Customer Reviews

Vertigo

5 star:		(32)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Having read some of the other reviews here, I was interested to see that most readers either loved Vertigo or hated it. I've read Lauren's contemporary works and was interested to see how she'd handle a historical novel. I think she did quite well. Comparisons can be made to Madame Bovary, but that is not a bad thing.

It's fascinating to see how easily love and trust can be manipulated. Emma started out in a loving, honest relationship (or did she?) and the progression of her alternate relationship was slow and complex. It was an interesting look at how Emma's society viewed themselves and each other, especially considering that her correspondence with a prisoner fell dramatically outside the norm.

I was thrown a bt toward the end- was she losing her mind, or was it all an elaborate scheme? The thing I thought was best is that the reader isn't presented with a neatly wrapped ending. There are still threads to be followed, decisions to be made. One wonders what will become of our heroine.

And for the reviewer that thought the sex was too graphic- have you read many romances?!? This was TAME compared to some of the thinly disguised pornography that I've been treated to by some authors. (and tame does not equal boring)

All in all, I'd read it again. And I probably will!

This is the story of Emma, a housewife who is bored stiff. Her husband, John, is a successful writer and she is his satellite. With a nanny to take care of their son and a plethora of servants, Emma has too much time on her hands, and not enough to do. John talks at her, telling her what's going on in the world, and no one takes much interest in her interior life.

The book takes place in Victorian times, a period I happen to like, but even if you don't, the characters and emotions are modern enough that it's not really an "historical" novel, even though the details are accurate (except perhaps when a horse-and-carriage is called a cab?)

Anyway, the plot is endlessly engaging. One New Year's Eve, Emma resolves to become a better person. As a means to this end, she engages in a correspondence with a prisoner. At first he rebuffs her, but this only strengthens her determination to connect. Before long, their letters become sexual.

I won't give away any more of what happens, but suffice it to say the novel ends up in a different spot than you would have predicted. (DO NOT look at the last page before you get there.) A slight downside is a lack of believability at times, both with the characters and the plot. However, this is a dramatic read that will keep you guessing, and it won't bore you.

I admit I had some preconceived notions regarding Lauren Baratz-Logsted when I picked up this book. Her name sounded familiar, and then I remembered reading a chick-lit novel of hers called The Thin Pink Line some years ago. Hmm, I thought as I read the back page of Vertigo. So now she's writing period novels, huh? She still writes chick-lit. Nothing wrong with that -- I love chick-lit -- but most authors write under a different name when they switch genres. Well, Vertigo is one of, if not THE best novel I have read in a very long time. But more on that later. This turn-of-the-century tale is about Mrs. Emma Smith, a thirty-something wife and mother whose New Year's resolution for 1899 is to become a better person. Her husband John, an accomplished novelist, suggests exchanging letters with a prison inmate. John is doing research at a prison for his next novel, and he knows the perfect pen pal for Emma, an educated man convicted for murdering his wife. How scandalous of her husband to suggest such a thing! But John reassures her that the man had no choice but to kill his wife. So the letters begin, and soon Emma and Chance Wood fall in a passionate, obsessive sort of love. And that is just the beginning of twisted chains of events that unfold with each beautifully written chapter.

This is a gorgeous, ironic historical novel that pays homage to classics such as Jane Eyre and Madame Bovary and reminds you a great deal of D.H. Lawrence's Lady Chatterley's Lover, Kate Chopin's The Awakening and Thomas Hardy's Tess of the D'Ubervilles. I'm not saying this is quite as literary as the aforementioned novels, but it took me back to those classics. This story is dark and sinister, a wonderful piece of suspense, with twists and turns that keep you guessing until its last pages. The erotic scenes are sexy and tasteful. In short, this novel is BRILLIANT. I wish I had written it! At the risk of sounding like a total cliché, I couldn't put it down. I don't know how successful this novel was on the bestseller list, but it should have been up there with the very best. (On the other hand, "the very best" is not exactly accurate. I cannot help but shake my head at the sort of garbage that makes the NYT list these days, but I digress.) The epilogue is absolutely wonderful in its vague but hopeful tone. Emma will not go gentle into that goodnight and I cannot help but root for this compelling anti-heroine. I don't want to give anything away, so I won't go into further detail.

Now I must point out the flaws. This work is wonderful, but far from perfect. One of the things I did not like about the writing was the fact that I couldn't tell the difference between the flashbacks and the natural flow of the story, which confused me at times. I also couldn't help but wonder about the twist at the end. It felt like most of it was thrown in out of nowhere. John seems to change through the course of the story. I know that it is Emma's perception of him that changes, but the ebb and flow of the narrative aren't clear enough about that, and so the change seems abrupt. And the author should have described the late-Victorian era with more detail. This is a fascinating era with so many changes in norms and technology, and she should have explored it more. Some historical references are thrown in, like Queen Victoria's death and the Boer War, but more could have been added to the dialogue and narrative. It surprised me that there was no mention of the motorcar. They weren't popular until about 1906, but they had been invented and manufactured for quite a few years, and were exhibited as the transportation of the future in many places. Those loose ends are what kept me from giving this the rating I wanted to give it: five stars. I did enjoy Vertigo very much. So much so that I have added it to the spot in my library reserved for my all-time favorites and "must rereads." Anyway, yes, I did have some prejudices regarding Baratz-Logsted. To be honest, I had wondered if this book was ghostwritten. But why would it be? As a writer, I am too aware of the different stories that go on in one's head, and how although one may have a particular voice in fiction, there is still that one Big American Novel that is just dying to be written. So I have nothing but praise for this author and wish her the best. I will definitely be reading her Red Dress Ink chick-lits after this!

Let me say right off that I am not much for romance novels. It's not that I think they're bad, it's just that they don't grab me like other fiction does. That said, VERTIGO is a thrilling erotic tale that is sure to keep various types of readers interested.

The writing style is very good, keeping pretty close to what seemed to be the standard speech during the time-period. And the story itself is riveting; I found myself trying to figure out the twists and turns long before they happened and did figure out one or two things before they were revealed, but the clues were there, placed as tantalizing bits of information to keep the suspense going.

When Emma, a Victorian wife, sets out to fulfill her New Year's resolution of "becoming a better person," she has no idea how to proceed and seeks her husband's advice. John suggests that she start writing to a prisoner, and he can give her the contact because he is working on a book about the subject and has access to the facilities. In a classic example of the phrase "be careful what you wish for," Emma is thrown into a Victorian-style forbidden romance with a prisoner fittingly named Chance Wood. What follows is a sinister unraveling of her very well-kept world; where she is keenly observant of the folly and hidden feelings within others, she is wholly in the dark about her own situation.

Love, lust, betrayal, and murder follow. Family and, especially, friends prove untrustworthy. Secrets are formed and revealed, lives changed forever. It is not so much a romance as it is a dark erotic tale of suspense and mind games--games that become more dangerous as the stakes become higher.

Vertigo is a great summer read, perfect for conversation afterwards. I ended up discussing the characters as if they were real people. At times I was reminded of Dante's INFERNO and the Victorian lovers spending an eternity regretting their actions--there are allusions to that theme within the pages of the book as well. And the ending of VERTIGO, while somewhat familiar to this kind of work, will likely shock and leave you shaking your head in disbelief.

COURTESY OF CK2S KWIPS AND KRITIQUES

A seemingly harmless New Year's Resolution "to be a better person" takes Emma Smith down a path she could have never anticipated. It's the turn of the century, 1898, and with her husband's encouragement; she begins a correspondence with a prisoner to satisfy her resolution. This communication with the stranger stirs up feelings in her she never knew she had and creates desire she never knew possible. Then her prisoner receives a pardon. Emma begins living a dangerous double life, dark and erotic, full of tantalizing suspense and ultimately, murder.

I've always enjoyed historical fiction, but VERTIGO takes it to new and surprising heights spreading itself across several genres beautifully. Not just a work of historical fiction, VERTIGO is also a psychological thriller, a drama, erotica and a lovely piece of literature. As I read, the words elegant and poetic came to mind throughout.

What struck me was how timeless the story was. Although set in the turn of the Victorian age, Emma had so many of the same feelings modern women have today. The pressures of being a wife and mother, friend and daughter, satisfying expectations while keeping her own identity caused an inner turmoil that was easy to relate to and easily exploitable.

There was a deep intimacy as we read letters with Emma to her prisoner, Chance, and hers from him. The eventual sexual relationship between them was stirring and almost ingenuous in its eroticism. Their affair was far from innocent, but Emma's modesty and unexplored feelings give it that sense of self discovery to Chance's virility.

The suspense was classic and reminiscent of Hitchcock. Pondering and contemplating was part of the thrill as I read on, hoping for a satisfying conclusion. Nothing is as it would seem. The twists and turns were cultivated and refined but with a dark and psychological subtext that was just delicious. I'm happy to highly recommend VERTIGO.

This is an awesome book, aptly titled because it is so full of surprises it leaves the reader with vertigo! Every time I thought I had it all figured out - WHAM - another twist. The main character is loveable and I couldn't put the book down because I wanted to know what would happen next and what she would do. Baratz-Logsted is terrific at developing characters.
The time and setting of the book make the story authentic. I really enjoyed the ambiance of the time period this author created.
For me, this was one of those books that make you want to buy an author's entire backlist.

Vertigo is not a typical historical romance by any stretch of the imagination. Rather, it cannot be labeled at all because the basic plot transcends many genres. It is a psychological thriller, erotic, and quite frankly, very good literary fiction. Ms. Baratz-Logsted has created rich, fascinating characters in Emma, John, and Chance, as well as a cast of off-beat supporting foils such as Timmins the not so typical butler and Constance, the not so typical shrinking violet of that era. This book is rich in detail...the words are so visual you are right in the middle of the scene; all of your senses are involved...it is almost like staring at a painting at times. And I defy anyone to guess the ending, which is the best part. The suspense that builds slowly throughout is masterful, beginning at page one...the prologue itself is chilling and will set the reader on the edge of his/her chair as we wonder what fate has befallen the narrator. I could sense impending disaster...and yet...I wasn't sure. I entertained many scenarios as I read on, which was wonderful because while the author gives us some hints, the many twists and turns...done brilliantly...had me repeatedly shaking my head saying "No, that's not it...that can't be what happens"...all I know is I could not put this book down until I found out what was in store for these characters.

The book is written in first person, which I personally adore having read Catcher in the Rye as a child -- it's the book which made me want to be a writer myself -- and said first person narrator was the perfect choice for this book. Trust me, from the opening chapter you are in the mind of Emma...you are with her in every room; you are reading her lover's letters with her...you experience her every emotion.

The erotic nature of the book was handled in an extremely sexy, graphic way and yet the most graphic details are not thrown in the reader's face, as with most of the book, we are left to our imaginations which is way sexier.

What is especially interesting to me is how this book illustrates the intimate nature of the written word. While it takes place in Victorian times, it very well could have been written as a modern novel with characters who meet and correspond on the internet and fall in love via email exchange without ever having met in the "real world"...something which seems to be a usual occurrence these days and will have many readers both smiling and shuddering as perhaps they see themselves in Emma and Chance.

All of the above is what makes this book such a winner. The reader must think and analyze throughout, in between admiring this author for her writing style and skills...yet taken at face value without analyzing, it still makes for a quick, fascinating read which will grab both lovers of light fiction and those who want a more challenging, literary read. I know first hand how difficult it is to create a work that manages to do both, and I applaud Lauren Baratz-Logsted for her ability to do so. And again, the build-up of suspense from chapter to chapter is just amazing.

I cannot recommend this book enough.

I enjoyed this book so much I couldn't put it down! If you enjoy reading about women's lives, and especially in the Victorian era, then this is the book for you! What I took from the story is it is fine to love others but ultimately you have to take care of you! I hope to see more novels that are related to this topic. Can't wait!!

She has done it again! I'm not usually into Victorian-style pieces, but Lauren is one of my favorite authors! Once I got deep into this book, I couldn't put it down! I am waiting for a sequel--she can call it "Dizzy"!!!!

What a ride! Poe may have been the master of the unreliable narrator, but Baratz-Logsted could almost put him to shame.

In Emma's colorful Victorian world, just on the cusp of the Edwardian era and the Suffragette movement, she is black and white, and this is done brilliantly through motif. This use of color and lack thereof makes us trust her, even as the story gets more and more bizarre...something Poe couldn't do in "The Black Cat." (Let's face it, you knew there was SOMETHING wrong with the guy).

Baratz-Logsted has done a beautiful job of keeping the reader on edge and slightly uncomfortable throughout the entire book, right up until the shocking ending, and yet manages to keep us in Emma's corner the entire time--not an easy thing to do. Vertigo is every bit as suspenseful and erotic as the press has heralded, yet at the same time it forces us (some of us, obviously, uncomfortably) to examine the social constructs in which we get stuck if we're not strong enough to know ourselves and be our own people. It also puts the spotlight on what kinds of frightening deeds that being trapped, even when it's due to our own weaknesses, may make us commit.

Need something a little twisted? Read this. I guarantee you won't be sorry.