It’s a funny old thing, Facebook. Not long ago it reconnected me with my second cousin , Toni, a blogger whose posts I had already been reading. Expat Mum and I eventually met up and our mums are now picking up the threads of our family history.
Now Facebook has been instrumental in catapulting me back to my University days. Nosing about on a friend’s profile page a few weeks ago, I came across a name I recognised: Rosy Thornton. Rosy and I both went to Emmanuel College, Cambridge in the 1980s. We studied different subjects: she, Law and I, Geography. We weren’t close friends as such but we had mutual friends and a shared experience of a wonderful three years that shaped us for the future. I felt a warm connection just reading her name on the screen.
I sent Rosy a message and instantly received a reply. I discovered Rosy is now a Fellow in Law at our old college, Emmanuel, and she is a published novelist. I browsed through her books on Amazon and bought two: Hearts and Minds and Crossed Wires, the first because it is set in a Cambridge College and the second because it features a Geography don. A bit of nostalgic wallowing in store for me.
I haven’t got round to reading these two yet because Rosy sent me a copy of her new paperback, The Tapestry of Love, to be published 14 October, and asked me what I thought of it.
The book tells of 48 year old Catherine Parkstone, a English divorcee who moves to the Cevennes mountains in France to make a fresh start and set up her own business as a seamstress. At a gentle pace we discover how Catherine adjusts to her new life: the weather, neighbours and the relationships with her family back in England. No idiot abroad, Catherine is an intelligent woman finding her niche in the community and being respected for the way she adapts.
The novel demands to be read at leisure, with feet up, and time available to appreciate the beauty of the location and the writing itself. Rosy chooses each word with care, such that no others could be substituted: le mot juste, I believe is the phrase.
I finished the book yesterday afternoon, sitting in the garden, with the surprisingly warm sun beating down. I closed the book and felt enormously satisfied; the ending was just as it should be.
Having delighted in Rosy’s story-telling in France, I’m now ready to come home, pick up the threads of my student days and immerse myself in the courtyards of Cambridge once again.
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Dr Thornton sent me a copy of her book "More Than Love Letters" and it is brilliant. My blog posting of 18th January 2009 gives a review of that book and some background about how Rosy came to send me a copy of it. A book you should definitely add to your "to be read" pile.
Troy – I remember now, it was on your Facebook page I saw Rosy's name! All thanks to you then.
I will have a look back through your blog and find the link. More than Love Letters was her first and yes, I may well have to get that one too.
So Facebook does have a legitimate use in the world! What a lovely story… both yours and hers!
I'm gonna have to read the tapestry of love…
Steve – despite me thinking it was a way to see whether old flames had gone wrinkly or not, FB has indeed led to some rather lovely reunions.
Maggie – if you appreciate fine writing, a sense of place and excellent characterisation, it's well worth a read.
Glad to have facilitated this reunion. We should probably point out to your readers, for the avoidance of doubt from your comment immediately above, that I am not "an old flame". On a more positive note, I'm pleased also to report that I have not gone wrinkly either.
So great to have 'met' you again, Trish – and thank you so much for your kind comments about the book.
Troy – you're looking extremely wrinkle-free on that photo!
Rosy – my pleasure, Rosy. Next time I'm in Cambridge I will get in touch and see if we can arrange a coffee.
What a great post. It summed up family, friendship and memories. I'll take a look at Tapestry of Love, thanks for the mini review.
Good to know that facebook can be useful, fab that it's ended up with you rediscovering a relative and an old friend, not to mention delighting in some books to read. Win, win, win. Off to stalk…err….check out my facebook friends now.
T'interwebbyfacebookytwittering stuff seems to be a wonderful way of communicating with people these days and reuniting old flames/family/friends….mind you I don't do facebooking or twittering…still trying to work out blogging!