Summary:
Nan King is captivated by the music hall phenomenon Kitty Butler, a male impersonator extraordinaire treading the boards in Canterbury. Through a friend at the box office, Nan manages to finally meet her heroine. Soon after, she becomes Kitty's dresser and the two head to London, where they begin a glittering career as music-hall stars in an all-singing-and-dancing double act. Behind closed doors, they admit their attraction to each other and their affair begins.
My Thoughts:
While the writing was somewhat difficult to get used to, I think this was a really interesting read. We follow Nan, a closeted lesbian in the late 1800s who falls in love with Kitty, a male impersonator. After getting to know each other, they go to London and star in an act together. But Kitty's fear of being outed is what makes her lose Nan, and Nan runs away after learning of Kitty's affair and engagement to Walter. After another failed attempt with a rich woman named Diane, Nan finds her true love and a circle of women who are just like her.
This book was a roller coaster ride of emotions. Nan's sister Alice was probably my least favorite character, as she was really terrible toward Nan when she found out her sexuality. I both loved and hated Kitty, and the same for Diane and Florence. Despite the large time distance, I do feel connected to Nan in some aspects, with some of my family not being happy about my sexuality.
My Rating: 4 stars
