Tapestry of Love, by Rosy Thornton – A Birds Book Review
Who hasn’t had the occasional fantasy of running away from their mundane life, and starting afresh? Moving to a place we once loved when visiting on holiday, and giving up the day job in favour of earning a living doing something we really love doing?
Catherine Parkestone, forty eight years old and divorced, does just that in The Tapestry of Love, by Rosy Thornton. At the beginning of the novel she is driving through France, on her way to her new home in the mountains of Cevennes, where she plans to start a business around her love of embroidery and textiles.
As someone who loves to embroider myself, I was enchanted by the descriptions of the silks and Catherine’s designs – I could really imagine them coming to life.
It’s a slow book that is to be savoured. Catherine’s story draws us into the quiet and simple life of the local people, as she slowly makes friends. There is a hint of developing romance with the mysterious Patrick. And all the time we are aware that it isn’t so easy to leave the old life behind. Her son and daughter are back home in England, and Catherine’s mother who has Alzheimer’s too. Her sister arrives and even more complications ensue. Then there are the difficulties of setting up in business – and of the French bureaucracy. This isn’t a mere escapist fantasy; it is a story of deep and complex emotions – of love and of loss.
Rosy Thornton is the author of three other novels, including Crossed Wires – which will be going on my Amazon wish list for Christmas.
I also did a short interview with Rosy, which you can read here at 2pm.
About Ann GodridgeAnn Godridge has just completed her first crime novel, The Mermaid's Shroud, and has started work on the sequel. Her story the Tree of Knowledge was shortlisted for the Asham Award. She writes about writing and sometimes about textile arts at her blogStraw into Gold. You can find out more about her here - About Ann G.
View all posts by Ann Godridge →
9 Responses to Tapestry of Love, by Rosy Thornton – A Birds Book Review
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This book sounds absolutely lovely, so I’m really looking forward to your interview with Rosy later. I think what you are doing for your girls in Uganda is wonderful too.
Best,
Rach.
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I’ve read TOL and all of Rosy Thornton’s books and I thought it was her best work to date. I agree totally with your comment:
“This isn’t a mere escapist fantasy; it is a story of deep and complex emotions – of love and of loss.”
I’m looking forward to reading the others too
Thanks Ann for reviewing the book, I think I will give it a read too as I think aside from the holidays in the Uk I have wanted to live everywhere I have been too
I’ve always fantasised about living in Switzerland – I blame Heidi
It’s one of those books that just quietly captures you – the characters really come to life.
I shall put this on my reading list. It sounds like an emotional journey and a great story.
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