Life Mask
by Emma Donoghue | Literature & Fiction | This book has not been rated.
ISBN: Global Overview for this book
ISBN: Global Overview for this book
Registered by 
Tarya
of Tammela, Kanta-Häme / Egentliga Tavastland Finland on 7/18/2017
This Book is Currently in the Wild!
Tarya of Tammela, Kanta-Häme / Egentliga Tavastland Finland on 7/18/2017 This Book is Currently in the Wild!
2 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by Tarya from Tammela, Kanta-Häme / Egentliga Tavastland Finland on Tuesday, July 18, 2017
Tarya from Tammela, Kanta-Häme / Egentliga Tavastland Finland on Tuesday, July 18, 2017
From emmadonoghue.com:
Life Mask, my fourth novel, is about a love triangle in 1790s London, among the elite who moved through the overlapping worlds of art, politics, sport and theatre. It tells the tangled true story of three people who lived in the harsh glare of publicity: the Honourable Mrs Anne Damer (a widowed sculptor with a Sapphic reputation), the Earl of Derby (a fabulously wealthy politician who founded the Derby horserace), and Eliza Farren (the leading comedy actress on the British stage).
Life Mask was a finalist in the 2005 Lambda and Ferro-Grumley Awards for Lesbian Fiction and the Stonewall Book Award, and was chosen as one of the Best Books of 2004 by the Washington Post.
Virago 2005
Life Mask, my fourth novel, is about a love triangle in 1790s London, among the elite who moved through the overlapping worlds of art, politics, sport and theatre. It tells the tangled true story of three people who lived in the harsh glare of publicity: the Honourable Mrs Anne Damer (a widowed sculptor with a Sapphic reputation), the Earl of Derby (a fabulously wealthy politician who founded the Derby horserace), and Eliza Farren (the leading comedy actress on the British stage).
Life Mask was a finalist in the 2005 Lambda and Ferro-Grumley Awards for Lesbian Fiction and the Stonewall Book Award, and was chosen as one of the Best Books of 2004 by the Washington Post.
Virago 2005
CandyDarling will get this wishlist book of hers tomorrow afternoon at the BC meet-up at Ciao! Caffe in Columbus. Enjoy reading!
Thank you for the wishlist book!
I started reading this book in October 2019, but it was quite difficult to keep reading as the book didn't engage me at all. I was super excited about the subject matter, I love reading novels about real historical people, and I'm especially interested in lesbian women of the past. So I immediately put this book on my wish list when I found out that Emma Donoghue had written a book about the relationship of Anne Seymour Damer and Elizabeth Farren. Unfortunately, it turns out the book is mostly about other things than the love triangle mentioned in the blurb.
I found a review on Goodreads that perfectly explains why I couldn't get into this book, so I'll just quote Holly's review here:
"If you are fascinated by Whig politics in late 18th Century England, you'll love this book. If you're interested in the intersections of theater and the aristocracy in 18th Century England, you'll enjoy the book. If you're interested in cockfighting, horse racing, drinking, taking mistresses, and other "gentlemanly" pursuits, you will enjoy this book. If you are interested in the specific historical people who appear in the book, you will absolutely love it. But if you are looking for a an emotionally and sexually charged lesbian drama set in 18th Century England, look elsewhere.
That being said, I rather liked it, because it's like someone's Ph.D. dissertation, in novel form, and I'm a nerd with a big interest in 18th Century England. But even I kept screaming, "When is something going to happen besides men sitting around horse races, clubs, and parties talking about the Whigs and the French Revolution?"
Unfortunately, at some point I lost hope that the book would become more engaging, and I just couldn't make myself pick it up anymore. I waited a couple of years, but I'm still not interested in trying again, even though I would love to read the story, it's just that this book is not the story I hoped it would be. It's time for the book to travel on.
I found a review on Goodreads that perfectly explains why I couldn't get into this book, so I'll just quote Holly's review here:
"If you are fascinated by Whig politics in late 18th Century England, you'll love this book. If you're interested in the intersections of theater and the aristocracy in 18th Century England, you'll enjoy the book. If you're interested in cockfighting, horse racing, drinking, taking mistresses, and other "gentlemanly" pursuits, you will enjoy this book. If you are interested in the specific historical people who appear in the book, you will absolutely love it. But if you are looking for a an emotionally and sexually charged lesbian drama set in 18th Century England, look elsewhere.
That being said, I rather liked it, because it's like someone's Ph.D. dissertation, in novel form, and I'm a nerd with a big interest in 18th Century England. But even I kept screaming, "When is something going to happen besides men sitting around horse races, clubs, and parties talking about the Whigs and the French Revolution?"
Unfortunately, at some point I lost hope that the book would become more engaging, and I just couldn't make myself pick it up anymore. I waited a couple of years, but I'm still not interested in trying again, even though I would love to read the story, it's just that this book is not the story I hoped it would be. It's time for the book to travel on.
Journal Entry 5 by CandyDarling at -- Kalasataman Vapaakaupungin Olohuone REDIssä in Helsinki, Uusimaa / Nyland Finland on Friday, March 4, 2022
Released 2 yrs ago (3/3/2022 UTC) at -- Kalasataman Vapaakaupungin Olohuone REDIssä in Helsinki, Uusimaa / Nyland Finland
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
I left the book at the bookshelf at The Free City of Kalasatama – Living room, located on the 2nd floor of Redi shopping centre.
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-----------------------------------------
If you're reading this, you've caught a book! Congratulations, and welcome to BookCrossing. You've come to a friendly place. Hope you enjoy the book, and the free no-spam website. Please make a short note to let me know what you thought of the book, then feel free to keep it or set it free to continue its journey. If you choose to join BookCrossing, you'll be able to see where the book goes on its travels!
Happy Reading!
