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Taglia, cuci, ama
Laura Lovegrove è una designer di moda e tessuti. Le sue creazioni appaiono sui vestiti e nelle case più glamour della città. Rendere unico ciò che è banale per lei è un’arte, uno stile di vita. Il marito architetto però accetta un nuovo lavoro e tutta la famiglia deve lasciare Londra e trasferirsi a Norfolk, in campagna. Persa la vivacità della city anche l’ispirazione di Laura sembra essere svanita e in più le donne del posto non sembrano interessate alle sue creazioni. Come se non bastasse suo marito lavora tutto il giorno ed è sempre più distante. Sola e con il morale a terra, Laura decide di uscire dal suo guscio e trova un impiego part-time come insegnante, mentre nel tempo che le resta si occupa delle figlie. La sua carriera di creativa è ormai un lontano ricordo. Immersa nella nuova routine, le sue giornate trascorrono monotone, fin quando un evento irrompe inatteso: un incendio distrugge la sua tanto amata collezione di vestiti vintage.E proprio allora l’incontro fortuito con Chris, il grande amore dei tempi dell’università, le fa capire che la vita che ha vissuto è completamente diversa da quella che sognava. Ma quando tutto sembra perduto, un’ancora di salvezza arriva inaspettatamente dal circolo del cucito di Norfolk…
411 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2011
6 people are currently reading
183 people want to read
About the author
Amanda Addison
6 books7 followersAmanda Addison is an award-winning author of books for adults and children.
Looking for Lucie was listed for:
SHORTLISTED FOR THE NEW ANGLE PRIZE 2025
SHORTLISTED FOR THE EAST ANGLIAN BOOK AWARDS 2024 (MAL PEET CHILDREN’S AWARD)
Her writing has been translated into German, Greek, Italian and Ukrainian. Her picture book, Boundless Sky, was nominated for The CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medal, and her YA novel, Looking for Lucie, was listed for the Searchlight Writing Novel Opening Award. A graduate of Chelsea school of Art, her writing and artwork are inspired by travel, textiles, and the natural world. Amanda holds an MA in Writing the Visual and lectures in Art & Design and has also led workshops in Creative Writing at the National Centre for Writing. Amanda lives in Norfolk, UK, with her family.
Her writing includes flash fiction, short stories, picture books and novels. She explores themes of home and belonging, and enjoys using the juxtaposition of rural and city life. Her characters are often artists or scientists, as their curiosity about the world around them are two sides to the same coin, and the exploration of art and science can give us meaning and purpose in life with its infinite avenues of discovery. Amanda’s debut YA novel, Looking for Lucie, Neem Tree Press 2024, explores the above. It is a contemporary story of identity, self-discovery, and newfound friendship. Lucie, an 18-year-old art student sets out to uncover her ethnic heritage and family history with her new scientist friend Nav. Together they unravel family secrets.
Amanda believes in the power of stories as a window on the world, and a mirror to better see ourselves and is passionate about stories which are empowering and inclusive. When not writing she can be found swimming in the North Sea or running in the countryside, and that is when she gets some of her best ideas!
Looking for Lucie was listed for:
SHORTLISTED FOR THE NEW ANGLE PRIZE 2025
SHORTLISTED FOR THE EAST ANGLIAN BOOK AWARDS 2024 (MAL PEET CHILDREN’S AWARD)
Her writing has been translated into German, Greek, Italian and Ukrainian. Her picture book, Boundless Sky, was nominated for The CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medal, and her YA novel, Looking for Lucie, was listed for the Searchlight Writing Novel Opening Award. A graduate of Chelsea school of Art, her writing and artwork are inspired by travel, textiles, and the natural world. Amanda holds an MA in Writing the Visual and lectures in Art & Design and has also led workshops in Creative Writing at the National Centre for Writing. Amanda lives in Norfolk, UK, with her family.
Her writing includes flash fiction, short stories, picture books and novels. She explores themes of home and belonging, and enjoys using the juxtaposition of rural and city life. Her characters are often artists or scientists, as their curiosity about the world around them are two sides to the same coin, and the exploration of art and science can give us meaning and purpose in life with its infinite avenues of discovery. Amanda’s debut YA novel, Looking for Lucie, Neem Tree Press 2024, explores the above. It is a contemporary story of identity, self-discovery, and newfound friendship. Lucie, an 18-year-old art student sets out to uncover her ethnic heritage and family history with her new scientist friend Nav. Together they unravel family secrets.
Amanda believes in the power of stories as a window on the world, and a mirror to better see ourselves and is passionate about stories which are empowering and inclusive. When not writing she can be found swimming in the North Sea or running in the countryside, and that is when she gets some of her best ideas!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
May 26, 2011
I just couldn't finish it. It is one of the worst books I've ever attempted to read. I'm even going to review it properly, but here's some of the reasons I gave up after 100 pages (Please be aware my review may seem harsh, but God, reading should not be that much of a struggle and as I type this I'm so angry with how bad it was!):
- The novel jumps from scene-to-scene. For example, Laura starts painting her kitchen (randomly, as you do) and falls off a ladder and bangs her head. The next thing we know, she's in the ambulance. There's no middle-scene there to segue the two together. This is how it goes:
Just paint that last piece, I foolishly tell myself just before something hard and metallic digs into my forehead. The kitchen spins round and round and I know I should jump down. Then I am on the floor. I stand up, feeling fine. I can't feel any bumps. I wipe my face and when I look it is covered in blood. The blood keeps coming and coming.
From the ambulance window, I can see Adi and the girls dragging the sledge up the road.
There should be something else there, in the middle, to mold the two scenes together. Or at least I think there should be. Because Laura's in the house by herself, so surely she needs to ring the ambulance, surely we need to be told she's ringing the ambulance?!
Here's another example as Laura calls about a dog:
"I'm standing in the middle of the road, with half my attention of the passing cars.
'Great, you've still got it, wonderful,' I say thinking there's something very familiar about the voice on the other end of the line."
No hello, no asking about the dog, just 'Great, you've still got it, wonderful'. It's very disjointed, and the story just isn't allowed to flow.
- Laura is one of the worst female characters I have ever come across. I only read 100 pages, but I was just so sick and tired of her whinging about wanting her old life in Ealing back. She kept wishing she didn't have her kids, that she could go to the 1950s as everything was 'simpler'. She even complains about there being no milk in the staff room at the college where she teachers, when surely she could bring some herself!
- She hates pets, dogs in particular because of their 'doggy' smell that owners refuse to acknowledge then a page later she gets a dog.
- On page 93 she writes "Retro fashion" on the whiteboard of the textile class she teachers then two pages later, she writes it again. Doh.
- There are too many exclamation-pointed remarks. It makes Laura seem like an excitable school child!!!!!!!
I am a very critical reader, my internal editor is continually finding mistakes, sentences that sound wrong, errors like the retro fashion thing, and I just couldn't bring myself to finish Laura's Handmade Life. She's a textiles teacher and makes designs but can't sew!!!!!
I just found the first 100 pages to be boring and irritating. The first few chapters of the book are meant to hook you in, but I just wanted to throw this over the baranca outside our house. I didn't care about Laura or about her life (her terrible, terrible life in the country!!!!!).
Yup, I'm kind of sad I hated it. I couldn't even finish it and that rarely happens. I apologise if my review seems harsh but I truly have no idea how this book got published because I thought it was awful. I get offended when I read books like this because it's just terrible.
I hope the book does well, truly I do, but this was just not the book for me in any way, shape or form.
PS: All my exclamation points are a joke! Honestly!
- The novel jumps from scene-to-scene. For example, Laura starts painting her kitchen (randomly, as you do) and falls off a ladder and bangs her head. The next thing we know, she's in the ambulance. There's no middle-scene there to segue the two together. This is how it goes:
Just paint that last piece, I foolishly tell myself just before something hard and metallic digs into my forehead. The kitchen spins round and round and I know I should jump down. Then I am on the floor. I stand up, feeling fine. I can't feel any bumps. I wipe my face and when I look it is covered in blood. The blood keeps coming and coming.
From the ambulance window, I can see Adi and the girls dragging the sledge up the road.
There should be something else there, in the middle, to mold the two scenes together. Or at least I think there should be. Because Laura's in the house by herself, so surely she needs to ring the ambulance, surely we need to be told she's ringing the ambulance?!
Here's another example as Laura calls about a dog:
"I'm standing in the middle of the road, with half my attention of the passing cars.
'Great, you've still got it, wonderful,' I say thinking there's something very familiar about the voice on the other end of the line."
No hello, no asking about the dog, just 'Great, you've still got it, wonderful'. It's very disjointed, and the story just isn't allowed to flow.
- Laura is one of the worst female characters I have ever come across. I only read 100 pages, but I was just so sick and tired of her whinging about wanting her old life in Ealing back. She kept wishing she didn't have her kids, that she could go to the 1950s as everything was 'simpler'. She even complains about there being no milk in the staff room at the college where she teachers, when surely she could bring some herself!
- She hates pets, dogs in particular because of their 'doggy' smell that owners refuse to acknowledge then a page later she gets a dog.
- On page 93 she writes "Retro fashion" on the whiteboard of the textile class she teachers then two pages later, she writes it again. Doh.
- There are too many exclamation-pointed remarks. It makes Laura seem like an excitable school child!!!!!!!
I am a very critical reader, my internal editor is continually finding mistakes, sentences that sound wrong, errors like the retro fashion thing, and I just couldn't bring myself to finish Laura's Handmade Life. She's a textiles teacher and makes designs but can't sew!!!!!
I just found the first 100 pages to be boring and irritating. The first few chapters of the book are meant to hook you in, but I just wanted to throw this over the baranca outside our house. I didn't care about Laura or about her life (her terrible, terrible life in the country!!!!!).
Yup, I'm kind of sad I hated it. I couldn't even finish it and that rarely happens. I apologise if my review seems harsh but I truly have no idea how this book got published because I thought it was awful. I get offended when I read books like this because it's just terrible.
I hope the book does well, truly I do, but this was just not the book for me in any way, shape or form.
PS: All my exclamation points are a joke! Honestly!
August 26, 2021
I got over half way through this book but found that I had no interest in any of the characters and did not care what happened next and I could not finish it.
I found the writing style quite annoying, at times it was confusing and seemed to skip forwards without explanation, at one point I had to check to make sure I had not turned 2 pages at once as I felt that I had missed something.
I also found the main character quite annoying and unlikeable. But it was the sewing storyline that I really had a problem with.
Laura decides to take up sewing, she has no experience but she very quickly picks it up and seems to know what to do instinctively. Other people start to notice the things she has made as ask her to make things for them. It became clear that this was going to develop into a career/business. I felt like it came too easily, I am sure that even someone artistic would need to learn and practice more before they were making items that they could sell. It was just really obvious and clichéd.
I hate not finishing books but I became so annoyed with this and coupled the with the fact that I did not care about the husband/old boyfriend storyline I just could not bear to continue reading.
I found the writing style quite annoying, at times it was confusing and seemed to skip forwards without explanation, at one point I had to check to make sure I had not turned 2 pages at once as I felt that I had missed something.
I also found the main character quite annoying and unlikeable. But it was the sewing storyline that I really had a problem with.
Laura decides to take up sewing, she has no experience but she very quickly picks it up and seems to know what to do instinctively. Other people start to notice the things she has made as ask her to make things for them. It became clear that this was going to develop into a career/business. I felt like it came too easily, I am sure that even someone artistic would need to learn and practice more before they were making items that they could sell. It was just really obvious and clichéd.
I hate not finishing books but I became so annoyed with this and coupled the with the fact that I did not care about the husband/old boyfriend storyline I just could not bear to continue reading.
May 21, 2011
Chick Lit is not something i read much of and this book just reminded me why.
Laura is one of the worst female characters i have come across, she is selfish, whingy and shallow and i had to keep reminding myself that this was a woman in her thirties and not some neurotic teenager or at times over excited child.
What i found really annoying though were the definitions of the types of stiches you can find with a generic picture of a needle and thread or buttons under it - i would have loved it if she would have just put a picture of the actual stich on it. At least then i would have learned something.
Laura is one of the worst female characters i have come across, she is selfish, whingy and shallow and i had to keep reminding myself that this was a woman in her thirties and not some neurotic teenager or at times over excited child.
What i found really annoying though were the definitions of the types of stiches you can find with a generic picture of a needle and thread or buttons under it - i would have loved it if she would have just put a picture of the actual stich on it. At least then i would have learned something.
January 12, 2012
I desperately wanted to like this book because of it's focus on all things handmade, vintage fabrics and a young woman starting a small business in adversity. Those parts, and the focus on stitching I really liked. My main issue was a relatively intense dislike of the protagonist and the constant whinging about her terrible life (owns a beautiful cottage, has two gorgeous daughters and her own dressing room) in the country. Generally I'm the sort of person who wants nothing but good things for everyone (besides dictators, fascists, bigots, racists - you get the gist) but I couldn't bring myself to care enough about Laura to want her to succeed.
June 6, 2017
just couldn't finish this. have it 100 pages and I just couldn't engage with the pathetic wishywashy nature of the character. I found my self huffing my way through the narrative. sorry but no this wasn't for me. sorry to my book group that I chose this! (oh look an exclamation mark...like there wasn't enough of them in the 100 pages.....
October 9, 2022
I kept waiting for this to get started but it never really did, I am so disappointed. It promised much but delivered little.
Nice cover.
Toast
Nice cover.
Toast
February 5, 2014
This was such an irritating book to read. It felt like reading the diary of a conceited housewife. The characters were either so flat you often forgot who was who, or caricatures of a stereotype. The story felt like it was meandering aimlessly and I quickly lost interest in what would happen next. The only thing that stopped me from putting it down completely was the hope that something would happen at the end to tie it all together, but it just sort of ended abruptly as if the author got tired of writing such a boring book.
August 14, 2018
I really struggled with this book, I really wanted to like it but would never have chosen it, it was a book club read. I love the idea of reading about the sewing and living in Norfolk and this had a promising premise but this was not really edited well and was not an enjoyable read. I hate to be negative about any book that someone has taken the time and effort to write but this just did not gel with me, too many silly and loose ends and missed opportunities to make a good story from the concept.
January 13, 2012
I enjoyed this book, predominately because I love fabric, sewing, art and vintage clothes ( as does protagonist, Laura). I am also interested in English village life (fictitious or not), and have a yearning to start my own cottage business. I am not sure if my interest would have held if the subject matter been different, but as it happens, I sped through the novel enjoying our shared interests. I would recommend this book as a very gentle read for stitchers.
May 14, 2015
I picked this book up in the library where they had a local book display. Living in Great Yarmouth, and a love for sewing and creativity meant this was a no brainer. I really enjoyed this book, but if it wasn't for the local references and my interest in rural life and sewing I may have thought otherwise. A good read non the less.
January 16, 2019
Not the best book I have read. It jumps too much in the timeline for me. Light hearted easy read though. Had no idea where the book was headed and at times I wondered if it would end nearly, which I kind of does.
September 2, 2023
I'm sorry but just not for me.
Our main female is so deep in her mind about how awful her life is - no it's not - and like a butterfly suddenly starts to do new projects without what sounds like finishing others.
Time seems to jump forward in uneven chunks so it was a bit odd trying to figure out where we were in time at times.
I wasn't invested in the other characters, even her poor husband didn't communicate with her even when he lost his job and was looking at a start up with a friend.
There was lots about crafts and stitching and some of that was interesting but overall I found it really difficult to engage with the book.
I have never not finished a book but at times this one tested me and it was a bit like wading through mud!
Our main female is so deep in her mind about how awful her life is - no it's not - and like a butterfly suddenly starts to do new projects without what sounds like finishing others.
Time seems to jump forward in uneven chunks so it was a bit odd trying to figure out where we were in time at times.
I wasn't invested in the other characters, even her poor husband didn't communicate with her even when he lost his job and was looking at a start up with a friend.
There was lots about crafts and stitching and some of that was interesting but overall I found it really difficult to engage with the book.
I have never not finished a book but at times this one tested me and it was a bit like wading through mud!
October 5, 2020
That age-old dilemma crops up in Addison's girly tale of Laura Lovegrove. Ah, that age-old dilemma crops up in Addison girly tale starring crafty, vintage-clothing collector Laura Lovegrove. What to do when an old flame comes a knocking on the door of your seemingly blissful domesticity?
Especially when your husband’s job has moved you away from the bustling city you love and into a pokey cottage in the country. To distract herself crafty Laura turns her passion for vintage clothing into a bustling sewing business. Before long she has plenty of customers, but will she be able to mend her own marriage?
A sweet tale of creativity and love.
Especially when your husband’s job has moved you away from the bustling city you love and into a pokey cottage in the country. To distract herself crafty Laura turns her passion for vintage clothing into a bustling sewing business. Before long she has plenty of customers, but will she be able to mend her own marriage?
A sweet tale of creativity and love.
September 2, 2022
Libro mediocre, rovinato tantissimo dallo scarso editing italiano.
Adoro la Newton Compton, ma in questo caso ha toppato di brutto: non ho mai letto così tanti refusi ed errori di battitura in un libro solo.
La storia in sé è semplice, banale, una commedia non scritta bene (perché anche l’autrice stessa fa errori, fa salti di trama un po’ strani e sviluppa male, a mio avviso, alcuni personaggi); gli errori di editing però rendono ancora più gravosa la lettura.
Evitabile, decisamente evitabile (o se proprio volete leggerlo, provate in lingua originale)
PS titolo orrendo, fatto con lo stampino e per niente adatto all’originale
Adoro la Newton Compton, ma in questo caso ha toppato di brutto: non ho mai letto così tanti refusi ed errori di battitura in un libro solo.
La storia in sé è semplice, banale, una commedia non scritta bene (perché anche l’autrice stessa fa errori, fa salti di trama un po’ strani e sviluppa male, a mio avviso, alcuni personaggi); gli errori di editing però rendono ancora più gravosa la lettura.
Evitabile, decisamente evitabile (o se proprio volete leggerlo, provate in lingua originale)
PS titolo orrendo, fatto con lo stampino e per niente adatto all’originale
September 29, 2023
Hmm...was solll ich zu diesem Buch sagen....?
Es geht um eine kleine Familie und um ihren Umzug und Neuanfang von London aufs Land.
Laura arbeitet an einem College als Lehrein und ihr Mann Adi ist Architekt. Beide müssen sich erst an das ländliche Leben gewöhnen und sich in die Dorfgemeinschaft einleben.
Laura besucht einen Nähkurs und fängt dann an individuelle Accessoires zu nähen, die sie dann anfängt zu verkaufen. Die Familie muss mit einigen Widrigkeiten klar kommen im Laufe der Geschichte.
Alles in Allem, war es ein tolles Buch. Ich möchte das Nähthema, welches für mich in diesem Umfang neu war.
Es geht um eine kleine Familie und um ihren Umzug und Neuanfang von London aufs Land.
Laura arbeitet an einem College als Lehrein und ihr Mann Adi ist Architekt. Beide müssen sich erst an das ländliche Leben gewöhnen und sich in die Dorfgemeinschaft einleben.
Laura besucht einen Nähkurs und fängt dann an individuelle Accessoires zu nähen, die sie dann anfängt zu verkaufen. Die Familie muss mit einigen Widrigkeiten klar kommen im Laufe der Geschichte.
Alles in Allem, war es ein tolles Buch. Ich möchte das Nähthema, welches für mich in diesem Umfang neu war.
December 31, 2019
An all-round good Chic lit book about Marriage relocation family life. A family move from the city to the countryside and at times struggle to communicate with each other about their feelings But through the life, they are now leading and the support of the village they come together to be stronger and more relaxed.
November 23, 2022
Thought it was rubbish. Lacked structure and technical skill. Many people can write something but that is not enough, the ability to make it interesting and readable. Something this author lacks. Sorry Amanda, back to school I think.
December 7, 2017
All the main character does is whinge about her terrible life. Slates living in Norfolk, needs to get a grip on herself!
March 3, 2018
un bel romanzo. ben scritto. una storia commovente ed emozionante
March 21, 2021
I loved this story. Yes it starts one way then changes but loved it.
January 3, 2024
Perfectly solid book. Nothing terribly exciting, but fine to read on a summer vacation by the pool.
June 27, 2021
As a crafty person myself this title really appealed to me.
There are parts of it that I really enjoyed and actually had my imagination working as to things I could create and how to recycle old fabrics.
However I did find it quite frenetic and a little but confusing at times. I did wonder if Laura and Adi actually communicated at all?!
I guess I would class it as a simple fun read.
There are parts of it that I really enjoyed and actually had my imagination working as to things I could create and how to recycle old fabrics.
However I did find it quite frenetic and a little but confusing at times. I did wonder if Laura and Adi actually communicated at all?!
I guess I would class it as a simple fun read.
March 16, 2019
One of my favorite books - related well with the main character and her life filled with home made crafts.
September 5, 2014
This review is also posted on my book blog Captivated by Books.
When Laura Lovegrove has to move from London to rural Norfolk (due to her husband being transferred), she finds herself at a bit of a loss what to do without her busy social life. On top of feeling like she doesn’t belong, her college boyfriend’s presence adds to her confusion. Laura decides to join a sewing class to learn some skills and meet new people. When others start complimenting her on her handmade items, Laura has to make the decision whether or not to try creating her own business, selling her items.
I picked this book up as I have an interest in both Norfolk (where I was born), and sewing.
While this book was predictable in the way ‘chick lit’ usually is, I found that in other ways it deviated from the genre enough to keep me interested and wondering what would happen. I didn’t particularly connect with any of the characters, as they just didn’t seem believable to me, and I think that hindered the book massively – obviously we’d rather read about someone we can relate to in some way or other.
As you would expect in a ‘chick lit’ book, there is the other man. In this case it’s Chris, Laura’s boyfriend at Art College, and as handsome and charming as he’s always been. So Laura is juggling her family, her sewing, and her desire for Chris. Needless to say, this becomes so overwhelming that she starts to question whether they should have moved at all.
The blurb on the back of the book implies that Laura learns to sew and immediately starts making things for others. However, if I hadn’t known that before starting to read the book, I wouldn’t have realised there was anything about sewing until at least halfway through. It seemed to go from not mentioning it, to it being the only thing she focuses on. This made it difficult to know what exactly is happening when, and keeps the sewing very separate from the rest of her life, making the character seem so two dimensional that she is only capable of thinking about one thing at a time, rather than being a cohesive being.
One thing I especially liked about the book was that each chapter opened with an explanation of a type of stitch – admittedly I didn’t always follow what it was trying to say, but it was a nice touch to add in a novel about sewing.
Overall, this book wasn’t as good as I was hoping for. While there were some interesting moments, and once or twice I became invested in finding out Laura’s next choice, it was lacking in believability. The characters, as well as the setting of a rural village, didn’t really relate to the real world. It was a pleasant enough read, but there are many better books out there.
When Laura Lovegrove has to move from London to rural Norfolk (due to her husband being transferred), she finds herself at a bit of a loss what to do without her busy social life. On top of feeling like she doesn’t belong, her college boyfriend’s presence adds to her confusion. Laura decides to join a sewing class to learn some skills and meet new people. When others start complimenting her on her handmade items, Laura has to make the decision whether or not to try creating her own business, selling her items.
I picked this book up as I have an interest in both Norfolk (where I was born), and sewing.
While this book was predictable in the way ‘chick lit’ usually is, I found that in other ways it deviated from the genre enough to keep me interested and wondering what would happen. I didn’t particularly connect with any of the characters, as they just didn’t seem believable to me, and I think that hindered the book massively – obviously we’d rather read about someone we can relate to in some way or other.
As you would expect in a ‘chick lit’ book, there is the other man. In this case it’s Chris, Laura’s boyfriend at Art College, and as handsome and charming as he’s always been. So Laura is juggling her family, her sewing, and her desire for Chris. Needless to say, this becomes so overwhelming that she starts to question whether they should have moved at all.
The blurb on the back of the book implies that Laura learns to sew and immediately starts making things for others. However, if I hadn’t known that before starting to read the book, I wouldn’t have realised there was anything about sewing until at least halfway through. It seemed to go from not mentioning it, to it being the only thing she focuses on. This made it difficult to know what exactly is happening when, and keeps the sewing very separate from the rest of her life, making the character seem so two dimensional that she is only capable of thinking about one thing at a time, rather than being a cohesive being.
One thing I especially liked about the book was that each chapter opened with an explanation of a type of stitch – admittedly I didn’t always follow what it was trying to say, but it was a nice touch to add in a novel about sewing.
Overall, this book wasn’t as good as I was hoping for. While there were some interesting moments, and once or twice I became invested in finding out Laura’s next choice, it was lacking in believability. The characters, as well as the setting of a rural village, didn’t really relate to the real world. It was a pleasant enough read, but there are many better books out there.
July 6, 2011
Laura does not take to country life as easily as she thought she would. She seems to be permanently looking backwards, into the past, instead of forwards, after losing someone dear to her, and the upheaval from urban to country life.
She is a hardworking mother of 2, designing textiles and tutoring at college. She is very critical of her own parenting skills, torn between being a good mum and having a successful career. She thinks and sees in colours, patterns and textiles in her everyday activities. Always looking for that next project. Recycling textiles is almost an obsession, a way of life.
When Laura bumps into an old flame, Chris it seems a good distraction from facing her new life in the country, which Adi seems to be taking in his stride, and it can only be a dangerous path to revisit the past where an ex is concerned.
Adi, her husband is getting on well with rural life and becoming more distant. What is he keeping from her?
I could identify with Laura to a certain degree having been a working mum myself and making a choice between work and family.
I was very wary of Chris and was eager to find out how this reunion was going to develop.
There was a mention of Thody's Fabric shop. I have vivid memories of many visits to Gordon Thoday's in Cambridge with my mum to choose fabric and pattern for a new outfit or bridesmaids dress. Sadly no longer there.
I enjoyed the recall of stitches at the beginning of each chapter and it has sparked an interest to pick up a needle again, not just to mend.
The storyline was exciting but I did find that the description of textiles, patterns and colour, too often, detracted a little from the story. It was worthwhile to discover how the story would end.
This would appeal to those who enjoy sewing, crafting and grown up chick lit.
4 out of 5 for me!
She is a hardworking mother of 2, designing textiles and tutoring at college. She is very critical of her own parenting skills, torn between being a good mum and having a successful career. She thinks and sees in colours, patterns and textiles in her everyday activities. Always looking for that next project. Recycling textiles is almost an obsession, a way of life.
When Laura bumps into an old flame, Chris it seems a good distraction from facing her new life in the country, which Adi seems to be taking in his stride, and it can only be a dangerous path to revisit the past where an ex is concerned.
Adi, her husband is getting on well with rural life and becoming more distant. What is he keeping from her?
I could identify with Laura to a certain degree having been a working mum myself and making a choice between work and family.
I was very wary of Chris and was eager to find out how this reunion was going to develop.
There was a mention of Thody's Fabric shop. I have vivid memories of many visits to Gordon Thoday's in Cambridge with my mum to choose fabric and pattern for a new outfit or bridesmaids dress. Sadly no longer there.
I enjoyed the recall of stitches at the beginning of each chapter and it has sparked an interest to pick up a needle again, not just to mend.
The storyline was exciting but I did find that the description of textiles, patterns and colour, too often, detracted a little from the story. It was worthwhile to discover how the story would end.
This would appeal to those who enjoy sewing, crafting and grown up chick lit.
4 out of 5 for me!
June 23, 2011
Laura Lovegrove’s life has moved from urban Ealing to rural Norfolk and it looks like it’s starting to fall apart. She’s lost her circle of city friends and the village mums don’t seem interested; her husband works all hours in his architectural practice and allotment; her part-time teaching job at the local college is under threat; and a fire (caused by Laura’s’ scattiness) in their damp cottage destroys her treasured vintage clothes collection – but salvation comes, to her surprise, in the shape of the local sewing circle. This clever first novel by Amanda Addison weaves together all the fun of a typical chicklit tale (the friends, the family, the love interest…) with deeper insights about women’s lives at all ages and stages. Local and social history are threaded seamlessly through this easy-to-read and engaging story so you find yourself whipping through the chapters, pausing only to visualise the crafty creations Laura conjours from the remnants of her mother’s 60s dresses, her student wardrobe and other people’s treasured fabrics.
“Laura’s Handmade Life” is a glorious patchwork world of country and family life, husbands and lovers, craft and business, delicately embroidered with the author’s enthusiasm for and knowledge of textiles and sewing technique. As well as loving the twists and turns of Laura’s comedy of errors, and rejoicing in the happy ending, I now want to order items from her (sadly fictional) website and join her weekly sewing circle with its cluster of colourful characters. Perhaps I’ll just try and make a lavender bag or Easter chick from the “recipes” at the end of the novel, or wait until the next instalment of Laura’s life hits the shops!
“Laura’s Handmade Life” is a glorious patchwork world of country and family life, husbands and lovers, craft and business, delicately embroidered with the author’s enthusiasm for and knowledge of textiles and sewing technique. As well as loving the twists and turns of Laura’s comedy of errors, and rejoicing in the happy ending, I now want to order items from her (sadly fictional) website and join her weekly sewing circle with its cluster of colourful characters. Perhaps I’ll just try and make a lavender bag or Easter chick from the “recipes” at the end of the novel, or wait until the next instalment of Laura’s life hits the shops!
May 4, 2012
I loved this book. I felt like i got to know Laura really well, I wanted to invite her round for coffee and a large slab of cake whilst i picked her brains on textiles and craft. She somehow managed to inspire me, yes I do know she is just a character, words on a page, but still, she made me want to go buy a sewing machine & stitch bunting for my gorgeous children. I really wanted to know what happened next for Laura & Adi, their children and the other interesting characters in the book. I hope there is a sequel Amanda, as I enjoyed the read.
If you like tales of human life, looking at relationships with all their strengths, frailties and inner questions this is the book for you. Its about families, juggling and hearts and heads adapting to change. Threaded throughout are lovely notes on art, textiles and all things wonderfully vintage. If some or all of that is your bag, then settle down for a good read.
The book made me think about the multi layered rituals of the passing on & sharing of skills from generation to generation, women to women, that are so very important. Taking the time to just breathe and do this is so often lost, yet in this sleepy yet active & very pretty little village in deepest Norfolk, they make the time - next time I have my Mum to stay, she will be coming armed with knitting needles and trying (again!) to teach me her magic x
If you like tales of human life, looking at relationships with all their strengths, frailties and inner questions this is the book for you. Its about families, juggling and hearts and heads adapting to change. Threaded throughout are lovely notes on art, textiles and all things wonderfully vintage. If some or all of that is your bag, then settle down for a good read.
The book made me think about the multi layered rituals of the passing on & sharing of skills from generation to generation, women to women, that are so very important. Taking the time to just breathe and do this is so often lost, yet in this sleepy yet active & very pretty little village in deepest Norfolk, they make the time - next time I have my Mum to stay, she will be coming armed with knitting needles and trying (again!) to teach me her magic x
June 18, 2011
Despite initially looking like yet another chick lit offering, this book is packed with surprises. Its an interesting if not original premise, when your life unravels, stop moaning, do something about it but what makes this stand out is the amount of interesting stuff that the author manages to include. I frequently had to put my book down to reach for Google, being instantly grabbed by the idea of subversive samplers. I also felt creatively stimulated, to the point where I started to eye up items in my wardrobe that could be cut up and given a new lease of life. Laura comes across as funny, quirky and by the end, the kind of person you wish you knew. I loved the deft humorous touches and was smitten by Prada the poodle. The first person narrative can feel initially constraining, but by the end it feels completely natural, because this is Laura's story after all. The tension between Laura's feelings for Adi and Chris is nicely depicted but it is a relief that its not the backbone of the book, rather an added dimension. Perhaps the main story is more how Laura manages to restore her faith in herself as an artist. Well written and shall be hoping for a sequel.
August 22, 2012
I liked this book, it wasn't great and wasn't particularly well written.
There's quite a few instances where a 3 year-old's dialogue reads like an adult rather than a 3 year-old (not even a precocious 3 year-old.
There's inconsistencies and other snippets that really could have done with a re-write.
The scenes jump about a lot with little in the way to lead the reader from the end of one to the beginning of the next. Sometimes you have to stop, think, fill in the blanks for yourself and then carry on.
The protagonist isn't really likeable, sure her life is in a bit of upheaval but she doesn't really try to help herself, she just moans and whines like a spoilt brat.
I was also confused by the protagonist's husband's name. In the beginning I read it as "add-ee" but some way into the book he is (once) referred to as Adrian, and so it becomes more logical that his name is actually "ay-dee".
So, I can't really say why I overall liked the book, just that I did. I didn't love it and I didn't have any trouble putting it down to go do other stuff, but I did like it and did read it cover to cover.
There's quite a few instances where a 3 year-old's dialogue reads like an adult rather than a 3 year-old (not even a precocious 3 year-old.
There's inconsistencies and other snippets that really could have done with a re-write.
The scenes jump about a lot with little in the way to lead the reader from the end of one to the beginning of the next. Sometimes you have to stop, think, fill in the blanks for yourself and then carry on.
The protagonist isn't really likeable, sure her life is in a bit of upheaval but she doesn't really try to help herself, she just moans and whines like a spoilt brat.
I was also confused by the protagonist's husband's name. In the beginning I read it as "add-ee" but some way into the book he is (once) referred to as Adrian, and so it becomes more logical that his name is actually "ay-dee".
So, I can't really say why I overall liked the book, just that I did. I didn't love it and I didn't have any trouble putting it down to go do other stuff, but I did like it and did read it cover to cover.
February 19, 2012
I really enjoyed this book. A lovely light read with a heroine who is very easy to identify with. Laura finds it difficult to adapt to life in Norfolk and leave behind her familiar world in London. She is not written as a perfect character - she is often negative and rather self-pitying - but this makes her a lot more realistic than a permanently cheerful and perfect woman - in fact her thoughts and behaviours were often uncomfortably close to the truth. I enjoyed the story of a woman struggling with homesickness and loss of confidence and a series of unfortunate events, eventually winning through to make the best of things and embrace her new life. The thing I liked best though - and what I think makes this book stand out from others on the shelf - is the exploration of the importance of textiles in our everyday lives and. The author's expertise in this area shines through, as she weaves (no pun intended) fascinating snippets of information about fabric and fashion into the story.
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