Satisfying story

This was interesting book. The narration was great. The characters and their conversations were satisfying and the way their life’s are sewn together seemed seamless

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really beautiful story

comfort food in book form. my grandma was from Glasgow and passed many years ago - the narration and accents were very good and accurate to Edinburgh and Glasgow and the story was heartwarming and the author clearly did their research - loved it

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So poignant!

I loved this story! Being a seamstress, I could relate very well. The way Natalie brought the three generations together was skilful and clever. Beautiful!

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Easy listening

As someone who enjoyed sewing as a child with my scottish, Nanna this book was cathartic for me as I sort though her things. Its a very easy listen and i thoroughly enjoyed it.

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An easy read

I very much enjoyed this gentle book, the story woven through three generations and the way the sewing machine linked them.

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threads of life sewn into wonderful tale

Thoroughly enjoyed this audiobook. a fascinating story, beautifully told. You are kept guessing until the last few words.

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The Sewing Machine

Started off slightly confusing but then turned into a particularly good read, touching on all human emotions and the way fate touches all of us.

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A Slow Start

This book is something of a slow burn. It takes a while to come together and starts out as little more than a series of vignettes from different points in time. Eventually, the common theme - a 1911 Singer sewing machine - unites the disparate stories. A gentle story that is worthwhile in the end

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Slow Start But Absolutely Riveting

When I first started this, my thoughts were "not my kind of book", and almost gave up.

I am very glad I didn't!! As I went through the book, I couldn't wait to find out what happened, and whether my thoughts were confirmed.

The ending was a bit abrupt. I would have liked a bit more, but overall I loved the book.

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Warmth in Edinburgh's History

Where does The Sewing Machine rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

One of the best.

What did you like best about this story?

Natalie knows her subject well. All too often the role of Sewing Machines is relegated to domesticity and diffidence by non-sewing authors; Here, the machine is granted its own importance in the lives of three families. I know that Ms Fergie did months of research before starting this work. She knows her audience well and one machine detail wrongly attributed would lose her the respect of her readers. For once, we who sew have a writer who writes with knowledge and respect for our world. Her characters are good people who are just managing....normal, ordinary. You get the sweep of industrial history from 1911 Clydebank to modern-day Edinburgh with a good dose of no-nonsense NHS hospital ward management for stability.

Have you listened to any of Ruth Urquhart and Angus King ’s other performances? How does this one compare?

No.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Natalie has created warm people whom feel you know. I have read the book too. This audio production had the right balance between narrative and private musings....and I have done voice-work in the past so I know this matters. Having the book presented in dialogue was vital to its tone so praise to whomever insisted on that. There is generosity from start to finish from Ms Fergie and Ruth and Angus.

Any additional comments?

This is a book you truly go quiet for. It does your soul good and makes you proud of the women and men who worked in the past with strike action, war, war-work, the Depression, the generosity of good people, social-housing, measles epidemics, sewing, and gardening allotments.

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1 person found this helpful