The Tea Rose (2002)

I enjoyed this novel; it reminded me of a David Copperfield type of story with a female protagonist. I like the mid to late 1800's as a time period for stories. I was disappointed to realize that the next book does not carry on with Fiona and Joe but moves on to other characters. ( )

On February 1 2006 I wrote....

Finished it and yes I liked but I have to say, it was a bit unreal.
Everybody gets rich, to many coincidences. Thing that would never happen in real life. I prefer my books to be a bit more realistic. But I did enjoy the read. Read it rather fast. I liked the first half the best I think.
Give it a 7.5
( )

transferring reading records from spreadsheet

1. Fantastic main character
2. Absorbing, believable setting (1880s-1890s London and New York)
3. Excellent plotting, featuring perseverance despite the odds
4. Ended at a satisfying place - but I cannot wait to read #2!

"Be careful of too much hoping, ja?" he'd warned her. "It is hope, not despair, that undoes us all." (406) ( )

The Tea Rose spans a decade and two continents. It is first and foremost a love story, but don't let that fool you. As they say, "the course of true love never did run smooth." Joe and Fiona have been best friends all their lives, having grown up on the same street. They've been in love from the time they had such thoughts, and they both have huge ambitions to run a shop and have all the money they could ever need.

This is a story of poverty, of unions, of economics, of business. Fiona's family with three strong men to earn money in their various jobs can barely get by. They aren't able to save any money. Fiona works too, but women make a pittance compared to men, even though they spend just as much time at work. The employers refuse to pay more than a few pennies to their workers. Everyone has an air of desperation about them, except for the few folks who have all the money because they've squeezed the poor folks dry.

This is a horror story. In case East London doesn't sound terrifying enough, you will not be disappointed. Jack the Ripper's there too. And the cops can't find anything to figure out who he is or how to stop him. At least, he's only killing prostitutes, but who knows when that will change. Besides, how comforting is that when everyone you know is just a missed day of work or two away from that level of desperation?

This is a story of tragedy. Donnelly will get you excited and hopeful, and then stomp on your heart, light it on fire and then drown it. Even in the depths of despair when it seems the characters (and thus you, bound up in their fate) will never make it, she manages to kindle inspiration and hope. Completely beautiful.

The spark that makes all the parts of this novel come together lies in the characters, particularly Fiona. These are people who will stop at nothing to get what they want. Nothing can prevent Fiona from becoming a success; she will overcome any hardship thrown at her. She is undoubtedly one of the strongest heroines in literature. I may not always agree with her choices, as she is much more forgiving than I could ever be, but I always admire her spunk and intelligence and drive.

Donnelly made me cry. She made me angry, frustrated, terrified. She made me smile and left me feeling somewhat hopeful. You have to love a book that can run you through the gamut of human of emotions. This book is amazingly well-written and complex. This is historical fiction at its finest. ( )