Summer Reading - Lace Makers of Glenmara
One of my favorite things about my vacation with hubby to the Keys was that I actually got to have some uninterupted reading time. I packed four books and read three of the four while we were away. It was bliss!One of the books, The Lace Makers of Glenmara, I had received through a Mothertalk blog tour and I specially left it to read on vacation. I was looking forward to reading it because it sounded like a perfect summer read and I was not disappointed in the least.
The story is set in Ireland, the place where Kate flees to hoping to escape from her old life, reinventing herself in her ancestral homeland. As she travels across the land she ends up in the seaside village of Glenmara where she meets the women of a local lace-making society.
The lace makers are a diverse group from Bernie the lonely widow, Aileen with her low self-esteem and identity crisis, Moira an abused housewife, Oona a breast cancer survivor, and Colleen a fisherman's wife and leader of the group. The lace makers are finding that their craft is becoming obsolete as people are not purchasing the items they are designing anymore. Kate soon joins the group and finding inspiration through the women convinces them to use their lace making skills to create exquisit lingerie. They then use their talent to create lingerie with beautiful flowers, fish, fairies, and even skulls and bones.
Of course while they are busy creating their beautiful handiwork, friendships are evolving. The lacemakers are faced with many challenges including a priest who thinks their work is evil, broken relationships between spouses and children, sickness, and even death. However, with the strength they receive from each other, they each face their long-denied desires and fears and overcome them together. Of course the bad is also countered with the good as new love unfolds, relationships are mended, and new friendships grow.
Once I started the book I couldn't put it down. I was intrigued by each of the women and their story. They each added something unique to the group and the way Ms. Barbieri weaved the characters lives together was beautifully done. I often felt that I was sitting in the countryside peeking into the windows of their lives. The story flowed with ease and was filled with emotion as I related to what the women must be feeling individually and towards each other.
May every woman be blessed to be in a circle of friends like The Lace Makers of Glenmara.
This books is currently available and I recommend it for a summer read. It would be perfect to read next to the pool or at the beach. Once you read it, I would love to hear your thoughts. I was impressed with the author and can't wait to read Heather Barbieri's other book, Snow in July.
By the way, this is the first book review I've done here at A Box of Chocolates. How did I do? Do you need more info? Less info? What do you look for in a book review? Talk to me.
Disclosure: Thank you Mothertalk for providing me with a free copy of The Lace Makers of Glenmara.
1 Thoughts from you all...:
I really wanted to get in on that review! It sounded like such a good book. I guess I'll have to get my own copy though.
Thanks for the review of it.
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