A Single Thread Audiobook By Tracy Chevalier cover art

A Single Thread

A Novel

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A Single Thread

By: Tracy Chevalier
Narrated by: Fenella Woolgar
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"A buoyant tale about the path to acceptance and joy--beginning, like all journeys, with one brave step."--People

"The best-selling novelist has done a masterful job of depicting the circumstances of a generation of women we seldom think about: the mothers, sisters, wives and fiances of men lost in World War I, whose job it was to remember those lost but not forgotten."--Associated Press

A BEST BOOK OF 2019 with The New York Public Library | USA TODAY | Real Simple | Good Housekeeping | Chicago Sun Time | TIME | PopSugar | The New York Post | Parade

1932. After the Great War took both her beloved brother and her fiancé, Violet Speedwell has become a "surplus woman," one of a generation doomed to a life of spinsterhood after the war killed so many young men. Yet Violet cannot reconcile herself to a life spent caring for her grieving, embittered mother. After countless meals of boiled eggs and dry toast, she saves enough to move out of her mother's place and into the town of Winchester, home to one of England's grandest cathedrals. There, Violet is drawn into a society of broderers--women who embroider kneelers for the Cathedral, carrying on a centuries-long tradition of bringing comfort to worshippers.

Violet finds support and community in the group, fulfillment in the work they create, and even a growing friendship with the vivacious Gilda. But when forces threaten her new independence and another war appears on the horizon, Violet must fight to put down roots in a place where women aren't expected to grow. Told in Chevalier's glorious prose, A Single Thread is a timeless story of friendship, love, and a woman crafting her own life. Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Women's Fiction War Heartfelt Funny
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Beautiful Storytelling • Rich Historical Details • Excellent Narration • Emotional Depth • Compelling Themes

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While I thought the reader’s performance of this book was very good, the story was not. It kept me interested in parts, but bored in others. Overall it was pleasant enough, but I cannot recommend it to others.

Rather bland story

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Post-WWI England is recovering in 1932 but unmarried Violet must find a way to make a life on her own. She moves to Winchester and blossoms into a new life. Beautifully written and narrated. I cared deeply about Violet and cheered her on as she tackled each new hurdle to assert her independence.

Loved this book

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I honestly thought about returning this book, but it picked up and, in the end, I loved it.

Slow start but. . .

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I love all of Tracy Chevalier's books and have read them all in print. This was the first that I listened to. The audio and narrator truly enhanced the experience. Woolgar's narration was calming and sweet, yet infused with humor when needed (especially Violet's mother). I was engaged listening to this book, truly not knowing until the end how Chevalier "wove" the different themes throughout the story. A sign of truly well done historical fiction: I connected greatly to the story, its characters, and the relevance to current times.

Delightful and Relatable

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I was afraid this might end up being self-consciously quirky and annoying ...But, no - this was a truly full-bodied and beautiful story, with humor that sometimes made me laugh out loud, suspense that sometimes made me nervous to read the last paragraph, some darkness, and character development that felt hard-won and emotionally true.

Loved this book!

Full-bodied and wonderful!

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