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Blackberry and Wild Rose
- Narrated by: Esther Wane, Shiromi Arserio
- Length: 9 hrs and 26 mins
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Blackberry and Wild Rose
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Publisher's Summary
Set in 18th-century Spitalfields, London, Blackberry and Wild Rose is the rich and atmospheric tale of a household of Huguenot silk weavers as the pursuit of the perfect silk design leads them all into ambition, love, and betrayal.
When Esther Thorel, wife of a master silk weaver, rescues Sara Kemp from a brothel, she thinks she is doing God's will, but her good deed is not returned. Sara quickly realizes that the Thorel household is built on hypocrisy and lies and soon tires of the drudgery of life as Esther's new lady's maid. As the two women's relationship becomes increasingly fractious, Sara resolves to find out what it is that so preoccupies her mistress....
Esther has long yearned to be a silk designer. When her early water colors are dismissed by her husband, Elias, as the daubs of a foolish girl, she continues her attempts in secret. It may have been that none of them would ever have become actual silks, were it not for the presence of the extraordinarily talented Bisby Lambert in the Thorel household. Brought in by Elias to weave his master piece on the Thorel's loom in the attic of their house in Spitalfields, the strange cadence of the loom as Bisby works is like a siren call to Esther. The minute she first sets foot in the garret and sees Bisby Lambert at his loom, marks the beginning of Blackberry and Wild Rose, the most exquisite silk design Spitalfields has ever seen, and the end of the Thorel household's veneer of perfection.
As unrest among the journeyman silk weavers boils over into riot and rebellion, it leads to a devastating day of reckoning between Esther and Sara.
A Library Journal Editor's Pick of Best Debut Novels of Winter/Spring 2019.
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What listeners say about Blackberry and Wild Rose
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- corinne halland
- 2022-01-28
well done
There were lots of twists and turns. I really enjoyed this book. Thank you for the good read.
1 person found this helpful
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 2021-10-09
Depressing
This is a dreary read. With the exception of Esther, the characters are one dimensional; they are mostly victims or tyrants, misogynists or bullies. With no relief in the tension, the characters’ fates seem hopeless. The novel could easily have been based on Esther’s talent as an artist, the making of silk and the trade. That would have been story enough. Unfortunately, the story gets hijacked by the character of Sara who spurns all kindness shown to her and subjects the household to repeated acts of jealousy and revenge. Yet, I get the sense that the author expects the reader to care about her, the most treacherous and vindictive character of all. Her redemption makes no sense given her actions throughout most of the novel. It’s as if the author inserted it as an afterthought to tie up loose ends and lighten the heaviness of the novel.. Unfortunately, it’s too little, too late.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- RueRue
- 2019-08-22
Surprising !
One of the best historical fiction stories that I've read this year ! The plot was layered and took quite a few unexpected turns, and the alternating narrative voices between Esther and Sara, women from different social backgrounds and with opposing personalities, added intrigue and even suspense. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this. Both of the narrators were fantastic.
12 people found this helpful
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- TheresaDLC
- 2020-12-18
Don’t waste your time or money.
When I read a book, I usually do so to escape, to learn about it. Of time, and generally just get away from normal stressors in my life. This book was so confusing not well written, the female characters were treated poorly throughout the book; and I stopped reading on chapter 6 as there was no clock going on my bed and I was sick and tired of seeing every single character being abused, treated poorly or generally a tyrant. I understand the time. And the challenges that they had, however this is a very depressing book that I wouldn’t recommend to anybody, ever.
6 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Maria
- 2020-09-03
A Fine Piece of Literature
The story is a beautiful symbolic spun tale. It masterfully balances the circle of life‘s duplicities.
6 people found this helpful
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- Christina
- 2021-08-27
21st century Writing; 18th century setting
The good parts: interesting information on the silk trade and weaving.
The bad parts: Everyone is unhappy. The writer obviously dislikes the 18th century and it shows.
Her main characters are unlikeable. Esther is an upperclass dummy who continually whines but does nothing for herself or others. Her counterpart, Sarah, is an obnoxious self-absorbed girl who blames each and every person she meets, yet never once holds herself accountable.
Not surprisingly, it ends badly.
4 people found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Phyllis
- 2020-12-03
Excellent Narration, Average Story
The author shows a fine ability to write engaging descriptions with a decent attempt at poetic prose. Yet the story falls flat. Through all the chapters, the plot seemed pedestrian with characters that were not engaging or significant. Banal and trite seem appropriate for the selfish and cruel husband, the long suffering weaver, the evil madam, the moral wife... Not an original in the lot.
The excellent narration saved an otherwise dull story.
3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Veronica Fleitas2
- 2021-05-12
5 stars
Complex characters and an intricate story masterfully told through two very different voices from completely different backgrounds, which are impossible to ignore.
Captivating to its very end.
Just great. for me, one of my best readings so far this year.
2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ilovecats253
- 2020-03-26
Ending as it should
I like that this novel did not end entirely happy, as many do. The ending was as it should be; as reality would be. The story is interesting and keeps readers, or listeners in this case, engaged, and entertained. I would recommend this title to those who enjoy historical fiction.
2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Stacey
- 2022-07-13
Beautiful, complex story
Lovely novel exposing the many facets of human nature. At times I held my breath to know where the story would take me. Excellent narration.
1 person found this helpful
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ann
- 2022-03-17
Hard to finish!!!
I really don’t care for the British/European accent. I miss out on a lot of good books because of this.
1 person found this helpful
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- Sarah Jones
- 2022-03-01
Redeeming Love Copy
I’m commenting early. I’m only in chapter four but so far this is a direct copy of Redeeming Love, from the name of the main character being separated from her mother to being forced into prostitution, to being named Sara, to Sara asking for her money and the brothel owner telling her she owes money. The brothel owner even called her Angel. I’m going to keep listening but so far, sounds a lot like borderline copyright infringement 🤭
1 person found this helpful