Saturday, August 28, 2010

Lacemakers of Glenmara by Heather Barbieri (4)


"You can always start again," Kate Robinson's mother once told her, "all it takes is a new thread." Overwhelmed by heartbreak and loss, the struggling twenty-six-year-old fashion designer follows her mother's advice and flees to her ancestral homeland of Ireland, hoping to break free of old patterns and reinvent herself.

She arrives on the west coast, in the seaside hamlet of Glenmara. In this charming, fading Gaelic village, Kate quickly develops a bond with members of the local lace-making society: Bernie, alone and yearning for a new purpose since the death of her beloved husband, John; Aileen, plagued by doubt, helplessly watching her teenage daughter grow distant; Moira, caught in a cycle of abuse and denial, stubbornly refusing help from those closest to her; Oona, in remission from breast cancer, secretly harboring misgivings about her marriage; Colleen, the leader of the group, worried about her fisherman husband, missing at sea. And outside this newfound circle is local artist Sullivan Deane, an enigmatic man trying to overcome a tragedy of his own.

Under Glenmara's spell, Kate finds the inspiration that has eluded her, and soon she and the lace makers are creating a line of exquisite lingerie. In their skilled hands, flowers, Celtic dragons, nymphs, fish, saints, kings, and queens come to life, rendered with painterly skill. The circle also offers them something more—the strength to face their long-denied desires and fears. But not everyone welcomes Kate, and a series of unexpected events threatens to unravel everything the women have worked so hard for. . . .



The book was an enjoyable read, The Lacemakers were a group of women who gathered together to do something they enjoyed, but also formed a bond of friendship. The book reminded me of our own little bookclub group, not only do we gather together to do something we enjoy,(reading) we have grown into a group of firm friends.

I give it a rating of 4****

2 comments:

mckellar family said...

I really enjoyed this book, It was a easy quick read and I really got into this book.If anything I would love to see more of a relationship between Kate and Sullivan.Simple things like he winks at her, he touches her hand,he pulls her into the brush for a kiss all the flirty exchanges of a new relationship..I love the muffin top new name as a fallen souffle I couldn't stop laughing....just looking at each girl in our reading group..
SAM - creative
Native-rock a good foundation
Kristie- trooper amazing women and has alot of love for people.
Irish-a person you chill with..no stress..
Legs-listener.
Tamika(meeks) fun..party girl
Shazza(Sharon) compassionate.
Each girl has a wonderful place in the group which we can help each other just like the lacemakers..We are the Fantastic, amazing Book club..

Kathy Habel said...

Just stopping from Mormon Mommy Blogs by to check out your blog.
Kathy
I Am A Reader, Not a Writer

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