Editorial Content for The Thread Collectors
Contributors
Reviewer (text)
In THE THREAD COLLECTORS, Shaunna J. Edwards and Alyson Richman combine their familial histories to create a fictional Civil War narrative revolving around two women and the men in their lives.
Stella is a light-skinned woman who was bought to be the mistress of a plantation owner and falls in love with one of his slaves. An extremely talented musician, William performs for his owner, Frye, and is desperate to escape his bondage to build a better life for himself and Stella. Lily, a Jewish woman in New York City, is married to Jacob, who also is a musician. She is an ardent abolitionist and fully supports her husband when he enlists to fight for the Union.
"THE THREAD COLLECTORS would be an excellent choice for a book club due to its historical significance, the juxtaposition of race and religion in a war that was steeped in racial prejudice, and the limitations placed upon women in mid-19th-century America."
Upon joining the Union forces, William meets Jacob almost immediately. After seeing William's flute, Jacob expresses to William how important it is for him to let his superior know that he's a musician. That sage advice results in William's survival, and the two become friends over their shared love of music.
William's past is horrific. Along with his mother’s malevolent cruelty, we learn about a young musician, Teddy, whom William has taken under his protection. Teddy's background is also shockingly violent.
Edwards and Richman bring these characters to life, and we come to admire them. Through their eyes, we see how some people can bestow light and generosity upon others. However, there are those --- particularly members of the clergy who certainly should know better --- who pander and change their beliefs when it suits their needs. Stella and Lily must face desperate situations in order to survive and help those they love.
This novel is about our history, and it's about the horrors and the beauty that mankind can inflict or bestow upon those who are considered "others." Even though Jacob is white, he is Jewish; while he has had his freedom, he has not always been viewed as an equal. To complicate matters, his only brother, who married a southerner, fought on the side of the Confederacy.
THE THREAD COLLECTORS would be an excellent choice for a book club due to its historical significance, the juxtaposition of race and religion in a war that was steeped in racial prejudice, and the limitations placed upon women in mid-19th-century America. In short, it is fitting grist for our 21st century's censorship mill. We see women who showed their strength and bravery in spite of society's (and men's) determination to keep them helpless.
Teaser
1863: In a small Creole cottage in New Orleans, an ingenious young Black woman named Stella embroiders intricate maps on repurposed cloth to help enslaved men flee and join the Union Army. Bound to a man who would kill her if he knew of her clandestine activities, Stella has to hide not only her efforts but her love for William, a Black soldier and a brilliant musician. Meanwhile, in New York City, a Jewish woman stitches a quilt for her husband, who is stationed in Louisiana with the Union Army. But when months go by without word from him, Lily resolves to make the perilous journey South to search for him. The paths of these two women converge in New Orleans, where an unexpected encounter leads them to discover that even the most delicate threads have the capacity to save us.
Promo
1863: In a small Creole cottage in New Orleans, an ingenious young Black woman named Stella embroiders intricate maps on repurposed cloth to help enslaved men flee and join the Union Army. Bound to a man who would kill her if he knew of her clandestine activities, Stella has to hide not only her efforts but her love for William, a Black soldier and a brilliant musician. Meanwhile, in New York City, a Jewish woman stitches a quilt for her husband, who is stationed in Louisiana with the Union Army. But when months go by without word from him, Lily resolves to make the perilous journey South to search for him. The paths of these two women converge in New Orleans, where an unexpected encounter leads them to discover that even the most delicate threads have the capacity to save us.
About the Book
1863: In a small Creole cottage in New Orleans, an ingenious young Black woman named Stella embroiders intricate maps on repurposed cloth to help enslaved men flee and join the Union Army. Bound to a man who would kill her if he knew of her clandestine activities, Stella has to hide not only her efforts but her love for William, a Black soldier and a brilliant musician.
Meanwhile, in New York City, a Jewish woman stitches a quilt for her husband, who is stationed in Louisiana with the Union Army. Between abolitionist meetings, Lily rolls bandages and crafts quilts with her sewing circle for other soldiers, too, hoping for their safe return home. But when months go by without word from her husband, Lily resolves to make the perilous journey South to search for him.
As these two women risk everything for love and freedom during the brutal Civil War, their paths converge in New Orleans, where an unexpected encounter leads them to discover that even the most delicate threads have the capacity to save us. Loosely inspired by the authors' family histories, this stunning novel will stay with readers for a long time.
Audiobook available, read by Robin Miles
