sheffner07's review against another edition
4.0
It's been years since I've read a historical fiction novel--I used to gobble them up when I was in middle school. And this is a great novel. The characters and their struggles are heart wrenching. I even found myself sympathizing with the count. And the dog! Don't get me started on the poor dog. I cried during his chapters.
Although this book is over 300 pages, it's a fast read. And I had never heard of lace being banned before, so the topic was very interesting and different. A must read, even if you're not one for historical fiction.
Although this book is over 300 pages, it's a fast read. And I had never heard of lace being banned before, so the topic was very interesting and different. A must read, even if you're not one for historical fiction.
ravenclaw_princess913's review against another edition
Couldn't grab my attention fast enough
mariaburns's review against another edition
3.0
Actual Rating: 3.66 stars
This was a really good book! I loved the idea of the story being about a thing, and I think the prologue was perfect. I don't really know what to say about it! Um if you are unsure if you want to read it or not, at least try it. Parts of it were a little slower but as a whole it was great. Oh and let me know your thoughts on the ending... I love and hate it. At the SAME TIME.
This was a really good book! I loved the idea of the story being about a thing, and I think the prologue was perfect. I don't really know what to say about it! Um if you are unsure if you want to read it or not, at least try it. Parts of it were a little slower but as a whole it was great. Oh and let me know your thoughts on the ending... I love and hate it. At the SAME TIME.
ladyhighwayman's review against another edition
3.0
3.5
The Ruins of Lace takes place in the 17th century, and the story revolves around the lust and illegality of lace into France.
The story is told from seven different perspectives, and we only get five chapters with each character. After the first two times I went through the characters' perspectives, I wondered how they're all connected, and it's soon made clear. However, there were a couple characters that we probably didn't need to hear from. One of which was a dog. Yes, a dog. I understand that one of the ways lace was transported to France was using dogs, but we didn't really need the perspective of a dog to get that. Another character that probably would have been fine leaving out was a soldier. If we took these two characters out of the equation, I don't think the story would have lost anything.
Like I said, the story was about lace, and how it changed and destroyed lives. The characters became more and more connected as the story went on, through one piece of lace. The second half of the story was better than the first half, I felt, and read faster.
I can't say much more, because I fear I'll just start giving things way. It's not a happy story, I can say that. However, some characters' stories ended a bit happier than others.
A good read about an unusual subject, and interesting time period.
The Ruins of Lace takes place in the 17th century, and the story revolves around the lust and illegality of lace into France.
The story is told from seven different perspectives, and we only get five chapters with each character. After the first two times I went through the characters' perspectives, I wondered how they're all connected, and it's soon made clear. However, there were a couple characters that we probably didn't need to hear from. One of which was a dog. Yes, a dog. I understand that one of the ways lace was transported to France was using dogs, but we didn't really need the perspective of a dog to get that. Another character that probably would have been fine leaving out was a soldier. If we took these two characters out of the equation, I don't think the story would have lost anything.
Like I said, the story was about lace, and how it changed and destroyed lives. The characters became more and more connected as the story went on, through one piece of lace. The second half of the story was better than the first half, I felt, and read faster.
I can't say much more, because I fear I'll just start giving things way. It's not a happy story, I can say that. However, some characters' stories ended a bit happier than others.
A good read about an unusual subject, and interesting time period.
bibliobabe94's review against another edition
3.0
historical story set in Flanders and France, about lace, those who made it, those who wore it, and those who wanted it. The story is well written with each character's part delicately winding around the others - making a literary lace. Not a happily ever after story though.
mscdyson's review against another edition
1.0
I read the first few pages and I couldn't finish it. It bored and lost me from the start.
sheltzer's review against another edition
4.0
Who knew lace was prohibited in France? This was a fascinating peek into the world of lace making and smuggling in the reign of Louis XIII.
I thought it was extremely well done and the story had an incredible amount of continuity considering it was told from the point of view of 7 different characters in alternating chapters.
I wish I knew Iris Anthony's real name so I could read more of her books.
I thought it was extremely well done and the story had an incredible amount of continuity considering it was told from the point of view of 7 different characters in alternating chapters.
I wish I knew Iris Anthony's real name so I could read more of her books.
missmeesh's review against another edition
1.0
I must have missed something, because I absolutely detested this book.
I love history. I love learning. I love reading. I thought that this was going to be an excellent novel that would satisfy my hunger for good historical fiction. Instead, I was treated to a tangled, boring, mess of a novel that didn't even have a proper freaking end.
The good thing about this novel was its complexity, yes. All the characters were intertwined in such a way that it did manage to reach a semblance of a plot.
However, the characters were so boring and flat that I couldn't like them. I mean, there's a dog's point of view, for heavens sake. What ideas do you have to run out of that you decide to put a first person dog's story into this mix? I mean, really. At no point in this entire story was I entranced by the characters. I couldn't wait for the story to end. I had no semblance of caring for these people. Even with the supposedly shocking quirks like the fact that the son is gay because he was dressed up as a girl was an oddity that I couldn't care less about.
Then, the plot was all over the place, that I'm not even sure that there was a true plot. It was more of a 'girl ruins lace, and must pay back the man's lace she ruined - discuss.'
I'm so disappointed in this novel, I don't even know what else to say. I'm almost upset that I decided to push through to the end, when reading a Wikipedia article might have been more enthralling. Sorry.
I love history. I love learning. I love reading. I thought that this was going to be an excellent novel that would satisfy my hunger for good historical fiction. Instead, I was treated to a tangled, boring, mess of a novel that didn't even have a proper freaking end.
The good thing about this novel was its complexity, yes. All the characters were intertwined in such a way that it did manage to reach a semblance of a plot.
However, the characters were so boring and flat that I couldn't like them. I mean, there's a dog's point of view, for heavens sake. What ideas do you have to run out of that you decide to put a first person dog's story into this mix? I mean, really. At no point in this entire story was I entranced by the characters. I couldn't wait for the story to end. I had no semblance of caring for these people. Even with the supposedly shocking quirks like the fact that the son is gay because he was dressed up as a girl was an oddity that I couldn't care less about.
Then, the plot was all over the place, that I'm not even sure that there was a true plot. It was more of a 'girl ruins lace, and must pay back the man's lace she ruined - discuss.'
I'm so disappointed in this novel, I don't even know what else to say. I'm almost upset that I decided to push through to the end, when reading a Wikipedia article might have been more enthralling. Sorry.
drey72's review against another edition
4.0
Iris Anthony’s The Ruins of Lace is an expertly weaved tale of ambition and greed, love and loss, and the injustice of the powerless.
After her mother’s death, Katharina Martens was taken in by the nuns at the abbey at Lendelmolen. Aged was seven, she was taught to make lace. Twenty-five years later, she’s their best lace-maker, but now has the stooped body of an old woman, and is almost blind – courtesy of the working conditions. Her sister Heilwich has been saving for those twenty-five years, to be able to ransom Katharina. Now she’s so very close, will she make it before they throw Katharina out once she can no longer see?
Lisette Lefort was just seven and grieving her own mother’s death, when her actions put her family’s financials at the mercy of the Count of Montreau. Too bad, because he has none. Never mind that he’s managed to bring them to ruin – when the Count stands to be disinherited in place of his father’s soon-to-be-born son, he strikes a bargain with the Cardinal to disregard his father’s wishes. In return for a length of lace. Which, being illegal, means that someone has to be presumed upon to venture into Flanders and return with the contraband. That lucky duck? Lisette’s cousin, Alexandre – who came to live with Lisette’s family when his father dies.
So much death. So much hopelessness. All entwined in a length of lace.
I really enjoyed The Ruins of Lace. Iris Anthony does a fabulous job in showcasing how this little luxury cost oh so very much, and the lengths to which some people would go, to acquire it. And it’s not all doom and gloom – one of the POVs is for The Dog, a degenerate little creature who’s compelled to be a mule for the lace, and who answers to mon cher…
Of course, everybody’s story eventually ties together, and the ending is worthy of a Shakespearean tragedy. Definitely worth a read.
drey’s rating: Excellent!
After her mother’s death, Katharina Martens was taken in by the nuns at the abbey at Lendelmolen. Aged was seven, she was taught to make lace. Twenty-five years later, she’s their best lace-maker, but now has the stooped body of an old woman, and is almost blind – courtesy of the working conditions. Her sister Heilwich has been saving for those twenty-five years, to be able to ransom Katharina. Now she’s so very close, will she make it before they throw Katharina out once she can no longer see?
Lisette Lefort was just seven and grieving her own mother’s death, when her actions put her family’s financials at the mercy of the Count of Montreau. Too bad, because he has none. Never mind that he’s managed to bring them to ruin – when the Count stands to be disinherited in place of his father’s soon-to-be-born son, he strikes a bargain with the Cardinal to disregard his father’s wishes. In return for a length of lace. Which, being illegal, means that someone has to be presumed upon to venture into Flanders and return with the contraband. That lucky duck? Lisette’s cousin, Alexandre – who came to live with Lisette’s family when his father dies.
So much death. So much hopelessness. All entwined in a length of lace.
I really enjoyed The Ruins of Lace. Iris Anthony does a fabulous job in showcasing how this little luxury cost oh so very much, and the lengths to which some people would go, to acquire it. And it’s not all doom and gloom – one of the POVs is for The Dog, a degenerate little creature who’s compelled to be a mule for the lace, and who answers to mon cher…
Of course, everybody’s story eventually ties together, and the ending is worthy of a Shakespearean tragedy. Definitely worth a read.
drey’s rating: Excellent!