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erikahope 's review for:
A Single Thread
by Tracy Chevalier
I was given this advanced copy in return for an unbiased review. I enjoyed this book especially at the beginning because like some of Chevalier's earlier books it puts you squarely in another era of history. But this books takes on a pretty contemporary tone toward the middle and some of the character's actions just felt out of place with the tone and setting of the book. *Spoiler* The affair with Arthur seemed kind of preposterous (in a field no less). Gilda and Dorothy's relationship seems kind of trite (not helped by the random spouting of Latin phrases which I just found irritating not whimsical). I guess if you set out to write a Jane Austen novel set in a more modern era this might be the result but to me it did not seem to fit the sensibilities of the interwar years.
Aside from that, the names were rather too quaint (Violet, daughter Iris) and it was just a bit corney but maybe these were common names from the time. I actually enjoyed the details on needlework and the ringing of church bells (learned a lot about that which is cool). The book needed to stick to a genre (if that's the way to put it) and time period more in my opinion. I enjoyed it but I can't say it is one of her better novels. Sort of like a Murder She Wrote episode. Good for a warm cup of tea and nostalgic mood but not really a great novel. And imagine you are watching Murder She Wrote (or for people who don't know that old show, some quaint TV show that is very predictable and tame) and suddenly the main character has an affair with a married man. Zero problem with seeing life depicted as it is. Anna Karenina may be my favorite book. It's just that in this setting in a cute country village in England it felt peculiar. Maybe I'm putting unfair limits or demands on the novel but I preferred Girl with a Pearl Earring which kept you in that world more easily and it was much more believable that the "illicit" relationships there happened. Still, I don't regret reading it and I still like her as an author.
Aside from that, the names were rather too quaint (Violet, daughter Iris) and it was just a bit corney but maybe these were common names from the time. I actually enjoyed the details on needlework and the ringing of church bells (learned a lot about that which is cool). The book needed to stick to a genre (if that's the way to put it) and time period more in my opinion. I enjoyed it but I can't say it is one of her better novels. Sort of like a Murder She Wrote episode. Good for a warm cup of tea and nostalgic mood but not really a great novel. And imagine you are watching Murder She Wrote (or for people who don't know that old show, some quaint TV show that is very predictable and tame) and suddenly the main character has an affair with a married man. Zero problem with seeing life depicted as it is. Anna Karenina may be my favorite book. It's just that in this setting in a cute country village in England it felt peculiar. Maybe I'm putting unfair limits or demands on the novel but I preferred Girl with a Pearl Earring which kept you in that world more easily and it was much more believable that the "illicit" relationships there happened. Still, I don't regret reading it and I still like her as an author.