This was a slow burn of a book for me. My first by this author and I really enjoyed her writing style so will read more by her.

Anne Tyler is a pretty safe bet for a good, solid read - if not terribly exciting or innovative.
I became a fan back with 'Ladder of Years', and sadly have not hit that high since!
This is essentially a 1950s wholesome love story between Abby and Red, and evolves into a multi-generational narrative where the topic of ageing and difficult decisions that accompany that are centred.
Pretty average - I'm not sad I read it but not sure I would recommend for anything other than a pleasant way to pass time.

I finally got round to reading this book! I do enjoy a book about family dynamics and how they got to where they be. This is a very much character driven story and might not be everyone's cup of tea. I found it really easy to read, however the end left me frustrated and wanting more.

I'm kicking myself for writing this but, this book just didn't grab me the way I thought it would. I found it a little tedious and difficult to be invested in. It wasn't badly written, and I do like Anne Tyler's style but this novel just wasn't for me.

I held out because I wanted to give it a chance, but again I felt like my reading time was a bit wasted on this story. It hasn't deterred me from reading more from this author though.

The Whitshank family have lived in their Baltimore home for generations. We learn how, in 1926, Junior and Linnie Mae Whitshank came to be the first owners of the house on Bouton Road, and how in 2012, Abby and Red Whitshank are the current owners, nurturing their family in a quiet, unassuming way. The emphasis on what is happening to Red and Abby in the here in now seems to be the main focus of the story, and their, at times, complicated relationship with their four children, some who bring nothing but worry, whilst others are caring and thoughtful.

So typical of the author's skill at making the mundane interesting, A Spool of Blue Thread, is a family saga where nothing really seems to happen, and yet, making no apologies for its gentleness, the story meanders skilfully along, entirely at its own pace.

I read A Spool of Blue Thread over the space of a couple of afternoons. It's quiet, self effacing, gently lyrical, and an interesting read for a summer afternoon.

The first book I've read by Anne Tyler, and I'm not convinced this subject matter is for me.
Seems a bit disjointed at times, with events seemingly happening out of sequence.

Magnificent. One of the best books I've read all year,

Highly recommended to all literate readers.

I guess this was well written, and I did read to the end, if only because I was waiting for something to happen. But it didn't, really. I guess 'literary fiction' and I don't really see eye to eye. I found the story rather sad, and although I had no problem with the jumps back in time, which were mildly interesting, but I have often found with books that tell me what happened to Abby, to give no spoilers, then go back in time with Abby, that I feel that I know the ending so unless that was a purposeful result, then what came before is just sad. So I wasn't really enamoured of the later chapters.

Anne Tyler's writing is always a delight, she makes ordinary family relations into something fascinating and heartbreaking to read.

The Whitshank family are a vert normal down to earth family but the storyline was compelling. A real mixture of detail and humour. I found it hard to put the book down. Excellent.

not to my personal taste but was readable, bit confusing in some places

I really wanted to like this book because I was so intrigued by the storyline and I had heard so much about it. Sadly, as fine a writer as Anne Tyler is, this one wasn't for me, sadly. Thank you for the opportunity to read it and provide feedback.

Didnt enjoy this book at all, i found it boring and it didnt hold my attention.

This book has been sitting on my TBR for two years and it's time to admit I'm not going to read it.

I can't really review the book because I didn't get past the first chapter, it didn't draw me in.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

I wasn't able to finish this book. It sounded lovely in context, but it was very slow going and I don't think it was for me. I liked how well the book managed to capture the essence of real life and how she brought the characters to life so well, but I think I expected something a little more. I think this is a great story though for others who love to read in depth stories around people and family.

A very sweet and funny story full of quirky characters typical of Anne Tyler.

Once again Anne Tyler transforms a simple story of family life into a compelling, page turner. She is a very skilled writer.

Was so long after the request for the book that I was given access to it I had lost interest in reading it.

I really enjoyed this book, I thoroughly enjoyed how the families stories a story told, I loved the different children, i really enjoyed both Abby and red which just made this book such a wondeful reading experience.

Tyler has a writing style that just works for me, she doesn't really tell a huge amount in each of her books. She tells very little in the overall book, but her writing style just works for me! I normally need more to happen, not a huge fan of the slower paced books that just tell a normal everyday love story, but Tyler is one of the few authors that does it in a way that just makes it utterly enjoyable for me.

I am saying that becuse I understand why people might not love this book, because I get it! I ave authors that other people love and write similar stories and books to this one and I just can not get into and find utterly boring, so maybe that is what you will experience with this one, BUT if you have ready a Tyler book before and enjoyed that? I am sure you will at least like this one, so definelty give it a try!


Back to the actual book!

I really loved the first and fourth parts in this book, since I really enjoyed the children of Abby and red and they where in those parts. I just really enjoyed the family dynamics that were going on, especially between stem and Denny, I enjoyed how this book kind of dealt with having and adopted child in your home, how the biological children deal with that even as adults and it just worked for me!

I didn't really enjoy part two or three, the view into Abby's and reds pasts, how they got to know each other and grew up in that house as well as reds parents in the house .... I didn't fell like the fitted into shat we got to know about the family up to that point in part one, I didn't see the necessity to get that point of view since those characters were either dead or we already knew them from their older versions from part one so it didn't really make that much sense to me.

It was still nicely written and not hard to read, just gave me a bit of a "why is this in this book?" Feeling while reading.
I understand why she did it, it explains the title of the book and makes it all clear overall but still...


Part four was once again the characters I wanted to read about and I really liked hiw this book ending in this very realistic and real life kind of way.

It's an open ending in a way, and at the same time it ends at the point of the story where everything is said and done and nothing left to share. So clearly the point to end it on. For me it just worked, but I can see how some people might not like it and find it a bit strange....


All in all this book was a wondeful time. Not overly dramatic, but still gave me a wondeful family drama (if that makes sense). A very mellow and slow read, but beautiful and capturing that makes you keep on turning pages and wanting to see what happens next!

Definitely one of Tyler's great works that everyone that loves a good family story should read!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the review copy.

I was drawn into this book by the cover. That, the title and the fact it had been shortlisted for the Booker Prize made me excited to read this book. Unfortunately I really struggled to get into the story. For me, it began very slow and I lost interest in the story quite early on. I struggled through the first half of the book and I’m ashamed to admit I did give up with it. I don’t like to give up on a book, but to be honest life is too short to read a book that I’m not enjoying.

This isn’t to say that it isn’t a good book. It has had lots of 4 and 5 stars reviews and it obviously appeals to a lot of people. It just isn’t for me…..sorry!