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The Seamstress Allison Pittman 9781414390468 Books

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The Seamstress Allison Pittman 9781414390468 Books

After enjoying Loving Luther, I was eager for more from Allison Pittman. The Seamstress definitely delivers, with its nod to A Tale of Two Cities and its richly detailed look into the French Revolution. I rarely get to say this, but Allison's descriptions and writing style made me feel like I was in Mouton Blanc, Versailles, and Paris from page one onward.

The characters, especially Renee, are beautifully drawn as well. Three-dimensional, with flaws and realistic motivations, they fit perfectly into their time period. I especially enjoyed Renee's story and character growth, but Laurette held my attention as well. Throughout the novel, Allison puts her own spin on some familiar tropes and plotlines, such as the impoverished country girl being whisked to the grand palace, the testing of a close bond between cousins, and some ill-fated romances.

The spirituality here is subtle for the most part, but a huge selling point. Renee's final decisions, and final moments, were actually some of my favorite parts because they showcased her courage, compassion, and the struggle she was put through in choosing sides. Did she choose correctly? I am not sure, and I think a lot of readers might feel the same way. But that's what I love about this book. Even though some characters, like Laurette, get "happy endings," not much is tied up with a pretty bow, much like real life.

Speaking of not being tied up with a pretty bow, I enjoyed Allison's explorations of both sides of the Revolution. In her author's note, she mentions some "controversy" over her choice to portray Marie Antoinette sympathetically. However, I liked that. In situations such as those presented in The Seamstress, it can be impossible to tell who's a good guy and a bad guy, who to trust, even who to love and protect. It's rare to see this kind of thing explored in Christian fiction, so major kudos to Allison on that point.

At times, The Seamstress feels a little long. The romantic plot threads in particular are a bit odd at times. That is, Renee and Laurette's journeys make compelling plots in themselves; I'm not sure how much we needed of Marcel, Bertrand, and the other guys in their lives. I'm also not sure I'm on board with Laurette's final relationship with Gagnon, seeing as he started out being her father figure. Overall though, The Seamstress is a familiar, yet off the beaten path story that takes you deep into the French Revolution and asks you to go on complex journeys with real people. It gets a definite recommendation.


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The Seamstress Allison Pittman 9781414390468 Books Reviews

Certain to remain one of my all-time favorites, this epic novel and its characters will haunt the reader long after the last page has been read. Ms.Pittman, as a new-to-me author, blew me away with her beautiful prose that masterfully told a story set amidst the turbulent times surrounding the French Revolution. Giving a nod to Charles Dicken's Tale of Two Cities, Ms. Pittman has crafted a story with memorable characters who face the harsh realities of the time with courage. The eclectic cast of characters displayed both weakness and strength that is part of human nature as they fought for survival, loyalty and love during this difficult time. Faith threads of forgiveness and grace are woven throughout.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from Netgalley and the author/publisher through CelebrateLit. I was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.
'Never find your esteem in the eyes of anyone other than our Heavenly Father who loves you' Gagnon.
An incredible book that is almost impossible to put down! Set as the French Revolution is simmering under the surface, the author takes us along as she weaves the life story of two young orphans, their guardian and their choices. Was it possible that being a seamstress for the queen would keep young Renee safe? How could it be, that rebellion would lead to food, being rain or end the famine? Written with such wonderful historical detail, I felt like I was there, feeling the crush of people in revolt and almost smelling the blood of those sacrificed for the cause.
I received this ARC through Tyndale House Publishers Inc. and CelebrateLit. All impressions and opinions are my own.
This book went on my TBR as soon as I finished reading the first line of the description. I knew exactly which cameo character the description was referring to, despite having no recollection that said character had mentioned she was a seamstress in Dickens’ tale, and I wanted to know her story. It meant that I also knew a major spoiler about the end of this novel before I even began, but in the hands of a skilled story-teller like Allison Pittman, that becomes irrelevant. It’s the journey that counts, and this one was every bit as engrossing as I hoped it would be.

The story is told from the point of view of two orphaned cousins, Renée and Laurette, who watch the revolution unfold from two very different perspectives Renée from the gilded halls of Versailles, and Laurette from the increasingly poverty-stricken countryside, where lack of food and employment are driving people to desperation and madness. Both worlds were vividly and authentically rendered in all their complexities, and I loved the way they contrasted each other, one having all the appearance of wealth but little happiness, and the other struggling with so little yet often showcasing the generosity and strength of the human spirit.

In fact, all those contrasts mentioned in Dickens’ well-known opening permeate this story. We see the best and worst of human nature, wisdom and foolishness and their end, devout belief and incredulity at war with one another, Light piercing the Darkness, the consolation of hope in the face of despair, and, just as in A Tale of Two Cities, a bittersweet end. Quite simply, a masterly and deeply moving read.

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not influenced the content of my review, which is my honest and unbiased opinion.
After enjoying Loving Luther, I was eager for more from Allison Pittman. The Seamstress definitely delivers, with its nod to A Tale of Two Cities and its richly detailed look into the French Revolution. I rarely get to say this, but Allison's descriptions and writing style made me feel like I was in Mouton Blanc, Versailles, and Paris from page one onward.

The characters, especially Renee, are beautifully drawn as well. Three-dimensional, with flaws and realistic motivations, they fit perfectly into their time period. I especially enjoyed Renee's story and character growth, but Laurette held my attention as well. Throughout the novel, Allison puts her own spin on some familiar tropes and plotlines, such as the impoverished country girl being whisked to the grand palace, the testing of a close bond between cousins, and some ill-fated romances.

The spirituality here is subtle for the most part, but a huge selling point. Renee's final decisions, and final moments, were actually some of my favorite parts because they showcased her courage, compassion, and the struggle she was put through in choosing sides. Did she choose correctly? I am not sure, and I think a lot of readers might feel the same way. But that's what I love about this book. Even though some characters, like Laurette, get "happy endings," not much is tied up with a pretty bow, much like real life.

Speaking of not being tied up with a pretty bow, I enjoyed Allison's explorations of both sides of the Revolution. In her author's note, she mentions some "controversy" over her choice to portray Marie Antoinette sympathetically. However, I liked that. In situations such as those presented in The Seamstress, it can be impossible to tell who's a good guy and a bad guy, who to trust, even who to love and protect. It's rare to see this kind of thing explored in Christian fiction, so major kudos to Allison on that point.

At times, The Seamstress feels a little long. The romantic plot threads in particular are a bit odd at times. That is, Renee and Laurette's journeys make compelling plots in themselves; I'm not sure how much we needed of Marcel, Bertrand, and the other guys in their lives. I'm also not sure I'm on board with Laurette's final relationship with Gagnon, seeing as he started out being her father figure. Overall though, The Seamstress is a familiar, yet off the beaten path story that takes you deep into the French Revolution and asks you to go on complex journeys with real people. It gets a definite recommendation.