What do you think?
Rate this book
The Dressmaker
Dressmaker Paperback Posie Graeme-Evans HODDER & STOUGHTON
464 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2010
59 people are currently reading
1703 people want to read
About the author
Posie Graeme-Evans
8 books241 followersPosie Graeme-Evans has worked in the Australian film and television industry for the last twenty-five years as an editor, director, and producer on hundreds of prime-time television programs, including McLeod's Daughters and Hi-5. She lives in Sydney with her husband and creative partner, Andrew Blaxland.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 233 reviews
October 21, 2010
Ok, I debated for a while whether or not to get this book... When I read the back of the book it reminded me of stories I had read before that had started with so much promise but in the end disappointed me with a badly put together/completely dissatisfying conclusions. So I ummed and ahhhed for awhile before I finally gave in...
First of all, I want to say if the summary blurb at the back of the book mentioning teen pregnancy makes you feel uncomfortable or puts you off reading this book, please reconsider. Especially if you like historical fiction and heroines that come into their own after many soul weary trials and heartaches.
The Dressmaker follows the life of Ellen Gowan, a woman that deals with so much bad fortune, tragedy & betrayal from such a young age in this book that you can't help but cheer her on when Ellen finds the strength to pick herself up, brush herself off and follow her dreams. There are many times in this book where the trials that Ellen goes through are sufficiently heartbreaking that my heart goes out to her, especially when she occasionally begins to see a silver lining, only for it to disappear again.
Among the cast of characters in this book there is Polly, a maid from her original family home whose destiny seems entwined with Ellen's and who eventually becomes her pillar of strength in hard times. Oriana, her beloved cousin and sister, if not in blood at least in heart, who faces her own personal trials and must find the courage overcome her fears. Raoul de Valentin, a charming rogue with his best interests at heart. And yummy handsome Connor Moncrieff, an unrequited first love from Ellen's youth who is without a doubt the absolute perfect gentleman. Seriously, this guy is what girls dream about.
Connor aside, the other bonus to the book was reading the beautiful creations created by Ellen Gowan as she strives to become successful modiste & mantua maker. You almost feel like you know what it would be like to wear a gown made by Madame Gowan.
If this was a movie at the cinema I would pay to see it. If it was a TV movie, I would happily sit down and watch it. If it was a Dvd I would buy it straight out. It was a very addictive read. It's rare to find a book that hooks you at the beginning and keeps you snared all the way through to the end.
Oh and yes, the ending certainly did not disappoint me, at all.
First of all, I want to say if the summary blurb at the back of the book mentioning teen pregnancy makes you feel uncomfortable or puts you off reading this book, please reconsider. Especially if you like historical fiction and heroines that come into their own after many soul weary trials and heartaches.
The Dressmaker follows the life of Ellen Gowan, a woman that deals with so much bad fortune, tragedy & betrayal from such a young age in this book that you can't help but cheer her on when Ellen finds the strength to pick herself up, brush herself off and follow her dreams. There are many times in this book where the trials that Ellen goes through are sufficiently heartbreaking that my heart goes out to her, especially when she occasionally begins to see a silver lining, only for it to disappear again.
Among the cast of characters in this book there is Polly, a maid from her original family home whose destiny seems entwined with Ellen's and who eventually becomes her pillar of strength in hard times. Oriana, her beloved cousin and sister, if not in blood at least in heart, who faces her own personal trials and must find the courage overcome her fears. Raoul de Valentin, a charming rogue with his best interests at heart. And yummy handsome Connor Moncrieff, an unrequited first love from Ellen's youth who is without a doubt the absolute perfect gentleman. Seriously, this guy is what girls dream about.
Connor aside, the other bonus to the book was reading the beautiful creations created by Ellen Gowan as she strives to become successful modiste & mantua maker. You almost feel like you know what it would be like to wear a gown made by Madame Gowan.
If this was a movie at the cinema I would pay to see it. If it was a TV movie, I would happily sit down and watch it. If it was a Dvd I would buy it straight out. It was a very addictive read. It's rare to find a book that hooks you at the beginning and keeps you snared all the way through to the end.
Oh and yes, the ending certainly did not disappoint me, at all.
April 16, 2014
This took me a few chapter to get into but when I did, I was swept up into Victorian England. Just to clarify, it isn't a pretty sight. Poverty is something to be truly feared, as the women of this time period well know.
I hesitate to call it a story because it trivializes what the author has accomplished. She has created the life of Ellen Gowan during an oppressive time period for women. She intricately weaves aspects into the book to create a believable protagonist who faces the difficulties of class and money within and without society.
The book consists of 3 parts; Ellen's latency including her 13th birthday where tragedy strikes, up to age 15. Part II is Ellen's coming of age. Again, not pretty. More death and sorrow, marriage, pregnancy, destitution, lasting friendship, and survival. Part III is Ellen's success story intertwined with the continuation of earlier stories from Parts I and II.
What is striking about this book, besides the fact that the author brings a character to life, is the way the story unfolds and shows the reader the real challenges of Victorian England when one is not affluent or cleverly dishonest. This book is Pride and Prejudice if the Bennetts had no money or estate and Mr. Darcy never arrived. Yet for all the grit, this is not a sad tale. Ellen is not a victim even though her circumstances merit the title. She is also not a heroine who unrealistically rises above it all. She is a woman who finds herself despite circumstances beyond her control. She is a woman who discovers lasting friendship from other women who suffer differently than herself. She is a woman who creates happiness.
I hesitate to call it a story because it trivializes what the author has accomplished. She has created the life of Ellen Gowan during an oppressive time period for women. She intricately weaves aspects into the book to create a believable protagonist who faces the difficulties of class and money within and without society.
The book consists of 3 parts; Ellen's latency including her 13th birthday where tragedy strikes, up to age 15. Part II is Ellen's coming of age. Again, not pretty. More death and sorrow, marriage, pregnancy, destitution, lasting friendship, and survival. Part III is Ellen's success story intertwined with the continuation of earlier stories from Parts I and II.
What is striking about this book, besides the fact that the author brings a character to life, is the way the story unfolds and shows the reader the real challenges of Victorian England when one is not affluent or cleverly dishonest. This book is Pride and Prejudice if the Bennetts had no money or estate and Mr. Darcy never arrived. Yet for all the grit, this is not a sad tale. Ellen is not a victim even though her circumstances merit the title. She is also not a heroine who unrealistically rises above it all. She is a woman who finds herself despite circumstances beyond her control. She is a woman who discovers lasting friendship from other women who suffer differently than herself. She is a woman who creates happiness.
April 27, 2011
I found the style irritating from the very first pages, studded with frequent italics and exclamation points to suit the melodramatic tone. Here's a paragraph of it from the prologue:
Ellen Gowan would not cringe and cry in the dark. She would be warm for she had earned the money so to be. Let there be fire! Let there be candles, not one but several!
That strident tone is kept throughout. After the prologue we see Ellen, the dressmaker of the title, as a girl on her thirteenth birthday in 1843. Her family is ruined! Ruined! When another teenage boy kisses her in public. And then--it's God's judgment for her sin in allowing it--the church falls down killing her father the vicar at the altar. Because of an earthquake. In England. I searched online and apparently there is a history of small quakes in Britain, but in all of it's recorded history there have only been a total of 12 deaths from them in the entire island. Afterwards Ellen's mother is so prostrate with grief she doesn't speak for days. That's only about 75 pages in.
Really, the overwrought plot and writing was hard to take, and I only persisted reading because the author was on a list of recommended writers for historical fiction. I was disappointed that so little of the book was devoted to her rise as a modiste, and the world of Victorian fashion, and her success due more to luck than business acumen. I found this in the end a rather mediocre soap opera and treacly romance.
Ellen Gowan would not cringe and cry in the dark. She would be warm for she had earned the money so to be. Let there be fire! Let there be candles, not one but several!
That strident tone is kept throughout. After the prologue we see Ellen, the dressmaker of the title, as a girl on her thirteenth birthday in 1843. Her family is ruined! Ruined! When another teenage boy kisses her in public. And then--it's God's judgment for her sin in allowing it--the church falls down killing her father the vicar at the altar. Because of an earthquake. In England. I searched online and apparently there is a history of small quakes in Britain, but in all of it's recorded history there have only been a total of 12 deaths from them in the entire island. Afterwards Ellen's mother is so prostrate with grief she doesn't speak for days. That's only about 75 pages in.
Really, the overwrought plot and writing was hard to take, and I only persisted reading because the author was on a list of recommended writers for historical fiction. I was disappointed that so little of the book was devoted to her rise as a modiste, and the world of Victorian fashion, and her success due more to luck than business acumen. I found this in the end a rather mediocre soap opera and treacly romance.
February 5, 2017
I thought it was a melodramatic soap opera that would appeal to a teenage girl, as it did indeed appeal to my teenage daughter. I found it predictable. The main character, Ellen, is beautiful, talented and educated, but poor. Her mother came from a rich family and had been kicked out of the family when when she married her poor scholar husband in a case of true love. But tragedy strikes and the poor scholar husband dies in a freak accident. This means going home to the mother's family and hoping for a welcome. Mother's sister, Daisy, welcomes her and her daughter Oriana, Ellen's cousin, is thrilled to have a pal. But not so Daisy's husband. Always a fly in the ointment. Stuff happens and Ellen and her mother, Connie, leave. As it happens, they are given refuge by a dressmaker who has a rake of a son who is soon after Ellen. More stuff happens. I don't want to give everything away, but it does have a happy ever after sort of ending if convenient deaths don't bother you. And the stunningly beautiful and amazingly talented poor girl is a cliche that sets my teeth on edge. It seems a Victorian England peculiarity.
November 18, 2010
When Ellen Gowan was just a little girl, her father died in a tragic accident. Ellen and her mother, Connie moved in with Ellen’s Aunt and her family. While Ellen’s Aunt and cousin did not mind having Ellen and her mother around; Ellen’s Uncle was a different story. It got to be too much for Ellen and her mother dealing with Ellen’s Uncle’s wrath that they moved out.
Years later, Ellen’s mother passes away and Ellen marries the dashing Raoul de Valentin. Ellen gives birth to a daughter. Raoul is displeased and abandons Ellen and his daughter. With no money, Ellen turns to her talent as a skilled dressmaker. Ellenreceives the chance of a lifetime when she is commissioned by the Countess of Hawksmoor to make her a ballgown. Everyone is so jealous of the Countess’ dress that Ellen soon finds herself being requested by the wealthy. Things are looking up for Ellen until Raoul comes back into the picture. Will Ellen finally get her happy ending?
The Dressmaker is the first book I have ever read by Mrs. Graeme-Evans. I absolutely fell in love with this book. Already I was recommending it to all my other reader friends. Ellen has the fighter spirit inside of her. No matter how high the odds were stacked against her, she never gave up. All the characters were so intriguing. I was glad to step into this world with Ellen. I admit that I even cried at one point. Which goes to show you how attached I became with the characters and the story. Mrs. Graeme-Evans spins a vivid world of love, loss and survival. If you only read one historical fiction novel this year, make sure it is The Dressmaker by Posie Graeme-Evans!
Years later, Ellen’s mother passes away and Ellen marries the dashing Raoul de Valentin. Ellen gives birth to a daughter. Raoul is displeased and abandons Ellen and his daughter. With no money, Ellen turns to her talent as a skilled dressmaker. Ellenreceives the chance of a lifetime when she is commissioned by the Countess of Hawksmoor to make her a ballgown. Everyone is so jealous of the Countess’ dress that Ellen soon finds herself being requested by the wealthy. Things are looking up for Ellen until Raoul comes back into the picture. Will Ellen finally get her happy ending?
The Dressmaker is the first book I have ever read by Mrs. Graeme-Evans. I absolutely fell in love with this book. Already I was recommending it to all my other reader friends. Ellen has the fighter spirit inside of her. No matter how high the odds were stacked against her, she never gave up. All the characters were so intriguing. I was glad to step into this world with Ellen. I admit that I even cried at one point. Which goes to show you how attached I became with the characters and the story. Mrs. Graeme-Evans spins a vivid world of love, loss and survival. If you only read one historical fiction novel this year, make sure it is The Dressmaker by Posie Graeme-Evans!
July 2, 2015
Posie Graeme-Evans has an authentic voice and unique turn of phrase, which were delicious to relish. Her knowledge and vocabulary of dressmaking, food, furnishings and nature are intoxicating. While it took me a few chapters to immerse myself in Victorian England (I blame jet-lag), immersed I was. I thoroughly enjoyed the beauty and horrors that were depicted in Ellen's worlds. This protagonist suffers many tragedies but is never portrayed as a victim, building strength of character from each new challenge. Inspiring.
It is tightly written (I could count the number of "saids" on one hand) and easy to read.
It is tightly written (I could count the number of "saids" on one hand) and easy to read.
July 18, 2011
At first the book was a little slow to get started but then after the first few chapters it was near impossible to put down. Beautifully written, the images just flowed from the pages with the use of such descriptive and emotive language. It also moves quite fast as the story progresses over years once through the slow beginning.
By the end I was deeply saddened when it all had to finish and wish it could've gone on for a lot longer.
By the end I was deeply saddened when it all had to finish and wish it could've gone on for a lot longer.
March 16, 2012
I discovered this book as a result of the Australian Women Writer’s challenge and I’m glad that I did. Based in the early-mid 19th century in England, this is the tale of Ellen Gowen. Born to a poor, scholarly minister and a mother who was ousted by her aristocratic family for marrying below her class, Ellen encounters unmooring loss and ensuing desperation to survive. Her mother’s sister and her loving first cousin are a financially fortunate, though fraught, source of support for her and it’s through them that Ellen meets the charismatic and industrious Madame Angelique who awakens her skill as a seamstress and potential dress designer.
But at her lowest and most vulnerable point, Ellen succumbs to the charms of Angelique’s conniving son, Raoul. Part of Raoul wants to be a better man, but he just can’t help caving into his more selfish and sleazy tendencies. Several other unsavoury characters inevitably force Ellen to abandon her youthful naiveté and develop serious street smarts that she applies to building herself into one of the most widely sought-after couturiers in Victorian London. At times while reading, I found myself harking back to Barbara Taylor Bradford’s A Woman of Substance.
Some unlikely, yet convenient, coincidences and events occasionally pulled me out of the story. But these were only momentary and bothered me less as I succumbed to its escapist spirit. Whenever I had to put The Dressmaker down to tend to reality, I regretted having to do so. When I had a free moment, I looked forward to picking it up again and losing myself in its world. For me, those are the marks of a highly satisfying read.
But at her lowest and most vulnerable point, Ellen succumbs to the charms of Angelique’s conniving son, Raoul. Part of Raoul wants to be a better man, but he just can’t help caving into his more selfish and sleazy tendencies. Several other unsavoury characters inevitably force Ellen to abandon her youthful naiveté and develop serious street smarts that she applies to building herself into one of the most widely sought-after couturiers in Victorian London. At times while reading, I found myself harking back to Barbara Taylor Bradford’s A Woman of Substance.
Some unlikely, yet convenient, coincidences and events occasionally pulled me out of the story. But these were only momentary and bothered me less as I succumbed to its escapist spirit. Whenever I had to put The Dressmaker down to tend to reality, I regretted having to do so. When I had a free moment, I looked forward to picking it up again and losing myself in its world. For me, those are the marks of a highly satisfying read.
February 10, 2011
A quick read, in an unsubtle, overwrought false-Dickens tone. I didn't care for it. It felt like pulp fiction to me.
January 22, 2013
Beautiful story--I enjoyed reading about the fashion world in historical England.
May 9, 2020
DNF, pg 170-something. Because I just don't care.
I enjoy all the modern incarnations of pseudo-Victorian novels. I like pastiche homages to the old masters (e.g. The Meaning of Night, or Kept). I like contemporary voices revisiting the past (Crimson Petal, or The Observations). I even like shamelessly trashy & purely-distilled soap (The Luxe, or Secrets).
But what do I not enjoy? Boring novels. And this, dear friends, is boring. You might read the synopsis & wonder how this book could be dull. The answer can be summed up with one word:
Predictability.
This is a story wherein the blatantly perfect Mary Sue heroine is constantly shit upon by antagonists, social mores, patriarchy, bitter bitches, etc etc, & every instance you can see coming a mile away. The father's so happy! Oops, now he's dead. The mother vows to stay by Ellen's side! Oops, she's secretly consumptive. She writes for help! Oops, nobody takes her seriously. They get refuge in the Aunt's house! Oops, the uncle is a wifebeater. Ellen falls in love! Oops, the guy marries her cousin instead. Ellen elopes with a different guy she's attracted to! Oops, he's faithless & abandons her. At least he's gone, right?! Oops, he returns to blackmail her.
...See what I mean? 😴
Sure, there are plenty of authentic 19th-c novels with these types of plots -- there's a reason such clichés exist even today. But those books are bolstered by charmingly vintage prose, or a heroine you legitimately feel sorry for, or wry narrative intrusions, or even lolzy mustache-twirling villainy. This book has none of these. This book is boring, bland, humorless, & twee. The voice has no distinctiveness. The story has no vibrancy. The heroine is positively sickening in her perfect beauty & perfect skillz & perfect perfection. No thanks.
I enjoyed PGE's first 2 books in the Anne trilogy, but the 3rd was ghastly dull & this one...nope. Her first couple novels had a rawness & a sense of the author having fun, but as her prose has matured & become more polished it's lost all individuality in favor of generic bookclub women's fic'ism. In short: I doubt I'll read her again.
I enjoy all the modern incarnations of pseudo-Victorian novels. I like pastiche homages to the old masters (e.g. The Meaning of Night, or Kept). I like contemporary voices revisiting the past (Crimson Petal, or The Observations). I even like shamelessly trashy & purely-distilled soap (The Luxe, or Secrets).
But what do I not enjoy? Boring novels. And this, dear friends, is boring. You might read the synopsis & wonder how this book could be dull. The answer can be summed up with one word:
Predictability.
This is a story wherein the blatantly perfect Mary Sue heroine is constantly shit upon by antagonists, social mores, patriarchy, bitter bitches, etc etc, & every instance you can see coming a mile away. The father's so happy! Oops, now he's dead. The mother vows to stay by Ellen's side! Oops, she's secretly consumptive. She writes for help! Oops, nobody takes her seriously. They get refuge in the Aunt's house! Oops, the uncle is a wifebeater. Ellen falls in love! Oops, the guy marries her cousin instead. Ellen elopes with a different guy she's attracted to! Oops, he's faithless & abandons her. At least he's gone, right?! Oops, he returns to blackmail her.
...See what I mean? 😴
Sure, there are plenty of authentic 19th-c novels with these types of plots -- there's a reason such clichés exist even today. But those books are bolstered by charmingly vintage prose, or a heroine you legitimately feel sorry for, or wry narrative intrusions, or even lolzy mustache-twirling villainy. This book has none of these. This book is boring, bland, humorless, & twee. The voice has no distinctiveness. The story has no vibrancy. The heroine is positively sickening in her perfect beauty & perfect skillz & perfect perfection. No thanks.
I enjoyed PGE's first 2 books in the Anne trilogy, but the 3rd was ghastly dull & this one...nope. Her first couple novels had a rawness & a sense of the author having fun, but as her prose has matured & become more polished it's lost all individuality in favor of generic bookclub women's fic'ism. In short: I doubt I'll read her again.
February 1, 2021
This book, even though flawed, touched my heart. I was entranced by it. At first, it was a slow read, but then it starts picking up haste.
It speaks of a story of a little girl who grew into a strong willed lady, or i should say, Madame. The turmoil that she faced throughout her adolescence was heartbreaking. It's a truly empowering novel. Sending you back to Victorian England, it sweeps you from your reality and to the life of Ellen Gowan. The despair catches at your heart but also nurtures it with kindness and love.
📚
The part I liked the most was when her past caught up to her. Her reaction was exactly as I wanted it to be. The twist was not what was expected, but a delightful one.
It speaks of a story of a little girl who grew into a strong willed lady, or i should say, Madame. The turmoil that she faced throughout her adolescence was heartbreaking. It's a truly empowering novel. Sending you back to Victorian England, it sweeps you from your reality and to the life of Ellen Gowan. The despair catches at your heart but also nurtures it with kindness and love.
📚
The part I liked the most was when her past caught up to her. Her reaction was exactly as I wanted it to be. The twist was not what was expected, but a delightful one.
October 22, 2019
This was a great story and I really enjoyed it. The main character Ellen who becomes an orphan at 13 endures much in the way of loss and betrayal but she is able to rise above so many of her trials and tribulations. The period of this story is mid to late 19th century England - a time when women had very little say within marriage and in society generally.
April 19, 2017
I found this book quite soapy, only finished reading it due to a lack of other options at the time
December 21, 2019
This book didn’t really get going until halfway in. You need to stick with it for sure.
August 13, 2022
A complete challenge to finish.
December 6, 2010
I was hoping for sumptuous descriptions of fashion and fabric in The Dressmaker by Posie Graeme-Evans and I got my wish, along with a fairly entertaining story of a hardworking single mother's meteoric rise to success reminiscent of Jennifer Donnelly's Tea Rose.
"She gazed into Ellen's face---'It is sad to find ability in the hands of one who will never use it to real effect.'
Ellen shrank back. Madame Angelique's eyes were severe. What could she mean? 'But I like to draw.'
'You like to draw? Many like to draw, but few can draw. Yet girls such as you, Miss Gowan...with all that this world provides, do not have the need, or the hunger, to pursue such talent. God grant that remains the case.' Madame broke off and her face was haunted. Ellen yearned to make a riposte, to say that all this seeming prosperity was insubstantial as a fog."
From beginning to end, The Dressmaker explores how Ellen is subject to the inequality and hardships that faced women of the mid-19th Century. As a young girl, the attentions paid to her by an aristocrat results in tragedy. The loss of her parents and lack of money threatens to push her into a life of prostitution, a very real situation for women come down in the world. A kind relative who takes her in is trapped in an abusive marriage. And even though Ellen's the one who's worked hard to make a success of her business, her husband has the right to take it all away from her even though he abandoned her years ago. Graeme-Evans also manages to touch on a modern-day dilemma set in that time as Ellen is torn between caring for her daughter and pursuing her career as dressmaker. At first I was uncomfortable with how Ellen dealt with this but I liked that this matter was portrayed realistically. Then, as now, a woman's success comes at a price.
Ellen is an admirable modern woman whose strength and spirit sustains her in the vagaries of old fashioned world. Raoul, although you know he is no good for Ellen, is very seductive, with just enough glimmer of sensitivity so that he comes across as a winning scoundrel (as most scoundrels do). Even as he does cold and unforgivable things to Ellen, I somehow wished he'd turn out to be good in the end. Ellen's other love interest was "the good guy" but he was a little too Ashley Wilkes to be interesting. With such a strong and enterprising heroine as Ellen, I was hoping that she would end up with a man equal to her spirit.
The Dressmaker by Posie Graeme-Evans has the winning combination of historical detail, fashion fun, sympathetic characters, and a lively plot that drew and held my interest.
"She gazed into Ellen's face---'It is sad to find ability in the hands of one who will never use it to real effect.'
Ellen shrank back. Madame Angelique's eyes were severe. What could she mean? 'But I like to draw.'
'You like to draw? Many like to draw, but few can draw. Yet girls such as you, Miss Gowan...with all that this world provides, do not have the need, or the hunger, to pursue such talent. God grant that remains the case.' Madame broke off and her face was haunted. Ellen yearned to make a riposte, to say that all this seeming prosperity was insubstantial as a fog."
From beginning to end, The Dressmaker explores how Ellen is subject to the inequality and hardships that faced women of the mid-19th Century. As a young girl, the attentions paid to her by an aristocrat results in tragedy. The loss of her parents and lack of money threatens to push her into a life of prostitution, a very real situation for women come down in the world. A kind relative who takes her in is trapped in an abusive marriage. And even though Ellen's the one who's worked hard to make a success of her business, her husband has the right to take it all away from her even though he abandoned her years ago. Graeme-Evans also manages to touch on a modern-day dilemma set in that time as Ellen is torn between caring for her daughter and pursuing her career as dressmaker. At first I was uncomfortable with how Ellen dealt with this but I liked that this matter was portrayed realistically. Then, as now, a woman's success comes at a price.
Ellen is an admirable modern woman whose strength and spirit sustains her in the vagaries of old fashioned world. Raoul, although you know he is no good for Ellen, is very seductive, with just enough glimmer of sensitivity so that he comes across as a winning scoundrel (as most scoundrels do). Even as he does cold and unforgivable things to Ellen, I somehow wished he'd turn out to be good in the end. Ellen's other love interest was "the good guy" but he was a little too Ashley Wilkes to be interesting. With such a strong and enterprising heroine as Ellen, I was hoping that she would end up with a man equal to her spirit.
The Dressmaker by Posie Graeme-Evans has the winning combination of historical detail, fashion fun, sympathetic characters, and a lively plot that drew and held my interest.
July 31, 2013
This novel does a great job of following a woman's journey from childhood to adulthood. When I first started reading, I did not expect to follow the story of Ellen throughout so many years of her life, but I enjoyed reading her story. I really liked the pacing of the novel in that there are jumps in time to avoid any redundancy in the plot. Readers can get a sense of what happened in those jumps from context clues, which I really liked. I felt like the author trusted readers enough and valued their imaginations to fill in the time gaps themselves.
In the novel, the perspective shifts from one character to another, but it is not distracting in any way. I actually found it helpful because I could get a better insight into characters that I found difficult to understand or to sympathize with. This perspective shift also gives readers various views of the characters. For example, we see Ellen through Polly's eyes and not solely from Ellen's perspective. I thought that this gave the characters more depth and made them seem much more realistic.
I really like the atmosphere of the novel. The world and time period jumped off the page. I could envision all of the places Ellen traveled or found herself, which is something that I really liked. I also thought that the imagery of the entire novel was great. There are certain symbols or images that carry great weight and are so well-written that I felt as if I was in the shoes of the characters.
Another aspect that I really enjoyed from reading was that I could not predict the ending until the last chapter or so of the novel. I never knew where things were going to lead the characters. The plot has many unfolding threads and the characters take many surprising journeys throughout, so I could not predict exactly what was to come. I found myself invested in the characters and wanting to read for hours on end. I would recommend this book to other readers. I think that Ellen's story is one that should be told and should be read because it is a story of a strong woman trying to make a living for herself and her family with themes that I believe will grip the hearts of readers today.
In the novel, the perspective shifts from one character to another, but it is not distracting in any way. I actually found it helpful because I could get a better insight into characters that I found difficult to understand or to sympathize with. This perspective shift also gives readers various views of the characters. For example, we see Ellen through Polly's eyes and not solely from Ellen's perspective. I thought that this gave the characters more depth and made them seem much more realistic.
I really like the atmosphere of the novel. The world and time period jumped off the page. I could envision all of the places Ellen traveled or found herself, which is something that I really liked. I also thought that the imagery of the entire novel was great. There are certain symbols or images that carry great weight and are so well-written that I felt as if I was in the shoes of the characters.
Another aspect that I really enjoyed from reading was that I could not predict the ending until the last chapter or so of the novel. I never knew where things were going to lead the characters. The plot has many unfolding threads and the characters take many surprising journeys throughout, so I could not predict exactly what was to come. I found myself invested in the characters and wanting to read for hours on end. I would recommend this book to other readers. I think that Ellen's story is one that should be told and should be read because it is a story of a strong woman trying to make a living for herself and her family with themes that I believe will grip the hearts of readers today.
February 2, 2012
I quite enjoyed this story about Ellen Gowan, who grew up in a happy home until her 13th birthday when her father was killed at his church. Ellen and her mother Connie went to live with Connie's sister Daisy but they were unwelcome by Daisy's husband Isodore. Ellen was happy living at 'Skene' and she got along quite well with her cousin Oriana. The first chance Isodore had though he told Connie and Ellen that they were to leave his house. Daisy arranged for them to go and live with her dressmaker, Madame De Velentin and they stayed there for 12 months until Connie decided that they needed to move on because she did not trust Madame's son Raoul. It was a bad move to leave the De Velentin household as Connie, by this time was very ill and she died not long after and Ellen was left in the hands of Raoul. Raoul married Ellen but he turned out to be a lousy husband and he left her pregnant. Ellen found a job in a factory where they made clothes, she found she had a talent for drawing clothing designs but after she had her baby Connie. By then she had met Polly, who had been the family household house at Wintermast - they became fast friends and if it had not been for Polly Ellen would have died and lost her baby. Not long after that she received a letter from her cousin Oriana, who had married and was now free from her father. Ellen and Connie went to live with Oriana and her husband Connor. Not long after that Connor leant Ellen money to start her own business as a dressmaker where she found a lot of success.
It was an interesting story.
It was an interesting story.
November 22, 2010
The story of Ellen Gowan's rise, through difficult circumstances, from poverty to success as a dressmaker.
I have no idea what the fabrics and gown components really are, but they sound like they make beautiful outfits.
Sample descriptions I enjoyed from the book (ARC):
"The point of the blade whipped to Raoul's throat just below the Adam's apple. The touch was light but depressingly accurate."
"The man's bravado hissed out of him, punctured like a bladder."
I had respect for and affection for the main character, Ellen. I'm wary of female protagonists in historical fiction novels who flaunt their education or their intellect, but don't act all that smart. Not only that, they don't even seem to fit in with the time. I liked Ellen because she was not only intelligent and educated, she worked with the circumstances that she had. It's too bad that I figured out what the ending would be before she did...
I found myself neglecting husband and children to read this book. I was sucked in. It's a good-sized book, but as I was nearing the end, it felt like I had just started it. It passed by so quickly. Luckily for my family, it has been a long, long time since I enjoyed a book so much that I delayed feeding them a few times just to read another chapter or two. I am going to get my hands on other books by this author.
I have no idea what the fabrics and gown components really are, but they sound like they make beautiful outfits.
Sample descriptions I enjoyed from the book (ARC):
"The point of the blade whipped to Raoul's throat just below the Adam's apple. The touch was light but depressingly accurate."
"The man's bravado hissed out of him, punctured like a bladder."
I had respect for and affection for the main character, Ellen. I'm wary of female protagonists in historical fiction novels who flaunt their education or their intellect, but don't act all that smart. Not only that, they don't even seem to fit in with the time. I liked Ellen because she was not only intelligent and educated, she worked with the circumstances that she had. It's too bad that I figured out what the ending would be before she did...
I found myself neglecting husband and children to read this book. I was sucked in. It's a good-sized book, but as I was nearing the end, it felt like I had just started it. It passed by so quickly. Luckily for my family, it has been a long, long time since I enjoyed a book so much that I delayed feeding them a few times just to read another chapter or two. I am going to get my hands on other books by this author.
May 12, 2013
I would have rated this book 4.5 stars, if that were an option. I usually can pin point the parts of a book that touched me the most or caused me to enjoy it, but after I finished this book, I was unable to pick out certain parts or characters that made it a worthy read for me, it was just an overall feeling that I was left with at the end, quite hard for me to explain, which is also unusual because I typically can describe down to a "T" why I enjoyed a book...I know this is not very helpful in a review, I'm sorry. Maybe it was the simple fact, that with all of the bad that Ellen faced, she ended up exactly where I wanted her to or maybe it is the simple fact that although the story is historically set, I could relate to some of Ellen's trials and tribulations and although mine may not be of exactly the same nature, I also hope for a happy, ending to my "story", where I am at peace with the decisions I have made along the way and the comfort of knowing that I am exactly where I am supposed to be and with the person I was meant to be with all along...I do not know if that is what caused my good feeling about this book or not, but I was definitely left with one after the last page.
August 4, 2017
Two words came into mind constantly while I was reading this: insipid and irritating. As a heroine, Ellen Gowan is both. At certain points in the plot, I wanted to reach through the book and just slap her. Writing this now still makes my fingers itch.
I had expected the book to be an exploration of the work of a modiste and the fashions of the time. Big mistake. Aside from some descriptions of clothing and beadwork, it fell way, WAY short of my expectations.
Even if I had just expected it to be a soapy little historical novel, it would have still fallen short of that. Nothing about the characters makes you want to root for them. The author is inclined to drop hints about the supporting characters which gets you intrigued about them and their story. But there is never any follow-through and we never hear from that character again (e.g., William Greatorax, Madame Angelique). Instead, we get stuck with a love interest that is as fleshed out as a cardboard cutout, a villain that vacillates between being a mustache-twirling caricature and a tortured romantic lead, and a heroine that continues to irritate me.
I had expected the book to be an exploration of the work of a modiste and the fashions of the time. Big mistake. Aside from some descriptions of clothing and beadwork, it fell way, WAY short of my expectations.
Even if I had just expected it to be a soapy little historical novel, it would have still fallen short of that. Nothing about the characters makes you want to root for them. The author is inclined to drop hints about the supporting characters which gets you intrigued about them and their story. But there is never any follow-through and we never hear from that character again (e.g., William Greatorax, Madame Angelique). Instead, we get stuck with a love interest that is as fleshed out as a cardboard cutout, a villain that vacillates between being a mustache-twirling caricature and a tortured romantic lead, and a heroine that continues to irritate me.
July 6, 2013
This book is what it is. An easy story that you don't need much thought process to comprehend, because if you do you see the truth that while it could have been a GREAT read, it was a dismal one. Grammatical errors abound but what really threw me off was when certain characters were introduced, whom I had hoped would be reintroduced later, were forgotten in the background. Madame Angelique for instance, was quite an important character to Ellen for a while then and then BOOM she disappears even after her grandchild was put into the mix. Also the prostitute I feel should have been more of an antagonist than she was. There was no substance to make me dislike her when the author clearly wished me to. Ellen isn't actually that strong if a character for me, constantly leaning on others when it's time to tie up your bootstraps and get going. I also wish there were more of the day to day goings on of the shop to have been included and make me want to root for Ellen more.
December 16, 2010
I haven't read any of Posie Graeme-Evans' other books, and I don't know that I will. There's nothing wrong with this one, except that it just didn't send me. Ellen is likeable enough, but it seems like luck plays a far more prominent role in her success than her own chutzpah does. Though she does overcome adversity, she leans heavily on the help of others and there doesn't seem to be any real fire burning in her. The story is very predictable and the ending's all tied up in a nice little bow. Looking back on it, it really seems like a glorified treatment of a regency romance, although without any real romance. Overall I thought it was well-written, but pretty lackluster.
February 15, 2011
This is the edition I read.
I do not like it when two different editions of the same book appear on my reading list.
The author says she never made an outline or plotted the book but just let it write itself. I think she did a good job!
Women who love clothes, fabrics, sewing and a heroine who rise to riches through their needle and love of design while also falling in love will really like this book.
I do not like it when two different editions of the same book appear on my reading list.
The author says she never made an outline or plotted the book but just let it write itself. I think she did a good job!
Women who love clothes, fabrics, sewing and a heroine who rise to riches through their needle and love of design while also falling in love will really like this book.
February 16, 2012
The description of this book didn't quite match the actual plot. I thought the plot would focus on the period of the protagonist's life as she's struggling to grow her business and be successful. Instead, the book read more like a fictional biography, with lots of scenes and events from her childhood and adolescence that I wasn't really interested in.
I'm sure others will find value in this one, but I was looking for a different story.
I'm sure others will find value in this one, but I was looking for a different story.
March 7, 2011
I tend to love Victorean era fiction, and I also have a love of fashion, so I was really looking forward to this story. Sadly, I was dissapointed. It seemed to try for a Dickens-like tone, but missed that mark completely. Neither the plot nor the characters were believable and I ended feeling as though I was reading a soap opera. I found myself skimming through most of it.
October 27, 2012
Ellen Gowan and her mother move to London during Victorian times after a family tragedy. This historical novel focuses on Ellen and her fight to survive and flourish.
After a long, dreary beginning, this book became interesting. The story of Ellen, as a woman working as a dressmaker in Victorian times, and the role of women during this time, was particularly compelling.
After a long, dreary beginning, this book became interesting. The story of Ellen, as a woman working as a dressmaker in Victorian times, and the role of women during this time, was particularly compelling.
October 1, 2012
I read this novel to the end in the hope that it would improve as it went along - not so. The Dressmaker had all the right materials for a cracking novel which sadly were not taken-up. Just another rag's to riches saga.
April 23, 2015
From beginning to end, The Dressmaker explores how Ellen is subject to the inequality and hardships that faced women of the mid-19th Century. I enjoyed reading about the fashion world in England during that time. Intriguing characters.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 233 reviews