The Threadbare Heart by Jennie Nash
Release date: 2010 / 319 pages
Synopsis (from back cover): “A photo of her sons. A doormat from Target. Twenty-three tubs of fabric. Somehow it comforts Lily to list the things she lost when a wildfire engulfed the Santa Barbara avocado ranch she shared with her husband, Tom.”
First line: Love was the one thing Lily always thought she did better than her mother.
Review: I was so excited when Jennie Nash contacted me about reading her latest novel since I just loved The Only True Genius in the Family. Then, happily, the copy arrived the day I was leaving for vacation — perfect!
This novel explores love on so many different levels — marital, parental, self. My only regret with this novel is that it had to end… I loved each of the characters and actually shed tears at the end since I knew I would miss them deeply, even though they had only been in my life for a few short hours. With the volumes of characters who trapse through my life every week (I read 2-3 books each week), many characters tend to fade. But I vividly remember the father-daughter-husband in Genius, and know that Lily and Tom and Eleanor — as well as Luke, Ryan and Olivia — will likewise stay with me.
One important recommendation — please do not read the plot synopsis on the back of the novel before reading the story. I have a habit of avoiding any sort of pre-set plot summary, but decided to read the letter the publisher sent with the novel — much to my dismay. The “twist” that was revealed by the publisher (and the jacket cover) did not occur until 1/3rd of the way through — or even later — and I was sorry I was forced to anticipate this event.
Otherwise, I strongly recommend this novel to anyone who loves a good story, believeable fully-realized characters, and doesn’t mind shedding a tear or two.
To close, here’s a sampling of a few of my favorite quotes:
When Lily and Tom are contemplating the state of their “empty nest” marriage: “Tom took her into his arms and pulled her into his warmth. ‘We’re okay,’ he said. ‘I know,’ she said, ‘but okay is never what I was after.’”
Nash appealing to each and every sense, including intuition: “He pulled her to him, and when they embraced, she could smell Ivory soap and starch, and she had the thought that Gordon smelled like a whole era — that his scent defined the whole generation of people who had gone to college before anyone had even dreamed of the sixties and who were growing old in the age of YouTube.”
A refreshingly optimistic view of death: “‘People don’t like death,’ she said. ‘It makes them uncomfortable.’ ‘Why do you think that is?’ Gordon asked. ‘Lack of imagination, I suppose,’ she said. ‘They can’t see what will come next.’”
Interested in winning a free copy? Stayed tuned for my next post!! 
What a lovely summary of the book. It’s so interesting which quotes you responded to – not the “red flag” quotes of the book, all. Clearly you’re a very sensitive reader! Thank you!
Thank you, Jennie! I can’t wait for your next novel!!
Sound like a great read. Count me in.
I would love to read this book, sounds great
I would love to read this. It sounds like a wonderful book.
Me please!
I’d like to read this too! Sounds wonderful.