Thursday 26 August 2010

Review: The Tapestry of Love - Rosy Thornton

Genre: Contemporary fiction
Pages: 352
Published: July 2010 (US December 2010?)

A warm and uplifting story of how a woman falls in love with a place and its people: a landscape, a community and a fragile way of life.

A rural idyll: that's what Catherine is seeking when she sells her house in England and moves to a tiny hamlet in the Cévennes mountains. With her divorce in the past and her children grown, she is free to make a new start, and her dream is to set up in business as a seamstress. But this is a harsh and lonely place when you're no longer just here on holiday. There is French bureaucracy to contend with, not to mention the mountain weather, and the reserve of her neighbours, including the intriguing Patrick Castagnol. And that's before the arrival of Catherine's sister, Bryony.


This book was a pleasant read. I think I am gonna go in for a description now. It was like sitting on the porch, drinking wine (well juice for me), seeing the sun set on a warm summer evening, perhaps reading a book. Everything very pleasant and relaxing. That is what this book is to me.

It's the story about Catherine, a woman of 49 who leaves England. Her kids have grown up, she is divorced and she wants something else. So she buys a cottage in France, and wants to make a living there. But French bureaucracy is not that kind to her, but at least she makes some good friends among her neighbours. But then her sister shows up, and then there is this man...

I liked Catherine, to just leave everything behind and start anew, I could not do it. All alone up on a mountain. But she makes it work.

There neighbours are good secondary characters. The elderly woman whom Catherine drives to places, the couple further down the road, and then there is Patrick. The woodsman not far from her. There is this quite chemistry between them. They become good friends, but no one makes a move. I am not going to give anything away though. Some things needs time. You can't rush love.

Sure, not much happen, but at the same time so much happen. There is her dealings with her children, the neighbour, getting to know Patrick, and quite drama when her pretty sister shows up. There is the dealings with wanting to set up a business in a protected area, and seeing a village living on the edge. Kids don't want to become farmers, and how can then rural areas prosper?

It was a good story that kept me reading, there was a lightness to it, and humour between the lines. It's a book that make you smile.

Blodeuedd's Cover Corner: I like it, and it fits the story and the mood.
Reason for reading: From the author
Final thoughts: I liked this book,it was yes pleasant, I honestly can't come up with something else to describe reading it.


24 comments:

  1. This sounds sweet and simple...brilliant review :)

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  2. This sounds like a book I'd like. I really enjoyed the author's novel Crossed Wires.
    Nice review!

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  3. This looks like something I would read if it was nonfiction, but would not be quite so drawn to as a novel.

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  4. This book sounds like the perfect, easy Summer read!

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  5. Sounds like a charming book. Glad you enjoyed it.

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  6. Lovely review, B. My nightstand book is actually one from the same author, Crossed Wires is the title. I really like it so far and perhaps I should check out this novel some day.

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  7. melissa
    Thanks, and yes that is sure was.

    Mary
    I wonder if it was at your place I saw a review of that one, but yes I am sure you'd like this one too,

    Alyce
    Well you could always pretend it was real ;)

    Thanks Michelle!

    Amused
    I do think it would be perfect for that.

    Anna
    Charming it was, and it was very enjoyable.

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  8. Ladybug
    Second time someone mentioned that one :) And yes if you like that one, then surely you'd enjoy this one too

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  9. If I outlive my husband and my parents I wouldn't mind trying to move to Ireland or England. Catherine sounds like a brave person to actually move away from everything and start over though!

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  10. Chris *waves back* :)

    Ladytink
    I'd like that too, if I dared that is, a little cottage in ireland. Of course more fun would be if everyone came with me while we still could

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  11. Lovely review! I like stories about people finding themselves, changing and so on in an idyllic environment.

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  12. This sounds like the perfect book for me and what a pretty cover too.

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  13. This sounds, well, pleasant. ;)
    France just is very pleasant, I know from recent experience. But sadly we learned about French bureaucracy too (don't ask, lol)!

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  14. This does sound like a sweet read.
    Great review! And I agree, you can't rush love.
    http://thebookworm07.blogspot.com/

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  15. This is one that I really want to read. I loved your entire description of it..must see if my library has a copy!

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  16. I actually really like the sound of this book! There aren't many books that I read about that I actually want to take the time out to buy, but this one just sounds what I'm looking for right now.

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  17. Just love the cover on this one and it does sound like a very enjoyable book. I've never read this author but this might be a good place to start.

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  18. Irena
    I do like those stories too, they always bring something special

    Darlene
    I am glad to hear that :) Oh yes, now why can't my door look like that with a baguette outside

    Janna
    Poor you, can't say I am a big fan of that, mostly it's necesserary but arghhhh it drives one insane

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  19. Naida
    Lol, now that song is playing in my head ;)

    Staci
    Well it's just out, so perhaps they haven't gotten it yet

    Lori
    I hope it was my weird description, lol. Sometimes I just need to paint a picture to tell what a book felt like

    Kaye
    I did see another book of hers aound blogland last year, crossed wires

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  20. Lovely review!

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