sarahannkateri's review
3.0
Interesting setting, but I thought it was super slow-moving until the end when a bunch of unbelievable stuff all happened in 20 pages. Good for those who want pre-WWII historical fiction with light feminism and queer representation.
suehepworth's review against another edition
3.0
Twee. Pleasant. Story of spinsters set in 1930s in Winchester. Lots of reference to embroidery, church cushions, and bellringing. Happy unexpected ending. Times bestseller.
minty's review against another edition
2.0
Maybe I've just read too many books that are exactly like this, but it did not feel like it told a new story in any way. The writing was fine, nothing special.
rosafb's review against another edition
4.0
An enjoyable read. I enjoyed learning about the Winchester Cathedral, it’s embroidery and bell ringing. Also opened my eyes to the way I arrived woman made sense of their single lives after WW1.
rebeccajmoran's review against another edition
3.0
A lot of detailed information about embroidery and bell ringing
lindasdarby's review against another edition
3.0
This book is not what I expected and yet I really enjoyed it. I found some of the endless paragraph with descriptions of the countryside a bit much - not everyone is Wendell Berry after all. I did enjoy the story and it surprised me and it really made me want to get my embroidery out. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that the brodery club was actually doing needlepoin - I still want to get stitching.
booksaremysuperpower's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
An intriguing premise, but I think Chevalier was overly ambitious trying to tie in intricate embroidery and bell ringing as catalysts for her main character, Violet's, personal discovery. Both subjects - embroidery and bell ringing - beg to be seen and heard. As admirable as Chevalier's writing is, she couldn't quite capture either topic enough to where I felt and saw what she was trying to portray.
My main issue with the book was the love story between Arthur and Violet, which came off as undercooked and almost too chaste. The plot just lacked oomph; I had a hard time caring for any character, especially Violet. Louisa Pesel, the one true figure in the novel, was the most interesting but the least featured, unfortunately.
I love this time period but I didn't fully connect with the overall stories and themes here.
My main issue with the book was the love story between Arthur and Violet, which came off as undercooked and almost too chaste. The plot just lacked oomph; I had a hard time caring for any character, especially Violet. Louisa Pesel, the one true figure in the novel, was the most interesting but the least featured, unfortunately.
I love this time period but I didn't fully connect with the overall stories and themes here.
lucri's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
sad
slow-paced
4.25
kittykornerlibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this story set in Winchester, England between the world wars. Violet lost her older brother and her fiancee in WWI, and makes her living as an office typist. After her father's death, she found that living with her mother was too stifling, so she got a room and a new typing job in Winchester. She joined the group of broderers who were making kneelers and cushions for the Cathedral. I enjoyed Violet's journey and the beautiful details about the sewing and designs.
extraaardvark's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25