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3.89 AVERAGE
3.89 AVERAGE
Outstanding Audiobook!!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Didn't want it to end...
One of my favorite narrators- Robin Miles
Loved her narration in the Personal Librarian and Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo!!!
Didn't want it to end...
One of my favorite narrators- Robin Miles
Loved her narration in the Personal Librarian and Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo!!!
3.5 stars.
I didn’t dislike the book, nor did I love it. There were parts that were heartbreaking and overall the storyline was a good one.
It is a story about several things. The Civil War is going on in America. Two Southern half sisters living different lives because one (Stella) has a lighter skin tone than her sister. Neither has an easy life, and neither is free, but how they live is quite different. Yet, the sisters have a very close relationship. Each tries to do what they can to help enslaved people and the Union Army.
Two men, a Jewish man from the North, and a black Southern man (Stella’s lover, William )who escapes and joins the fight with the Union Army, connect through their shared love of music. Being outsiders, they become fast friends. It was very eye opening seeing the lack of care for black men fighting in the war. They were paid less than their white counterparts, they were often sent to fight when it was likely that a battle would be lost. So very sad.
However, I felt that the characters in the story weren’t developed enough. I wanted to know more about them and their relationships together. For example, the Jewish couple, Jacob and Lily. We got to know them separately, but not as a couple. Readers knew of their love for each other through her letters from Brooklyn, to her husband, fighting with the Union army in the South. However, I really didn’t get a feel a connection with them. I wish we got to know a little more of Stella and William as a couple as well.
There are a lot of good things about the story, yet I was left wanting more.
I didn’t dislike the book, nor did I love it. There were parts that were heartbreaking and overall the storyline was a good one.
It is a story about several things. The Civil War is going on in America. Two Southern half sisters living different lives because one (Stella) has a lighter skin tone than her sister. Neither has an easy life, and neither is free, but how they live is quite different. Yet, the sisters have a very close relationship. Each tries to do what they can to help enslaved people and the Union Army.
Two men, a Jewish man from the North, and a black Southern man (Stella’s lover, William )who escapes and joins the fight with the Union Army, connect through their shared love of music. Being outsiders, they become fast friends. It was very eye opening seeing the lack of care for black men fighting in the war. They were paid less than their white counterparts, they were often sent to fight when it was likely that a battle would be lost. So very sad.
However, I felt that the characters in the story weren’t developed enough. I wanted to know more about them and their relationships together. For example, the Jewish couple, Jacob and Lily. We got to know them separately, but not as a couple. Readers knew of their love for each other through her letters from Brooklyn, to her husband, fighting with the Union army in the South. However, I really didn’t get a feel a connection with them. I wish we got to know a little more of Stella and William as a couple as well.
There are a lot of good things about the story, yet I was left wanting more.
4.5 ⭐️This was a great historical fiction book that explores the perils of the Civil War through two underrepresented groups. More specifically, it’s through the lens of a Black couple living in New Orleans and a Jewish couple living in NYC and alternates between all four perspectives. At the start of war, both men meet at a Union Army camp in Louisiana and form a friendship over their talent and love of music. While performing for the army, the women are each helping out with the war effort at home and risk everything for love and freedom.
I learned alot while reading this and a hard time putting this one down. The authors, who are lifelong best friends, did a great job weaving the storylines, which are each inspired by their own backgrounds. I loved how it emphasized themes of friendship and family and think it is a thought-provoking and compelling read perfect for fans of this genre and book clubs!
Read if you like:
-HF set during the Civil War
-Black and Jewish representation
-Own voices stories
-The power of music and the connection it can form
-Unlikely friendships
-The Yellow Wife
Thank you HTP for this ARC! Out 8/30
I learned alot while reading this and a hard time putting this one down. The authors, who are lifelong best friends, did a great job weaving the storylines, which are each inspired by their own backgrounds. I loved how it emphasized themes of friendship and family and think it is a thought-provoking and compelling read perfect for fans of this genre and book clubs!
Read if you like:
-HF set during the Civil War
-Black and Jewish representation
-Own voices stories
-The power of music and the connection it can form
-Unlikely friendships
-The Yellow Wife
Thank you HTP for this ARC! Out 8/30
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
This touching historical fiction takes place in two locations, slowly drawing four principal characters - two couples - together amidst impossible conditions. We have 1863 New Orleans and also New York. In New Orleans, Stella is a remarkable young black woman who uses incredible skills while embroidering maps on old cloth. These maps help enslaved Black men flee and join the Union Army. This includes a man near and dear to her heart named William.
In New York City, we have young Lily, a Jewish woman focusing on stitching a quilt for her husband Jacob. He is stationed in Louisiana while stationed with the Union Library. Also she fiercely misses Jacob, Lily keeps herself rolling bandages creating quilts. Not only is she stitching a quilt for her husband, but for other soldiers taken away by the war. Her regular communication from Jacob by means of letters has trickled off, to the point when she no longer knows where he is and whether or not he is safe.
Lily makes the difficult decision to head to Louisiana to try and find Jacob. Thus begins the path for when she will eventually meet Stella. Meanwhile, while the war is going on, the two men, William and Jacob cross paths. While William is Black and Jacob is a Jewish man, their friendship is something mostly unheard of. What draws the two men together is their talent and love of music.
What a touching story that brings both William and Jacob together, while also bringing Stella and Lily together. Although the world was greatly divided at that time, even in the way Black and White soldiers were treated during the Civil War, none of these strong characters saw color. If they did see color, it was only for the purpose of avoiding color lines.
In the Author's Note at the end of the book, the authors tell of their decades-long friendship, with Shaunna being black and Alyson being Jewish. About how this world is still dealing with race on so many levels, but seeking for beauty in this dark world nonetheless. Much more is said, which makes this Note very worthy reading. Lastly, Reader's Guide at the very end of the book raises excellent questions, thus making The Thread Collectors the perfect book for introspective discussions.
Many thanks to Graydon House and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Please enjoy my YouTube video review as well - https://youtu.be/HNcLku8W_os
In New York City, we have young Lily, a Jewish woman focusing on stitching a quilt for her husband Jacob. He is stationed in Louisiana while stationed with the Union Library. Also she fiercely misses Jacob, Lily keeps herself rolling bandages creating quilts. Not only is she stitching a quilt for her husband, but for other soldiers taken away by the war. Her regular communication from Jacob by means of letters has trickled off, to the point when she no longer knows where he is and whether or not he is safe.
Lily makes the difficult decision to head to Louisiana to try and find Jacob. Thus begins the path for when she will eventually meet Stella. Meanwhile, while the war is going on, the two men, William and Jacob cross paths. While William is Black and Jacob is a Jewish man, their friendship is something mostly unheard of. What draws the two men together is their talent and love of music.
What a touching story that brings both William and Jacob together, while also bringing Stella and Lily together. Although the world was greatly divided at that time, even in the way Black and White soldiers were treated during the Civil War, none of these strong characters saw color. If they did see color, it was only for the purpose of avoiding color lines.
In the Author's Note at the end of the book, the authors tell of their decades-long friendship, with Shaunna being black and Alyson being Jewish. About how this world is still dealing with race on so many levels, but seeking for beauty in this dark world nonetheless. Much more is said, which makes this Note very worthy reading. Lastly, Reader's Guide at the very end of the book raises excellent questions, thus making The Thread Collectors the perfect book for introspective discussions.
Many thanks to Graydon House and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Please enjoy my YouTube video review as well - https://youtu.be/HNcLku8W_os
Thank you to Get Red PR and Harlequin Books for providing me with an ARC in exchange from my honest review. THE THREAD COLLECTORS was published August 30, 2022.
- - -
I really loved the concept of this book. It's not your typical Civil War historical fiction novel. As authors Shaunna J. Edwards and Alyson Richman, the two of them are long-time friends from different backgrounds: Black and Jewish, respectively. They wanted to write a story that reflected experiences of these two groups of people during the Civil War. They used ideas based loosely on their own family's histories to bring these characters and this story to life.
The books is set in 1863 and offers multiple perspectives. Stella is an enslaved Black woman in New Orleans whose love William, an amazing musician, escapes slavery and enlists in the Union Army. In New York City, Lily is a Jewish abolitionist who is waiting for her husband, Jacob, to return from war. William and Jacob meet and befriend each other, becoming each other's best friends.
While there wasn't a whole lot of Judaism in the book, one thing I really loved seeing was the use of the Mourner's Kaddish, and how Jacob taught the prayer to William to help bring some sort of closure and prayer to those they have lost. I also really loved the theme of music between William and Jacob's stories, showing how music can bond even the most different of people, bring people together, and make them feel comfort.
This book was a little bit of a slow burn to me. I felt nothing really *happened* until there was only about 100 pages left, but I did really enjoy reading it. It's a really touching story with strong female characters, different representation than you would normally find in a Civil War historical fiction, and themes of love, loss, struggles and hope.
- - -
I really loved the concept of this book. It's not your typical Civil War historical fiction novel. As authors Shaunna J. Edwards and Alyson Richman, the two of them are long-time friends from different backgrounds: Black and Jewish, respectively. They wanted to write a story that reflected experiences of these two groups of people during the Civil War. They used ideas based loosely on their own family's histories to bring these characters and this story to life.
The books is set in 1863 and offers multiple perspectives. Stella is an enslaved Black woman in New Orleans whose love William, an amazing musician, escapes slavery and enlists in the Union Army. In New York City, Lily is a Jewish abolitionist who is waiting for her husband, Jacob, to return from war. William and Jacob meet and befriend each other, becoming each other's best friends.
While there wasn't a whole lot of Judaism in the book, one thing I really loved seeing was the use of the Mourner's Kaddish, and how Jacob taught the prayer to William to help bring some sort of closure and prayer to those they have lost. I also really loved the theme of music between William and Jacob's stories, showing how music can bond even the most different of people, bring people together, and make them feel comfort.
This book was a little bit of a slow burn to me. I felt nothing really *happened* until there was only about 100 pages left, but I did really enjoy reading it. It's a really touching story with strong female characters, different representation than you would normally find in a Civil War historical fiction, and themes of love, loss, struggles and hope.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
slow-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:
No
This book has been overlooked in the World War 2 saturated historical fiction genre right now. But I beg you not to pass by this one. Edwards and Richman have created an incomparable story that is not clean but contains many ragged and frightening moments and most definitely doesn't end neat and tidy as expected. This is about as real as historical fiction can get without being non-fiction. I found myself gasping at some moments and tensing at others. I held out some much hope as if I personally knew these ladies. You will find yourself attached to the uniqueness of each of the characters. I think William was my favorite.