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The Needle in the Blood
January 1067. Charismatic bishop Odo of Bayeux commissions a wall hanging, on a scale never seen before, to celebrate the conquest of Britain by his brother, William, Duke of Normandy. What he cannot anticipate is how utterly this will change his life-even more than the invasion itself.
His life becomes entangled with the women who embroider his hanging, especially Gytha-handmaiden to the fallen Saxon queen and his sworn enemy. But against their intentions, they fall helplessly in love. Friends become enemies, enemies become lovers; nothing in life or in the hanging is what it seems.
His life becomes entangled with the women who embroider his hanging, especially Gytha-handmaiden to the fallen Saxon queen and his sworn enemy. But against their intentions, they fall helplessly in love. Friends become enemies, enemies become lovers; nothing in life or in the hanging is what it seems.
576 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2007
61 people are currently reading
1247 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Bower
9 books61 followersSarah was born and brought up in Yorkshire but now lives in Suffolk with her husband and two grown-up sons, not to mention the two golden retrievers, three chickens and an elderly, obese cat. She works for Creative Arts East, an arts development agency in Norfolk, managing projects to promote reading and creative writing. She also teaches creative writing at the University of East Anglia, where she completed a creative writing MA in 2002. She has published fiction and non-fiction in journals as various as MsLexia and British Industry. She was short-listed for the Curtis Brown scholarship at UEA in 2001/02 and has had success in a number of short story competitions, most recently as winner of the Café Writers Short Fiction Competition 2005.
Sarah has a weakness for lost causes and spends much of her leisure time watching England play cricket. Apart from being successful as a novelist, her biggest ambition is to spend a year travelling the world with the Barmy Army.
Sarah has a weakness for lost causes and spends much of her leisure time watching England play cricket. Apart from being successful as a novelist, her biggest ambition is to spend a year travelling the world with the Barmy Army.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews
September 2, 2015
Too much fucking, not enough sewing. A resounding eh. I read this so you don't have to.
April 10, 2012
Hearken all art historians, needlewomen and readers of historical fiction: this is an
expansive, comprehensive, beautifully conceived novel that will make you want to hold it
close to your heart long after you read the last lines. The Bayeux Tapestry comes to life!
The fine art of needlework and honor due to the craft is inspiring. Passions of war,
religion, and romance leaps from these pages. The lovers entwined and inhibited by the
history of the Normans and Saxons will capture your imagination.
"The Needle in the Blood" is a novel for your personal bookshelf. It's a keeper.
In my other life, I'm a needlewoman. I love fine needlework, and have been embroidering,
cross stitching and needlepointing alone and in Guilds for over 30 years. It's through
needlework that I've had some of the most satisfying times of my life and made some of my
most cherished friends. I know the intimacy and the terrors of handwork. I know the perils
of making a mistake...blotting a piece of linen that's been so precious and so long stitched
upon. Oh my goodness...I know the feeling of fine wool and needles, and the beauty of
hand-dyed linen, silk and threads. And, I know the stories that tapestries tell. I know
they tell more than the outward eye, or the untrained eye can tell. They hold secrets known
only to the needle worker or those who have been intimately involved in the making of the
tapestry...those who conceived of the design, created the pattern for the design, and those
who worked the design itself. I know a misstep can cause a change in the intended design,
or an extra stitch can cause a design to say or mean something else entirely. Such is the
essence of "The Needle in the Blood."
This is a novel that can't fail to intrigue you. I picked this one because I had an idea it
had to do with stitching, but I had no idea it would be so engrossing. Sarah Bower is a
gifted writer who has painstakingly rendered the warring's of a people, a Prince, a woman
and man, religious life vs common life; and a tapestry of other things, into this large and
wonderful book. It is a long book with over 500 pages. That's a show-stopper for many
readers, but it never seemed that long a journey for me.
Major characters such as: 1) Gytha, a maid-in-waiting in the fallen King Harold the Saxon's
household, who becomes a central needlewoman working on the Bayeux Tapestry and the love
interest of 2) Odo, the Earl and priest/brother of King William the Conqueror. Odo was the
originator of 3) the Bayeux Tapestry, a character in and of itself. 4) Sister Jean/Agatha,
the sister of King Willam and Earl Odo...nun, a woman of secret desires, artist who drew the
scenes for the Tapestry that Odo described to her, 5) the needlewomen who worked on the
Tapestry... and so many others.
Absolutely fascinating stories interwoven amidst the history of the building of England
during the 9th century. I loved all the details about the making of the Bayeux Tapestry, of
course, but that wasn't the primary focus of the book. It was well balanced with the
romance, actually, the very hot and exotic romance between Gytha and Odo; conflicted and
inhibited sex and love is always so much better! And, the stories of all the figures
involved in the making of the new society, the church, buildings and needlework were
captivating. I was really drawn in by this book and found it difficult to stop thinking
about even when I had to stop reading it to go on to other things and other reviews.
It was fortunate for me that I received a netgalley copy of "The Needle in the Blood," but I
will tell you frankly that I'm buying my own hard cover copy this week. I want to reread it
at a more leisurely pace. I want to keep a copy in my own library. I really loved this
book.
Having said all that, I need to evaluate it also on the basis of whether it's a book for a
general reader. I'd remark that it isn't. Those who have a love of historical fiction at
its finest, a love of needlework, a love of big books with lush stories such as Ken Follet's
"The Pillars of the Earth," will love this book!
5 stars
expansive, comprehensive, beautifully conceived novel that will make you want to hold it
close to your heart long after you read the last lines. The Bayeux Tapestry comes to life!
The fine art of needlework and honor due to the craft is inspiring. Passions of war,
religion, and romance leaps from these pages. The lovers entwined and inhibited by the
history of the Normans and Saxons will capture your imagination.
"The Needle in the Blood" is a novel for your personal bookshelf. It's a keeper.
In my other life, I'm a needlewoman. I love fine needlework, and have been embroidering,
cross stitching and needlepointing alone and in Guilds for over 30 years. It's through
needlework that I've had some of the most satisfying times of my life and made some of my
most cherished friends. I know the intimacy and the terrors of handwork. I know the perils
of making a mistake...blotting a piece of linen that's been so precious and so long stitched
upon. Oh my goodness...I know the feeling of fine wool and needles, and the beauty of
hand-dyed linen, silk and threads. And, I know the stories that tapestries tell. I know
they tell more than the outward eye, or the untrained eye can tell. They hold secrets known
only to the needle worker or those who have been intimately involved in the making of the
tapestry...those who conceived of the design, created the pattern for the design, and those
who worked the design itself. I know a misstep can cause a change in the intended design,
or an extra stitch can cause a design to say or mean something else entirely. Such is the
essence of "The Needle in the Blood."
This is a novel that can't fail to intrigue you. I picked this one because I had an idea it
had to do with stitching, but I had no idea it would be so engrossing. Sarah Bower is a
gifted writer who has painstakingly rendered the warring's of a people, a Prince, a woman
and man, religious life vs common life; and a tapestry of other things, into this large and
wonderful book. It is a long book with over 500 pages. That's a show-stopper for many
readers, but it never seemed that long a journey for me.
Major characters such as: 1) Gytha, a maid-in-waiting in the fallen King Harold the Saxon's
household, who becomes a central needlewoman working on the Bayeux Tapestry and the love
interest of 2) Odo, the Earl and priest/brother of King William the Conqueror. Odo was the
originator of 3) the Bayeux Tapestry, a character in and of itself. 4) Sister Jean/Agatha,
the sister of King Willam and Earl Odo...nun, a woman of secret desires, artist who drew the
scenes for the Tapestry that Odo described to her, 5) the needlewomen who worked on the
Tapestry... and so many others.
Absolutely fascinating stories interwoven amidst the history of the building of England
during the 9th century. I loved all the details about the making of the Bayeux Tapestry, of
course, but that wasn't the primary focus of the book. It was well balanced with the
romance, actually, the very hot and exotic romance between Gytha and Odo; conflicted and
inhibited sex and love is always so much better! And, the stories of all the figures
involved in the making of the new society, the church, buildings and needlework were
captivating. I was really drawn in by this book and found it difficult to stop thinking
about even when I had to stop reading it to go on to other things and other reviews.
It was fortunate for me that I received a netgalley copy of "The Needle in the Blood," but I
will tell you frankly that I'm buying my own hard cover copy this week. I want to reread it
at a more leisurely pace. I want to keep a copy in my own library. I really loved this
book.
Having said all that, I need to evaluate it also on the basis of whether it's a book for a
general reader. I'd remark that it isn't. Those who have a love of historical fiction at
its finest, a love of needlework, a love of big books with lush stories such as Ken Follet's
"The Pillars of the Earth," will love this book!
5 stars
March 23, 2012
For those Norman Conquest afficianados, enjoy this prelude to my review (not made by me but some other excellent, talented people!): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtGoBZ...
What on earth is it about Sarah Bower’s books that I find so enjoyable and yet so frustrating?! This is the second book of Bower’s that I’ve felt this way about, and whilst with Sins of the House of Borgia I loved the thoughtful writing style, the richly detailed setting, and the complex secondary characters, but found the pacing to be off, the choice of story odd and not as compelling as it could have been, and the main character unsympathetic, with The Needle in the Blood I’m having a much harder time explaining what I loved and what I loathed, mainly because in almost every aspect of the book – characterisations, writing style, plot, etc. – I found bits that I loved and equally bits that I loathed.
Take the writing style in The Needle in the Blood. There’s no denying that Bower is a knowledgeable, skilled writer of language. The descriptions are rich, evocative, thoughtful and intelligent. The worlds that Bower creates are fleshed out and full, imaginative yet plausible. You feel like you could be right there. That’s the mark of a good writer. Not only does Bower display a genuinely good knowledge of language but she uses it and applies it creatively. However, I felt that there were a few issues. I just didn’t get along with the third person present tense format that the book was written in. It sounded awkward to my ears, it was sometimes difficult to read and make sense of and take in, and at times it was confusing when a character began a scene in the present tense and then went off on a reminiscent tangent of events that had happened earlier that day, also written in the present tense, before returning to their current situation and this meant it wasn’t immediately clear what order events happened in and where we currently were. Occasionally it also obfuscated who was doing or saying what to whom when. This just made reading The Needle in the Blood more of a slog than it needed to be. Also, the book is sporadically peppered with some pretty coarse lines, for example . Now, let me clarify. It’s not the bad language or the subject matter that I objected to when such lines came up, and yes, as an historian I am absolutely sure that rapine and pillage was a fact of the Norman Conquest. But the lines felt like they were trying too hard to be earthy and that they were just put in for the sake of being shocking. It’s just unnecessary. And for that reason they came off as just rather crude, to me.
Then there are the characters. My reaction to Gytha varied throughout the book, ranging from real like to genuine frustration with her. Unlike Violante of Sins of the House of Borgia, Gytha’s an adult, she knows her way around the world, and she wasn’t hampered by Violante’s adolescent mix of utter gullibility, wild delusion and desperate fantasy. Gytha is practical, sensible, and intelligent. For example, . I like that. This is a character with sense and a good head on her shoulders, and the maturity of an adult. I can identify with that, I can connect with that. But then at various points in the book Gytha would do something inexplicable that had me mentally yelling at her "Why?!" For example, ARGH! I wanted to take Gytha by the shoulders and shake her! The other characters are done reasonably well, and there’s a scene between Archbishop Lanfranc of Canterbury, King William, and William’s half-brother Count Robert of Mortain, which felt reminiscent of Sharon Penman’s scenes of characters plotting together. But as pretty well done as they were, it could have been better, the characters just don’t reach the heights of subtlety and complexity that they could have – though they do feel three-dimensional, and human, and nicely fleshed out.
The plot. I loved the premise. The Norman Conquest of 1066 is one of the most significant, important, and interesting events in English history, but it’s rare for me to find any historical fiction set around this time (and Sharon Penman seems determined not to go there, which seems a very great pity). Moreover, the Bayeux Tapestry is, in my opinion, one of the most unique and precious artefacts of English history. In principle, the plot of The Needle in the Blood was just the ticket. The interaction of Norman and Anglo-Saxon, the adjustments and sometimes compromises under the new regime, the Tapestry coming together and its wonderful idiosyncrasies and authentic hidden messages of the little things of everyday life… these were all terribly interesting, though to be honest all this is just the background to the plot of Odo and Gytha’s love story. This was another aspect which both delighted and annoyed me at the same time. On the one hand, I felt that the sexual tension between these characters crackled, I believed in their relationship and its deepening from that tension to real, passionate, devoted love. However, I felt that Also, what was with the ending? It wasn’t a bad ending, don’t get me wrong, but it wasn’t exactly satisfying either. After everything
A brief word on the historicity. For the most part, it was good. I highlighted a few inaccuracies whilst I was reading – a character referring to the Catherine wheel firework, anachronistic fruit, comments on Byzantium instead of the Empire of the Greeks – but I guess you could let them go. They were throwaway lines, not integral to the plot, not major, noticeable alterations of history… I’ve just developed an internal anachronism radar, as an aspiring historical fiction author, that keeps me watchful when it comes to technologies, fruits and plants, idioms and sayings, and other cultural items that would be unique to a particular time. One of the more annoying niggles was that Bower uses inauthentic names for many of the Anglo-Saxon characters. Probably the two biggest historical alterations were the invention of Agatha – Odo had no such sister, but her character doesn’t affect or warp the timeline and fits neatly into the post-Conquest world, so I’ll let that one go – and the creation of a love story between Odo and Gytha, but even this is based on a mysterious and unexplained scene in the Bayeux Tapestry of a couple potentially being affectionate or fighting, labelled as a cleric and Aelfgytha, and I could imagine such a tale fitting in plausibly into the gaps of history.
Final words? There’s good stuff here, there definitely is. I wouldn’t have enjoyed the book as much as I did – or been so annoyed with the ending – if there hadn’t been. Great premise, well-crafted setting, for the most part well-written, generally speaking good characterisations… But a few key things grated on me too – I just didn’t get on with the use of present tense, the crude lines were unnecessary shock value, and sometimes Gytha and the plot could be frustrating or else didn’t make the most logical sense to me. Also, whilst the characterisations and plot were for the most part, pretty good, when they weren’t being annoying, I can’t help but feel that it could have been better. Of Sarah Bower’s two books, I’d definitely say I enjoyed The Needle in the Blood more – the heroine is much more identifiable and relatable, and this time round we actually get the real story as centre stage. Mixed bag, all in all, but more good than bad, and better than Sins of the House of Borgia.
7 out of 10
What on earth is it about Sarah Bower’s books that I find so enjoyable and yet so frustrating?! This is the second book of Bower’s that I’ve felt this way about, and whilst with Sins of the House of Borgia I loved the thoughtful writing style, the richly detailed setting, and the complex secondary characters, but found the pacing to be off, the choice of story odd and not as compelling as it could have been, and the main character unsympathetic, with The Needle in the Blood I’m having a much harder time explaining what I loved and what I loathed, mainly because in almost every aspect of the book – characterisations, writing style, plot, etc. – I found bits that I loved and equally bits that I loathed.
Take the writing style in The Needle in the Blood. There’s no denying that Bower is a knowledgeable, skilled writer of language. The descriptions are rich, evocative, thoughtful and intelligent. The worlds that Bower creates are fleshed out and full, imaginative yet plausible. You feel like you could be right there. That’s the mark of a good writer. Not only does Bower display a genuinely good knowledge of language but she uses it and applies it creatively. However, I felt that there were a few issues. I just didn’t get along with the third person present tense format that the book was written in. It sounded awkward to my ears, it was sometimes difficult to read and make sense of and take in, and at times it was confusing when a character began a scene in the present tense and then went off on a reminiscent tangent of events that had happened earlier that day, also written in the present tense, before returning to their current situation and this meant it wasn’t immediately clear what order events happened in and where we currently were. Occasionally it also obfuscated who was doing or saying what to whom when. This just made reading The Needle in the Blood more of a slog than it needed to be. Also, the book is sporadically peppered with some pretty coarse lines, for example . Now, let me clarify. It’s not the bad language or the subject matter that I objected to when such lines came up, and yes, as an historian I am absolutely sure that rapine and pillage was a fact of the Norman Conquest. But the lines felt like they were trying too hard to be earthy and that they were just put in for the sake of being shocking. It’s just unnecessary. And for that reason they came off as just rather crude, to me.
Then there are the characters. My reaction to Gytha varied throughout the book, ranging from real like to genuine frustration with her. Unlike Violante of Sins of the House of Borgia, Gytha’s an adult, she knows her way around the world, and she wasn’t hampered by Violante’s adolescent mix of utter gullibility, wild delusion and desperate fantasy. Gytha is practical, sensible, and intelligent. For example, . I like that. This is a character with sense and a good head on her shoulders, and the maturity of an adult. I can identify with that, I can connect with that. But then at various points in the book Gytha would do something inexplicable that had me mentally yelling at her "Why?!" For example, ARGH! I wanted to take Gytha by the shoulders and shake her! The other characters are done reasonably well, and there’s a scene between Archbishop Lanfranc of Canterbury, King William, and William’s half-brother Count Robert of Mortain, which felt reminiscent of Sharon Penman’s scenes of characters plotting together. But as pretty well done as they were, it could have been better, the characters just don’t reach the heights of subtlety and complexity that they could have – though they do feel three-dimensional, and human, and nicely fleshed out.
The plot. I loved the premise. The Norman Conquest of 1066 is one of the most significant, important, and interesting events in English history, but it’s rare for me to find any historical fiction set around this time (and Sharon Penman seems determined not to go there, which seems a very great pity). Moreover, the Bayeux Tapestry is, in my opinion, one of the most unique and precious artefacts of English history. In principle, the plot of The Needle in the Blood was just the ticket. The interaction of Norman and Anglo-Saxon, the adjustments and sometimes compromises under the new regime, the Tapestry coming together and its wonderful idiosyncrasies and authentic hidden messages of the little things of everyday life… these were all terribly interesting, though to be honest all this is just the background to the plot of Odo and Gytha’s love story. This was another aspect which both delighted and annoyed me at the same time. On the one hand, I felt that the sexual tension between these characters crackled, I believed in their relationship and its deepening from that tension to real, passionate, devoted love. However, I felt that Also, what was with the ending? It wasn’t a bad ending, don’t get me wrong, but it wasn’t exactly satisfying either. After everything
A brief word on the historicity. For the most part, it was good. I highlighted a few inaccuracies whilst I was reading – a character referring to the Catherine wheel firework, anachronistic fruit, comments on Byzantium instead of the Empire of the Greeks – but I guess you could let them go. They were throwaway lines, not integral to the plot, not major, noticeable alterations of history… I’ve just developed an internal anachronism radar, as an aspiring historical fiction author, that keeps me watchful when it comes to technologies, fruits and plants, idioms and sayings, and other cultural items that would be unique to a particular time. One of the more annoying niggles was that Bower uses inauthentic names for many of the Anglo-Saxon characters. Probably the two biggest historical alterations were the invention of Agatha – Odo had no such sister, but her character doesn’t affect or warp the timeline and fits neatly into the post-Conquest world, so I’ll let that one go – and the creation of a love story between Odo and Gytha, but even this is based on a mysterious and unexplained scene in the Bayeux Tapestry of a couple potentially being affectionate or fighting, labelled as a cleric and Aelfgytha, and I could imagine such a tale fitting in plausibly into the gaps of history.
Final words? There’s good stuff here, there definitely is. I wouldn’t have enjoyed the book as much as I did – or been so annoyed with the ending – if there hadn’t been. Great premise, well-crafted setting, for the most part well-written, generally speaking good characterisations… But a few key things grated on me too – I just didn’t get on with the use of present tense, the crude lines were unnecessary shock value, and sometimes Gytha and the plot could be frustrating or else didn’t make the most logical sense to me. Also, whilst the characterisations and plot were for the most part, pretty good, when they weren’t being annoying, I can’t help but feel that it could have been better. Of Sarah Bower’s two books, I’d definitely say I enjoyed The Needle in the Blood more – the heroine is much more identifiable and relatable, and this time round we actually get the real story as centre stage. Mixed bag, all in all, but more good than bad, and better than Sins of the House of Borgia.
7 out of 10
July 26, 2016
An interesting premise for a story: a novel about the Bayeux Tapestry [more correctly an embroidered cloth] from conception to completion. The Tapestry celebrates the victory of William the Conqueror over Harold Godwinson. It is an outstanding example of medieval artwork: http://www.medievalists.net/2009/06/1....
Besides the creation of the tapestry, much of the story involves a seamstress, Gytha, and her passionate affair with a Norman bishop, Odo, in the years following the Conquest. This is the first book I've read that gives some kind of explanation of the tapestry figures, however much fiction it contains. Other subplots involve other needlewomen.
I enjoyed the book and the writing was good, but it could have been shortened by at least 1/3. I objected to so very many physical details of the love interest; they made me uncomfortable and I found myself skipping over those parts. Because of the length, sometimes the story foundered but recovered itself for a satisfactory conclusion. I liked the author's use of the present tense thoughout instead of the usual past tense; I felt the story was happening right before my eyes.
Besides the creation of the tapestry, much of the story involves a seamstress, Gytha, and her passionate affair with a Norman bishop, Odo, in the years following the Conquest. This is the first book I've read that gives some kind of explanation of the tapestry figures, however much fiction it contains. Other subplots involve other needlewomen.
I enjoyed the book and the writing was good, but it could have been shortened by at least 1/3. I objected to so very many physical details of the love interest; they made me uncomfortable and I found myself skipping over those parts. Because of the length, sometimes the story foundered but recovered itself for a satisfactory conclusion. I liked the author's use of the present tense thoughout instead of the usual past tense; I felt the story was happening right before my eyes.
February 17, 2012
When charismatic bishop Odo of Bayeux decides to comission a wall hanging to celebrate his role in the conquest of Britain, he becomes embroiled in the lives of the women who make it, especially Gytha - handmaiden to the mistress of the fallen King Harold. Against their intentions they fall passionately in love and in doing so, Odo comes into conflict with his brother the king and God and Gytha with his enemies who mistrust her powerful hold over such a powerful man. Nothing in life or in the hanging is what it seems.
When I picked up this book I believed it to be presented as historical fiction but as I read it, I realised it had less to do with history than it had with fiction. The author obviously has some knowledge of events of the time of 1067, it was after all quite well documented and she has managed to intergrate her fictional tale into the known factual accounts. However, her interpretation of how the hanging was made was entirely from her imagination and the author's creation was quite plausible. For those who care about authenticity, there was little of that, especially in the achronictical use of names such as Trudy, Meg, Margaret, Tom, Walter and Judith, which were used for English characters. I understand that the author used these more modern names for easy reading for those of her readers, however for me it was thoroughly annoying to read these names next to some authentically English names which jarred me. Some of the other authenticity points i picked up on were to do with descriptions of buildings or clothing and some major facts that were left out, however these were not that important in the grand scheme of things.
In the end, i read it for what I believe it was intended, as a work of fiction and I enjoyed it immensely. The bits I really liked were; the author's style of writing in the present tense, making it feel as if you are in the middle of the scene as the tale unfolds. The creative descriptions and use of adjectives was amazing and I have to say that there is no other author I have read that has done this quite as well as Sarah Bower. The story was a beautiful love story, the type you only ever read about and Sarah wrote this aspect of her book so well that even I fell in love with both of the characters! I particularly liked the ending where the reader is met with a nice little twist that so fits in with the story of the conquest. To conclude, this was an absorbing book I would recommened to anyone as long as you read it for a fictional work rather than a historical fiction novel.
When I picked up this book I believed it to be presented as historical fiction but as I read it, I realised it had less to do with history than it had with fiction. The author obviously has some knowledge of events of the time of 1067, it was after all quite well documented and she has managed to intergrate her fictional tale into the known factual accounts. However, her interpretation of how the hanging was made was entirely from her imagination and the author's creation was quite plausible. For those who care about authenticity, there was little of that, especially in the achronictical use of names such as Trudy, Meg, Margaret, Tom, Walter and Judith, which were used for English characters. I understand that the author used these more modern names for easy reading for those of her readers, however for me it was thoroughly annoying to read these names next to some authentically English names which jarred me. Some of the other authenticity points i picked up on were to do with descriptions of buildings or clothing and some major facts that were left out, however these were not that important in the grand scheme of things.
In the end, i read it for what I believe it was intended, as a work of fiction and I enjoyed it immensely. The bits I really liked were; the author's style of writing in the present tense, making it feel as if you are in the middle of the scene as the tale unfolds. The creative descriptions and use of adjectives was amazing and I have to say that there is no other author I have read that has done this quite as well as Sarah Bower. The story was a beautiful love story, the type you only ever read about and Sarah wrote this aspect of her book so well that even I fell in love with both of the characters! I particularly liked the ending where the reader is met with a nice little twist that so fits in with the story of the conquest. To conclude, this was an absorbing book I would recommened to anyone as long as you read it for a fictional work rather than a historical fiction novel.
August 17, 2022
Am adorat-o de la un capăt la celălalt.
Și așa am bifat o nouă favorită a acestei categorii. 🥇
N-am idee ce mi-a plăcut cel mai mult. Povestea în sine? Modul în care a fost scrisă? Descrierile? Partea de istorie? Personajele? Aș zice că toate.
Nu m-am așteptat să mă "lovească" atât de tare o carte scrisă la a III-a pentru că nu mă omor după această perspectiva în general. M-am atașat și de multe personaje și parcă am trăit deodată.
Povestea în sine m-a trecut prin multe sentimente, dar ultimele 130 de pg. aprox. au fost un carusel de emoții. Finalul a fost... grandios? Nu găsesc un cuvânt mai potrivit.
Și așa am bifat o nouă favorită a acestei categorii. 🥇
N-am idee ce mi-a plăcut cel mai mult. Povestea în sine? Modul în care a fost scrisă? Descrierile? Partea de istorie? Personajele? Aș zice că toate.
Nu m-am așteptat să mă "lovească" atât de tare o carte scrisă la a III-a pentru că nu mă omor după această perspectiva în general. M-am atașat și de multe personaje și parcă am trăit deodată.
Povestea în sine m-a trecut prin multe sentimente, dar ultimele 130 de pg. aprox. au fost un carusel de emoții. Finalul a fost... grandios? Nu găsesc un cuvânt mai potrivit.
August 23, 2019
The use of third person present tense really dragged this story down.
July 31, 2012
To celebrate William the Conqueror’s conquest of Britain, Bishop of Bayeux, Odo, commissions a wall hanging. This embroidered cloth, on permanent exhibition in Bayeux, Normandy, became known as the Bayeux Tapestry, one of the most well-known and enigmatic medieval artifacts.
Armed with Sarah Bower’s wonderfully descriptive language, The Needle in the Blood gripped me from the beginning. I felt as if I’d been hurled into the midst of the Battle of Hastings, as Odo, half-brother of William the Conqueror, fears his brother has died on the battlefield and rallies the Norman troops. We soon learn that the battle is won and King Harold has been killed.
Gytha, the fictional Aelfgytha, former handmaid to the mistress of the fallen king, and a talented embroiderer, is amongst the Saxon women who come to claim Harold’s body. Witnessing her mistress's home pillaged, and suffering rape to save a Saxon soldier about to be put to death, when Gytha is among the women recruited to work on Odo’s embroidery, she sees an opportunity for revenge.
Odo’s life becomes entangled with those of the women embroiderers, and, against their wills, Gytha and he fall in love, bringing Odo into conflict with his king and his God. The lies, treachery and intrigue begin, with as many lies embroidered into the tapestry as are passed between the vibrant cast of characters, as the author brilliantly portrays how nothing in life, or in the wall hanging, is what it seems.
At times, I felt a touch confused as to point of view or whether the narrative was in flashback, but felt the story was generally very well-plotted and full of action. I would highly recommend The Needle in the Blood to readers looking for a powerful, intense story, beautifully told by an author with the skill to evoke this period in history. It is also a must-read for anyone visiting the Bayeux Tapestry in Normandy.
Armed with Sarah Bower’s wonderfully descriptive language, The Needle in the Blood gripped me from the beginning. I felt as if I’d been hurled into the midst of the Battle of Hastings, as Odo, half-brother of William the Conqueror, fears his brother has died on the battlefield and rallies the Norman troops. We soon learn that the battle is won and King Harold has been killed.
Gytha, the fictional Aelfgytha, former handmaid to the mistress of the fallen king, and a talented embroiderer, is amongst the Saxon women who come to claim Harold’s body. Witnessing her mistress's home pillaged, and suffering rape to save a Saxon soldier about to be put to death, when Gytha is among the women recruited to work on Odo’s embroidery, she sees an opportunity for revenge.
Odo’s life becomes entangled with those of the women embroiderers, and, against their wills, Gytha and he fall in love, bringing Odo into conflict with his king and his God. The lies, treachery and intrigue begin, with as many lies embroidered into the tapestry as are passed between the vibrant cast of characters, as the author brilliantly portrays how nothing in life, or in the wall hanging, is what it seems.
At times, I felt a touch confused as to point of view or whether the narrative was in flashback, but felt the story was generally very well-plotted and full of action. I would highly recommend The Needle in the Blood to readers looking for a powerful, intense story, beautifully told by an author with the skill to evoke this period in history. It is also a must-read for anyone visiting the Bayeux Tapestry in Normandy.
February 8, 2016
Published: 01/04/2004
Author: Sarah Bower
Recommended for: fans of historical fiction
I was hooked on this book before I read it by the front cover. It tells of the story of the conquest of Britain by William the Conqueror and the commission of the sewing of the tapestry by Bishop Odo of Bayeux, William's brother depicting the story of the battle.
This book is superbly written in exquisite detail. The story touches on the unlikely romance between Odo and Gytha handmaiden of the fallen Saxon King Harold. I feel as though I have survived the harsh winters with Gytha and the other seamstresses and know their lives inside and out, their triumphs and sorrows. This book was certainly intriguing and I couldn't put it down. It's not a period of history I usually read about, opting for the tudors, but it was well worth going down a different path.
Everytime I thought I had work the plot out I was proved wrong. Having never read a Sarah Bower book before I would certainly read more of her works. I definately recommend this book.
Author: Sarah Bower
Recommended for: fans of historical fiction
I was hooked on this book before I read it by the front cover. It tells of the story of the conquest of Britain by William the Conqueror and the commission of the sewing of the tapestry by Bishop Odo of Bayeux, William's brother depicting the story of the battle.
This book is superbly written in exquisite detail. The story touches on the unlikely romance between Odo and Gytha handmaiden of the fallen Saxon King Harold. I feel as though I have survived the harsh winters with Gytha and the other seamstresses and know their lives inside and out, their triumphs and sorrows. This book was certainly intriguing and I couldn't put it down. It's not a period of history I usually read about, opting for the tudors, but it was well worth going down a different path.
Everytime I thought I had work the plot out I was proved wrong. Having never read a Sarah Bower book before I would certainly read more of her works. I definately recommend this book.
November 8, 2015
I will start by saying that there were many parts of this book that I enjoyed. I felt that it started strong with familiar historical content for context, while introducing some great characters.
However, I found the pacing of this book to be a little odd. I really enjoyed the first section, but then felt that all of a sudden things rushed forward very quickly. It left me wondering if I had skipped pages by accident. Or maybe when reading before bed I didn't absorb some detail due to tiredness. But, unfortunately, that wasn't the case. I felt like the book never settled into itself pacing-wise which became very frustrating for me. While it was an interesting story, the unevenness affected how much I liked certain characters and my overall enjoyment of the book.
It would be worth a read if you are into this time period, because many of the descriptions are very interesting and detailed. But it wasn't my favourite read.
However, I found the pacing of this book to be a little odd. I really enjoyed the first section, but then felt that all of a sudden things rushed forward very quickly. It left me wondering if I had skipped pages by accident. Or maybe when reading before bed I didn't absorb some detail due to tiredness. But, unfortunately, that wasn't the case. I felt like the book never settled into itself pacing-wise which became very frustrating for me. While it was an interesting story, the unevenness affected how much I liked certain characters and my overall enjoyment of the book.
It would be worth a read if you are into this time period, because many of the descriptions are very interesting and detailed. But it wasn't my favourite read.
October 24, 2021
A truly magical book about The Bayeux Tapestry, ambition, loss, obsession, hope, passion and an unimaginably grand love. I think this may be one of the best books I've ever read. My heart and mind is still caught up in its hypnotic, lyrical beauty. Sarah Bower has given us a great gift with this story.
December 13, 2023
Feels weird to say it about such a long book but the love story felt rushed. The ‘enemies to lovers’ aspect happened so quickly it made what followed less believable.
July 18, 2023
DNF'd. if it's taken me this long to go back to it and I don't even really care, then meh, I'm out. The book has a great premise and I wished they stuck with the story of the tapestry. But it went too much and too quickly into the romance.
February 20, 2012
Originally posted at: http://longandshortreviews.blogspot.c...
The Needle in the Blood is a medieval adventure rife with danger, romance, and rich, historical detail. Reading this book brought the world of mid-eleventh century, Britain to life. The nitty-gritty, down-to-earth particulars of this brutal era are engrossing and educational at the same time.
It was a fascinating time, the end of Anglo-Saxon England, when William the Conqueror took control of the English throne. William had a half-brother, a bishop named Odo. Odo makes a great hero in this story. He's charming and driven; a political man from the word go.
Gytha is Saxon and hates the Normans. She’s tough, and does what she must to survive in a world turned upside down. She is practical and not romantic. This story, among other things, is about character.
Gytha wants to kill Odo, as revenge for taking away her mistress. She gets the chance to meet the powerful but lonely Odo, who is plagued by nightmares. Something unexpected happens during this meeting. From then on, her contradicting feelings battle each other. She calls Odo her enemy but still lusts for him. He’s tender with her as no man has ever been. Odo grows to love her, but she pulls away at first, creating great tension. She wonders if she’ll fade into the mass of treasures he owns.
The Needle in the Blood is based off of true events in British history. The tapestry central to this story actually exists and depicts the events that lead to Norman control. One particular scene woven into the tapestry shows the Bishop Odo caressing the face of his mistress. Quite possibly this was the inspiration for this work of fiction.
The writing is intelligent and engaging. Be forewarned though, this is not a light read. It's obvious Ms. Bower spent time researching historical events and the time period for accuracy. Besides forbidden love, it’s also a tale of survival and politics of the era. One just doesn’t know what will happen next during the reading.
The Needle in the Blood is for fans of serious historical fiction who appreciate a good romance; it’s an enjoyable book.
The Needle in the Blood is a medieval adventure rife with danger, romance, and rich, historical detail. Reading this book brought the world of mid-eleventh century, Britain to life. The nitty-gritty, down-to-earth particulars of this brutal era are engrossing and educational at the same time.
It was a fascinating time, the end of Anglo-Saxon England, when William the Conqueror took control of the English throne. William had a half-brother, a bishop named Odo. Odo makes a great hero in this story. He's charming and driven; a political man from the word go.
Gytha is Saxon and hates the Normans. She’s tough, and does what she must to survive in a world turned upside down. She is practical and not romantic. This story, among other things, is about character.
Gytha wants to kill Odo, as revenge for taking away her mistress. She gets the chance to meet the powerful but lonely Odo, who is plagued by nightmares. Something unexpected happens during this meeting. From then on, her contradicting feelings battle each other. She calls Odo her enemy but still lusts for him. He’s tender with her as no man has ever been. Odo grows to love her, but she pulls away at first, creating great tension. She wonders if she’ll fade into the mass of treasures he owns.
The Needle in the Blood is based off of true events in British history. The tapestry central to this story actually exists and depicts the events that lead to Norman control. One particular scene woven into the tapestry shows the Bishop Odo caressing the face of his mistress. Quite possibly this was the inspiration for this work of fiction.
The writing is intelligent and engaging. Be forewarned though, this is not a light read. It's obvious Ms. Bower spent time researching historical events and the time period for accuracy. Besides forbidden love, it’s also a tale of survival and politics of the era. One just doesn’t know what will happen next during the reading.
The Needle in the Blood is for fans of serious historical fiction who appreciate a good romance; it’s an enjoyable book.
December 9, 2017
Great historical fiction. Particularly interesting to read whilst looking at images of The Bayeux Tapestry. Well fleshed out characters. Perhaps a little long - could have edited out 50-80 pages with no loss of content.
April 21, 2012
A story about a story? This imagining of the creation of the Bayeaux Tapestry -- which tells the tale of the 1066 Norman conquest -- was most interesting when it told of the actual artwork. The parts imagining the making of the tapestry were OK. The remainder of this too-long book was disjointed and rambling. I would have cut about half of it.
November 8, 2019
This is a difficult read on many levels. I think it could be one of the greatest love stories of historical fiction. The writing is beautiful in places and challenging in others, as are the emotions drawn from the reader by that writing. As the book says "love doesn't die, love endures; it merely changes shape."
July 13, 2020
An interesting take on history. The hr is asked to help create a tapestry depicting king William's conquest. The hr soon falls in love with bishop Odo while working on the now famous tapestry. Her journey takes her through different places in history. The story shows a side of history I didn't know. If you love history with an adult romance this is your book.
July 2, 2008
Só para não me esquecer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDaB-N...
http://www.bayeuxtapestry.org.uk/
http://hastings1066.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bayeux_T...
Leitura conjunta com a Ana O., Ana T. e Oriana, agendada para o fim de Maio.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDaB-N...
http://www.bayeuxtapestry.org.uk/
http://hastings1066.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bayeux_T...
Leitura conjunta com a Ana O., Ana T. e Oriana, agendada para o fim de Maio.
November 27, 2020
Nu știu cărui gen i se potrivește Acul din sânge. Pentru mine a fost ceva mai mult romance. Dacă ar fi fost ceva mai multă istorie, mai puține descrieri și religie, probabil ar fi mai pe gustul meu.
Încă din vremurile de demult, preoții și-au arătat puterea, au profitat de ea și au ajuns la conducere din umbră. Cuvântul preotului, e cuvântul lui Dumnezeu și ete așa ajung ei să aive mai multă influență asupra unui popor, decât un rege.
Prin anul 1066, William Cuceritorul urcă pe tronul Angliei, după ce îl omoară pe Harold al II- lea în bătălia de la Hastings.
Odo de Bayeux, fratele vitreg al lui Wiliam este episcop, dar si un îndârjit și puternic războinic, foarte apropiat regelui.
După ce își atinge scopul, Odo, cu construirea tapiseriei în catedrală, își face apariția Gytha. Cumva de aici nu mi-a mai plăcut. Nu mă atrag genul ăsta de iubiri. Te urăsc, deși nu te cunosc, dar cand ne întâlnim, ma indragostesc de tine. Nu vreau sa recunosc, imi spun in sinea mea ca nu te suport, e imposibil si bla bla, dar nu pot trăi fără tine.
Pentru mine, unele personaje mi sau parut prea slabe si puțin credibile, in comparatie cu subiectul cărții și istoria. Prea vizibila slăbiciunea asta. Deși cartea ar putea fi una bună, iar am avut impresia ca ce a stricat-o a fost povestea asta de iubire. Nu am crezut in ea, plus că sfârșitul cărții e ca naiba. Multe întrebări fără raspuns. Sau poate asta a fost ideea autoarei, sa ne lase sa interpretam cum vrem.
Încă din vremurile de demult, preoții și-au arătat puterea, au profitat de ea și au ajuns la conducere din umbră. Cuvântul preotului, e cuvântul lui Dumnezeu și ete așa ajung ei să aive mai multă influență asupra unui popor, decât un rege.
Prin anul 1066, William Cuceritorul urcă pe tronul Angliei, după ce îl omoară pe Harold al II- lea în bătălia de la Hastings.
Odo de Bayeux, fratele vitreg al lui Wiliam este episcop, dar si un îndârjit și puternic războinic, foarte apropiat regelui.
După ce își atinge scopul, Odo, cu construirea tapiseriei în catedrală, își face apariția Gytha. Cumva de aici nu mi-a mai plăcut. Nu mă atrag genul ăsta de iubiri. Te urăsc, deși nu te cunosc, dar cand ne întâlnim, ma indragostesc de tine. Nu vreau sa recunosc, imi spun in sinea mea ca nu te suport, e imposibil si bla bla, dar nu pot trăi fără tine.
Pentru mine, unele personaje mi sau parut prea slabe si puțin credibile, in comparatie cu subiectul cărții și istoria. Prea vizibila slăbiciunea asta. Deși cartea ar putea fi una bună, iar am avut impresia ca ce a stricat-o a fost povestea asta de iubire. Nu am crezut in ea, plus că sfârșitul cărții e ca naiba. Multe întrebări fără raspuns. Sau poate asta a fost ideea autoarei, sa ne lase sa interpretam cum vrem.
December 31, 2021
📌Este un roman istoric cu acțiunea petrecută acum 1000 de ani și având și o poveste de dragoste frumoasă.
📌Episcopul Odo vrea o tapiserie enormă ca să glorifice cucerirea Angliei de către fratele său, așa că o angajează pe Gytha, care are un talent legendar la brodat. Ea plănuiește să-l omoare când are ocazia, deoarece el împreună cu fratele ei i-a ucis regele și i-a distrus lumea, însă fără să vrea cei doi se îndrăgostesc nebunește și așa din dușmani devin prieteni.
📌 Mi-a plăcut la nebunie acest roman, chiar dacă începutul a fost greu, iar limbajul greoi cu multe date istorice m-a amețit. Nu mă așteptam să găsesc în acest roman o poveste de dragoste, însă m-a făcut fericită acest lucru. De asemenea am adorat să știu cum erau timpurile acum 1000 ani, cum trăiau oameni, ce tradiții aveau, etc. Mi-a fost cam greu să citesc cartea, însă cred că cel mai greu i-a fost autoarei să o scrie, mai ales că a trebuit să se documenteze mult și atent la această carte. Finalul nu a fost unul dorit de mine, dar a fost un final bun apropiat de realitate. Aș fi vrut să știu ce s-a mai întâmplat cu Gytha și cu fiica și dacă Odo le-a găsit, însă voi presupune că sunt fericite acolo unde sunt și că într-un final Odo a putut ajunge la ele.
📌Episcopul Odo vrea o tapiserie enormă ca să glorifice cucerirea Angliei de către fratele său, așa că o angajează pe Gytha, care are un talent legendar la brodat. Ea plănuiește să-l omoare când are ocazia, deoarece el împreună cu fratele ei i-a ucis regele și i-a distrus lumea, însă fără să vrea cei doi se îndrăgostesc nebunește și așa din dușmani devin prieteni.
📌 Mi-a plăcut la nebunie acest roman, chiar dacă începutul a fost greu, iar limbajul greoi cu multe date istorice m-a amețit. Nu mă așteptam să găsesc în acest roman o poveste de dragoste, însă m-a făcut fericită acest lucru. De asemenea am adorat să știu cum erau timpurile acum 1000 ani, cum trăiau oameni, ce tradiții aveau, etc. Mi-a fost cam greu să citesc cartea, însă cred că cel mai greu i-a fost autoarei să o scrie, mai ales că a trebuit să se documenteze mult și atent la această carte. Finalul nu a fost unul dorit de mine, dar a fost un final bun apropiat de realitate. Aș fi vrut să știu ce s-a mai întâmplat cu Gytha și cu fiica și dacă Odo le-a găsit, însă voi presupune că sunt fericite acolo unde sunt și că într-un final Odo a putut ajunge la ele.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 22, 2023
SARAH BOWER s-a născut în Yorkshire, dar acum locuiește în
Suffolk și este consultant pentru mai multe agenții literare.
Coordonează proiecte de promovare a lecturii și susține cursuri de
scriere creativă la University of East Anglia. Prozatoare fascinată
de istorie, Sarah Bower este unul dintre numeroșii autori
contemporani care au redescoperit romanul istoric. A publicat
scrieri de Acțiune și nonficțiune în diverse reviste și periodice, a
câștigat câteva concursuri de proză scurtă și a semnat mai multe
volume de beletristică. Romanul ei de debut din 2008, Acul din
sânge este o Acțiune istorică ce a atras imediat atenția cititorilor.
Borgia. Păcatele familiei (Nemira, 2012, 2013, 2018), roman apărut
în 2011, a fost tradus în peste zece țări și este bestseller
internațional.
Suffolk și este consultant pentru mai multe agenții literare.
Coordonează proiecte de promovare a lecturii și susține cursuri de
scriere creativă la University of East Anglia. Prozatoare fascinată
de istorie, Sarah Bower este unul dintre numeroșii autori
contemporani care au redescoperit romanul istoric. A publicat
scrieri de Acțiune și nonficțiune în diverse reviste și periodice, a
câștigat câteva concursuri de proză scurtă și a semnat mai multe
volume de beletristică. Romanul ei de debut din 2008, Acul din
sânge este o Acțiune istorică ce a atras imediat atenția cititorilor.
Borgia. Păcatele familiei (Nemira, 2012, 2013, 2018), roman apărut
în 2011, a fost tradus în peste zece țări și este bestseller
internațional.
June 9, 2023
I have to admit, I was already hooked by the premise of this book, but what made me slam the "add to cart" button was this jaded review left by a fellow goodreads reviewer: "Too much fucking, not enough sewing."
Don't threaten ME with a good time.
For the record, I found there to be a perfect ratio of fucking to sewing, captured amidst, if you'll forgive the metaphor, an exquisite tapestry of detail. I truly don't know how anyone didn't enjoy this book - I can only assume they are illiterate, or perhaps plagued with an inability to enjoy beauty. Not a single end was left untied, every character, every moment, served their purpose and served well. I wish more historical fiction strove to be this artful.
Don't threaten ME with a good time.
For the record, I found there to be a perfect ratio of fucking to sewing, captured amidst, if you'll forgive the metaphor, an exquisite tapestry of detail. I truly don't know how anyone didn't enjoy this book - I can only assume they are illiterate, or perhaps plagued with an inability to enjoy beauty. Not a single end was left untied, every character, every moment, served their purpose and served well. I wish more historical fiction strove to be this artful.
February 23, 2020
I have mixed feelings about this book. I found the subject matter very interesting; there's not a whole lot of fictional works regarding the Norman conquest. Sarah Bower is a talented writer; her descriptions and certain passages were vivid without being cliche. And yet, it felt a bit too long? There seemed to be little to no real plot in the middle. Still a worthwhile read if you're interested in that time period, as long as you're aware that the romance between Odo and Gytha is the main focus of the book.
February 21, 2021
I had a love hate relationship with this book. I started it several times, but couldn’t get into it for some reason. Finally did finish it and I’m glad I stuck with it. I enjoyed the history but sometimes the plot lines were a bit muddy. I would’ve liked more time spent about the tapestry and less convoluted subplots but unlike some books I’ve read that seem to have what seems like hasty forced endings, this author managed to tie up the plots and end the book richly.
April 25, 2021
A fascinating tale of England just after the Norman Conquest butnot for the faint hearted at 575 pages. It did ramble a little in places, but the mix of languages and cultures was beautifully drawn and the characters involved in the stitching of the Bayeux tapestry were fully human. I also loved the mixture of superstition and faith that was deeply embedded in that society.
It’s a real shame this book is now so difficult to get hold of. My copy is already spoken for by another reader.
It’s a real shame this book is now so difficult to get hold of. My copy is already spoken for by another reader.
July 3, 2017
Blood, Love and Embroidery
It's a war story, complete with authentic horrible death and mutilation. It's a romance complete with unreasonable passion and conflicted loyalties including religion and family ties. It's speculative art history. I found it difficult to read in spots, but mostly compelling.
It's a war story, complete with authentic horrible death and mutilation. It's a romance complete with unreasonable passion and conflicted loyalties including religion and family ties. It's speculative art history. I found it difficult to read in spots, but mostly compelling.
February 2, 2020
Roman de debut al autoarei Sarah Bower, cea care a scris și bestsellerul „Borgia. Păcatele familiei”, „Acul din sânge” este o narațiune captivantă în care fragmente din istoria Franței și a Angliei se împletesc cu o poveste de iubire între un episcop și o femeie simplă, aflați de părți diferite ale cuceririi normande.
http://www.4arte.ro/2020/01/05/sarah-...
http://www.4arte.ro/2020/01/05/sarah-...
August 1, 2017
I was enchanted by Gytha - wise and pragmatic with talents of her own. I loved the way Sarah Bower turns a phrase... in describing Welsh - "a dizzy plunge into the vowel sounds followed by a climb up crumbling consonants."
I look forward to more with the Borgias.
I look forward to more with the Borgias.
March 31, 2019
Meh. This got a good recommendation for historical fiction on Book Riot, but I was disappointed. I finished the book but it was a slog. Not enough history, not enough about the tapestry. Too much conjecture about historical events. Not a keeper.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews