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3.89 AVERAGE
3.89 AVERAGE
4.5 stars. Really really loved this novel. It’s gut wrenching at times but tells an important story. You’ll fall in love with the friendships and characters in this novel.
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
I really enjoyed this unique historical fiction story of two women and the two men they loved during the Civil War. It's a well-written collaborative effort and based loosely on the two authors' family histories.
This was such a heartbreaking read, but also, a book that is so important. The authors captured so much of the tragedy of both slavery and the civil war.
I loved that it was from both a black and Jewish perspective. This added depth to the story and allowed realistic friendships to develop. Even through the difficult events that occurred, the friendships created were beautiful and what gave this story hope. While there were many different types friendships shown, it was really the friendship between William and Jacob that became the highlight of this book for me.
I enjoyed seeing how each of the main characters were able to use their talents, music and sewing, to bring goodness to a harsh and cruel situation.
This book did not shy away from the cruelty and ugliness of this time period. It was beautiful and heart wrenching, and ultimately hopeful.
I loved that it was from both a black and Jewish perspective. This added depth to the story and allowed realistic friendships to develop. Even through the difficult events that occurred, the friendships created were beautiful and what gave this story hope. While there were many different types friendships shown, it was really the friendship between William and Jacob that became the highlight of this book for me.
I enjoyed seeing how each of the main characters were able to use their talents, music and sewing, to bring goodness to a harsh and cruel situation.
This book did not shy away from the cruelty and ugliness of this time period. It was beautiful and heart wrenching, and ultimately hopeful.
This was a very slow read for me. I guess because I was comparing it to other historical fiction novels I’ve experienced. This read was very informative of what occurred during the Civil War, which led to Juneteenth. I didn’t really know all the details of how the official holiday came about and this provided some background and encouraged me to do my own research. Some parts were devastating at times where my heart broke for the soldiers that were involved, but it broke even more when a child that was enlisted was killed. It was disappointing to read that even though the Union side was fighting for the slaves to be freed, they still treated them as less than. The war was mainly about politics/economics. The abolitionist like Lily were the main individuals who cared about black people being free and being offered equal opportunities. At least that’s how I’m portraying the research I found. Overall, the book was a 3.5 it wasn’t a lot of action and a semi-happy ending. It kept me engaged for the most part.
Good subplots… I most appreciated the paralleling of the white vs. black experience during the Civil War.
3.5 Stars. The Thread Collectors tells the story of Stella, a Black woman living in New Orleans who is in love with William, a man who ran from enslavement to join the Union Army. Stella used her embroidery skills to create maps for other men who want to escape. The book also is about Lily, a Jewish abolitionist living in NY, while her husband Jacob is away in the army. She uses her skills to make quilts and bandages for the soldiers. William and Jacob are both musicians and end up forming a bond with one another. The characters in the book are based on the authors’ own family histories and was an interesting look at both Black and Jewish families at the time of the Civil War. I did find it a bit slow with not much happening until towards the end of the book.
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Some awkward, cliched writing and plotting thankfully are overridden by strong research and fact-based characters; particularly strong is the use of textiles for map making, versus using the controversial theory of quilts on the underground railroad.
