The Seamstress by Frances de Pontes Peebles
Release date: August 5, 2008
Another one of those stories taking place where I have very little knowledge – Brazil, 1920’s and 30’s. The story of two sisters raised in the interior of the country by their aunt, a skilled seamstress who passes on her knowledge. Emilia dreams of being a fancy lady, and Luzia really doesn’t know what, considering an accident as a child left her with a permanently bent arm. Then a famous group of cangaceiros (whom I like to refer to as scrub pirates) come to town…
This is one of those back and forth stories where you spend a couple months with one sister and then with the other, overlapping slightly or, at times, not at all. It was different from stories with the same format in that each still knew what the other was doing even though they weren’t in contact. Not because of ghouls or so, but because of the newspaper. It kind of turns into a way to communicate. You’ll see.
From a critic’s standpoint I’d have to agree with the review I read that said the author could have left out a few passages, but from the standpoint of someone who was really enjoying a good story, I wouldn’t have minded had she included more seemingly unnecessary passages, as the longer the book is, the more I get to hang out with Emilia and Luzia. Also, I’d like to give credit to the author for her skillz in describing. I said I had very little previous knowledge of Brazil in the 20’s and 30’s for the picturing of it, but Frances de Pontes Peebles painted quite a picture regardless. I could see this book as a movie but I hope it doesn’t come to that.
I think Elaina would enjoy this one.
