The Thread Collectors by Shaunna J. Edwards & Alyson Richman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Thank you to the publisher, Graydon House and NetGalley, for providing me with an ARC of The Thread Collectors in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
This novel is a collaboration between award-winning Jewish author Alyson Richman, and black debut author Shaunna J. Edwards.
The Gist
It is written by a black and Jewish woman about a black and jewish woman during the Civil war. Gripping, captivating and it will not leave you for a long time.
It is vivid and personal. There is no escape once you have started reading this novel.
The Details
I have to admit that those two women and even the side characters followed me into my dreams, and at times I needed a break.
It’s hard to explain why I felt not only connected to the characters, but I actually felt them.
I felt their anxiety, hope, desperation, but also the acceptance of the situation they had to deal with and still not surrender to it.
The characters become alive. There is no other way to describe it.
If a reader can make you feel, smell, and taste a story, then I don’t need to say anything more.
The writing is excellent to the point that it might become painful to be so deeply intertwined with the story, but still, you cannot stop.
Yes, this is how you might experience this book.
The story is somewhat inspired by their family history and the wish to present the drama of the Civil War from a different perspective, a black and jewish woman.
It is a story of bravery, strong friendship and strength in unexpected places. It describes the experiences of the men belonging to those women and how they connect.
In a very subtle but still direct way, it brings light to all the tragedies which are often lost below the blanket of war, weapons and casualties.
The Verdict
Overall, The Thread Collectors is as expertly written as the quilts are threaded we are introduced to in the story.
This is a novel you can still enjoy, even if you are not a fan of historical fiction.
But if you are interested in historical fiction, then be assured that you will not only be amazingly entertained, but also gain new insights into the tragedies which shaped us as humans.
I highly recommend this novel to everybody.
About the Authors
Shaunna Edwards has a BA in literature from Harvard College and a JD from NYU School of Law. A former corporate lawyer, she now works in diversity, equity and inclusion. She is a native Louisianian, raised in New Orleans, and currently lives in Harlem with her husband. The Thread Collectors is her first novel. Find her on Instagram, @shaunnajedwards.
Alyson Richman is the USA Today and #1 international bestselling author of several historical novels, including The Velvet Hours, The Garden of Letters, and The Lost Wife, which is currently in development for a major motion picture. Alyson graduated from Wellesley College with a degree in art history and Japanese studies. She is an accomplished painter and her novels combine her deep love of art, historical research, and travel. Alyson’s novels have been published in twenty-five languages and have reached bestseller lists both in the United States and abroad. She lives on Long Island with her husband and two children, where she is currently at work on her next novel. Find her on Instagram, @alysonrichman.
