Novice Threads
By Nancy Jardine
By Nancy Jardine
Publication Date: 15th May, 2024. Publisher: Nancy Jardine with Ocelot Press. Page Length: 356. Genre: Victorian Scotland Saga / Historical Fiction / Women’s Fiction.
A thirst for education. Shattered dreams. Fragile relations.
1840s Scotland
Being sent to school is the most exhilarating thing that’s ever happened to young Margaret Law. She sharpens her newly-acquired education on her best friend, Jessie Morison, till Jessie is spirited away to become a scullery maid. But how can Margaret fulfil her visions of becoming a schoolteacher when her parents’ tailoring and drapery business suddenly collapses and she must find a job?
Salvation from domestic drudgery – or never-ending seamstress work – comes via Jessie whose employer seeks a tutor for his daughter. Free time exploring Edinburgh with Jessie is great fun, but increasing tension in the household claws at Margaret’s nerves.
Margaret also worries about her parents' estrangement, and the mystery of Jessie's unknown father.
When tragedy befalls the household in Edinburgh, Margaret must forge a new pathway for the future – though where will that be?
Book Rating:
📚📚📚📚📚⭐ = A book in a million
📚📚📚📚📚 = I could not put this book down. I Highly Recommend it.
📚📚📚📚 = A really great read.
📚📚📚 = It was enjoyable.
📚📚 = It was okay.
📚 = Um...! 😕
My Review
Novice Threads
📚📚📚📚📚
The story follows the life of Margaret Law from a small child to an adolescent/ young adult in service. Told by Margaret’s perspective, the reader is given a real insight into what life was like for children and women of a certain class during this era.
Although the story is firmly focused on Margaret and her best friend Jessie, there is a darker undertone about the abuse of power, but this is not fully realised or understood by either of the girls until much later on in the novel. I thought this demonstrated the vulnerability of women by men who should know better.
I thought the transition between childhood and life in service was brilliantly depicted. At the beginning of the novel, Margaret and Jessie are young children and their thought processes are that of young children but as the story progresses so does the maturity of the children. Jessie becomes what we now term a young carer before going into service, and in a way, Margaret does as well when she takes on the role of tutor for Rachel. Margaret wants to become a teacher but she has to put away her dreams when her family business is in trouble due to a new competitor and her parents can no longer keep her in school, hence why she follows Jessie into service.
The years in services were quite the eye-opener, especially with the depiction of Mistress Duncan who has a severe mental health condition which makes for some very distressing reading at times. Not only do the servants face the wrath of Mistress Duncan, but so does her disabled daughter Rachel. Rachel was one of my favourite characters because despite suffering a terrible life-changing accident she still has a smile for her favourite people.
I thought the story had a great pace to it, and the characters were vividly portrayed. All in all, Novice Threads is a very enjoyable tale and I will look forward to reading the second book in this series with great eagerness.
*I received a copy of this novel from The Coffee Pot Book Club for review consideration
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Nancy Jardine
Her novels have achieved Finalist status in UK book competitions (People's Book Prize; Scottish Association of Writers) and have received prestigious Online Book Awards.
Published with Ocelot Press, writing memberships include – Historical Novel Society; Romantic Novelists Association; Scottish Association of Writers; Federation of Writers Scotland; Alliance of Independent Authors.
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