Richly Textured Like a Piece of Good Lace
Towner Whitney returns to her hometown of Salem, MA from California after the mysterious disappearance of her Aunt Eva. Towner comes from a family of women who can read the future through lace. The family has buried secrets that unfold throughout the novel, including the truth about Towner’s twin sister’s death.
Towner starts off by stating that her real first name is Sophya. She say’s “Never believe me. I lie all the time…”
When I requested an advance reader’s copy of this novel, I was under the mistaken impression that it was both about modern day Salem and an historical fiction about the Salem witch Trials. Though the historical was only slightly touched upon, the story did not disappoint!
This richly textured novel paints a vivid portrait of modern day Salem and how self-proclaimed witches live today. With a cast of eccentric characters and themes abound such as abuse, mental illness, witches, forgiveness, etc this is a real page-turner! This is sure to become a classic. Highly recommended!
4.5/5
Thanks to Harper Collins for an Advance Reader Copy of this book!
Note to my fellow bloggers who also reviewed this book: If you would like me to link your review at the bottom of my review, please leave a comment with the link to your review.
Copyright 2007-2010: All the posts within this blog were originally posted by Teddy Rose and should not be reproduced without express written permission.
I’ve looked at this book a couple of times! Sounds like you enjoyed it!
Yes, I really did Marg. Even though it isn’t historical fiction, I think you would enjoy it as well.
Stop by for a BBAW cyber-Chocolate Martini, Teddy!
Lezlie
I’ve been hearing about this a lot lately. It sounds really good!
Welcome home! Glad to hear this is a winner. I’ve got an ARC in my stacks, but wasn’t sure if it was my cuppa tea. My best friend is heading to Salem at the end of next month and this sounds like something she might enjoy in preparation for her Halloween vacation.
Tanabata,
I think you would really like this one. Let me know if you read it.
Les,
It does touch on lace reading and witches a bit, but it is really about family relationships and dealing with sibling loss, etc.. It didn’t make me think of Halloween at all.
I nominated you for the “I Love Your Blog Award” and wrote about it here
http://thelusciousliterarymuse.blogspot.com/2008/09/wow-i-feel-honoredbookish-ruth.html
. If you’d like to accept and participate here are the rules:
1) Add the logo of the award to your blog
2) Add a link to the person who awarded it to you
3) Nominate at least 7 other blogs
4) Add links to those blogs on your blog
5) Leave a message for your nominees on their blogs!
This is in my TBR pile and I can’t wait to get to it.
bermudaonion,
I think you you will like this one!
I have this book on my wishlist so I am going to sign up on the very off chance I might win it. Either way, I will be getting it to read.
Lovely review.
Gayla
gayla.c@bresnan.net
Thanks;
Gayla
Gayla, please leave your comment on the actual giveaway page. This was just linked so you could read the review, but I need everyone signing up in the same place or I wont be able to keep track. Thanks!
Here’s the link to the giveaway post:
http://teddyrose.blogspot.com/2008/10/lace-reader-by-brunonia-barry-giveaway.html
As I mentioned in the giveaway comments, this is a book I really want to read. Your review makes me want a copy that much more!
Wanda,
I am sure you would love this book. You have really increased you odds of winning with all of your wonderful comments.
I can’t wait to read this book!
Wonderful review Teddy Rose, thank you…makes me want to read it even more 😉
-Bobbie
Book Reviews By Bobbie
http://bookreviewsbybobbie.wordpress.com/
It really does sound like such an amazing book! Thanks for the review.
sounds interesting.
I bought this book recently because I had seen the author has a new book out. Your review has me even more excited to read this one!
I read this. I don’t agree that it’s destined to become a classic.
THE LACE READER begins with the narrator, Towner Whitney, calling herself a liar and warning the reader to suspect everything she says. So you have to wonder as the book progresses if any of her first-person accounts are true.
In keeping with the notorious locale (Salem), Towner’s family all have some degree of paranormal ability, at least according to Towner, who is an admitted liar.
Later, though, THE LACE READER finally gets interesting. Mysteries are upon mysteries are upon mysteries, the biggest one being Towner, herself. Another big one is the reason Towner’s twin committed suicide. And there are the mysteries of why Towner’s mother won’t leave the island and why she gave up Towner’s twin. Or is Towner misunderstanding? And did Towner’s uncle kill her great aunt? And what went on between him and Towner’s twin? Or was that just Towner’s imagination? And what went on between Jack and Towner’s twin and between Jack and Towner?
There are so many more questions, and they’ll keep catching you up. But you have to be careful when you try to figure the mysteries; remember, Towner is a liar (and, as you will come to see, somewhat crazy) and the policeman’s opinions are partly based on Towner’s writings.
Although Berry’s writing style, divulging facts in a scattered manner, slowly and little by little, was sometimes hard to follow, it also perpetuates mystery.
It seemed to me that when the story confused me, when I wasn’t sure whether it was in the past or present, Massachusetts or California, Towner, herself, was confused.
The first 70 pages of this book rated two stars; the rest rated four. So I guess that makes three, which is not worthy of being called a classic.