The Paris Seamstress - Natasha Lester

Description
How much will a young Parisian seamstress sacrifice to make her mark in the male-dominated world of 1940s New York fashion?

1940. Parisian seamstress Estella Bissette is forced to flee France as the Germans advance. She is bound for Manhattan with a few francs, one suitcase, her sewing machine, and a dream: to have her own atelier.

2015. Australian curator Fabienne Bissette journeys to the annual Met Gala for an exhibition of her beloved grandmother's work - one of the world's leading designers of ready-to-wear. But as Fabienne learns more about her grandmother's past, she uncovers a story of tragedy, heartbreak and secrets - and the sacrifices made for love.

Crossing generations, society's boundaries and international turmoil, The Paris Seamstress is the beguiling, transporting story of the special relationship between a grandmother and her granddaughter as they attempt to heal the heartache of the past.

Review

As a lover of sewing and fashion the title of this book called out to me. Now in the past I have been disappointed when the book then contains any sewing or fashion! Not this time though - I've been lost in fabulous descriptions of sewing, bolts of cloth, cutting lines and sketches across decades. If that were not enough it is also partly set in New York one of my other fave things in a book.

I didn't want it to end and wanted to savour the beautiful descriptions. So why I have raced through this book in less than 48 hours? Because the author set a little mystery within the book too and it was so delicious and I just couldn't fathom it out and I had to know what had happened.

Part of the book is set in occupied Paris during the 2nd world war and whilst it was a little gruelling to read in places it gave me a sense of what it must have been like.

I hope to read more by this author as not only was the subject matter one I enjoyed immensely the writing was great too. I'm giving it 5 out of 5 stars and thanks to my library for the book to read.

Comments

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