Whilst beutifully detailed this book was a struggle for me. Slow moving and never really went anywhere. I also found it difficult to relate to any of the characters.

This is an engrossing book set between the World Wars. Violet is in her late 30’s and considered to be one of the many ‘surplus’ women after her fiancée died during the First World War. She leaves behind her overbearing mother, and moves to Winchester to start a new job. While visiting the cathedral, she happens upon a service for the women who are responsible for embroidering cushions and kneelers for the cathedral and decides to join their group.

The novel looks at the difficulties faced by women of that generation as they try to overcome loss and forge new, independent lives. An informative and interesting read.

A really delightful read. I was quite surprised to be so drawn into the book. Full of interesting characters and a great love stpry

If your favoured reading material is a novel with a good sprinkling of history, gentleness and humour, then feel free to read this latest offering by Tracy Chevalier - A Single Thread.

I loved this book. I although I have only read one of Chevalier's other books, I still consider myself a bit of a fan and I knew I would thoroughly enjoy this one.

More used to reading fast-paced, dark thrillers, this book was a soothing, calming read for me. It described a restricted life of a woman who wanted something more in a time when this caused problems. With a deftly articulated historical setting, the book was set in the early 1930's as it told the story of the main character, a woman called Violet Speedwell who moved to Winchester to start to make her own way in life, joining a group of embroiderers who were creating cushions for the cathedral. Her life was well-described and well researched and the novel had a female-centred twist. Violet was a lovely character although the book had a number of great characters, some whom were very likeable and others were a lot less personable. I was rooting for Violet and her friends and I found the embroidery aspect fascinating, although I have rather limited ability with a needle myself. This story was wonderfully understated and gentle, about a bye-gone age when societies rules and foibles were generally strictly obeyed.

Tracy Chevalier, a talented and accomplished story-teller. is certainly an author who can create a picture, a character and an atmosphere with the appearance of great skill and effortlessness. I loved the gentle humour and there were some fantastic and absurd stories, as well as moments of menace as Violet showed just how assertive and forceful she could be on occasions of threat and risk. There was unrequited love but healing too and the ending of the book was lovely, unexpected and optimistic. The writing was beautiful and the story memorable and noteworthy and I'm certain that this is one of those books that will remain with me. I recommend A Single Thread, without hesitation, to anyone who is partial to historical, contemporary or classic fiction.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel, at my own request, from HarperCollins UK via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion. Thank you also to Pigeonhole and Tracy Chevalier for giving me the opportunity to read this book!

Winchester in 1932 is the setting for Tracy Chevalier’s latest novel, ‘A Single Thread’. Chevalier is the most reliable novelist I know, time and again she writes books I grow to love and to re-read. She is the true example of an iceberg novelist. The depth and detail of her research is invisible, hidden below the surface of the written word, but it is there nonetheless informing every sentence so the reader is confident that the description of various embroidery stitches is accurate. Chevalier has written about fossil hunters, weavers, runaway slaves, orchardists and a famous Dutch painter. In ‘A Single Thread’ the story involves Winchester Cathedral, bell ringing and embroidery.
Violet Speedwell escapes her mother’s house in Southampton by getting a transfer to work in the Winchester office. Her mother is an emotional bully and Violet is desperate to get away, but not expecting it to be quite so difficult to survive alone on a typist’s salary. Lonely, desperate to make a success of her move, Violet looks for something to occupy her time so she does not have to sit with the other spinsters in the drawing room of her boarding house. One day she steps into the cathedral and finds her way blocked by an officious woman. Today, it is explained, is the Presentation of the Embroideries. Violet joins the broderers stitching kneelers and cushions for the hard benches, and meets two women who will be influential in her story; fellow borderer Gilda Hill, and genius embroidery designer Louisa Pesel.
Chevalier draws a picture of an English city in the years after the Great War, as families still grieve for their lost ones and women have to dance together for the shortage of male partners. And whilst the last war cannot be escaped, the shadow of fascism lurks in Europe. Violet is a surplus woman, her brother and fiancé killed in the war, but she rebels against the idea of devoting the rest of her life to caring for her bitter mother. Hence the move to Winchester. There she finds employment, friendship and, possibly, love. Both activities described in detail – the embroidery and the bell ringing – are detailed, complex and build slowly, layer on layer, each preceding stitch or note needing to be exact before the next one is attempted. This is reflected in Violet’s own life; only when she makes peace with her past, her mother’s grief for her lost son George, Violet’s own grief for her fiancé Laurence, the mind-numbing boredom of her job, can she move on to the next layer of her life.
Like all Chevalier’s novels, this is a thoughtful read about a time of great change involving women’s emancipation and independence, where women frown on other women who act against convention. If you like fast-moving stories then this may not be for you. I thought it was delightful and read it quickly, suspecting how it may end and – almost – being correct. But not quite.
Read more of my book reviews at http://www.sandradanby.com/book-reviews-a-z/

This is the story of Violet Speedwell, a "Surplus Woman" finding her place in post World War One Britain.
Despite the odds being stacked against her she strives to find her own way, moving out of her family home and away from her over bearing Mother. Life as a single women in a new town isn't as easy as she thought and she is drawn to the Cathedral, here she finds the Broderer group and in her quest to make new friends joins the group. Through her new Broderer friends she also meets members of the bell ringers group. These new friends will change her life in many ways.

A Single Thread covers the many prejudices against women that still exist today.

The story is well told in a simple way so it is a very easy read, and maybe the ending is a bit too happy ever after - but we all need a bit of happiness in our lives.

A gentle and moving novel. Well researched and well written with engaging characters. I would definitely recommend it.

This is one of those books that when you have read it you will carry it with you in your mind for a very long time ‘
A gentle love story set in the aftermath of the Great War and its repercussions for the women left behind who had lost the menfolk that they had loved.
It is a social history lesson on women’s place in society at that time and what was expected of them. Woven into this is the story of the Winchester broderers whose wonderful needlepoint brought Winchester Cathedral alive and gave those women a chance to make a mark in society.

I loved this story which followed the lives of single women in the 1920s. A generation faced with a lack of suitable husbands, a society that wasn’t ready for career women and the expectation that single women would give up their lives to care for elderly relatives. I enjoyed seeing Violet’s growing independence which culminated in a massive life choice at the end of the novel. The exploration of Lesbian relationships was good too. This was a well written and well researched novel, I loved the descriptions of Winchester and the accounts of the bell ringing. A great book.

Historical fiction is one of my favourite genres to read therefore when I came across this book, I knew I had to read it. Honestly, I have somewhat mixed feelings on this one, there are parts of the books which are very immersive and atmospheric but there are also parts which felt like a drag at times but at the end I suppose this is quite a decent read with minimilastic plot but great characterisation.

Set in 1930's A Single Thread is a story of Violet Speedwell, a 37 year old woman, whose fiance died during ww1 and she never married. Many young men died during the great war which left several young woman of the genration without a husband giving them the title of "surplus woman". Voilet who thinks of herself as one of the surplus woman has stayed with her uptight mother all her life but recently she has decided to move to new town against the wishes of her mother in order to feel a sembelence of independence. Thereafter, the plot revolves around Voilet as she tries to adjust with life in a new town, making friends, joining a church group devoted to make Kneelers and basically trying to find her niche as a single woman in this very rigid era.

Tracy Chevalier writing is gorgeous and beautiful. She brought the English countryside to life with her captivating prose and attention to detail. In fact, I feel that the author did a brilliant job in showcasing the life of British people and the society in general during that era and how much all of their lives were affected in the aftermath of WW1. I also really admired Voilet's spirit and her friendships with the fellow women in the church. I think A Single Thread brought out a sense of women empowerment in its own way.

On the downside though, its a very slow book and as I have already mentioned above the plot isn't very dynamic. As someone who likes to read books with interesting plots, there were times when I got bored and had to put the book down but I really think that if you are someone who likes a deeply character driven / soceity driven story, this is definetly the book to check out.

This Tracy Chevalier novel is set in the early 1930s and featured Violet Speedwell as she tries to create a viable and meaningful life for herself as a single woman in a new town. The novel is an interesting commentary on the difficulties faced by women in the interwar period, after the loss of so many men in WW1. It explores the tensions of the period, and its slowly shifting social norms, very effectively. It is also quite a scholarly novel demonstrating a depth of knowledge not only of the period and the setting but also of the intricacies of tapestry and bell ringing, both of which hobbies Violet explores as she builds her new life in Winchester. It was not a heavy read but i did find the pace a little turgid at some points, not being interested particularly in either tapestry or bell-ringing. Character-wise it is a mixed success, Violet and Arthur are rather enjoyably elusive and Violet's embittered old mother is drawn beautifully. But i had a major gripe with the character of Jack Wells who was incredibly one-dimensional and appeared to be thrown into the narrative at random intervals whenever the pace was slackening. Not sure this would draw me to more of Chevalier's work, but i did reasonably enjoy it.

I would like to thank netgalley and Harper Collins for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

An interesting look into the inter war period in Britain, especially from a women's pov. I loved the history of the broderers.

A gentle paced novel giving a well researched insight to being a single woman in the days between the first and second world wars. Violet lost her brother and fiancé in the war and having reached the age of 38 decides it is time to flee the dysfunctional family home and make a life for herself. An indication of the mettle of Violet going against social norms of the time. She moves to Winchester where her paltry wage as a typist hardly suffices . It is there that she discovers embroidery in making kneeler for the cathedral. She sees this as a way of leaving for posterity a little of herself as she is unlikely to have a family. Bell ringing also enters her life when she has a crush on an older man.
If you are looking for a fast paced drama this is not the book to read but it is a good insight into the social history of the period and Chevalier has gone to great depths to explore the world of campanology and church embroidery

Violet is one of those women who got left behind after the [Great] war. The male population heavily defeated and the loss of her fiancé has meant that she finds herself in her 30s and well into spinsterhood. It is 1932. With a criticing, uncompromising and compassionless mother stifling her every whim, Violet decides to move out and try living independently only to discover she is financially challenged more than she even thought. Life is rather a disappointment. However, Chevalier doesn’t leave our protagonist simpering and weak, she takes Violet on a journey of self discovery that brings her into a three dimensional character for the reader, and glorious technicolour in her own universe. Set against the backdrop of a country recovering from a Great War and plunging itself shortly into another, Violet becomes someone who can love her new friends, her new hobby as part of the Broderers’ and mostly, herself.

“A single thread can make quite a difference”

Tracy Chevalier never fails to bring a good story with depth and meaning, making the reader reflect on it and then go forwards with that reflection.

I completely engaged with Violet Speedwell in this book - she was so well portrayed as was her situation in the years after the First World War. A fascinating picture of what life was like for a single woman in that time - the expectations on her and the constrictions imposed. The secondary characters were also so well portrayed and believable. So much information about embroidered kneelers and bell-ringing. A joy to read.
Many thanks to Netgalley/Tracy Chevalier/Harper Collins for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

In this quiet, understated tale we are gradually introduced to the life of Violet Speedwell. It is 1932, she is 38, and has recently moved from Southampton where she lived with her mother to Winchester to work. Struggling with the constraints of matching a middle class lifestyle with her female salary in the post war recession she will be trying to rebuild her life with a new circle of friends and activities.
This is where the story melds with true life – in this year a group of women – the Cathedral Broderers” prepare to produce a series of kneelers, seat covers and other hangings for Winchester Cathedral – a collective creative project that should not just enhance the building, but last for generations. Violet will be drawn into this group learning to sew and meet the women who make up the group. Women married, single, widowed; older, younger, mostly middle class and all guided by a superb designer – who has linked her designs to the artworks of the medieval building.
The novel while using this group to introduce Violet (and the readers) to the wider community will explore this great project. But forming the backdrop of the whole novel will be the Cathedral itself – obviously well known and appreciated by Chevalier – its Christian life and rituals, its meaning, monuments and people all of which are described in such detail that the cathedral becomes a character in itself. One lesser thread of tale will concentrate on the medieval bells and the traditions of the bell ringers.
Remember too that this is 1932-3. Violet is presented as one of a huge swathe of women of the “lost generation”, those whose male contemporaries were killed or maimed in the war. They have lost the opportunity for marriage and children. Raised in the expectation that they would be wives and mothers there will be the issue of how they can support themselves as single women on the lesser female salaries. A lifestyle that will not necessarily improve as the years go by, but become harder both physically and mentally as the women gradually become regarded as oddities or nuisances.
The novel will explore something that is largely forgotten now – the sheer number of people, many who never fought, who carried the impact of the losses of the war on their lifelong mental health and happiness. Something that their families (if they had them) and their communities would have to try and deal with. , in spite of their own grief, the losses, compromises and damage will ripple out further. In the course of the novel Violet will finally come to terms with her single state, move from her post war stasis and start to build a wider life. She will take risks, large and small. Things might not lead where she wants.
So this tale is one of the quiet courage it takes to carry on living a life that is not following one’s original plans or trajectory. How one compromises with the repeated loss of people you love around you – and of course coping with living beside others who have achieved your aims, quietly, with dignity and the minimum of fuss. Not a novel of a “great hero” but one of quiet achievement of normality on a day to day basis. Chevalier writes her novels so well, giving you people and places you recognise as true even if you haven’t been there. They reflect the personal life because that is what we live and is ultimately so important to us. Melding the historical and the personal should make this a popular book group read.

This ARC was courtesy of netgalley - all thoughts and opinions are mine and unbiased
I also post to Amazon, Goodreads, Kobo and B&N

I love Tracy Chevalier's work so was thrilled to be able to read an advanced copy

This did not disappoint!!

I absolutely loved it !!

Well written as usual - the use of language is wonderful - I was drawn into the book from the first to the last page - all beautifully done

I cant recommend this book enough
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If there was a song to accompany this book, it would be Parry's Jerusalem. Throughout this wonderfully nostalgic book I was humming 'this green and pleasant land'. Set in Winchester, with the Cathedral at its heart, it was wonderfully languorous and a perfect weekend read. It's 1932 and our heroine, Violet, moves to Winchester after a series of losses. She feels adrift and is drawn to the Cathedral as a place of solace. Here she joins the broderers group, headed by Louisa Pesel, who are embroidering kneelers and cushions. (It was lovely to discover that Louisa Pesel was a real character, as was the embroidery project, and the kneelers and cushions can be seen in Winchester Cathedral to this day). Joining this group leads to friendships and Violet discovers that sewing calms her mind in a way nothing else ever has. This book deals with issues such as loss, grief and forbidden love in a sensitive and well-researched manner. Violet and Arthur are drawn to one another, but their relationship can never progress beyond a friendship. They do however, share one moment together which leads to the birth of Iris, who brings joy to Violet and a contentment that she has sought but never thought she would find. There is also the wonderful relationship between Dorothy and Gilda that is proof that love can conquer all. A Single Thread is a beautifully written story that is the perfect escape from the non-stop information overload of the 21st century. Pour yourself a cuppa, cut yourself a piece of cake, and enjoy.

A Single Thread is a moving historical novel, set in post-First World War England. It is 1932, and although it has been several years now since the end of the war, its lasting effects linger over everyone. The war particularly hangs over the life of our central character Violet, who tragically lost both her brother and her fiancee in the war. Violet has just moved away from home in Southampton, determined to make her own way in a new town, Winchester. But things are not easy for Violet – she’s an unmarried woman struggling to feed herself and pay her rent, convince her boss she is capable, and ignore the disapproval radiating from her mother.

Violet finds some solace in joining the broderers, a group of women who have embarked on a mammoth project to embroider kneelers and cushions for Winchester Cathedral. Violet is originally drawn to this group for the opportunity to make a mark, by leaving a small piece of herself in this historical building that will endure for centuries to come. But through joining this group she connects with people from her new hometown, who begin to fill her life, and the plot of the novel.

Violet is such a likeable and strong central character – hers is a quiet but steady strength. She doesn’t find it easy to fight the expectations society has of women, but fight she does, day by day, through small acts of defiance. This is an era where society held women in a particularly tough bind. On the one hand, traditional conventions hold fast – women are expected to marry, then stay at home to take care of their families and households. But at the same time, the war has changed the very fabric of society – for many women, like Violet, their finances and sweethearts never returned from the battlefields. Not only that, but the women themselves have changed – they have been fighting their own battles on the home front, adapting to a whole host of different roles and lives.

A Single Thread is extremely well crafted; all the different colours and threads a woven together to create this beautiful story. Violet, our very own ‘single thread’ is such a refreshing character from this era to read out, and it is a pure joy to watch her grow throughout the novel. Chevalier’s writing evokes such care for Violet, as well as a really striking sense of place and history – it’s a beautiful novel through and through.

The author convincingly depicts the details of daily life in the 1930s and, in particular, the challenges faced by women like Violet struggling to survive on a meagre income (for example, making a choice between a hot meal, more coal on the fire or a treat such as a trip to the cinema) and facing open prejudice at work because of their gender and unmarried status, whether from necessity or inclination. For example, the unquestioned assumption that they will at some point either give up work to marry or care for elderly relatives.

When Violet Speedwell joins the Winchester Cathedral broderers it introduces her, and I suspect many other readers, to a new vocabulary: long-armed cross, rice, upright gobelin amongst others. It also allows the reader to encounter some fascinating characters such as the impressive Miss Pesel and the rather fearsome Mrs. Biggins. The observation that "a leader comfortable with her authority does not need to be strident" is entirely on point when it comes to the latter. With the author's customary insight, the relationships between the broderers, their petty prejudices and attitudes to those who, in their view, do not conform to social norms are laid bare.

Outside the circle of the broderers, and in much the same vein, there's Violet's budgie-loving landlady, Mrs Harvey, who assiduously guards the coal supply and carefully vets visitors to the boarding house. And there's Violet's mother, the domineering Mrs. Speedwell, who always seems to have a put down for her daughter within easy reach but who becomes a more sympathetic figure later in the book, albeit after a little 'taming'.

I liked the touching relationship that develops between Violet and Winchester Cathedral bell-ringer, Arthur Knight. They are both, in different ways, lonely people who find comfort in each other's company and conversation but recognize the seeming impossibility of something more. You wouldn't naturally think that sharing the experience of bell ringing or examining embroidered kneelers could create a sense of intimacy but the author manages it. The impending threat of a second world war, when many are still struggling to cope with the impact of the first one, is cleverly introduced through the media of both embroidery and bell-ringing. I also liked the way the concentration required to execute both skills is presented as a beneficial distraction from other worries.

I warmed to Violet for her efforts to do good, such as the attention she pays to her niece Marjory or her attempts to help her fellow broderers, Gilda and Dorothy, even if her efforts do not always succeed. And I applauded her desire for independence (a 'life of sorts', as she puts it) even if that does bring with it a conflict between loyalty to family and personal fulfilment.

There was only one rather melodramatic, albeit minor, element of the storyline that didn't work for me; it felt misplaced and out of character with the rest of the book. Other than that I really enjoyed immersing myself in the atmosphere of the inter-war period the author so vividly recreates in A Single Thread. And, as a bonus, I now know a lot more than I did before about embroidery and bell-ringing although not enough, I suspect, to demonstrate competence in either. The final chapters of the book left me uplifted and satisfied in equal measure.