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3.65 AVERAGE
3.65 AVERAGE
Brontes book. I enjoyed it more after the discussion than I had when I finished reading it. Violet, a 'surplus' woman after WW1, finally leaves her dominating mother to have a life of her own, poor, limited and lonely as it was. She found 'sherry men', and a group of women embroidering the surplices at Winchester Cathedral. Which btw are still in use today.
I have this as an audio book and I keep falling asleep so I can't really say I've read it. It seems good from the bits I've been concious for but for a book about sewing there is a lot of bellringing. Next time I have a long journey somewhere I'll try and listen to it properly and maybe re-review.
Wonderful story written very much like a Maeve Binchy book. Problems sort themselves out. Loved it.
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I loved this book! I confess I enjoy all Chevalier's books, but this one especially. Like [b:The Lady and the Unicorn|89788|The Lady and the Unicorn|Tracy Chevalier|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1311281285l/89788._SY75_.jpg|851956] this book features female artists and artisans.
Violet Speedwell is on the way to becoming a spinster. Her fiance and brother were killed in the Great War leaving her grieving and loveless. Like many women of that age, the millions of casualties of that war left her with poor chances of marrying. Violet has spent all of her 38 years living with her mother, whose own grief has left her a bitter, selfish parent. Violet makes the bold decision to move from her home in Southampton to Winchester, the site of a centuries old cathedral. Although her meager wages leave her hungry and without the latest fashions, for the first time in her life she feels free.
At first she is friendless with no activities or diversions until one day at lunch she ventures into Winchester Cathedral where she witnesses a service blessing the newly created embroidered (needlepoint) kneeling cushions. She is drawn to the women's pride in their work and their spirit of camaraderie. She is welcomed (by some more than others) to their group and so begins her new life. She is drawn into the circle of women as she develops her skills as a broderer. She also meets the men who ring the bells of the catherdral who practice the English art of change ringing and is drawn to one particular ringer.
I found the author's detailed descriptions of the embroidery as well as the lesson in the complicated patterns of bell-ringing fascinating. I enjoyed even more getting to know the women in the guild, and the societal roles and stereotypes of that generation, and how some women found a way to live their lives in spite of the prejudices.
Violet Speedwell is on the way to becoming a spinster. Her fiance and brother were killed in the Great War leaving her grieving and loveless. Like many women of that age, the millions of casualties of that war left her with poor chances of marrying. Violet has spent all of her 38 years living with her mother, whose own grief has left her a bitter, selfish parent. Violet makes the bold decision to move from her home in Southampton to Winchester, the site of a centuries old cathedral. Although her meager wages leave her hungry and without the latest fashions, for the first time in her life she feels free.
At first she is friendless with no activities or diversions until one day at lunch she ventures into Winchester Cathedral where she witnesses a service blessing the newly created embroidered (needlepoint) kneeling cushions. She is drawn to the women's pride in their work and their spirit of camaraderie. She is welcomed (by some more than others) to their group and so begins her new life. She is drawn into the circle of women as she develops her skills as a broderer. She also meets the men who ring the bells of the catherdral who practice the English art of change ringing and is drawn to one particular ringer.
I found the author's detailed descriptions of the embroidery as well as the lesson in the complicated patterns of bell-ringing fascinating. I enjoyed even more getting to know the women in the guild, and the societal roles and stereotypes of that generation, and how some women found a way to live their lives in spite of the prejudices.
I had high hopes when I read the teaser, but this book really let me down. Our main character, Violet, is probably the character I cared the absolutely least about. She had practically no growth or any sense of emotional resolve or progress. Also - I feel this should go without saying - but it's still cheating even if his wife is terribly, terribly depressed after the loss of their son. It's not okay! I do not empathize with Violet at all. The ending also felt jarring and contrived.
Overall, 2/5 because I was with it for the first 20-30 pages. After that, though, my interest plummeted. I almost DNFed it so many times.
Overall, 2/5 because I was with it for the first 20-30 pages. After that, though, my interest plummeted. I almost DNFed it so many times.
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
I never thought I'd have such a great time with a book about a woman learning to embroider...
Except, actually, this book is so much more than just that. It is a story of a woman trying to find her own way in life in a world that has deemed her "surplus". It is a story about friendship, love, and growing into yourself. And yes, there is also a good deal of embroidery, bellringing and Winchester cathedral fun facts.
There is not much of a continous plot weaving through this book, instead, we rather follow the main character Violet as she navigates the ups and downs of life as a woman living on her own in 1930s England. I really enjoyed following Violet as a character, she is written in a very realistic way with her strangths and weaknesses, and I related to her and felt for her a lot. She develops a lot throughout the book, learning to let others into her life and help others as well as let herself be helped instead of always fighting on her own. I found myself growing very attached to her and the ending of her story made me quite emotional.
The other main characters were also enjoyable to read about although we don't get to know them very well, only in the ways in which they have an impact on Violets life. I still grew quite attached to them as well and enjoyed getting to know their little quirks (like Dorothy spurting Latin sayings, especially when she's drunk)
This book also portrayed the horrors of war and the ways in which it still affects peoples lives even decades later. The impact of it was portrayed through small things, like no one being surprised at a person suddenly tearing up when talking about a deceased loved one, and it was very effective.
I really enjoyed learning more about embroidery, bellringing and life in 1930s Winchester. Tracy Chevalier managed to make these seemingly dry topics very interesting, and I will definitely try out embroidery some day and listen more closely whenever I hear church bells now.
My only (small) complaints would be that sometimes, the unlikeable characters would say the most horrible things imaginable in a given situation, to the point, where it became quite unrealistic, and a few times where feelings were being told, rather than shown to the reader. This didn't lessen my enjoyment of the book, though.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes very character-focused, rather slow stories, and anyone who likes historical fiction.
Except, actually, this book is so much more than just that. It is a story of a woman trying to find her own way in life in a world that has deemed her "surplus". It is a story about friendship, love, and growing into yourself. And yes, there is also a good deal of embroidery, bellringing and Winchester cathedral fun facts.
There is not much of a continous plot weaving through this book, instead, we rather follow the main character Violet as she navigates the ups and downs of life as a woman living on her own in 1930s England. I really enjoyed following Violet as a character, she is written in a very realistic way with her strangths and weaknesses, and I related to her and felt for her a lot. She develops a lot throughout the book, learning to let others into her life and help others as well as let herself be helped instead of always fighting on her own. I found myself growing very attached to her and the ending of her story made me quite emotional.
The other main characters were also enjoyable to read about although we don't get to know them very well, only in the ways in which they have an impact on Violets life. I still grew quite attached to them as well and enjoyed getting to know their little quirks (like Dorothy spurting Latin sayings, especially when she's drunk)
This book also portrayed the horrors of war and the ways in which it still affects peoples lives even decades later. The impact of it was portrayed through small things, like no one being surprised at a person suddenly tearing up when talking about a deceased loved one, and it was very effective.
I really enjoyed learning more about embroidery, bellringing and life in 1930s Winchester. Tracy Chevalier managed to make these seemingly dry topics very interesting, and I will definitely try out embroidery some day and listen more closely whenever I hear church bells now.
My only (small) complaints would be that sometimes, the unlikeable characters would say the most horrible things imaginable in a given situation, to the point, where it became quite unrealistic, and a few times where feelings were being told, rather than shown to the reader. This didn't lessen my enjoyment of the book, though.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes very character-focused, rather slow stories, and anyone who likes historical fiction.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Sexual assault
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I do love some good historical fiction. They’re my comfort reads - perfect whatever the weather, whatever my mood, and however much time I have to devote to one. I especially like ones that happen in slightly out of the box time periods - familiar and unknown all at once. Between the wars is ripe for the picking, but is often forgotten for the more exciting stories that lay either side of it, despite it being a time of great social change. So, I was particularly keen to get my hands on this one.
An ominous thread runs throughout the novel, giving it an unexpected moodiness that chimes well with the slower pace. This is a book to relax into. The grief and loss felt by the characters are intensified for the reader with our own knowledge of what awaits them. I felt a real affinity for Violet and a sympathy for the position held by “surplus women” like her. To live a life so exposed and yet so forgotten leads to an odd existence, amplified by the duality of pity and fear thrown at you by society.
And once again we get to delight in the author’s curiosity and a knack for finding very niche areas of art history. Louisa Pesel, and her remarkable textiles (including the cathedral embroideries central to the book), are very real. I like the sideways direction Chevalier comes at these stories with, a wonderful blend of intriguing and everyday history.
A vivid snapshot of art and social history, this is a great example of what Chevalier does best.
An ominous thread runs throughout the novel, giving it an unexpected moodiness that chimes well with the slower pace. This is a book to relax into. The grief and loss felt by the characters are intensified for the reader with our own knowledge of what awaits them. I felt a real affinity for Violet and a sympathy for the position held by “surplus women” like her. To live a life so exposed and yet so forgotten leads to an odd existence, amplified by the duality of pity and fear thrown at you by society.
And once again we get to delight in the author’s curiosity and a knack for finding very niche areas of art history. Louisa Pesel, and her remarkable textiles (including the cathedral embroideries central to the book), are very real. I like the sideways direction Chevalier comes at these stories with, a wonderful blend of intriguing and everyday history.
A vivid snapshot of art and social history, this is a great example of what Chevalier does best.
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Overall good, but I was a little disappointed in the ending.