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brn's review against another edition
2.0
At first when I started reading the book I was enjoying myself but I didn't enjoy the ending. I guess maybe I expected more.
book_concierge's review against another edition
2.0
2.5**
When her father dies, Mair discovers an exquisite shawl among her parents’ belongings. Neither Mair nor her siblings have ever seen the shawl and can’t imagine what it means. But they remember that their maternal grandparents had been missionaries in northern India and surmise it was brought back by their grandmother. Even more intriguing they find a lock of a child’s hair wrapped in the shawl. Mair decides to go to Kashmir to try to find the origins of this work and how her grandparents might have come to acquire such a valuable artifact.
Thomas weaves two stories together into a romantic epic: Mair’s search for the origins of the shawl (as well as a search for her own future), and the historical story of her grandparents, particularly her grandmother’s experiences in 1940s Kashmir. I found the historical story much more interesting, if a bit melodramatic.
I have to admit that I was intrigued by the mystery as much as Mair and her siblings were. Having cleaned out my parents’ home and found innumerable things that we have no clue as to their origins, I can easily understand how someone could get wrapped up in trying to find the story behind something so obviously valuable as the shawl Mair finds. But …. I had a hard time reconciling Mair’s just up and taking off to India – for MONTHS – to find the origins of the shawl. And I didn’t really believe the incredible coincidences that Thomas uses to end this story.
Still, I did get caught up in the story of Nerys, Rainer, Myrtle and Caroline (1940s Kashmir). And Thomas did a fine job of setting the scene, bringing to life the adventure and romanticism of the exotic locale and different culture. But I didn’t really enjoy the melodramatic elements and felt that the author was trying too hard. Did Mair have to have a background as a circus performer? Did Rainer have to be a magician? Additionally, I really disliked Caroline; she was weak and naïve, and alternately hysterical and practically catatonic.
So while portions of the historical story captured my attention, on the whole I think this is a below average novel.
When her father dies, Mair discovers an exquisite shawl among her parents’ belongings. Neither Mair nor her siblings have ever seen the shawl and can’t imagine what it means. But they remember that their maternal grandparents had been missionaries in northern India and surmise it was brought back by their grandmother. Even more intriguing they find a lock of a child’s hair wrapped in the shawl. Mair decides to go to Kashmir to try to find the origins of this work and how her grandparents might have come to acquire such a valuable artifact.
Thomas weaves two stories together into a romantic epic: Mair’s search for the origins of the shawl (as well as a search for her own future), and the historical story of her grandparents, particularly her grandmother’s experiences in 1940s Kashmir. I found the historical story much more interesting, if a bit melodramatic.
I have to admit that I was intrigued by the mystery as much as Mair and her siblings were. Having cleaned out my parents’ home and found innumerable things that we have no clue as to their origins, I can easily understand how someone could get wrapped up in trying to find the story behind something so obviously valuable as the shawl Mair finds. But …. I had a hard time reconciling Mair’s just up and taking off to India – for MONTHS – to find the origins of the shawl. And I didn’t really believe the incredible coincidences that Thomas uses to end this story.
Still, I did get caught up in the story of Nerys, Rainer, Myrtle and Caroline (1940s Kashmir). And Thomas did a fine job of setting the scene, bringing to life the adventure and romanticism of the exotic locale and different culture. But I didn’t really enjoy the melodramatic elements and felt that the author was trying too hard. Did Mair have to have a background as a circus performer? Did Rainer have to be a magician? Additionally, I really disliked Caroline; she was weak and naïve, and alternately hysterical and practically catatonic.
So while portions of the historical story captured my attention, on the whole I think this is a below average novel.
gabmc's review against another edition
4.0
This book really grew on me. It tells the story of a young woman, Mair, who travels to Kashmir to try to find out more about her grandparents. The grandparents lived there in the lead up to WWII and the story flashes back to that time and life as seen through the eyes of her grandmother, Nerys. Nerys had a friendship with two women and the three of them shared a secret. Mair discovers this and wonders if the friendship has something to do with her family. The novel has a great sense of place and now Kashmir is on my list of places to travel!
an6ra_'s review against another edition
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
can't believe I wasted my time & money on this book 😔✌️
soniapage's review against another edition
3.0
While I enjoyed Mair's journey to Kashmir to trace the origin of the shawl she found among her grandmother's things and the unfolding history behind it, there were a few things I found to be unbelievable and too many peeps into bedrooms. Would a missionary's wife really have a guiltless affair with another man but then not run away with him because she felt she had to do her duty as a missionary's wife? Would Mair take up with her good friend's husband while they were separated? Well, maybe so, in a romance novel.
This was an audio version read by Nerys Hughes who is a good narrator.
This was an audio version read by Nerys Hughes who is a good narrator.
pep_pooja's review against another edition
5.0
This is my first book by Rosie Thomas and I I am impressed beyond words. I don't know if it's the story on her writing style but what ever does I just know I loved it and I am ready to read more of her books. The cover of this book and all of a book are stunning.
In 1938, young bride Nerys Watkins accompanies her missionary husband on a posting to India. Up in Srinagar, the British live on beautiful wooden houseboats and dance and gossip as if there is no war. But when the men are sent away to fight Nerys is caught up in a dangerous friendship.
Years later, when Mair Ellis clears out her father’s house, she finds an antique shawl with a lock of child’s hair wrapped up in its folds. Tracing her grandparents’ roots back to Kashmir, Mair uncovers a story of great love and great sacrifice
The story was heartwarming. all the essence of writing are well presented in this book. The story was beautiful and intriguing. All the things are well explained and totally detailed.
In 1938, young bride Nerys Watkins accompanies her missionary husband on a posting to India. Up in Srinagar, the British live on beautiful wooden houseboats and dance and gossip as if there is no war. But when the men are sent away to fight Nerys is caught up in a dangerous friendship.
Years later, when Mair Ellis clears out her father’s house, she finds an antique shawl with a lock of child’s hair wrapped up in its folds. Tracing her grandparents’ roots back to Kashmir, Mair uncovers a story of great love and great sacrifice
The story was heartwarming. all the essence of writing are well presented in this book. The story was beautiful and intriguing. All the things are well explained and totally detailed.
booksnug's review
3.0
I have mixed feelings about this book. It is beautifully written in an engaging style and the descriptions of Srinigar and the mountains of northern India really made me want to visit the area. I thoroughly enjoyed the first half of the book and was really looking forward to finding out what happened to all the interesting characters the author had introduced. Then... the second half of the book felt increasingly dull and hard to believe and it became it a bit of a slog. In the end (spoiler alert), most of the character's stories ended badly or with a lack of resolution which left me feeling unsatisfied. It's a shame as it was a great premise and a lovely setting.
arcshade3001's review against another edition
3.0
A beautiful story, but one that deserved better telling.
dozylocal's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars. I'm not entirely sure why I didn't want to give this book 4 stars, especially as everyone else who's read it from my book club has given it at keast that many, but there you go :) It was two parallel stories about two generations where the granddaughter is trying to unravel the story behind her grandmother's high quality pashmina which is only discovered after the death of her father. Her only clues are a photo, a lock of hair, and the knowledge that her grandparents did work as missionaries in Kashmir prior to and during WW2. There are some lucky coincidences and the story slowly unfolds in both timelines. Sometimes there are some random interjections about the granddaughter's past too - but I'm not sure those were always entirely relevant. I did enjoy this book.
susannavs's review against another edition
3.0
Parts of this didn't need to be in the book (circus, possibly the magician, Lotus's fate), and I think the historical bits were much more interesting, but was an easy read about solving a mystery from your family's past.