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A review by jennshelfishlife
The Thread Collectors by Shaunna J. Edwards, Alyson Richman
emotional
hopeful
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
"She did not expect Jacob to recognize the source of the materials she used, particularly since she hardly ever showed him her more sentimental side, preferring to hide behind a veneer of practicality and strength. She knew he would only see constellations atop the interlocking of dark blue squares that made up the night sky. But since the war began, she knew the importance of putting her entire spirit into every endeavor. So as she fashioned the only protection she could now give him, she sewed her soul into every stitch."
"Without the fingerprint of the heart, it would only be sound... not music."
I typically don't read books set in the Civil War, as I've read so many on the topic, but The Thread Collectors was interesting. Two families find themselves intertwined in this historical fiction novel set at the height of the Civil War. In this novel, two families, one in Louisiana and one in New York, are brought together because of extenuating circumstances involving the war.
Stella lives in Louisiana, as a kept woman, by a local enslaver. She is an expert embroiderer and falls in love with an enslaved person, William, who happens to be a gifted musician.
Lily is a New York Jewish woman and a strong abolitionist who is also a gifted seamstress; her husband, Jacob, is also a talented musician.
The two men, William and Jacob, join the war effort as musicians and become close friends, and then a tragedy happens, which leads Lily to Louisiana to find her husband.
My pros:
The character development.
The story's uniqueness explores Black and Jewish relations and lives during the Civil War.
My cons:
Some of the events struck me as unbelievable.
I recommend The Thread Collectors to readers that want to explore different aspects and stories during the Civil War (US) era.
"Without the fingerprint of the heart, it would only be sound... not music."
I typically don't read books set in the Civil War, as I've read so many on the topic, but The Thread Collectors was interesting. Two families find themselves intertwined in this historical fiction novel set at the height of the Civil War. In this novel, two families, one in Louisiana and one in New York, are brought together because of extenuating circumstances involving the war.
Stella lives in Louisiana, as a kept woman, by a local enslaver. She is an expert embroiderer and falls in love with an enslaved person, William, who happens to be a gifted musician.
Lily is a New York Jewish woman and a strong abolitionist who is also a gifted seamstress; her husband, Jacob, is also a talented musician.
The two men, William and Jacob, join the war effort as musicians and become close friends, and then a tragedy happens, which leads Lily to Louisiana to find her husband.
My pros:
The character development.
The story's uniqueness explores Black and Jewish relations and lives during the Civil War.
My cons:
Some of the events struck me as unbelievable.
I recommend The Thread Collectors to readers that want to explore different aspects and stories during the Civil War (US) era.