Customer Reviews

The Girl on the Wall: One Life's Rich Tapestry

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

I loved this book, it took me right back to my own childhood in the Black Country. Jean's description of Christmas and all the preparations leading up to it filled me with the longing to be a child again, I recognised it all from the rag rug to the decorations.
A beautifully written book and an equally beautiful tapestry, thank you Jean.

What a wonderful idea. The tapestry must be amazing in real life, and what the book has done, is brought it to the attention of a wider audience and brought it to life. The "chapters" based around the tapestry pieces are interesting, informative as well as being a personal reminiscence for the author and a memory jogger for the rest of us. This is a dip in book with no proper start or end, but alot of memories and I found myself reading extracts to my husband and sharing memories with him. Definitely one to give as a present and to share widely.

Its very rare I give up on a book, especially autobiographies which is my favourite genre, but I found this book very bland and dare I say boring?I like the concept of organizing a life story around a tapestry but needle work is where jeans skills lie and not, I'm afraid in story telling.The reasons for this are as follows,the life and times of her subjects just didn't seem real,one dimensional and characterless.Accounts of uninteresting people living in interesting times.I'm sure Jean's family and recollections were more 'sparky' in real life than how she portrays them, but I felt she did not have the skill to bring them to life.The accounts of world wide events were related in a dry G.C.S.E History text book kind of way and offered nothing new to our understanding of these events.If they were described in a more personal way,relaying peoples reactions and feelings to these events they would have added something to the book.
Sorry,but I agree with the other reviewer who said she thought this book would only be interesting to those of a similar age, and that's not to say I am too young for this type of book, I'm not,and I have enjoyed many, many autobiographies from this era,just not,I'm afraid, this one.

It is an autobiography but her life was not any more interesting or different from most peoples'lives.I cannot think it would be of any help to embroiderers either.I did not finish reading it as I could not see it of being of any importance or usefulness to anybody - not even to her family.

I enjoyed this book very much - mainly I guess because I can relate to it, being only a little younger than the author.
I learned quite a few things at the same time. She goes into details about how World War 2 had it's affect in Britain and on her family. Not remembering the war myself, I found much of that very interesting.

A wonderful story about a lady who was told by her Mother, that she would never improve her position (she was born into a fairly impoverished family, where improving one's lot didn't seem to be an option to be aimed for). Against all the odds this lady has led a fascinating and interesting life, brought up two children who are both very well known in their own right, and has created the most wonderful embroidery to illustrate it.

I loved this book. It brought back many memories of times past. I liked the way she wrote about her life. She was very brave and clever. It may not appeal to younger readers and I can understand why.