The Girl on the Wall: One Life's Rich Tapestry [Kindle Edition]

I feel as if I know the author and her family after reading this. What fantastic powers of recall she has, and I feel almost as if I've lived her life as she's recounted it. I certainly saw it all in my mind's eye as if I'd been there. A certain amount of it from the late fifties on is familiar from my own memories (I share an alarming number of decades with her). However, what is most refreshing is to have it all recounted by someone with such acute powers of observation and such an astute ability to assess the significance of what she was seeing, alongside the purely personal memories. It's a truly valuable overview of twentieth century history and social history, and so much more valuable for being from the viewpoint of a down to earth `real' person who lived through such varied and difficult times at the sharp end, where the wool wasn't so easily pulled over the eyes. We can't have too many of this type of account, but in fact they are fewer and further between than they should be, and I don't think it is too much of an overstatement to say that this is an invaluable contribution to the nation's archives.
It was a truly inspired moment when Jean decided to write these memoirs to accompany her already extraordinary embroidery. I wonder how many other people in the past could have regaled us with similarly rich, varied and insightful stories, but never managed to acquire the confidence and self belief this lady has fought for and won. She so deserved to find the fulfilment and happiness in her later years that she did find, not least because she has the capacity to recognise it!
Above all, that embroidery, accomplished in such a relatively short time, and designed with such consummate economy and vision, is the real star of the show.
A last word however must be saved for the superb quality of the book's production by its publisher, which makes it a delight to hold and read and proves beyond all doubt that nothing can ever replace the pleasure of holding a `real' book in one's hands, and turning real pages with keen anticipation.

This book is beautifully set, the pictures of the tapestry are very well done especially with the complete pull out view at the back. The stories to each tapestry circle are informative, factual and entertaining. Not only is it a personal record with private snippets of her life, it is also a good view into social history of the time. The book would appeal to almost all ages as Jean Baggott takes us from the 1940's through to the early 2000's - there is something here that most people will be able to relate to. Jean Baggott tells her stories in a friedly, chatty manner, it's incredible that in the tapestry and book she can take us from "make do and mend" of the 1940's through to Pink Floyd !!. The tapestry detail though is stunning, the intricate design and work in miniature is extraordinary. I like the fact that it is one of those books that you can just dip in to when the mood strikes.

As a keen stitcher myself I was some what curious about this book. I received this as a gift and was unable to put it down until I finished! Being a child of the 1980's much of the books content occurs "before my time" but what a time that was. I have really enjoyed reading about the history of all things from the war and rationing to the space missions and the cold war. I would never have picked up a plain history book but the fact that the author tells the story through a tapesty of her life was just inspiring.

A great read and a great gift.