sense of who she was, as she seemed to mold herself to fit the ideal of whichever woman she was at the time, and I don't think she ever really discovered her own self, not even at the end (I do feel this was the intention of the author). Her survival instinct was the strongest thing about her.

(SPOILER ALERT) I thought the ending was a little strange and abrupt, with all the socialism stuff coming up so hard and detailed, and Nancy getting closure with former lovers (even though with Diana it was from afar) and I didn't particularly want Nancy to get a happy ending. I don't know if it makes me a bad person (don't care) but I kind of wanted her to end up back on the streets or living elsewhere, unable to find true love. Or, you know, dead. I don't know why, really. I didn't hate her, but I didn't actually like her, either. I very much liked reading her story, though.

Definitely one I'll read again. I'm sure I'll find a ton more stuff in there, the second time around.