The Tailor's Girl in Aussie Readers

Aug 19, 2013 Brenda rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: aussie-authors, read-on-kindle, net-galley, own-read, arc, historical-fiction, 2013-release, favourites

As Jonesy woke from yet another nightmare, Nurse Nance was quickly at his side. Recovering from wounds received on the battlefields of Ypres, his mental anguish was absolute. For Jonesy had no memory of who he was, no memory of the very battlefield which injured him so – only fleeting glimpses of dreams and memories which wouldn’t stay, no matter how hard he tried. Jones was the nickname he’d been given in the hospital – there was a Brown, a Smith and a Green, all with the dreadful “shellshock” As Jonesy woke from yet another nightmare, Nurse Nance was quickly at his side. Recovering from wounds received on the battlefields of Ypres, his mental anguish was absolute. For Jonesy had no memory of who he was, no memory of the very battlefield which injured him so – only fleeting glimpses of dreams and memories which wouldn’t stay, no matter how hard he tried. Jones was the nickname he’d been given in the hospital – there was a Brown, a Smith and a Green, all with the dreadful “shellshock” which left them not knowing who they were.

Eden Valentine was a lovely young girl, a seamstress who worked with her father, Abe Valentine, a fine Jewish tailor. Abe had lost his wife Nina some years before, but only recently his beloved son Daniel had been killed in the war; devastated and lost Abe and Eden kept themselves busy with their work.

When Eden came into Jonesy’s life, she was delivering a suit to a member of the hospital staff. He was stunned by her beauty, her impeccable taste and style – but he had no idea she would feature prominently in his future. But Eden had been promised to Benjamin Levi from the time she had been in her mother’s womb. The two families were fast friends, and their desire to combine the families went back decades.

As Jonesy became involved in Eden and Abe’s lives, he chose the name “Tom” for his own. He had no real reason for choosing that name, only that it seemed to mean something to him. So Tom he was – but still his great desire was to find out who he really was. With tragedy and sadness threatening the lives of them all, happiness was fleeting, but real. What would happen to Eden and Tom? Would he discover who he was in his past, or his future? Would the tailor’s girl’s dreams come to fruition?

What an absolutely phenomenal story! This has just landed in my favourite books list for 2013 – London in the early part of the twentieth century was the setting of The Tailor’s Girl; the description of post-war London was painted with passion making the pictures in my mind crystal clear, and the plot flowed beautifully. Heartbreak and tragedy, happiness and joy, they all combined to create a story which is gripping, emotional and totally wonderful. A book which I would very highly recommend from an Aussie author with amazing talent!

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy to read and review.
...more

6 likes · Like · see review

Aug 21, 2013 Shelleyrae at Book'd Out rated it liked it

Shelves: provided-by-publisher, aussie-author

I've been eager to read The Tailor's Girl, having liked everything I have read by Fiona McIntosh, in fact a glowing quote from my review of her last novel, The French Promise appears on the book jacket of this novel. Yet I have to confess that I was disappointed by this story that is essentially a historical romance, which is not my favourite genre.

The characters are appealing, 'Tom' is a charming wounded war hero who inspires sympathy as he struggles with amnesia after fighting on the front. Ed
I've been eager to read The Tailor's Girl, having liked everything I have read by Fiona McIntosh, in fact a glowing quote from my review of her last novel, The French Promise appears on the book jacket of this novel. Yet I have to confess that I was disappointed by this story that is essentially a historical romance, which is not my favourite genre.

The characters are appealing, 'Tom' is a charming wounded war hero who inspires sympathy as he struggles with amnesia after fighting on the front. Eden is a sweetheart with an innate core of strength who wants more than to be just a wife and mother, with dreams of being a successful designer and seamstress. I desperately wanted them both to find happiness and I was invested in their relationship, which is wildly romantic.

The setting and period are vividly drawn from the English countryside, to the streets of Paris, and the grandeur of London's Savile Row. McIntosh touches on the post Great War challenges faced not only by the returning soldiers but also the women whose new found freedoms were curtailed upon their return.

But I was dissatisfied with the story of the The Tailor's Girl. I found the plot to be entirely predictable, and its major turning points were horribly cliche, though I can't reveal them without risking spoilers. The entire story also felt oddly familiar but it wasn't until another reviewer pointed out the strong similarities of this story to an old movie, 'Bitter Harvest' (based on a novel) released in 1942 (starring Ronald Colman and Greer Garson)that I realised why. To be fair though the details are McIntosh's own, different from the film's, and the amnesia trope is common in both film and fiction.

I want to be clear that my disappointment with the novel is purely a matter of genre preference, the writing is of McIntosh's usual high standard and I found the characters and setting appealing. As such I wouldn't hesitate to recommend The Tailor's Girl to any reader who enjoys historical romance, but I have to admit this won't be a favourite of mine.
...more

5 likes · Like · see review

Aug 02, 2016 Kathryn rated it really liked it

Shelves: 4-stars, fiction, australian-authors, reading-list-2016

This was my fifth Fiona McIntosh book, and I haven’t read a bad one yet. I enjoyed this one set mostly in post-WWI England but with some flashbacks to war-time. The ending was no surprise, but I very much enjoyed the journey to get there - and there were a few surprises along the way!

4 likes · Like · see review

Dec 26, 2014 Kira rated it it was amazing

Shelves: keeper, re-read, favorites, historical-fiction, aussie-author, drama

It's 1919, and "Jonesy" can't remember who he is. He remembers glimpses of his times in the trenches, believing he was in the battle of Ypres, but he has no memory of his life from before the war and cannot remember his name. Feeling helpless and wanting to do something to leave the hospital he's been recovering in, he enlists the help of the local Tailor's Girl, Edie Valentine.

Edie is an accomplished seamstress and has big dreams of her own. But she falls for the disarming stranger with no mem ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Jan 12, 2015 Dzintra aka Ingrid rated it really liked it

A really good read and a great story! Loved how it all came together at the end...Fiona really is wonderful storyteller! Would make a fabulous movie what with all the fashion Of the time! I really couldn't put it down!

Fiona is quickly becoming my favourite Author especially as I assisted her at a Writer's Festival last year...such a beautiful lady....and she loves chocolate too! ...more

Like · see review