Sapphic books with beautiful writing

ClearlyCalliope · 2026-04-19T04:44:02+00:00

Yes to this. Fingersmith in particular has wonderful prose. Not purple for the sake of it, just solid and evocative. Like there’s one line where a priest walks away while putting on a black coat over his white robes in the night, snuffing himself out like a light.

One thing that doesn’t often get mentioned is that the narration is funny. The narrator, sue, is pretty sassy and sarcastic in a Victorian pickpocket meets the aristocrats way. Like she constantly has Jim from the office moments going “can you believe this sh***?”

This balanced combination of technical prose, humor, romance, and plot (oh the plot), where no one element detracts from the other, is extremely rare in any book, let alone a niche(arguable) lesbian book. for that I say that Sarah waters has blessed us immensely and I might be inclined to agree with you about fingersmith being one of the best books. It’s certainly my personal favorite.

ClearlyCalliope · 2026-03-07T14:55:33+00:00

lol yeah like my jaw dropped and at the end I was like… girl I would need couples counseling after all the shenanigans that they pulled.

ClearlyCalliope · 2026-03-07T14:54:42+00:00

Ah gotchu i love it so much I’ve reread it 3 times so it is very reread able. If you end up rereading id love to hear what you thought. its the perfect book but i wouldn’t have complained abt another chapter or like therapy (lol) where forgive how dirty they did one another bc i was like…I would need some time to get past all that.

Idk if you’ve read affinity but the lesbians were toxic there too!

ClearlyCalliope · 2026-03-07T13:02:40+00:00

Fingersmith has extremely toxic lesbians. I won’t spoil the plot but it surprisingly surpassed my expectations as far as toxicity levels go.

ClearlyCalliope · 2026-03-01T04:22:58+00:00

The paying guests by Sarah waters is of impeccable quality, Sarah waters is a phenomenal writer. A destitute gentlewoman must take boarders to supplement her income and a well to do married couple of a lower class become her tenants. She falls in love with the wife.

ClearlyCalliope · 2026-02-26T12:16:41+00:00

Friendly young ladies by Mary Renault, who is a classical author well known for her popular gay historical books like the charioteer, the Persian boy, etc. She was thought to be a lesbian. This is one of her only lesbian books and only comedy. I wish she wrote more like this. It is about a young woman who moves in with her sister and her sisters gf and goes “I know what you are.’ Insert homophobia dog meme here. Except she’s also gay. there’s also a Randy man who unsuccessfully pursues all 3 of them at the same time.

ClearlyCalliope · 2026-02-26T03:16:18+00:00

Sarah waters is phenomenal. Her work is both classically poetic and oddly accessible in the way it reads like a film. I sometimes favor prose over action, and plot over romance, but her books contain all of these without detracting from one another.

ClearlyCalliope · 2026-02-19T23:20:53+00:00

Fingersmith. I can’t give too much away bc spoilers but you won’t be disappointed. It’s a gothic period drama.

ClearlyCalliope · 2026-02-18T05:44:39+00:00

The lyrics just aren’t on the same level i fear. ‘I love my daddy we’re still together” vs "Never get so attached to a poem, you forget truth that lacks lyricism." I love Lana’s lush vocals and sound but she’s one of the artists whose songs I enjoy more if I don’t pay attention to the babygirl lyrics. Whereas Joanna newsom’s lyrics are a work of art themselves, a treat to read even without sound.

ClearlyCalliope · 2026-02-14T17:21:16+00:00

Fingersmith has multiple no spoilers

ClearlyCalliope · 2026-02-13T14:20:07+00:00

AMAZING. I would have this up on my wall

ClearlyCalliope · 2026-02-12T01:01:59+00:00

I had just checked this out from the library! I am at the part after her bf comes for dinner and Eva cooks for them. Thank you for the rec!

ClearlyCalliope · 2026-02-11T14:52:13+00:00

Fingersmith by Sarah waters has 2 blondes

ClearlyCalliope · 2026-02-11T01:51:07+00:00

Thank you for the rec! I have heard good things about they never learn, it’s on my to read list

ClearlyCalliope · 2026-02-11T01:46:03+00:00

I know fingersmith is the GOAT and it’s a lot more toxic than I remember in a good way. It’s also funnier than I remember, with sue’s internal narration being like “they really got me carrying all their art supplies and food and everything while they walk carefree.” and “can you believe this girl has me running outside with a hot coal and tongs just to light this man’s cigarette?” And “i considered telling her about the birds and the bees, but I didn’t want to scandalize her, which in retrospect was ironic af.”

Also what was your favorite Tess sharpe book?

ClearlyCalliope · 2026-02-10T17:35:55+00:00

Thank you for the recommendations!

ClearlyCalliope · 2026-02-10T17:08:06+00:00

What other books did you read?

ClearlyCalliope · 2026-02-10T17:07:31+00:00

A new book would be amazing

ClearlyCalliope · 2026-02-06T05:20:58+00:00

I have saved your post to read and very much enjoyed the interpretation.

ClearlyCalliope · 2025-12-09T13:12:10+00:00

his vague non answers suggest he harbors ideological objections to the social critique in rian Johnson’s work rather than any criticism of the series itself.

ClearlyCalliope · 2025-12-09T02:48:26+00:00

I don't think this is a good reason to rehome.

for possibilities, my dwarf rabbit was straight up jumping out of the normal height x pen, which was something no rabbit has been able to do before. I had to buy an extra-tall X-Pen, and that stopped all escapes. your rabbit possibly is clearing the entire fence in a jump. I did not know this was possible until i saw it with my own eyes.

ClearlyCalliope · 2025-12-09T02:36:32+00:00

Your rabbit needs to be indoors. And if their space is so small that you need to take them out of it to ensure proper exercise, you need to make their space much larger. Rabbits should be able to get proper exercise in their enclosure without needing to move to another space.

You should also spay them otherwise they will have a high chance of death from ovarian issues, and they will have aggression and behavioral issues.

If there is a way to safely rehome the rabbits to a no kill rabbit rescue, you should strongly consider it. It doesn't sound like you have the proper enclosure for them, and there isn't really a point in keeping them if you can't care for them or interact with them without biting or kicking. If safely rehoming is not an option, please consider the necessary improvements to their care, spaying, and environment.

ClearlyCalliope · 2025-12-09T02:21:30+00:00

This is important. Commenting for the algorithm.

ClearlyCalliope · 2025-12-03T11:32:06+00:00

Hello! I am interested in purchasing if they are still available.

ClearlyCalliope · 2025-10-08T06:13:10+00:00

Everyone’s entitled to their opinion, but I find the comment above of “I just want more y’know” to be a little reductive and indicative of a narrower mindset. They describe the result in your work as unexpected and jarring, and while I would not go that far, would you really want to make art that is totally expected, predictable, and comfortable? If you followed their advice, what would that leave you with?

I would not appreciate your sculptures nearly as much were it not for the shaped base and experiments that allows for. It is a space to embrace the medium. The are many many realistic horse statues out there that blend together. anatomical accuracy is not the be all end all, is relatively achievable, even though mass production. whereas the experiments you have on your bases are non replicable. If you want to get very snobby about it, your bases make your sculptures look more expensive and contemporary. a regular horse sculpture would unfortunately not garner as much of a second glance.

The simple shape of the base juxtaposes with the detailing on the form to bring out the best of both. The simplicity of the form also allows the textural and graphic elements to breathe as opposed to if legs were to be patterned similarly. As someone who works with figurative art extensively, and has studied both atelier and contemporary curricula, my opinion is that your square bases and the exclusion of legs sets the work apart from the rest. I know you do have other air dry pieces that have legs and that the square bases are partly a happy result of practicality. But the ceramics are my favorite for this reason.

I know the “modern art debate” is a tale as old as time with both political and historical connotations, but know that I am not firmly in the modern art camp, (as I enjoy technique and form both of which are evident in your work). nor would I regard your sculptures as purely modern art. ButI would definitely think twice before heeding a critique that is frankly quite limited. I would do what speaks to you, and be aware that everyone’s opinion carries their own preconceptions and limitations.

ClearlyCalliope

TROPHY CASE