'A Single Thread' is set between the wars & revolves around Violet, one of the thousands of 'Surplus Women' who lost their chance of a husband & family due to WWI Violet moved to Winchester to escape from her constantly complaining mother & in an attempt to make a life for herself. Even though at times she wonders how she is going to eat & pay the rent she is finding her way. By chance she discovers a service for the broderers- the ladies who are painstakingly making cushions & kneelers for the Cathedral. Once she joins this group she begins to make friends & a purpose. Tracy Chevalier has the talent of taking the reader to different places & times & weaving a story that makes you feel you are part of it. This is not a fast moving story, but it is one that draws you in & makes you sad to leave the characters behind. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.

This book plays a poignant reminder to the horrors of the First World War. It is portrayed so well. It’s side effects are made more apparent in the everyday lives of the characters. You can not help feeling sorry for Violet. Losing her brother and also her lover. Then the death of her father. She just needs to make a fresh start somewhere new. It is a time of change. Being set in the thirties. The feeling of another war looming just around the corner. People are on edge. The importance of living for the moment. The author was inspired by real people from bell ringers to dedicated crafts women, that embroidered cushions and kneelers at Winchester Cathedral. These little fragments all added a certain charm to this story. Bringing a sense of time and place to this book. It made it feel so real and tangible.

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!

This was my first Tracey Chevalier and it did not disappoint. Beautiful atmospheric writing, a unique blend of both fact and fiction and loveable characters. I was hooked all the way through. I genuinely believe that this book would be the perfect source material for a new Sunday night period drama! Can someone make that happen please!?

Such a wonderful read, it’s sad to have finished it. I have read all of Tracy Chevalier’s books, all great reads and this book: “A Single Thread” is up on the same pedestal. Thank you to the Pigeons on Pigeonhole app for this book, to be able to read alongside other Pigeon readers is truly wonderful, an excellent book club. In this book the social history of life for women in the 1930s has been researched attentively. The storyline is beautiful and tender yet aspects of the characters lives, rock the page with anger. Tracy Chevalier makes one feel like the proverbial fly on the wall. In each chapter it is so easy to fall into the book, to feel, think, cry, shout at the thoughts and actions that surround the expectations of women. The socio-historical knowledge of women’s lives woven into the history of the Broderers in Winchester Cathedral, is exquisitely rich and colourful. The figurative language makes one read deeper into the story. I believe Voltaire said; “Each day we should wake up foaming at the mouth because of the injustice of things.” A truly remarkable story.