Reviews for Jessica Moffat's Silver Locket

The average rating for Jessica Moffat's Silver Locket based on 2 reviews is 4 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2012-02-23 00:00:00 Megan Markless Soporific, Tedious, Lackluster This is one of those books that sounds really good...until you read it and then you wonder what on earth are all of these rave reviews for? Did we read the same book? I don't think so, because the book I read was dull as dull could be. The characters were not brought to life, the interactions were melodramatic and the story was tedious. I thought the most interesting part of this book was the author's note. Helen Condrington runs into her old friend Emily 'Fido' Faithful in the street just two weeks after Helen's return to London from Malta where she and her husband Harry have been living for seven years. Helen and Fido were very close when they were younger and they resume their friendship now that Helen is back. Helen's husband soon files for divorce and Fido finds herself drawn into the ensuing courtroom drama. Donoghue creates a realistic enough setting, London 1864, but without an engaging story within that setting I found it just wasn't enough to make reading this book enjoyable or worthwhile. I think it might have been an interesting story if the author had examined the relationship between the two main characters more thoroughly or any other relationships. But as it is it seemed like Donughue got the bones of the story (which is non-fiction) and failed to flesh it out with the character's insights and true emotions. I think this could have been a really wonderful story in the hands of a more masterful writer. There are certainly issues to talk about for a group discussion. But as it is I found this to be a very forgettable story.

Review # 2 was written on 2013-03-14 00:00:00 Kimberley K Williams I'd heard good things about Emma Donoghue but as her historical fiction is usually set in the Victorian period (a period I don't have much interest in) I doubted very much that I would ever read a book by her. But then, on a whim, at a sale, I picked up this one. And boy, am I glad I did as I think I've discovered a new favourite author. On the surface this book is about a scandalous Victorian divorce case (weren't they all?!) and this one had it all; a decorated Admiral as the petitioner, a cheating wife with not one but two lovers, men under the Admiral's command named as co-respondents, hints of assignations and sex in 'exotic' locations, accusations of attempted rape, a well known early feminist as a witness for the defence, disappearance of said witness, and hints of 'unnatural' acts (lesbianism). The sensationalist press of the time had a field day and the retelling of the story makes for a compelling and page turning read. But the story Ms Donoghue tells goes much deeper than that, and it is as involved and as complex as human nature itself and the strict societal mores of the time. Donoghue uses the scant historical source materials (court documents, newspaper reports and a handful of personal letters) to good effect and weaves them into a very human and thought provoking tale. There's no right and wrong or winners and losers in this, but lots of shades and shadows. Lies and hypocrisy abound especially during the trial. It certainly made me very grateful that I live in a time and a country of 'no fault' divorce and that our Family Law Court is there ostensibly to look after the welfare of the children involved. Some reviewers have said they were disappointed by the ending but I loved it. There are two nice twists in the tail which I felt added much to the story and a lot of meaning to the undercurrent stuff. The author had some good points to make and it made me consider the old 'double standard' from an entirely new perspective, even amoung women and feminists. The early feminists had much to learn about what real equality meant, as arguably we still do today. An enjoyable buddy read with Anna who made it even better by indulging in some pretty wild speculation :-).