Catherine Parkstone has been divorced for several years when she decides to move to a small French village and begin a new life as a "needlewoman." Although she is confronted with a degree of inconvenience with her new home, she gallantly works on establishing herself as neighbor and needlewoman.
Her neighbors are initially welcoming, but quite formal. As Catherine settles into her new life and the rhythms of the French countryside, her friendships develop slowly, but surely.
The characters are interesting and well-drawn, providing a gradual acceptance that Catherine reciprocates. There is some love interest with the rather mysterious Patrick Castagnol, some complications arising from a visit from her sister Bryony and from Catherine's difficulties with French Bureaucracy, but the story moves slowly through all of these, concentrating on the relationships Catherine builds.
I enjoyed the slow pace of the novel as Catherine adjusts to the demands of a new culture and setting. The descriptions are lovely, and I could easily imagine the beauties and difficulties of her new way of life.
The relationship between Bryony and Patrick Castagnol, bothered me a bit, and the plot is relatively placid, but visiting in the Cevennes Mountains of France was thoroughly enjoyable. Visually appealing with some good characters in the Bouschets, the novel offers a peaceful interlude.
Adding Other Reviews: Mystica, MetroReader, Letters from a Hill Farm,
Fiction. Contemporary Fiction. 2011. 406 pages.
This was such a wonderful book. I liked it ever so much. My review is also up.
ReplyDeleteMystica - I've added a link to your review. Thanks for visiting!
ReplyDeleteLovely review! I so loved this book.
ReplyDeleteNan - Added a link to your review, too!
ReplyDeleteI like what you write about the descriptions and the idea of the story is appealing. I would often like to do something like this. It's a lovely region she chose to describe. Doesn't she live there occasionally?
ReplyDeleteCaroline - There is something appealing about having the courage to leave behind all that is familiar and start over. I thing Thornton vacationed in the region as a child and formed a deep attachment to the area.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the link!
ReplyDeleteI agree that the setting was one of the principle charms of this book. I'd love to visit there!
ReplyDeleteIs this a cozy? I am looking for cozies where the main characters have different careers so I am wondering if this would fit into one of my challenges. I think that I would read this regardless because you made it sound compelling.
ReplyDeleteDorothy - The setting was the crucial element for me, although I really liked the Bouschets.
ReplyDeleteViolette - It isn't a mystery, but it does fit the "cozy" in the setting. I have to admit that I found the story line less compelling than the vividness of Thornton's creation of atmosphere.