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janellefranco's review
5.0
Great story
I’m always a stickler for historical fiction set during WW2. Harriet goes in search of her roots because of a picture she found of her grandmother. The story she discovers is both harrowing and courageous. If you enjoy this type of story, then you must read this book!!
I’m always a stickler for historical fiction set during WW2. Harriet goes in search of her roots because of a picture she found of her grandmother. The story she discovers is both harrowing and courageous. If you enjoy this type of story, then you must read this book!!
tildaellen's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.5
bhartinikita's review
3.0
Genre : Historical Fiction
Rating : ⭐⭐⭐
Following the hackneyed cliché plotline of the historical fiction genre, this is yet another underwhelming story of a modern day character discovering their heritage through an old photograph. Set in dual timelines, we simultaneously witness the gruesome backdrop of the Nazi-infested WWII Paris and its parallels drawn with the present.
Harriet moves to Paris for a job in fashion, and ends up living in the same building where her grandmother, Claire, resided. Desperate to find her roots, she researches on the past with the help of her roommate, who very conveniently turns out to be the granddaughter of Claire's friend.
The story is quite unimaginative till about half of it, until it picks up pace and the focus shifts to the struggle of the seamstresses as they get captured by the Germans, and the aftermath of it.
It turned out an emotional read in the later half as every WWII book usually is, but otherwise it turned out a pretty average read.
Harriet was an unnecessary character in the book, and her chapters felt bland and repetitive.
Also, one of the things that irked me the most was how the topic of trauma was handled by the author, passed off as genetic rather than being acknowledged as something more for the sake of the story. Truly wish the author hadn't done that.
This is a book about the the strong bonds of friendship in perilous times, and how they were the sole reason for survival during the Nazi era. Would recommend if you enjoy reading books centred around WWII, but wasn't my favorite n
TW : Suicide, Torture
Rating : ⭐⭐⭐
Following the hackneyed cliché plotline of the historical fiction genre, this is yet another underwhelming story of a modern day character discovering their heritage through an old photograph. Set in dual timelines, we simultaneously witness the gruesome backdrop of the Nazi-infested WWII Paris and its parallels drawn with the present.
Harriet moves to Paris for a job in fashion, and ends up living in the same building where her grandmother, Claire, resided. Desperate to find her roots, she researches on the past with the help of her roommate, who very conveniently turns out to be the granddaughter of Claire's friend.
The story is quite unimaginative till about half of it, until it picks up pace and the focus shifts to the struggle of the seamstresses as they get captured by the Germans, and the aftermath of it.
It turned out an emotional read in the later half as every WWII book usually is, but otherwise it turned out a pretty average read.
Harriet was an unnecessary character in the book, and her chapters felt bland and repetitive.
Also, one of the things that irked me the most was how the topic of trauma was handled by the author, passed off as genetic rather than being acknowledged as something more for the sake of the story. Truly wish the author hadn't done that.
This is a book about the the strong bonds of friendship in perilous times, and how they were the sole reason for survival during the Nazi era. Would recommend if you enjoy reading books centred around WWII, but wasn't my favorite n
TW : Suicide, Torture
paulanisk's review against another edition
emotional
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
sallyan's review
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
nsmcfarlane88's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
3.0
bink_64's review
3.0
3.5 stars I really enjoyed the historical sections of the book told by Claire and Mirielle. As always, I am in awe of the acts of bravery that ordinary people did every single day to survive and fight back against the atrocities of the Nazi's in WWII. May we always tell this history to keep it from being repeated and may we be so brave in the face of tyranny and evil.
The parts of the story told by Harriet, I did not care for as much. The modern history, the granddaughter seeking her family history and trying to find a cause for the "trauma gene". Although I do believe this exists. I felt this section of the story was very political in a way and I just did not like it as much.
Overall, I am glad I read the story and would recommend it.
The parts of the story told by Harriet, I did not care for as much. The modern history, the granddaughter seeking her family history and trying to find a cause for the "trauma gene". Although I do believe this exists. I felt this section of the story was very political in a way and I just did not like it as much.
Overall, I am glad I read the story and would recommend it.
onako's review against another edition
4.0
In extraordinary times we endure for love and life we will savor in the ordinary times.
Well told story that brings us closer to our horrific past.
The author managed to create a strong bond with the protagonists and you can feel each moment of both happiness and anxiety.
Lovely read that can help us recognize that we too are stronger than we believe and that we too can survive our times of hardship.
Well told story that brings us closer to our horrific past.
The author managed to create a strong bond with the protagonists and you can feel each moment of both happiness and anxiety.
Lovely read that can help us recognize that we too are stronger than we believe and that we too can survive our times of hardship.
gemeooow's review against another edition
2.0
So, this made me really angry.
The war chapters started off well, as they progressed it felt where the story should have got more interesting, the writing got weaker.
The modern day Harriet chapters were just rubbish. The desperate clutching at trying to interlink the two eras and relationships were just painful and felt they were there purely to fill out the number of pages.
Where the last 50 just felt unnecessary.
My biggest gripe? This 100 year old woman who appears to be a medical marvel. Not only is her memory supernatural for her age but her ability to relay stories of someone else's inner thoughts is almost witchcraft.
The war chapters started off well, as they progressed it felt where the story should have got more interesting, the writing got weaker.
The modern day Harriet chapters were just rubbish. The desperate clutching at trying to interlink the two eras and relationships were just painful and felt they were there purely to fill out the number of pages.
Where the last 50 just felt unnecessary.
My biggest gripe? This 100 year old woman who appears to be a medical marvel. Not only is her memory supernatural for her age but her ability to relay stories of someone else's inner thoughts is almost witchcraft.
zuomiriam's review against another edition
3.0
Still reading through my backlog of Amazon's First Read books - The Dressmaker's Gift was a quick read and, as a whole, both enjoyable to read and eye-opening to the horrific conditions of wartime. My main quip about this novel is that some of the threads feel disparate throughout - yes, the past and the present do come together in the end, but the transitions between the perspectives of characters from the past and that of the character in the present felt a bit awkward/disjointed. Still, I can tell that Valpy has invested a lot of time in striving for historical accuracy, and I appreciate the energy of her prose.