Customer Reviews

The Tailor's Daughter: A Novel (Reading Group Gold)

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

It's one of those common "thinking" questions to be asked if you would rather be blind or deaf. Most people answer Deaf, because seeing is so vital to our independence, our safety, our education, careers and social lives. But there is also an amazing loss if you lose your hearing. "The Tailor's Daughter" is the story of Veda, an extraordinarily talented seamstress who is far too liberated for the tastes of her Victorian parents, who after a terrible illness looses all of her hearing. Yet as the novel shows, being deaf does not mean you loose in fashion the means to connect with those around you. This is a novel about Veda's silent connection.

Its amazing how this affects Veda's place in society. Even though her family, as the owners of a prosperous tailoring shop, are somewhat wealthy and often work with the extremely wealthy, Veda is likely to remain for the rest of her life an unmarried seamstress working for her father, since any husband would have to be far too understanding and accommodating. At the same time Veda's talents can't be put to use in her father's shop actually fitting clients because that would be improper. But as I said, Veda is no ordinary girl, and though her deafness is an obstacle, she learns to lip read, carries a slate and chalk, tailors and captures the romantic attentions of three men, Mr. Nicholls, her brother's old tutor, Mr. Balducci, the head cutter in her father's shop and Lord Harry Ormelie, a viscount who is so far above her in class that the hopes of them ever being together are only a dream. Of course-that's the major drama of the book-until Harry's father, about whom evil whispers abound, becomes involved.

This is a lovely book. I was doubtful at first, because it is written in rather a Victorian style and is in first person, which I tend not to like, but there is something about this book that is just wonderful. Veda is an amazing woman who preservers through everything, never backs down, never gives up, and most of all, knows that she is worth something and deserves a good life, husband, ect. She's no sniveling little girl who goes and hides when someone is mean to her. She know she deserves a good husband, not some scumbag who will marry her just because she's deaf, she knows when she is terribly betrayed that she doesn't just have to mindlessly forgive the person who hurt her beyond anything else. She is a character to be inspired by. The only thing I disliked about Veda is that her husband, in the end, is not really worthy of her immense character and quality. But perhaps she can change him into someone who is.

My description of the book above doesn't really do it justice. There is action, adventure, travel, romance, tragedy, suspense, and a good deal of happiness. Also there's a lot about Victorian clothing, which just sounds amazing and so detailed! And the writing! There are some scenes in this book that are just cinematic-especially that of Harry and Veda's dance at the ball. I never say this, and this is an odd thing to say about a novel set in 1860 about a deaf tailor's daughter who falls in love with a viscount, but I could easily see this novel made into a movie, especially if the movie had no soundtrack and minimal background noise to really show Veda's soundless world.

Five stars. I loved this book; it was truly an unexpected delight. And the last sentence will make you smile.

The author has created a stunning picture of an usual women, with a difficult and little-understood affliction to suffer from in the middle 19th century, and a window into the life of a Victorian tradesman's famly. All this is most unusual fare, and the author does it in beautifully written first person, which I normally do not like in the least. Veda's story is enthralling. I could not put the book down. Have you ever wondered about the lives of the tailors who dressed those exquisite dandies who lived their lives of leisure, playing cards, riding horses, gambling and wenching? Most stories deal with those talented tailors as shadowy figures who were treated unfairly, often pleading to be paid, and as figures of disdain to the upper classes. The author has painted an entirely different type of life for these talented men, who ran their showrooms as businesses and took great pride in dressing their clients well. Veda had to learn how to live a worthwhile life during a time when communication for the deaf through sign language was not widely practiced. Many people she met equated deafness with stupitity and ignorance. Veda manages to carve out a daring life path and the author takes you right along with her. You will always remember the journey and find it very enlightening. This is a really good book.

Janice Graham has accomplished a remarkable thing in The Tailor's Daughter. We never forget that Veda, the narrator and title character, cannot hear but we learn all we need to know about those around her in this fine story. The details describing England during the mid-19th century create vibrant pictures of the era. I can see the studio where the artist paints her portrait; her father's dressing quarters were memorably described when he opened his closet doors as if they were the `gates of heaven.' The streets of London and the rural homes in northern England seem real in these pages.

The artistry of tailoring was documented with such fine detail around fabric, accessories, stitching and style. Nothing about the trade went un-noticed, even the accounting and collection of the bills. What a fine delight to learn the passion the tailor has for his work and the confidence bestowed upon him by his more class worthy clients. As Americans we don't think of class in the same way as 19th century England. Ms. Graham captured this theme consistently throughout the story but without prejudice toward the aristocracy.

Veda faces daunting challenges and disadvantages because of her deafness but she's anything but a pathetic character. She enjoys rich relationships with friends, albeit, friends who are paid to attend to her education or serve as her assistants. She suffers many losses, including her hearing, during her teen years. Because her chances for a successful marriage diminish with her hearing, she becomes the heir to her father's tailor business. She finds inventive ways to handle her unusual duties which would serve many a young woman today.

Love finds its way into Veda's life with complicating factors of class differences creating conflict, heartbreak, and redemption. The story compels one to learn the outcome. At the end, I only wished that the husband/lover had been more deserving of Veda's love. She was actually better than him.

The Tailor's Daughter was beautifully written and a delight to read.

I stumbled on the review of this book and I just had to read it. The story was engrossing and very well researched as far as tailoring in the Victorian era. The author writes very well and weaves a great story. I didn't give it 5 stars because the end doesn't make sense given the time period, and wouldn't resolve all the loose ends. I won't say more because I don't want to be a spoiler. The book is definitely worth reading. In fact, I have a copy of Firebird, her first novel, and I intend to read it.

Terrific!! This book is very elegant and very realistic. It really tells the life of deaf woman and the troubles she faces from other people's ridicules, being excluded from conversations, the tiring practice of lip reading, and the feelings of hopelessness that accompany the affliction. I am a hearing impaired woman myself and I was shocked that someone out there understands. The heroine is a terrific woman that overcomes everything life throws at her, and life throws A LOT her way. The first quarter of the book is about her childhood and gives the reader tremendous insight into what makes Veda the woman she is. As a deaf woman in the victorian era, she did not have a major selection of potential suitors, but romance finds her. I loved the scandalousness and spunk she showed by donning male attire. She also proved to be a outspoken, brave person. I did not really care for the ending or the choices this incredibly forgiving woman made, but the book and the story and the writing were all very lovely. Truely a story that will give women hope, deaf or blind or not handicapped at all. My only complaint is that I would have liked to learn more about the times and customs of this era. The book was not very detailed regarding everyday mundane life in the times.

I really enjoyed Janice Graham's story about the life of Veda Grenfell, a bright and headstrong young woman making her way in a man's world.

Veda lives with her mother, her father and her brother Reggie in Victorian London. Her father is a tailor and Veda too loves making beautiful clothing for people.

Veda suffers many loses in her youth including the loss of her hearing at the age of sixteen. Veda gives up any hope of living a typical life in London's society. And instead pursues her love of tailoring and works in her father's business.

Despite her deafness she has two suitors who would have her hand in marriage. And she has her own ideas and feelings about Harry Breadalbane, a popular viscount who is far above Veda's place in society.

I thought Graham did an excellent job illustrating the difficult situations Veda had to deal with because of her deafness. In particular Veda describes her need for candle light and fire light so she is able to see a person's lips in order to lip read what they are saying. She says that candles are expensive but that her father would never deny her the candles.

I thought this was a moving love story with plenty of grief and despair. I thought the writing was very good and the story well told. I really liked the characters Veda Grenfell and Harry Breadalbane. I thought Janice Graham created very life like characters and realistic relationships. I thought this was a lovely story about a clever and headstrong young woman who is willing to set aside traditional rules in order to pursue her happiness in life.

"The Tailor's Daughter" was my favorite book of 2007! I recently donated my hardcover copy to my library and purchased the newly released paperback. Thank you Ms. Graham for a wonderful reading experience! I am hoping you will stick to historical fiction as it definitely is your forte.

This is a very good book. I have to say if you have ever had a family member who is hearing impaired this book will help you to understand what they go through. I only wish I had read this book twenty five years a go. I truly see my own daughters determination in this story and her never give up spirit and her take no crap attitude. The story is so real that you feel all the pain and emotions the character feels. The author did a wonderful job in making you see what the fashions were like for the time period. I hope more people read this not just for the good story but the lesson that can be learned from it, as well as for the amazing show of spirit this charter has and show others what a bit of determination can do and the will to not take no for an answer.

Highly enjoyable! It's been a long time since I read a book as memorable for its writing as the story itself. Wonderful descriptive elements, but does not distract from the easy readability. I had a hard time putting this one down.

Victorian England (1850s-1860s). The Grenfell family has moved up in financial security. Their tailoring shop has been very successful, and their move to a chic London address is only the beginning of things to come. Even though they have done well financially, they still have to move up in society, something that proves difficult, for most of the gentry refuse to mix and mingle with tradesmen. The young Veda Grenfell might be affected by this. After all, her parents want her to marry someone of rank and recognition. But then tragedy befalls the family. Veda's brother, whose passions for poetry override his father's desire to take over the family business, dies in an accident; then her mother dies when giving birth, and so does the child. As if that weren't bad enough, Veda suddenly takes ill and, soon after being diagnosed with Typhoid, becomes deaf. Some time later, her very good friend, Alice Breadalbane, the Countess of Hambledon, also dies. Veda holds some affection for her countess's son, Lord Hambledon, but his diversion to marriage, not to mention his unapproachable rank, encourages her to seek her affections elsewhere. In spite of living without sound and all of the tragedies she has endured, Veda is a young woman of spirit and determination, and when she begins to take lip-reading lessons with the sweet Mr. Nicholls and pursues her passion for dressing and creating men's clothes (in spite of its lack of propriety), not to mention the attention of potential suitors such as Mr. Balducci, Veda feels alive again. But more things, dark and unexpected things, are in store for this courageous heroine.

What I like most about The Tailor's Daughter is how beautifully written it is. It has a Victorian charm to it that drew me in, reminding me of favorite classics like Jane Eyre and North & South. The novel itself is a little hard to get into at first, for Graham begins her tale by telling the reader about Veda and her family, but once the author gets down to the business at hand the novel is almost impossible to put down. Veda is a wonderful heroine -- someone who never backs down, even when she is faced with some horrible and unexpected twists. Her lack of propriety has a naïve quality to it that endeared her to me. The parts in which people, one in particular, take advantage of her because of her disability are heartbreaking and frustrating, but you could count on Veda in that she won't cower away from adversity. The Tailor's Daughter is a treasure. Victorian is my favorite era (all sixty-four years of it), and Janice Graham brings this particular era to life. The small pictures of women in hoop skirts and bonnets in some of the pages are an eyeful as well. Are you in the bargain for an intriguing historical novel? I cannot recommend this gem enough.