I loved it!

As a Black woman who also designs women's garments it put a smile on my face with a sense of pride in my heart! I sew from visions as God sends them to me as well! Just hearing of Mrs. Ann Lowe story is so inspiring and uplifting and I see you Mrs Ann! I SEE YOU!💜💜💜💜

2 people found this helpful

Exquisitely Stitched

I’ve been anticipating this book for a very long time; I’m amazed to say it delivered even more than I hoped it would.

I believe Piper Huguley has captured Ann Lowe’s voice with this book: innocent, curious, determined, expert, heartbroken, survivor. At the same time, it’s a great story, a story that is heartfelt, romantic, brave, and—I believe—as close to the full truth as possible. I loved all Lowe’s sayings, her comparisons and thoughts, and how she took many bits of hard news with a “Well,” and then got on with it. She embodied the spirit of an amazing seamstress. I could not put the audiobook down as I cheered Lowe past one hurdle after another.

BHOD gives us a full-blown painting of the extreme difficulties of a Black woman’s life in the South and in the North. It shows us what happens when one person dreams, when another is kind, when the dreamer refuses to give up, time and again, and when she shows up, over and over. It helps inspire us to be better to our fellow human beings, to keep striving, to do more. There are many shocking happenings and the author unflinchingly shows us the hurts of racism, in a way that I hope opens many eyes to the truth of the past and inspires more of us to be better, do better.

This book will be a great summer read, but also just a great read, a great buddy read, a great book club read—there’s so much to take in and talk about.

Bravo Piper Huguley—By Her Own Design is a triumph. The narration is fantastic, too—really brings the times and characters alive.

2 people found this helpful

Mahalo!

Mahalo for this great sort, history and heritage that honors more than I anticipated. Beautiful !

1 person found this helpful

Captivating history

Wonderful performance of a story that needs to be told. Anne Lowe is truly an American treasure.

1 person found this helpful

History made alive

Tracey Conyer Lee’s narration was engaging and drew me into every page. The images painted by the characters that she portrayed were clear and vivid as if I were watching a film. Grateful for this history.

Truly enjoyed

This is my first time reading this author and I truly enjoyed it.

Piper really brings the life of such an amazing artist to life. Anne Lowe was not someone I was familiar with until this book, but now am in awe of. She is incredibly talented and brave, for a woman in that time period (especially a woman of color).

The narration was good, for a single narrator.

Who Is The Target Reader for this Book?

I am only on Chapter 6 of this book and struggling to get through it with much difficulty. The book is just childish and reads like the target audience is aged 12 or something. So far it does little to demonstrate Ms. Lowe's highly remarkable climb to the top during America's Era of Apartheid. It reads more like a highly fictionalized narrative of the author's own projection of how a child thought during "old times." I personally believe that Ann Lowe's thought process was far more sophisticated in her day and before her time. The book makes her look more naive than skilled and talented. I don't think this is how it went down at all and I think she deserves a lot more credit than is revealed so far. I'll update this review if my opinion changes.

Interesring read, hard in parts

It took a while to sink into this book. the story overall is very interesting, as it tells the rather dramatic and intense story of a Black designer and seamstress for the social register, Anne Lowe. Probably most revered for designing Jaqueline Bouvier's dress, she was known as the best kept secret of upper class society, and came from a legacy of seamstresses who from moments after slaverymade a life sewing for high society. That said, be warned that the book starts with a descriptive navigation of the hard life she lived - and it is a punch to the gut. it is absolutely painful to hear her story as a child bride at age twelve and to understand what it took to escape a violent marriage and make a life for her child, Arthur. It was also hard to hear her reject the common class and to talk about her engagement of and subjugation by white people. That said, it is a story of someone who is guided by their passion and is intrinsically successful because of it despite never quite getting the money and acknowledgment that she probably should have. Parts of the book are the author's prerogative, which is worth keeping in mind.

Love History of People working In the Background

...and coming forth to bloom in abundance! Reminding us all to us our talents everyday.

Designer and seamstress extraordinaire, Ann Lowe

Wonderful novel that keeps the reader engaged. Ann Lowe was a talented dress designer, as well as seamstress. I was interested in reading this as two of my friend’s mothers were the lucky recipients of some of Ann’s gorgeous creations. The book was very enjoyable and it was apparent that the author researched Ann Lowe to write her story.