Customer Reviews

A Parcel of Patterns

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Recalling what I liked and didn't like to read as a teenager, I am not surprised at the less-than-glowing reviews some kids have given A Parcel of Patterns. The old English speech patterns, though effective, do slow down comprehension of the plot, which centers upon 2 romances blossoming amongst a plague epidemic in 17th century England. As an avid but adult reader of medieval/Renaissance history, I can say that this book is a wonderful presentation of the experience of surviving amongst the hardships of everyday life, the Protestant religious conflicts, and the horrors of the plague and other catastrophic illnesses that no one could understand or effectively treat. I'd recommend this title to adults more than to teenagers, except to teens with a special interest in medieval history.

This book is truly one-of-a-kind. Written without chapters, it is the free flowing diary of a young English girl who experiences the plague firsthand. Mall's unique personality and Jill Paton Walsh's direct writing style make this book a wonderful one. I was disappointed to read some of the other reviews which condemned the book for being too boring. If you fell that way, you obviously aren't able to appreciate this kind of book and should leave it alone. This is a historical fiction and not everyone likes such books. But if you are that type of reader, this one is for you. Thank you JPW, for a book I'll never forget.

I saw that two 12 year olds had read this book, and both announced it "slow paced" and "boring". I am 14, having read this book when I was 13, and I did not find it at all like this. It was definitely one of the best books I have ever read. It's about Mall Percival, probably around 16, when a parcel of patterns is sent to the parson's wife, containing a fatal disease. The story is very short, and while Mall narrates a very livid and realistic description of what is going on, you watch the whole town slowly die out. The book is, overall, excellent. Some other characteristics? Very sad, dramatic, interesting and informative. I highly suggest this book. Well, now you have some pro and con reviews!

I am 14, having read this book when I was 13, and I did not find it at all boring. It was definitely one of the best books I have ever read. It's about Mall Percival, probably around 16, when a parcel of patterns is sent to the parson's wife, containing a fatal disease. The story is very short, and (...) Mall narrates a very livid and realistic description of what is going on(...). The book is, overall, excellent. Some other characteristics? Very sad, dramatic, interesting and informative. I highly suggest this book.

I think some that some of the people who wrote reviews didn't understand that this book is based on true life. The author makes fictitious people the central story, but the facts she described really did happen. When the plague came to Eyam, they decided to shut themselves off and die there, rather than spread it around their families and friends in the surrounding countryside. Eyam in Derbyshire is still there, with people living in the houses described in the book. Visitors can see plaques on the wall giving the names of the people who lived and died there, and would be able to recognise some names that are in the book. If you think of the story told as being a description of incredible bravery, as it was, the book would never seem to be boring or slow.

I thought this book was a very good one for a book report. I like how this book could mix in romance with tragedy, and how the author brings you into the story. The language was a little hard to understand, but otherwise I was able to get the book pretty well. If you are ever thinking about doing a project on the black plague, and you need an historical novel to read, then I recommend this be your first choice.

I think this book was really good because it made me think about all the people there who do every thing they could to save a love ones life. I was you the readerI would read this book so go read it now.

I am intrigued by books about the plague. The attraction? Well, even one of my crappiest, exhaustion-filled day pales in comparison to living through the plague. Or maybe it's those gore filled plague sores that call to me (but I'd never truly admit that).

This book is a bit different than the few that I've read about the plague of the 1600's in that it isn't scholarly, dry or written from the point of view of adults. This fictional tale is told by a young lady named Mal who describes her world with beauty and sensitivity. Initially, the writing style was a bit of a chore and a little difficult to get into. But stick with it, the journey is well worth the work. Once I adjusted myself to the rhythm of the writer and the different language choices (than I'm used to) I fell completely into Mall's world of hard work and young love amidst the threat of unbelievable horror when the Bubonic Plague arrives.

I'm a hard-hearted reader, having read far more than my share of overly sentimental stuff, but this book brought me to tears too many times to count from the sheer strength of this young girl. It makes me all teary just to think about these people. This is a book that should be required reading in schools (if it isn't already).

I love stories that illustrate as well as this one does the depths, complexities, glory, strength, and even frailty of humanity. When the Plague hit the village of Eyam in 1665 the residents made the ultimate sacrifice of quarantining themselves in order to protect outlying towns and villages from sharing their fate. Once the story began to unfold, I couldn't put the book down. Though the crisis certainly created panic and gave opportunity for human weakness to play out (ie. selfishness, blame, etc...), more than anything people truly rose to the occasion and demonstrated incredible strength of character and honor. Never have I read an account of The Plague told in such a personal manner--it gave me a much better understanding of what it was really like as well as a sense of awe towards those who survived it after living through such terror and loss. I am left with a sense of "being there".

Though told through the perspective of a fictitious character, the events and main characters in the book are taken from the real history of the village of Eyam in Derbyshire. If you search online you will see photos of places, buildings, and other landmarks in the town. After reading this book, you will want to dig deeper.

A Parcel of Patterns is a medieval history/historical fiction type of book. It is about a teenage girl about the age of 16, named Mall Percival, who sadly watches her whole town die out. The setting is in the 17th century, Derbyshire village in Eyam in England. Mall is the Narator of the story. The plot was basically about a parcel of patterns that was sent to the parson's wife, or the town tailor, that contained a fatal disease that spread throughout the entire town slowly killing it off. The book was theatrical, very down-to-earth. But on the contrary, I thought it was not easy to read, an obstical to get through, because it used Old English which in some cases is not easily understood. It tended to be over-detailed in thought occaisionally. Finally, the plot seemed to drag on until the end where it was picked up and the story came together for the most part.