Tapestry

Werner Family Saga #3

by Belva Plain

As the vivid events of World War II plunge the world into a dizzying vortex of change, an unforgettable American family must summon extraordinary courage to face birth, death, murder, illicit passion and great tragedy. And one passionate man must fight his own war against evil--a war that can only be won with honor, integrity and love.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance, Historical, Historical Romance, Jewish, World War II

560 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1988

About the author

Belva Plain was a best-selling American author of mainstream women's fiction. Her first novel, Evergreen (1978) topped the New York Times bestseller list for 41 weeks and was made into a TV miniseries. At her death, there were over 30 million copies of her twenty-plus novels in print in 22 languages.

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish there were half-stars available because this one deserves 4.5 stars for sure. This was a re-read for me - I read it first back in 1988 or thereabouts, but honestly, I didn't remember much about it at all. (maybe this is old age creeping up on me?!) I love a good "family saga" and this one fits the bill perfectly. We follow the life and extended family of Paul Werner (a Jewish man from New York City) from 1920 until post WWII. There is a LOT of interesting history in this one about the beginnings of the brown-shirts (later to become the Nazi party). Paul has relatives on both sides of the Atlantic and makes trips to post WWI, pre WWII Germany, England, and France. If you enjoy books set during this era, enjoy a good family saga, then this could be the book for you. I have read EVERY SINGLE book Belva Plain ever wrote and they were all fantastic. While this is a continuation of her first novel Evergreen (which I loved and have re-read), I feel as if it is a stand alone book. The references to characters from the earlier book are not in depth and easy to follow.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tapestry is carried into the 1920's and 30's, where once again we meet Paul Werner and his family. Paul is married to Marian; and now they are suffering a painful loss of the stillborn child and consequences that leaves Marian in a barren state, never to conceive again.
Paul's aunt Hennie's husband, Dan, is put in jail for his reform ideas. Only a bootlegger, Donal Powers, can get Dan released. How this was done was kept hush hush.
Paul travels to Europe on banking business and visits Germany where he has a cousin, Joachim, who is unable to forsee the upcoming doom of another war. He thinks all is well. Joachim is shot during a rally and has Paul take him to a female doctor, Ilse Hirschfeld. Paul becomes enthralled with her and they become lovers.

There is just so very much to tell about all these characters and more from this book. It will keep you interested for hours to find the outcome of all of this. Some will be heartbreak and some will be wonderful.

I hope you will enjoy the book as much as I have.

[Renee maples · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Paul’s story and all his family members. Clearly I can’t stop reading about this family and their saga. Doesn’t hurt that the time period is my favorite in historical fiction.

[John · Rating 1 out of 5]

Read this only a week ago and I don't remember anything about it, that's pretty bad

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book three of the Werner family series returns to focusing on Paul as the central character. It is the years following WWI, Paul seems to step into a role of caring for his extended family. But then with the Stock Market crash, depression and the events in Europe as Hitler rises to prominence, there are even greater concerns. Can the Werner family find their place in the midst of struggles and tragedies?
It has been about 2 1/2 years since I read volume 2 so I was struggling a bit at first to piece together in my mind the family relationships and events from the earlier volumes. But then I was able to settle in and read this for it's own story. I think this is an interesting look at a period of time in our nation and the struggles of a family.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Would give this 3.5.
Family saga in the old fashioned sense of the word. Reminds me of John OHara- Butterfield 8 etc. Lots of thinking about SEX but not much is described. A real page turner. The story of a secular Jewish family from 1920s to post WWII. Lots of family drama. Weird to have finished this when 45 is defending neo nazi and KKK. I enjoyed and will be the first 2 books in this series. This is a stand alone- not necessary to have read the prequels.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I appreciated this book a little bit more than the first time. Significant is that also this book is about war, hate, antisemitism, nothing changed since 1940 and it is now 2024. One remark, I think jews should stop interpreting any criticism as antisemitism. We are allowed to point out their weak spots. As they do with ours.

[Ama · Rating 3 out of 5]

A novel about American Jews during WWII. The main character is Paul, but the story is told from multiple points of view. I really enjoyed reading it.

[Carol Franklin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The saga of a Jewish family with personal secrets & dramas. It's an easy read & takes place in New York & Europe during the 1920's up to & after WWII.

[Adrian Brown · Rating 1 out of 5]

Huge epic family stories are just not my thing. I thought it was boring and the main character was annoyingly self absorbed.

[Susan Ross · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm reading through my books, trying to trim my libary of books I won't want to read again. (I read my books multiple times.) I won't be reading this one again.

The story centres around Paul Werner and his extended family, most of which are non-religious Jews. The only reason I gave it 3 stars was because it reviewed the history of anti-semitism both in the States and Europe from the end of World War I to after World War II through the storyline.

Paul Werner is a banker who is an upstanding citizen, willing to risk his life to save lives in post-war Germany and a mentor to his young nephew. However, I couldn't like him because, in his personal life, he is a coward, a cheat and a liar. Instead of divorcing a wife he does not love, he cheats on her. Yes, he treats her well but their marriage is broken and he doesn't have the courage to end it. He also moons over a girl he did not marry but who he had sex once with while engaged to his wife. He harps on it throughout the book and I wanted to slap him. He has the opportunity to have a great marriage with two primary women he cheats on his wife with, but chooses to moon over his lost love instead. He finds out he has a daughter by her (his wife lost her baby and uterus at the same time due to complications with the baby's position in the womb). He has promised not to ever tell her the truth and doesn't. But he does meet her twice- once arranged, once by accident.

Nothing good happens in this book. It is a very depressing read. I found the dialogue stilted.

After reading other reviews I found out this is part of a series. It read as a stand-alone.

[Paula Galvan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tapestry is the third book in the Werner Family Saga. It gives a vivid picture of the turbulent life in New York City during prohibition, the Great Depression, and World War II. Paul Werner is still the rock of the family—the one everyone turns to for council and comfort—yet trapped in a loveless marriage without children—he can't help but feel love has passed him by. Finding comfort in several affairs, Paul watches his and Anna's daughter grow up from a distance. Without going into detail about the atrocities of the war, the author relates a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at Hitler's violent rise to power when Paul visits his cousin, Joachim, in Germany. Following the lives of these fascinating characters—Hennie and Dan Roth, Alfie, and Emily De Rivera—we watch their children, Freddy, Meg, and Leah, grow up and have their own children. Finally, separated from family by conflict overseas and at home, Paul finds a friend in Ilse who survives the war. Tapestry is a heartwarming tale of losing everything and finding love again.

[Fran · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read the first two books in this series years ago and enjoyed them, so when I found this one at a "free little library," I eagerly grabbed it. It starts great. Belva Plain was an excellent writer with really well-developed characters and complex, intertwined family plots. Can't say that I like main character Paul Werner and the way he jumps in and out of women's beds all the while holding his long-lost love Anna in his heart, but.... he still is an interesting character. The early part of the book is really detailed, but it's like the author got more rushed as it went on. The story races through the WWII years in maybe 100 pages or less. Something major will happen (no spoilers!) and you wonder how others will react, but the next section begins, "The rest of that year flew by...." or something like that. Admittedly it's already a long book by the time WWII happens, but I think she should have given those years equal treatment or ended the book with the start of WWII. 3.5 stars

[Martie Chandler · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the first two books of this series but didn't love this read as much. I really liked the main character Paul Werner in the first two but find him not so amazing in this one. He has illicit affairs and acts like this is how marriage is. It gets a little tiresome that after being with so many women he still holds this unwavering love for someone he has only been with twice. (Once sexually and the other a casual meeting) It starts great. I really enjoy Belva Plain's writing and she does a good job on developing her characters and the plot. This book just seemed to drag a little more than the last two.

[Marcelle Mase · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just completed “Tapestry”, the 3rd book in Belva Plains “Evergreen” saga and am eager to start book 4. This amazing story continues to follow the Werner Family from 1920, delving into the beginning of the Hitler regime,its gradual takeover of Germany, and ultimate devastation, World War II and ending about a year after. Love a good World War II historical fiction novel and “ Tapestry” did not disappoint! Love this saga, it’s characters and their stories. Next up, “ Harvest”😊

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Werner Family Saga..Book Three

I have reviewed the first two books in this Saga , and once again it's five stars! This is such a beautiful story of family, love, loss and war. I will be disappointed when I finish Book five, but right now I am excited to begin Book four! Belva Plain is a master story teller. Read her books, there are so many and you'll find yourself carried to a different time and place.

[bonnie foxwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tapestry

Tapestry is a book that is hard to put down. It carries the story of Anna and Paul along the road into adulthood and is further. It grabs your heart and refuses to let go . I cannot wait to read the next chapters in this wonderful family saga. You will not be disappointed.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the type of family saga that stays with you for many years. I remember Paul and Anne even though it's been a long time since I read the 2nd book in the series. This one covers the Depression and WW2 in a real, down-to-earth personal family sort of way. I look forward to reading the next 2 books.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s really hard to like Paul at times. I really didn’t like him in Evergreen. In The Golden Cup I grew to understand him and liked him and now in this one I really struggled. I get that she’s showing he’s human and these books were written in a different time. But the casual adultery being totally acceptable and “not hurting anyone” was not okay with me.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Again an interesting story about a family, with lots of ups and downs, Miss Plain was a very good story teller who makes you feel part of the story. The family story continues through the thirties on to the forties from the First World War to the second.

[Sari · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read Ms Belva back in the 70’s. I think I read Evergreen but found this in a used book store and devoured it! I am in my 60’s and even if I read all of them in this series, I don’t recall and so, this is Christmas morning to find Ms Belva again!!!

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these stories about many years in a family. It has many ups & downs, love, murder, betrayal, courage. A page turner for sure.

[Tracie Sneed · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Favorite Belva Plain

[Judy Palmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Suffer 1st love

This was a great story of love and of loss. About a family and their connections with one another. This is a good read.

[Raquel Iacob · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just can’t put her books down. I love this series and can’t wait to read the rest! She writes about life so beautifully. All the struggles and happiness.

[Ann Riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful story of families interwoven with the frightening history of Europe and America sounding much like today.

[Colleen Lahey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting. Keeps your attention throughout the book.

[Lisa Lawrence · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the book and getting to know more about Paul Werner! He is no perfect man, for sure, but he is fascinating. The new family members add to the saga. On to the next Werner story ...

[Trudy Roy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Historical family chronicle. Set between the wars. Recommend reading the series.

[Benesh Marie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Don’t get the audible version. The narrator is terrible