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bleadenreads 's review for:
A Single Thread
by Tracy Chevalier
Just finished this on Audible and I was so disappointed with the end.
The book is set in the early 1930s and follows Violet, one of the many 'surplus' women after WW1. In a desperate step to gain independence Violet moves away to Winchester, where she meets and joins the 'broderers' of Winchester Cathedral. I enjoyed how this book portrayed the loneliness, poverty and vulnerability of single women in this period, who are judged and restricted by their peers. It beautifully depicted how 13 years on, the loss of WW1 still haunts the population and yet the rise of Nazism in Germany loomed on the horizon (also enjoyed how Chevalier reminded us of the Daily Mail's opinions during this time, something many often forget). I also enjoyed how the author talked about embroidery and how she created the cathedral as a sanctuary, both metaphorically and literally. Yet, I couldn't warm to Violet as a character, and couldn't empathise with some of her decisions (apart from how she stood up for herself professionally). Overall I liked the book and the narration by Fenella Woolgar but I didn't love the plot.
SPOILERS
However, Violet's relationship with Arthur annoyed me - somehow justifying their weird affair because his wife was so broken and haunted by the loss of her son in WW1?! It made little sense to me - as did the Jack Wells storyline which felt unnecessary and poorly handled - maybe it was to emphasize the vulnerability of Violet as a single women, either way it hit too close to home for me and added very little to the plot. I was disappointed with the ending too - it felt rushed and unrealistic.
The book is set in the early 1930s and follows Violet, one of the many 'surplus' women after WW1. In a desperate step to gain independence Violet moves away to Winchester, where she meets and joins the 'broderers' of Winchester Cathedral. I enjoyed how this book portrayed the loneliness, poverty and vulnerability of single women in this period, who are judged and restricted by their peers. It beautifully depicted how 13 years on, the loss of WW1 still haunts the population and yet the rise of Nazism in Germany loomed on the horizon (also enjoyed how Chevalier reminded us of the Daily Mail's opinions during this time, something many often forget). I also enjoyed how the author talked about embroidery and how she created the cathedral as a sanctuary, both metaphorically and literally. Yet, I couldn't warm to Violet as a character, and couldn't empathise with some of her decisions (apart from how she stood up for herself professionally). Overall I liked the book and the narration by Fenella Woolgar but I didn't love the plot.
SPOILERS
However, Violet's relationship with Arthur annoyed me - somehow justifying their weird affair because his wife was so broken and haunted by the loss of her son in WW1?! It made little sense to me - as did the Jack Wells storyline which felt unnecessary and poorly handled - maybe it was to emphasize the vulnerability of Violet as a single women, either way it hit too close to home for me and added very little to the plot. I was disappointed with the ending too - it felt rushed and unrealistic.