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coradee's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed that the story was told from the point of view of Lady Duff Gordon's maid, Sally, and not from the Lady herself. The story flowed well and was an enjoyable read, but I was not overly fond of the ending. I felt it left the reader guessing about Sally's life after her employer's death, whereas I would have preferred a clearer, more detailed conclusion. Overall, I rate "The Mistress of Nothing" 3 of 5 stars.
akublik's review against another edition
3.0
I really enjoyed the first half of this book, but found the second half of the book dragged a bit, while Sally was waiting to learn her fate. Perhaps that is what bothered me: that Sally spent so much time waiting for others to decide for her, rather than taking matters into her own hands. The resolution that eventually came about could have happened much quicker.
buildingtaste's review
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Solid literary-historical fiction, good enough to make me break some of my usual dealbreaker rules. But the GG committee in 2009… Were wrong.
kai1313's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
heidenkind's review against another edition
1.0
Eh. It's not a BAD book, but I just don't think I can read it anymore. Sally has zero personality. Sorry, Meghan!
milly_in_the_library's review against another edition
1.0
Took me too long to read as school had been mental & I really wasn't enjoying it very much.. interesting idea, but want too keen on the writing style.
guylou's review against another edition
3.0
This is the next book we will be discussing at my book club. I liked it, but found it dragging at times. The character of Lucy Duff Gordon was so likable at the the beginning of the book and so despicable half way through. I really never understood why she despised Sally so much. On the other hand, I had a hard time feeling sympathy for Sally Naldrett for what she did with Omar Abu Halaweh.
"I was full of passion, he said; I have always been full of passion, he said, I'd just never had a chance to display it before."
This passion brought much heartache to Sally. Sally's love for Omar was understandable, but logic should have prevailed when the fire started to burn between them.
Sally's journey is painful and full of obstacles. I do admire her determination and dedication to her son and I feel she found peace at last, although sadness never left her completely.
This book was a beautiful window to the Egyptian world and customs. I love all the Arabic words throughout the book. I wrote some down and hope to use them next time my Egyptian friends and I meet.
"I was full of passion, he said; I have always been full of passion, he said, I'd just never had a chance to display it before."
This passion brought much heartache to Sally. Sally's love for Omar was understandable, but logic should have prevailed when the fire started to burn between them.
Sally's journey is painful and full of obstacles. I do admire her determination and dedication to her son and I feel she found peace at last, although sadness never left her completely.
This book was a beautiful window to the Egyptian world and customs. I love all the Arabic words throughout the book. I wrote some down and hope to use them next time my Egyptian friends and I meet.
callieisreading's review against another edition
4.0
I really really enjoyed this one. The characters were well done, the story was interesting. I kind of wish it were longer, which is not something I usually say!
ldv's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed the first Part of this book (Life) but cared less about Parts 2 and 3 (Death and Afterlife).
I liked that the story jumps right into the heart of the story -- travelling to Egypt -- and summarizes the back stories of the characters quickly. The book could have started with Sally's childhood, the loss of her parents and living with an aunt only to be put into service at the Duff Gordon household, and followed her career there, including the year on a ship to South Africa and back. That in itself could have been a book, and I like that this book seems like the sequel to a story so that you don't have to read all that background. Life travelling through Egypt, learning its customs, is interesting.
Then and everything changes. Lady Duff Gordon's reaction, in my opinion, does not fit at all with the character built in the first half. I know the author frames it as the reaction to being dupped for so long, but her complete rejection of the situation is too extreme.
I also felt, in Parts 2 and 3, that I did not know Omar at all. In Part 1 I started to get to know him, but then a curtain is pulled up and he's a stock character in some respects. None of his actions seemed to fit any particular sketch I could come up with. How could he be so at the same time? The presence of his Egyptian wife and his treatment of her seemed logical, given the culture, but not the rest.
Part 3 was very short and did not craft the scenes and characters as Part 1 did and I was happy for it to end.
Yes, I liked reading the historical and cultural information. I recognize that the writing was well crafted in some parts. But as a whole, I was not impressed with the book. Not as an award winning (Governor General) book.
A vacation read, perhaps, or for a high school ISU, but not as great literature.
I liked that the story jumps right into the heart of the story -- travelling to Egypt -- and summarizes the back stories of the characters quickly. The book could have started with Sally's childhood, the loss of her parents and living with an aunt only to be put into service at the Duff Gordon household, and followed her career there, including the year on a ship to South Africa and back. That in itself could have been a book, and I like that this book seems like the sequel to a story so that you don't have to read all that background. Life travelling through Egypt, learning its customs, is interesting.
Then
Spoiler
Sally has a babyI also felt, in Parts 2 and 3, that I did not know Omar at all. In Part 1 I started to get to know him, but then a curtain is pulled up and he's a stock character in some respects. None of his actions seemed to fit any particular sketch I could come up with. How could he be so
Spoiler
loyal and loving to two different women (Lady DG and Sally)Part 3 was very short and did not craft the scenes and characters as Part 1 did and I was happy for it to end.
Yes, I liked reading the historical and cultural information. I recognize that the writing was well crafted in some parts. But as a whole, I was not impressed with the book. Not as an award winning (Governor General) book.
A vacation read, perhaps, or for a high school ISU, but not as great literature.
eaglespoon1982's review
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.75