The Seamstress - Frances De Pontes Peebles
The Seamstress is a hefty tome, weighing in at over 600 pages. I began reading this figure I'd go through a few chapters at a time. The next thing I knew it was many hours later and I'd been drawn into the story so thoroughly that I hadn't put it down. I had wanted to find out what happened to sisters Emilia and Luzia, and read the entire thing straight through.
Emilia and Luzia grow up in a tumultuous world of Brazil in the 1930s. They are very poor, living in a quiet mountain town with their aunt, a seamstress. Emilia is pretty and dreams of a better life in the city. Luzia, her arm broken and poorly healed after an accident, seems doomed to life as a spinster.
I won't give away details on the plot in this one - half of the joy of reading this story is wondering which choice the girls will make at each turn, where they will end up, how they will react. It's what keeps you turning pages long past your bedtime.
What makes the trip so enjoyable is the wealth of details around every turn. You hear about the types of stitchery, the specific flowers that grow, the intricacies of social levels, the way the cut of a dress could denote your position in life. The level of research poured into this book is phenomenal - but it never feels like a 'history book'. It feels alive, vibrant, real.
I also love the symbolism woven through the story. The philosophy of sewing - to measure carefully, to prepare before you take action and cut, all of it is echoed in the girls' lives. There are discussions of hiding your true nature and meeting social standards. I especially appreciated the idea of young Luzia padding through her town opening the doors on bird cages. She was not stealing the birds - she was giving them the choice to stay or go.
Very highly recommended - just make sure you have a large glass of your favorite drink and a snack at your side, as you'll be drawn in!
Buy The Seamstress from Amazon.com
Modern Book Reviews
Top Selling Books of All Time