The Dressmaker: A Novel

I loved this book. The story is set in an Australian country town and some of the content is quintessentially Australian, so not everyone may understand references to Aussie peculiarities. I am an Aussie by the way. As other reviewers have said, it is a story about a talented dressmaker who returns to her hometown after 20 years' absence to look after her mother who is ailing. My impression is that she doesn't come back to town to seek revenge, but it ends up that way. I'm wondering if those who've said she returns to seek revenge have actually read the book or are basing that impression on the movie. Rosalie Hams' descriptions are masterful - for example - describing Irma Almanac's arthritic hands as "like ginger roots" - the image immediately pops into the reader's mind. Her style of writing is wonderful - descriptive, easy to read and intelligent. Reading novels that are grammatically incorrect or that contain misquotes like "another thing coming" instead of "another think coming" adversely affect my enjoyment so an intelligent writer is very important to me. There are is some sadness in the book, but it is appropriate for the overall story. Generally, I don't really like to read depressing books and I wouldn't categorise this as depressing. I would recommend this book, it is a terrific read.

I have not seen the movie. I liked the book. I thought the story of Tilly returning to a small town could be set anywhere. It’s a town of small minds but also some big secrets - well not really secrets. Like many small towns the secrets are only secrets to outsiders. There a many “characters” like Tilly’s mother Molly, Sergeant Farrah, Trudy, Marigold, Lesley, the pharmacist with Parkinson’s, and they add some humor to what would otherwise be a pretty grim tale of cruelty and isolation. And then there is the fashion. I can see why this would be a movie. It begs to be seen. Though I enjoyed the book, I have a few quibbles. Tilly has been gone for twenty years - which makes sense for her character - the couture and life experience - but makes the other women’s actions seem too juvenile for what should be their age - the men too. They should all be mature men and women in the post-war 1950’s. I missed inner dialogue. All these interesting characters - maybe too many as I couldn’t always keep them straight - were just that - characters. You are left to guess what made them who they are. Lastly, the ending. It is a dramatic denouement that I think missed an epilogue, not of Tilly, but of the town. Still, I recommend it. It’s an enjoyable, sad, sometimes gritty read that reminds us of the uplifting and sometimes frightening ways that experiencing art can change lives.

I was drawn to this book because of upcoming release of the movie in South Africa, and found it be a nice book with an unexpected ending. I knew something was going to happen, however wasn't entirely sure which way it would go. There did seem to be too many characters, and most of the time I gave up trying to work out who was married or related to who, and only read. That said, the characterisations were good, and I didn't mind that they were stereotypical.

I couldn’t get a handle on ‘The Dressmaker’. The characters are all described, or what they are doing is described. We do not get any insight to their motives; their interiority. Reading it was a process of going along and tripping over the author’s misuse of some words, wayward third person pronouns, and the want of better punctuation. Oh for some semi colons to separate out the author’s reconsidered second object to the subject of her sentences. Where was the editor? At about the halfway mark I thought I had it; that the book was about gathering all these types of possible people in an Australian country town in the 1950’s as analogous to gathering oddments of fabric to make some strange patchwork gown that is symbolic of something. I figured it could only be a witch’s cape. But then the novel changed tack. Out of the blue, the author kills of the romantic lead. Very odd. The book goes down hill from there; tripped into poor slapstick. Mad Molly, the mother, who has been good for a chuckle with her absurdities, suddenly goes all mumsy and then dies of a stroke. Others in the town get bumped off by the author – or by the Grecian ‘Fates’ hooking them on their flaws. Some of this is very funny but best of all is when the limp OCD wife of the Councillor, now wised up by Tilly, unleashes on her philandering husband. Oh such delicious bitchery. And a nasty way to waste him at the Achilles tendon – more Grecian gods of devilry. It is all out of tone of the first part of the narrative. Overall, the novel is not well structured and needed much better editing. It is all a bit too silly but there are some nice crazy people in it and there are some good laughs to be had – possibly inadvertently. It is the characters and particularly the cross dressing town policeman who earn the two stars.

I had watched the movie, and enjoyed it so much, I wanted to read the book and am so glad I did. Reading the book (like all books) gave more of a back story to all the characters and made for a much better story all around. The writer can describe a scene or a character or even their thoughts without having to go on for paragraphs. It is an easy read and definitely enjoyable. Definitely recommend!

livro bom, com um enredo mediano. mas a escrita é cansativa. poderia ser mais curto. mas a descrição dos personagens chega a ser excessiva, e vc acaba não se prendendo tanto a protagonista. é bom, mas poderia ser melhor.

What a brilliant book. I thoroughly enjoyed it and didn't want to put it down at any point. I love the characters, Tilly of course, Molly and the Sergeant, and Teddy and Barney. Although at first I found there were so many of them, I couldn't always keep track of who was who. The story was sad in parts , but also very comical. Most of Dungatar turns against Tilly when she first arrives, but she brings them round slowly with her dressmaking skills. Unfortunately fate is against her, and she finds herself isolated, except when the amdram group need her to make their costumes for them. Judging by the descriptions of the clothes, cars, houses etc, the story is set in the 1950's. I should imagine small outback towns like Dungatar are quite insular, and most city dwellers would find life difficult. The book expands on Tilly's back story more than the film does, but for me the film brings the characters to life. The ending which sees Dungatar in flames, and Tilly's final scene with the ticket collector on the train (which isn't in the book) is poignant, but very funny. I would dearly love to know where Tilly went, and how she fared after leaving Dungatar.

I watched the movie first, and it was weird, quirky and enjoyable. Plus, Liam Hemsworth shirtless. Just sayin'. I read the novel afterwards, and it was weird, quirky and enjoyable as well. Having the visual references from the movie made the book more enjoyable for me. It's different from what I usually read, and I really really enjoyed it. :)

Meraviglioso libro storia incredibile e coinvolgente. Un libro che si legge tutto ad un fiato particolare ed emozionante.lo consiglio caldamente

The story is unique and the author adds humor to it making it delightful to read. Very well collaborated and presented. The packaging was good and delivery on time.