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Friday, July 17, 2009

Review: The Lace Makers of Glenmara by Heather Barbieri


Title and Author of book: The Lace Makers of Glenmara by Heather Barbieri

Fiction or non-fiction: Fiction
Genre: Adult literature
Where did I get the book: My public Library
Challenges that this fulfilled: The Pub 2009

What led you to pick up this book? I fell in love with the cover when I saw it on Bonnie's blog Red Lady's Reading Room.

Summarize the plot but don't give away the ending!
"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.

What did you like most about this book? The theme of loss runs deep through this story, however, the author shows the reader how each person deals differently with their own heartaches and is able to have hope once again! I also liked how the sharing of a craft brought together a group of women who treated each other like family. I would love to belong to a group like this.

What did you like least? There wasn't anything that I didn't like. This book was beautifully written and the characters came to life in my mind. The only down side to reading this is that it made me want to be in Ireland!!

Have you read any other books by this author? No, I haven't but I would easily pick up her first novel, Snow in July, because of how much I loved this one.

What did you think of the main character? I loved each of the characters introduced in this book. Each one had something to add to the story and made it that much more interesting.

What about the ending? Well, I can't tell you anything about that!! I don't want to spoil this wonderful book for anyone!!

I totally recommend this book to anyone. It was a lovely read and when I closed the book I was truly sad to say goodbye to these people. I wanted to get on a plane and travel to their village and ask them if I could be a part of their extended family!!

Other Book Friends who read and reviewed this book:
Tara @ Books and Cooks
Direct Quote: "For some reason, I wasn't expecting to like it as much as I did, perhaps because it seemed formulaic. But it brought me pleasure and I am happy to recommend it."


I want to give credit to Kailana of The Written World
for the format of my review today.
I really like how she does her reviews,
so as I wanted to change things up a bit,
I thought I would review this book in her style.

32 comments:

  1. I've heard such good things about this book! Great review!

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  2. Great review. I really like the new format of Kailana's that you are using. I can't wait to read (yet again) this book!!

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  3. I love to read book like that, where you just want to insert yourselves into their existence. Those are the ones that you don't want to put down.

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  4. I am so glad you liked it cos ever since I saw it I have had my eye on it. This is good news

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  5. Wow, fabulous review and it doesn't give too many spoiler details. Thank you for that! Also, I have given you an award so please stop by to pick up the logo when you get a chance.

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  6. Another one you beat me too. It sounds wonderful. I hope to get to it in July yet.

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  7. This sounds FABULOUS! I like the cover too! :):):):):):):):):)

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  8. I'm glad you liked this too! I also think it would be wonderful to have a close-knit group of women that I've known all my life.

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  9. First, the cover and title are beautiful. Second, your review is excellent! I totally feel your love of this book.
    I think that format helps to organize thoughts better. I really like this idea. It allows you to hit the points you want to make, but not get lost along the way. Not that your reviews needed help to begin with :)
    Excellet job Staci!

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  10. Hi, Staci,
    Thanks so much for the review of my novel--and to everyone for the wonderful comments. I'm also happy to do book group visits via speakerphone or in person (Puget Sound Area)for those who have more questions!
    Cheers,
    Heather Barbieri

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  11. Oops, sorry, I meant to say "Tara" (such a lovely Irish name too!). I should try typing anything to-be-published before 8:30 a.m. PST!

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  12. I think Heather mixed up our names! But we will forgive her, right, for writing such a lovely book! ;-)

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  13. I got this one the other day, so I'm glad to see it's good. The new review format is great!

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  14. I stole my review format from Dewey from A Hidden Side of a Leaf... I should mention that in my reviews again. But, thanks!

    Also, have you read THE LACE READER by Brunonia Barry? It is really good, too. A bit different, but not at the same time.

    I am going to see if my library has this one..

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  15. I just saw this on the library shelf and wondered about it. Great, great review, Staci. Have you read Brooklyn by Colm Tóibín? Sounds like sort of the opposite. Both are appealing to me.

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  16. Glad to hear you enjoyed this one. It's on my shelf, and I'll be reading it soon.

    --Anna
    Diary of an Eccentric

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  17. I'm glad you liked this one as I have it in my stack.

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  18. Well I want to go to Ireland just after reading your review! Fun format and review :)

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  19. I like the new review format! Also, I remember wanting to learn how to make lace like this many years ago. This is definitely a book that I need to read!

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  20. I have a soft spot for twenty-somethings trying to figure out their lives (probably because I am one!). This book sounds great -- definitely going to look for it!

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  21. A beautiful cover, a catchy title and a a book that sounds like it belongs in my personal library. This sounds like a wonderful book, Staci. Thank you for the great review.

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  22. This sounds like a beautiful book. Each year my book club chooses the best of the year and one of our categories is characters we will miss... sounds like you have those in this book.

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  23. This is on my wishlist and you make it sound so good it definitely has to be high priority. Another great review!

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  24. Don't you love when you finish a book and you feel completely satisfied? It sounds like this would be a great read and I'm glad you enjoyed it so much. I'll keep an eye out for this one!

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  25. Sounds like a lovely read! I'm glad you enjoyed it so much. Hopefully soon I'll have time to read again...I kinda miss it :P

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  26. I fell in love with this book from the cover alone! I'm glad it lives up to it! I've added it to my wishlist.

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  27. I am so glad that you liked this book. I still have the book TBR and it is on my nightstand...I hope to read it this month. I adore the cover and the premise for the story. I love your new review style...I just may copy it and give it a try! You wrote a beautiful review Staci.

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  28. That was a really lovely review Staci and I think it's one I'd definitely enjoy. Another one for the wishlist ~ 'your bad'!

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  29. I've had this on my TBR Shelf forever (it seems), but haven't been very drawn to it. Your last bold paragraph has encouraged me. :)

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  30. Staci, I finished reading it this morning. LOVED IT. Do you mind if I link to your review at the end of mine? Email me to let me know! meah56 at gmail dot com

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