"A captivating and exquisitely crafted work"
Reviewed by Dot Dittman
Posted June 22, 2014
Fiction | Women's Fiction
THE FORGOTTEN SEAMSTRESS was one of the most addicting
reads for me in a long while. The author, Liz Trenow, takes
converging life stories of an unlikely mix of people and
pieces them together into sort of patchwork story. With
delicate needles and thread of strong and beautiful silk,
she stitches characters whose lives become part of the
pattern in this book.
Among the cast of colorful characters is Maria, the creator
of a mystifying quilt that contains contrasting designs and
fabrics. Stitched side by side with the coarser fabrics are
quilt pieces made of fabric woven for the sole use of the
royal family in the early 20th century. How did these
silver-threaded fabrics find their way into a lowly quilt
made by the inmate of a hospital for the insane? What are
the meanings of all the contrasting designs and motifs?
The quilt, which is a character in the book as much as any
living person, has a story to tell. It is the focal point
of the book. Will anyone ever be able to piece all the life
stories together and understand how they are bound together
into one greater story? Will the truth that has been cut
away ever be rejoined into a cohesive whole?
Caroline, an interior designer who inherits the quilt from
her grandmother, finds the colors and values in the quilt
inspirational in her personal life and in her profession.
She knows that her grandmother treasured the quilt, but
doesn't know why or even who made the quilt. The tie to
Buckingham Palace seems unlikely. Caroline has become the
ideal person to unravel all the mysteries. As she looks
deeper into the layers of the quilt, she discovers much
about herself, her family, but most of all about the
enduring power of mother-love.
THE FORGOTTEN SEAMSTRESS will resonate with women of all
ages. It's not
one of those read and forget books; it will stay with me
for a long time. I look forward to reading more by Liz
Trenow.
SUMMARY
In this tale spanning two eras, a struggling designer
discovers a mysterious quilt with secrets stitched into
every seam In 1910 London, a remarkable young seamstress is
noticed by Queen Mary and given a position in the royal
household. A century later, Caroline, a struggling designer,
discovers a mysterious hand-me-down quilt with a curious
verse embroidered into its lining. When Caroline learns that
the fabric in the quilt is rare royal wedding silk and
begins to dig deeper, she uncovers the extraordinary story
of two women whose lives collide with devastating
consequences. But that secret pales in comparison to the
truth Caroline finally learns about herself.
What do you think about this review?
Comments
1 comment posted.
Re: A captivating and exquisitely crafted work
Dear Dot
Thanks so much for a lovely review. I am so glad you enjoyed the book and particularly your point about the quilt being a main character - that's certainly how I always saw it.
Liz Trenow
(Liz Trenow 5:29am June 23, 2014)
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