Her greatest legacy - lives made better because she had touched them - Mrs Lincoln's Dressmaker April 2021

“Her greatest legacy could not be measured in garments or in words, but in the wisdom she had imparted, in the lives made better because she had touched them.”

― Jennifer Chiaverini, Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker 

Our book club was held Thursday, April 22, 2021 at Sandy's home.  Ann, Heather, Lilian, Carolyn, Brittany, Sheryl, KD, Suzanne and Sandy were there.  We had a wonderful discussion about Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker,  by Jennifer Chiaverini. We all learned so much from the book, which is historical fiction, but much of it is true.  Elizabeth Keckley, was a slave in Virginia and an accomplished seamstress.  She had many patrons and actually provided the income for the Burwell family. when they fell upon difficult financial circumstances.  

Elizabeth Keckley

She eventually is able to purchase her freedom, with the assistance of some of her patrons and she and her son move to Washington D.C., where she establishes a successful millinery shop and employs others.  She fashions and sews dresses for the Washington elite society.  

Some of Elizabeth Keckley's creations

When Mary Todd Lincoln becomes the First Lady, Elizabeth begins to sew for Mary Todd and becomes more than Mrs. Lincoln's modiste, she becomes her friend and confidant.  

Even though the book seemed more like reading history, rather than a novel,it was different  from other Chiaverini's books that I have read, it was still fascinating to learn about the remarkable woman, and her life, as well as learning more about President and Mrs Lincoln and their familiy life in the White house. It was  a wonderful book to read. 

Next month, we will be reading Dani Shapiro's book, Inheritance: A Memoir of Genealogy, Paternity, and Love.  We will meet on Thursday, May 20 because of upcoming graduations. 

“It is good to find comfort in memories,” Mr. Fry said gently.”

― Jennifer Chiaverini, Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker

“The sublimity of witnessing the ruler of a mighty nation turning to Holy Scripture for comfort and courage, and finding both in his darkest hour, brought tears to her eyes, and she was obliged to quickly compose herself before returning to Mrs. Lincoln’s side.”

― Jennifer Chiaverini, Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker

Stray wisps of one world seeping through the cracks of another - The Thirteenth Tale March 2021

 “I have always been a reader; I have read at every stage of my life, and there has never been a time when reading was not my greatest joy. And yet I cannot pretend that the reading I have done in my adult years matches in its impact on my soul the reading I did as a child. I still believe in stories. I still forget myself when I am in the middle of a good book. Yet it is not the same. Books are, for me, it must be said, the most important thing; what I cannot forget is that there was a time when they were at once more banal and more essential than that. When I was a child, books were everything. And so there is in me, always, a nostalgic yearning for the lost pleasure of books. It is not a yearning that one ever expects to be fulfilled.”

                                                                              ― Diane Setterfield, The Thirteenth Tale

We met Thursday,  March 25, 2021 at Ann's home.  We discussed Diane Stterfield's The Thirteenth Tale,  Opinions were varied, some ladies found the book fascinating and couldn't put it down and others didn't care for it very much.  It is a tale of a famous author, Vida Winter,  who has written twelve books or fairy tales but has always said there would be a thirteen tale.  People anxiously await this published thirteenth story, but it is long in coming.  The author invites a young researcher and biographer, Margaret Lea, to her home and the story of Vida's strange and dysfunctional family begins to unfold.  

We had a wonderful, spirited discussion about the book, visited  and enjoyed healthy refreshments.  

We decided to change our reading schedule land will be reading Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker by Jennifer Chiavirin next month.  We will meet April 22 at Sandy's home. 

“A birth is not really a beginning. Our lives at the start are not really our own but only the continuation of someone else's story.”
― Diane Setterfield, The Thirteenth Tale

“All morning I struggled with the sensation of stray wisps of one world seeping through the cracks of another. Do you know the feeling when you start reading a new book before the membrane of the last one has had time to close behind you? You leave the previous book with ideas and themes -- characters even -- caught in the fibers of your clothes, and when you open the new book, they are still with you.”
― Diane Setterfield, The Thirteenth Tale