Reviews - The Thread Collectors

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The Thread Collectors by Shaunna J. Edwards, Alyson Richman

180 reviews for:

I appreciated that this novel was co-written by two friends, one Black and one white of Jewish ancestry, who were inspired by their families' legacies to research Civil War history and activism of that era. We get to know and root for the main characters of this novel, who are strong and empathetic.

reflectiverambling_nalana's review against another edition

3.5

challenging emotional hopeful informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Often when a book takes place in a well visited period or event in time, the chain of predecessors acclimate us to expect certain types of narratives. This collective effort of Edwards and Richmond molds their shared experiences and family histories to create a world in which ghosts of who they might have been would have existed at the time. The result is a story that skips over many of the presumed focuses, the battles of the war and the cruelty in the south towards slaves, to focus on both the broader narrative and those people who are forgotten. That's not to say those two things don't appear. It is just that they are only one part of the recipe.

Despite this being sold as a story of these two women, I confess that I was ultimately more drawn to the lives of the men in their lives and the friends and family around them. While they are by no means not strong willed and individually gifted and progressive, I found more subtle nods to the collective experience more refreshing. In the case of William and Jacob, I was moved in their comradery not being born of their respective experience with being othered, but in their commonality and love of music and the power to propel their lives and provide comfort for others. I loved the supportive nature of Stella's community and the portrait of the breadth of the black experience of the time. I may have some qualms about one family member's fate, but I also can see why that choice may have been made. I love how the North isn't seen as a blameless savior, nor the south to be entirely corrupt and the legitimate suffering of common non-wealthy individuals not be dismissed. There are no victors in war, as they say. I also enjoyed how it reversed the 'savoir' narrative opting more for friends uplifting one another in common.

Overall an enjoyable and enlightening read, but I lacked engagement with the leads that would really push my rating up otherwise.

kaylarage's review against another edition

2.75

hopeful informative tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

oceanelle's review against another edition

3.0

dark sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

I didn’t feel as compelled by the book’s voice as I wanted to be; it felt like there was a kind of formal distance between the authors and their characters in the writing style itself that kept me from feeling fully immersed in the story.

Content Warnings