A Thread So Fine

by Susan Welch

Can love for a secret child heal old wounds?
Introspective and artistic Shannon Malone and her more popular sister Eliza are Irish twins and best friends. In the summer of 1946 as womanhood approaches, both look forward to promising--but different-futures. When tragedy strikes and rocks the Malone family to the core, one sister leaves, possibly forever. The other, physically and emotionally scarred, vows to hold the invisible thread that runs between them. In the course of her journey, she discovers a secret child and the true meaning of family, but is it enough to bring her sister home?

"In A THREAD SO FINE, Susan Welch has written a beautiful story of sisters, history and love. The Malone sisters remind us a of a time – not so long ago – when a woman’s autonomy and self-realization often came at a price. Shannon and Eliza grabbed hold of my heart and carried it with them until the final, satisfying pages." Tara Conkin, NYT Bestselling Author of 'The House Girl' and 'The Last Romantics.'

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Book Club

378 pages, Paperback

Published November 26, 2018

About the author

"As a girl, I listened to my mother’s stories about her year in quarantine as a 19-year-old TB patient in St. Paul in the mid-1940s. As an adult, upon my mother’s death, I discovered for the first time I'd been adopted at seven months old. As a writer, I've tapped my passion for storytelling to dig myself out of the mysterious hole I found myself in, regarding my own origins and family history."

Susan grew up in Minnesota and Wisconsin with either her nose in a book or her toes in the water. She earned a Masters in International Management and built an international career in the brewing industry, and now works for a company focused on craft brewing and regional agriculture. She is co-editor of Hot Flash Fiction, an online literary magazine focused on works by, for, about or of interest to ‘women of a certain age.’ When not traveling for work or pleasure, she spends time living, working, writing and learning either in Seattle or in a cabin in the woods of Lummi Island.

Reviews

[Angela Williamson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway and I'm so glad I did. I might not have picked it up otherwise. Susan Welch weaves a family tale of two sisters, the heartbreak of tuberculosis treatment in the 1940's, the unfairness of an unwanted pregnancy and the fallout from both events. Eliza and Shannon were Irish twins and grew up with a very close bond. One horrible night caused a rift which separated Eliza from her family for over 20 years. This is the story of what happened, how it happened and how much the world can change in 20 years. I finished this in 2 days because it was compelling and drew me right in. I will be anxiously waiting for the author to bring us her next jewel.

[Mary Ranahan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely historical fiction that I finished in 3 days.
It will take you through the journey of a family that appears whole but there are many secretsand
the silence between them is deafening.
The plot was not predictable at all which I so appreciate in a good read.
Great 1st work from this author I am looking forward to her next.

[Diana Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Thread So Fine--Susan Welch

A psychologically acute family story about the interwoven bond between two sisters, Eliza and Shannon, an invisible thread running through their lives. A Thread So Fne acknowledges the complexity, darkness and opacity from which our reality emerges.

Two sisters, two secret and two lives forever altered, uncovering unhealed wounds."Whe wondered what her mother meant when she'd said she'd once let go. She (Eliza) thought of her own letting go--of the horrible truth she could never allow herself to fully recall, a well-guarded secret kept from everyone. Everyone, and mots importantly, from her carefully groomed and future self."

Susan Welch weaves a family tale of two sisters, the heartbreak of tuberculosis treatment in the 1940's, the unfairness of an unwanted pregnancy and the fallout from both events. Eliza and Shannon were Irish twins and grew up with a very close bond

Heart-broken and scarred, the other vows to never let go of the invisible thread that runs between them--and in the course of her journey, discovers the true meaning of family.”

[Miriam Downey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read my full review here: http://mimi-cyberlibrarian.blogspot.c...

“St. Paul, MN, 1946: As little girls, the Malone sisters relied on each other for companionship and affection as their mother remained distant, beating back the demons of her own mysterious childhood. Now, as young women ready to embrace promising futures, their lives are instead changed by two tragedies. Their powerful bonds of love and loyalty threaten to break under the weight of trauma and loss, secrets and misunderstandings. One sister leaves, possibly forever. Heart-broken and scarred, the other vows to never let go of the invisible thread that runs between them--and in the course of her journey, discovers the true meaning of family.”

Susan Welch based some of this family drama on her own birth, childhood, and upbringing. There is a lot at play—men returning from WWII, distant parents, sibling love and sibling rivalry, illness, unwed mothers, religion, and on and on. Frankly, at times, I found all of this to be a bit too much. When the author added another element to the plot line, I probably rolled my eyes.

On the other hand, to a large extent, this is the childhood that I experienced, growing up in the forties and early 50s in Minnesota. I noticed that most of the reviewers were older women, which is probably why the publicist sent the book to me in the first place. Oh—and one of the characters is named Miriam, always an eye catcher to me, who seldom sees her name in print. I remember the tuberculosis sanitarium at the edge of our community, the whispered stories of young women going away “to visit relatives” only to return with no explanation. I remember my mother in her house dress feeling trapped and like she was wasting her life. All of these elements are at play in A Thread So Fine.

Welch is a very good writer. The novel is rich in details, and the characters are finely drawn. Those who enjoy problem fiction or historical fiction—or like me, lived through those times—will enjoy A Thread So Fine. I can see that this book would be a good book club choice, and I noticed that Welch will have a book group guide which will add to its appeal.

The Kirkus review of the book recommends it as “an engaging and poignant historical novel.” The book was released this week.

As for me, what I think I need, right now, is a good murder mystery. This is two “relational” books in a row, probably a new record for me.

[Amy Heinz · Rating 3 out of 5]

An engaging and poignant historical novel set in the 1940s to 1960s.

In their childhood, the two Malone sisters were extremely close, relying on each other for companionship. and affection. Their mother was cool and distant, fighting her own demons from her own mysterious childhood. The closely-knit sisters each endure life-changing tragedies, that test bonds of love and loyalty.

Welch weaves a tale of secrets, misunderstandings, resentments, and squandered opportunities for reconciliation that keep the sisters apart for almost two decades. The story unravels in emotionally impactful ways. I loved this book until the end which left much to be desired for my taste. A strangely ethereal epilogue offers an unresolved conclusion, leaving most of my questions unanswered.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to LibraryThing for this book.

I usually enjoy books about sisters/relationships but this one was just okay and got monotonous after a while between the estrangement for many reasons between them and the whole family.

It started in the 40s and ended in the 60s with a lot happening in between with both sisters and their family.

[Eliza Amon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two sisters, a secret and two lives forever altered. This is a totally captivating novel that plunges the reader into the lives of Shannon and Eliza, two Irish-American sisters living in the post-World War II American Midwest. Their experiences and dreams take them in totally different directions and I was totally immersed in the story. I ached at their estrangement and rooted for their reconciliation. I loved the historical details as well, especially that Frances Perkins is a character. This is a totally absorbing novel that is wonderful to curl up with and also engages the reader on many interesting topics—tuberculosis, women’s rights, PTSD, #MeToo, Catholism and adoption.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Susan Welch has woven (no pun intended) a family saga with tremendous attention to detail that retained an ease to read. I was initially surprised as the book jumped forward in time but that allowed her to unravel a complex story in a readable space. I loved this book's sense of place, time, and character development. I also appreciated the early references to the women's movement and Eliza's role as an academic trailblazer, despite her challenges with interpersonal relationships. I found the Malone sisters to be a bit more prim and virtuous than I may have expected, but it's possible in that era that young women conducted themselves in a more "ladylike" manner than I experienced as a child of the 1980s. In all, a really enjoyable book that took me to an era that maybe wasn't as simple (for women) as I may have thought.

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book. I took it on vacation (an annual vacation with my fab sisters, where normally books do not get read) and devoured it. My sisters occasionally complained that I was too absent from them, because I couldn't tear myself away from A Thread So Fine. But, after all, this book is about - among other things - SISTERHOOD - and how could they argue?

Welch is a fine writer. One of my litmus tests of great writing is when I'm compelled to go back and re-read particularly exquisite sentences; this happened a lot in this book. AWESOME character development - because of the skilled writing, I felt a deep connection to the protagonists, which is rare. I deeply CARED about Shannon & Eliza and the other characters - and their richly layered storylines kept me riveted.

I eagerly anticipate Susan Welch's next novel - the first one is a whopping success!

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

It should have been 4 stars, but the writing was just not good enough. I couldn't connect with the characters; I was being told an interesting story about them, but I never really felt I knew them. I don't think it was because it was set in an earlier time or because I am not Catholic. I wanted to feel for them and to understand them, but the writing was always a bit removed, always a story being told by someone else.

[Michelle Irwin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was bored to tears

Way too too much talk of women s rights and labor laws! Tended to enjoy only half of the book some of the time ,the other half none of the time. Kinda picked up at the end and was hoping for some real exciting discoveries,but that that was shot down too. All in all in glad it's over and I can read a different story. Sorry,just didn't do it for me.

[Mary Dominguez · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book but I was frustrated how Liza could abandon her family for 20 years. Especially during the 60’s with the “Love” movement. She fought for women’s rights and yet couldn’t face her own fears.
Shannon was truly loving. I was confused with the ending also.
Did the baby die or live? Did the writer want us to make our own decision about that?

[Mary Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. The story is interesting and relatable, and kept me anxiously anticipating what happens next. The author does an excellent job of setting the scenes and vividly describing situations and characters. I didn't want it to end; I hope to read more from this author.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was pulled into "A Thread So Fine" so that the 350+ pages were finished over a weekend. I loved the flow of the story and unexpected turns. I was in tears at the ending, it really touched my heart.

[C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Susan Welch has done her homework! She wove a beautiful tale and painted a detailed picture of life in the midwest in the 1950s (and beyond). I really couldn't put this book down!

[Val (pagespoursandpups) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable read

I liked the characters, the subjects and the settings. Character development was good. Unfortunately I felt that it ended abruptly.

[Valerie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Couldn’t finish this book. The writing was so elementary and bland. “A tear fell, like a punctuation mark, on the pillow. Ugh. Why did it get such good reviews?

[Katherine Philbrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed by Katherine Williams for Reedsy.

--

SUMMARY:

Can love for a secret child heal old wounds? St. Paul, MN: Introspective and artistic Shannon Malone, and her more popular sister, Eliza, are Irish twins and best friends. In the summer of 1946 as womanhood approaches, both look forward to promising--but different-futures. When tragedy strikes and rocks the Malone family to the core, one sister leaves, possibly forever. The other, physically and emotionally scarred, vows to hold the invisible thread that runs between them. In the course of her journey, she discovers a secret child and the true meaning of family, but is it enough to bring her sister home?

--
A touching story about family; A Thread So Fine will captivate and enlighten you.

A Thread So Fine is a historical fiction novel that has a rich storyline; so rich that there is more than one story told. Centered around sisters Eliza and Shannon, you learn about their upbringing, such as living with their distant parents and their relationship with each other. When I first started reading this story, I did not expect it to go as deep as it did but I am so glad it did. Along the way you discover secrets, lies, betrayals and love that circulates around Eliza, Shannon, and the rest of their family. They deal with a lot of different and unique situations during their time period. Eliza and Shannon are round characters that have distinct personalities; by the novel's end I came to admire and appreciate both of them in completely different ways.

I really like this book. Susan Welch is a very talented writer; the story flows well and her attention to detail is fascinating. It is obvious that there was a lot of historical research that went into this novel. The weakest part of this novel is the dialogue; it was not bad but it did seem to slow the story down as times. The overall pacing is steady and it kept my attention until the story's end. Sometimes when I read a longer novel, I feel that the author could have cut the story short by about 100 pages because so much of the writing does not feel necessary. I do not feel this way about A Thread So Fine. Although this is a longer story, I finished it quickly within a few days because I got so invested in all of the character's lives. I suggest this book to anyone who is looking for a somewhat tragic, compelling and longer historical read. This book teaches you that not every family is perfect, and when things go wrong, you must take care of yourself.

[Meg - A Bookish Affair · Rating 4 out of 5]

In "A Thread So Fine," Eliza and Shannon are two sisters living in the 1940s in the Midwest. They have always been close but two tragedies pull them apart. There is a tuberculosis diagnosis for Shannon and an unwanted pregnancy for Eliza. These two events will turn their family upside down. In the 1940s, a tuberculosis diagnosis means you get sent away in order to (hopefully) recover. An unwanted pregnancy out of wedlock in the 1940s means stigma and trying to hide secrets for Eliza. Both of these women will deal with their issues in very different ways, ever tied with the invisible thread that binds them as family.

You all know that I have a soft spot for stories about sisters. I have sisters and I am always drawn to stories about that very special bond. I really liked how the author created very unique personalities for the sisters. It was so interesting to see how they dealt with things so very differently. Eliza seems to want to push her family away, while Shannon tries to do everything in her power to keep that bond in mind. Without giving anything away, the ways that Shannon tries to keep her sister close to her heart throughout much of the book was particularly touching. A ton of the narrative is dedicated to Shannon trying to pull together her family through these acts and I really enjoyed reading about her commitment.

The writing of the book was great! This is a very heart-wrenching story. I thought the pacing worked well and the author kept the story flowing. I also have to mention the historical detail in the book. It added a great sense of place. To some degree, both sisters are beholden to their time as far as how they are able to handle what life is throwing at them. Also, I really liked the cameo of Frances Perkins (another fascinating woman in her own right) in the book. Overall, this was a great debut and I am excited to see what else the author comes up with in the future!

[Marcia Crabtree · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received Susan Welch’s recently published first novel, A Thread So Fine, as a digital advanced readers copy, and I am so grateful to Ms. Welch, her publisher Muse Literary, and BookSirens for providing it to me. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and often felt compassion and kinship for many of the main characters, both male and female. Ms. Welch flushes out the thoughts and motivations for each of her characters so thoroughly as to make them all unfailingly real. Although I truly have NOTHING in common with any of the characters, from their religious beliefs to their medical issues, and from the viewpoint of an adopted child and those who gave up their children to a victim of a violent assault, I still found much to relate with. I understand loss, particularly the loss of a parent, and I understand the difficulties of believing in one’s self worth. I also know what it feels like to be in difficult relationships with significant others and to endure an abusive spouse.

The novel is extremely well written and full of complexities. The chapters are written in the third person and take place over the course of almost 20 years, from the summer of 1946 to January 1966, primarily in St. Paul, Minnesota. However, the book gives glimpses of some of the character’s lives before this time and in different parts of the country and the world. Ms. Welch does a great job blending real life experiences and real life characters with the fictional. I was eager to keep turning pages to find what was coming next. There were several twists and turns throughout the book, with one of the most unexpected occurring at the very end. I can’t wait to see more of Ms. Welch’s fiction and hope she already is working on her next book. My review of A Thread So Fine is completely voluntary.

[J. Else · Rating 4 out of 5]

St. Paul, Minnesota, 1946. Shannon and Eliza are about to start their first year of college. But when tragedy strikes each girl, their bond begins to unravel. Eliza leaves home while Shannon slowly recovers from her own ordeal. As years pass, Shannon searches for a way to reunite her family and questions the true reason her sister ran away. Could the link she’s been praying for rest in the heart of a young girl?

This is a tale of two sisters whose lives stay woven together by a fine thread despite distances and secrets pulling them apart. The multiple other dynamic threads twisting around their connection is a complex tapestry the author expertly unravels in emotionally impactful ways. There’s an exploration of relationships that both weaken and strengthen the heart and how these can change when viewed through a different light. Through their struggles, the sisters end up as opposing forces. While one tries to pull the family back together, the other sister avoids anything related to her past. Societal pressures and shame also play a weighty role in keeping the women of their family silent, which has a multi-generational impact.

As their lives sweep into the growing women’s movement of the ’50s and ’60s, each sister finds a way to carve out an unexpected yet safe place for themselves. Welch explores the period and places with beautiful detail. A family saga of women with regrets and secrets that shines with its multilayered characters and rich storyline. Recommended.

Review originally posted via the Historical Novel Society at: https://historicalnovelsociety.org/re...

[Karna Bosman · Rating 4 out of 5]

On a 5 star scale my rating is 3.75.

"A Thread So Fine" by Susan Welch is an engaging and thought-provoking historical fiction family drama predominantly set in the Twin Cities of Minnesota. The story begins shortly after World War II and spans nearly two decades. It revolves around the Malone family, an upper-middle-class Catholic household with strict social boundaries. Tragedy strikes when one of the Malone sisters contracts tuberculosis, and the other becomes a victim of a violent attack with lasting consequences.

Welch skillfully weaves a tale of two sisters, exploring the challenges of tuberculosis treatment in the 1940s and the repercussions of an unwanted pregnancy. The disintegration of the Malone family stems from their inability to effectively communicate or cope with trauma and shame. The narrative gives us great detail until the end, providing insight into the characters' actions even when they are unwilling or unable to share.

Despite thoroughly enjoying the book, the ending leaves much to be desired. It fails to provide a resolution, leaving me wondering about the fate of the characters, their relationships, and the ultimate outcome. This leaves a sense of frustration and uncertainty, affecting the book's overall rating, which would have otherwise been highly favorable with only minor plausibility concerns.

[Jessica Bronder · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is about twin Irish-American sisters, Eliza and Shannon Malone growing up in Minnesota in 1946. When they were younger, they were on their own a lot as their mother had her own demons from the past to fight with. But as they grew older and even though they were close, different evens split them up.

I quickly found myself engrossed with the story of Eliza and Shannon. They are growing up just after World War II and finding their place in a male driven world. Tragedy strikes with an unexpected birth and a diagnosis of tuberculosis. Both girls have their own battles to fight but I kept hoping that they would find themselves back together.

It is clear that Susan Welch did her research and was talking from personal history. It was very easy to get into this story but extremely hard to put it down. I would step away but would find Eliza and Shannon on my mind pondering what was going to happen next. I also learned a lot about the tuberculosis sanatoriums, which I’m young enough to not know about. Definitely a heartbreaking read.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

[Lynda Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

This isn't for me. I have got as far as 8% but have now given up. It's set back in the 1940s and the olde worlde language and attitudes I'm struggling with, really......I reached a passage where Shannon's ruminating on being the troublesome member of their family and the example she uses to illustrate this is picking up a mouse as a kid......I fear it's all a little TOO innocent for my liking !!
Plus, I've had this on my Kindle a couple of years now and I think, because of the cover photo, I have always had it in my head that it was a true story !! I read in the preamble that it's based on real-life but that disappointed me as it wasn't the book I'd been expecting.
I was just googling the word cretin as it's used in the book as a road name-Cretin Avenue-but I can't see a differing meaning than how we use it over here in the UK so that's a bit odd !
I have given it 2* because I didn't happen upon any mistakes by the time I gave up, which is nice to see, but it's just a little too pedestrian for my liking.

[Kevin Mallik · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently finished reading ‘A Thread So Fine’ by Susan Welch. Though the novel was lengthy and the main story line, which was separation of two sisters, comes out too early. But still the novel grips you and takes you through the event after event. It was set during 1946 to 1965. The sisters remain distanced from each other for some reasons - if you read the novel you will get to know the inside story.

The author has weaved a great tale of two sisters who once cannot stay away from one another even for a day, but what happens all of sudden that they get separated for almost 20 years. That’s terrific account of pain and suffering, captured well in the post World War II society of the modern North America. I loved the book for showing the grim conditions that kept women suppressed and backward. Well, the way both sisters fight it to shine in their respective stances is something, I found, inspiring. Lovely and intense novel, do read it when you are at your own pace.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was looking forward to reading this book due to the fact it had such good ratings but actually have a lot of mixed feelings now that I have read it. I think the story had potential but fell flat for me. I had to actually check the book description to make sure that this wasn't Christian literature. There were so many references to Catholicism, God, and the church. Yes, the premise of the story is based on how Catholics and the Catholic church responded to unmarried pregnancies and rape during the late 1950's and early 1960's. I, for one, could not understand Eliza's unwillingness to acknowledge her rape to her family. Too much of the story was beyond my understanding. I didn't like Eliza. I liked Shannon and I could understand Nell to a degree. Perhaps this book just wasn't my cup of tea.

[Karin Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

The multi-generational impact of violence and silence. Welch’s book is an intimate portrait of a midwestern family who appear luminously blessed. But one horrible moment unravels the lot, reverberating through three generations of women, who will struggle to regain their sense of family and love for each other. The story will confront your feelings about the responsibility of parents, the role of the church, the fraught bond between sisters and how running from secrets affects more than the person carrying the shame. Spanning post- World War II to second wave feminism, the book brings context to history. It chronicles the bodily devastation of tuberculosis, the underlying specter of PTSD, and the women who became game changers for public policy. This is a fascinating read with an ending that will make you want to read the whole story over again. Perfect for a book group!

[Patty Brandl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy of “A Thread So Fine” free through the Goodreads giveaway. My opinion of this novel, which was about two sisters in mid-1940s St. Paul, Minnesota, changed often while reading it. The beginning didn’t pull me in immediately, but the story changed dramatically a few chapters in and became really interesting. But the inconsistency in the tempo of the writing bothered me. Events would ramp up throughout the story, followed by page after page of inner thoughts and long, detailed memories of the two main characters. I found myself skipping pages of meditative prose just to see where the story would eventually take me. I like the story but thought it would have been a lot better if it would have been shorter and more event-motivated.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Strong character development , writing style plot and imagery ( not fluff) create a story you want to keep reading. The author has created a marvelous work of literature I would highly recommend this for reading groups or personal enjoyment. The story of a family and its trials and tribulations, set within a time when women were beginning to emerge in high level positions. Shannons scourge of tb and Eliza's dilemma of a pregnancy as a result of a rape , are coupled with Nells ( mom) secrets and trials. The historical inclusion of dol and Francis Perkins role makes for very interesting reading. I believe the author did extensive research . Fabulous read

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid 4 1/2 stars. I originally picked up this book to read because the setting was in St. Paul and I always enjoy reading books set in my neck of the woods. As a historical fiction the book delved into the issues revolving around young soldiers returning from war changed from the innocent boys who left, the tuberculosis crisis, and the treatment of unwed pregnancies especially in the eyes of the Catholic Church. But more importantly it is the story of family and two sisters and the ties that bind us. I loved how a beloved childhood fairy tale weaves its' way through the story from beginning to end. I found this to be a delightful read and would highly recommend it.