Title: The Thread Collectors
Author: Shaunna J. Edwards and Alyson Richman
Publication: August 30, 2022
Publisher: Graydon House
Genre: Historical Fiction
Pages: 382
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SYNOPSIS: (From Goodreads)
1863: In a small Creole cottage in New Orleans, an ingenious young Black woman named Stella embroiders intricate maps on repurposed cloth to help enslaved men flee and join the Union Army. Bound to a man who would kill her if he knew of her clandestine activities, Stella has to hide not only her efforts but her love for William, a Black soldier and a brilliant musician.
Meanwhile, in New York City, a Jewish woman stitches a quilt for her husband, who is stationed in Louisiana with the Union Army. Between abolitionist meetings, Lily rolls bandages and crafts quilts with her sewing circle for other soldiers, too, hoping for their safe return home. But when months go by without word from her husband, Lily resolves to make the perilous journey South to search for him.
As these two women risk everything for love and freedom during thebrutal Civil War, their paths converge in New Orleans, where an unexpected encounter leads them to discover that even the most delicate threads have the capacity to save us. Loosely inspired by the authors’ family histories, this stunning novel will stay with readers for a long time.
REVIEW
**A copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**
This book came across my email in a bulk email for review requests. I was excited to read it because Historical Fiction is my jam but Civil War Historical Fiction is even more in my wheelhouse. I love it more than I love WW2. I couldn’t wait to start reading it.
Honestly, before I go any further with the review. I have to say that I couldn’t even get past 10% in this book. I was so upset and desperate to like this book. I see there are rave reviews about it. I just couldn’t get past it. I honestly don’t know what it was about this book. I don’t know if I am in a reading slump and just can’t get into books or if it was the book itself. Stella is a creole woman who is sold. William is a black man running away to the Union Army. Stella sews William a map and they are in love with each other. That is as far as I got.
Honestly, the writing seemed heavy and took me far too long to get just 10% in the book. There was just something about it. Try and read the book for yourself before you take what I say and run with it. I will certainly be trying to read this book again and who knows maybe at that time I will give it rave review with 5-stars.
