A Spool Of Blue Thread is a pleasant and absorbing family saga which revolves around four generations of the Whitshank family who live in Baltimore. The story is told in parts. The first part details the ebb and flow of the everyday lives of Red and Abby, an ageing couple in their seventies. Their four children Amanda, Jeannie, Denny and Stem are happily settled with children of their own, with the exception of Denny who is the black sheep of the family. As Red and Abby are faced with the challenges of old age and ill health, their children come together in a show of solidarity to help them out. As the story traverses back and forth through time, we are transported to 1959 when Abby and Red first fell in love. The third part of the book goes even further back in time to the 1920's when Red's parents- Junior and Linnie Mae first arrive in Baltimore. Finally, part four comes back to the present where part one had ended. The book moves along at a very leisurely and comfortable pace flitting between generations and the most drama you would find is maybe a fistfight between the two brothers.
The characters are realistic, quirky and full of heart. You will not realise how immersed you are until tragedy strikes and you feel the pang of loss. The story portrays brilliantly the underlying resentment, joys,angst and frustration that are all part of the family dynamics.
However, if there is one complaint, it would be the unsatisfying conclusion to the book. I kept waiting for the climax which never came. It lacked a final resolution making me feel like I read all that history with no other purpose other than simply reading about someones family.
Currently Reading - Confess By Colleen Hoover
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