PRERNA S. KHATRI
The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry is a tale of powerful women set in the background of a small island, yellow dog of Salem, Massachusetts. Generations of Whitney women can read the future in the patterns of lace they make.
According to the author there is lace in everything, the bare branches of winter, the patterns of clouds, and the surface of water.
One main reason
Towner Whitney had fled from the magical world of Lace to California after her sister was killed. She was in shock therapy for long before she decided to move away from Salem. Towner's mother, May, shelters abused women and they try to recreate the Ipswich lace industry.
Eva is Towner's great aunt who owns a ladies' tearoom and is the best lace reader across town. The story opens with Towner Whitney receiving a call asking her to return to Salem since her great aunt Eva has disappeared.
Her love for her aunt overpowers her desires to never return to Salem. When she returns to Salem, the past that was forgotten by Towner explodes into her present memory with violence leaving her with an array of unanswered questions. John Rafferty, who had left the city for a quiet and peaceful life in the island, is pulled into the investigation of the disappearance of young women and Towner joins him. A tentative romance builds between the two. The last 100 pages of the book builds up such a thrill that it's difficult to put it down though the same cannot be said about the first hundred. Considering this is the author's first book, it's a lovely piece of work and a must read for those who enjoy dark tales of sin and guilt.
Title:the lace reader
Author:Brunonia Barry
Publisher:Harper Collins
Price:Rs. 325
Prerna is a B.A, B.L (Hons.) student of Saveetha University
