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| Photo Credit: Carpe Librum |
Violet Speedwell is the protagonist in A Single Thread and in 1932 she is reeling following the painful loss of her brother and fiance in WWI. Violet decides to leave home and try to make it on her own in Winchester. Life is tough for surplus women and Violet does her best to get by and carve out a life of joy for herself.
While admiring the architecture of the local cathedral, she comes across the work of a group of broderers and decides she'd like to make a kneeler. It will be a permanent reminder of her life when she too is gone.
I've often shared Violet's thoughts that when I die, there will be no lasting evidence I was ever here. One of the reasons I love looking at architecture, paintings and needlework is that I can wonder about the hands that painstakingly created these precious objects from the past and imagine the lives their creators lived. I'm sure the desire to create something that might just outlive me was a small part of the reason I started stitching in the first place. Creating a tangible gift for a loved one with your own hands is something special and Violet wants to do this too.
This combination of historical fiction and stitching - along with the unexpected inclusion of bell ringing - was a sure sign I was going to enjoy this novel.
Adding to my reading experience was the fact I suggested this book for a monthly book club on GoodReads called A Stitcher's Book Club. A couple of us read A Single Thread at the same time and I'm sure this added to my overall reading enjoyment.
Containing themes of family, duty, responsibility, post-war culture, grief and expectations of women in society, A Single Thread by Tracy Chevalier was a real feel good read and I heartily enjoyed it.
For more, check out my review of The Lady and the Unicorn by Tracy Chevalier and Falling Angels by Tracy Chevalier.
Carpe Librum!
Great review, I love this author! I have this on hold in audio and print format, but it will be close to 3 months before it will be available. Based on your review, it will be well worth the wait!!
ReplyDeleteThanks JAN5PLH so glad you loved the review. I love this author too and I'm sure you'll enjoy this one as soon as it comes in. It's worth the wait, trust me :-)
DeleteWhen Tracy Chevalier gets it right, she really gets it right!
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you Marg! I hope you enjoy this one.
DeleteI’m not sure this would be something I’d enjoy, but I’m glad you did!
ReplyDeleteYour blog will also serve as a record of your ‘being’ , and I’m sure your stitching projects will be treasured for years to come.
Thanks for the kind words Shelleyrae, I hope you're right.
DeleteBeautiful writing should be savored and if it is beautiful enough, a slow moving story just lets you enjoy every word. I love the sound of this. I could kick myself for not taking the ARC of this when I had the chance, but I already had so many other books to read, that I just couldn't add this one too.
ReplyDeleteI requested an ARC for this one but didn't get it so yes, you should be kicking yourself Davida, lol! Tracy Chevalier is a must read author for me and as you say, beautiful writing is a pleasure to savour. I don't usually enjoy slow moving stories, but in expert hands it can be a dream.
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