Der Zopf

by Laetitia Colombani

Other authorsClaudia Marquardt (Translator)

2018

Publication

S. FISCHER, c2018. Original c2017

Library's rating

Status

Available

Description

"In this unforgettable international bestseller, three women from very different circumstances around the world find their lives intertwined by a single object and discover what connects us--across cultures, across backgrounds, and across borders. In India, Smita is an untouchable. Desperate to give her daughter an education, she takes her child and flees her small village with nothing but resourcefulness, eventually heading to a temple where she will experience a rebirth. In Sicily, Giulia works in her father's wig workshop, the last of its kind in Palermo. She washes, bleaches, and dyes the hair provided by the city's hairdressers, which is now in short supply. But when her father is the victim of a serious accident, she discovers that the company's financial situation is dire. Now she must find a way to save her family's livelihood. In Canada, Sarah is a successful lawyer and twice-divorced mother of three children whose identity is wrapped up in her work. Just as she expects a big promotion, her life is shattered when she's diagnosed with cancer. A moving novel of hope and renewal, The Braid is a celebration of womanhood and the power of connection and perseverance"--… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member whybehave2002

A great thanks to the publishers via Negalley for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Three women. Three countries. Their lives weave together as a braid even though they have never met. Rotating from the perspective of each woman you get to know them and their life

story. Each time a persons chapter ended it felt like a cliff hanger. Something big was taking place. They were transforming for the next stages of their lives and going into it strong. I felt strong and inspired by the end of their stories. A truly wonderful book.

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LibraryThing member KWharton

I think my expectations were too high. It was OK, but I think it could have been better.

LibraryThing member CarrieWuj

A little disappointing in that there was so much potential here, but it really stayed at such a surface level and didn't develop the characters fully. They were each just cardboard cutouts of each scenario and also skimmed along the surface of the action. The link between them is the point, but

that didn't come until the last 10 pages or so. Probably better as a screenplay or something to flush out in three dimensions some other way. Three women in different corners of the globe each get a story and several chapters: Smita is an untouchable in India who wants a better life for her daughter Lalita than what she has hand-cleaning chamber pots. Giulia is the 'headstrong' daughter in the Lanfredi household who is the only one interested in saving their wig-making business when her father has an accident. But she doesn't know if she is capable. Finally, Sarah Cohen is a high-powered attorney in a firm in Montreal. She is also a single mother, and gets diagnosed with breast cancer. Her fighting instincts are challenged when she realizes she is not only fighting the disease, but fighting to keep her job and lifestyle. Interspersed throughout are clunky "poems" about weaving from the pov of some omniscient source, who is bringing the 3 lives together (?). Some interesting facts about the various settings and lifestyles, but occasionally felt like I was reading a "report" rather than smoothly blended research.

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LibraryThing member jmoncton

I read this book in French with Google translate as my constant companion. This tells the story of 3 women, separated by distance and social class. Smita is an Untouchable who lives in abject poverty in India; Giulia works in the family's business in Sicily, carefully handcrafting wigs made of

human hair, and Sarah is a high-powered Canadian lawyer, who is ruthlessly climbing her way up the corporate ladder. Each chapter shows a different POV from the different characters, but certain events transpire to cause their lives to be intertwines -- similar to the tresses in a braid.

I found the chapters featuring Smita's life to be fascinating and horrifying. It definitely made the horrors of being at the very bottom rung of society seem much more real. The story was well-told, but I'm not sure if I can really judge this book. Given that I'm just learning French, reading this book was a slow and laborious process. Some of the phrases are flowery and don't translate literally, so there was probably a lot of nuances that I completely missed. But, I'm thrilled and proud that I finished this story.

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LibraryThing member MarthaJeanne

I was having enough problems with boredom when Smita spent many evenings sewing a sari for her daughter to wear to school. Sorry, I don't believe you any more. It does not take many evenings to hem the two ends. (Not that a 6 year old would normally wear a sari to school.)

LibraryThing member amaraki

The book tells the story of three women in three different continents facing ncredible hardship and rising to the challenge. Smita an untouchable fighting for a better life for her and her daughter. Giulia who is facing the bankruptcy of the generational famiy business alone. And finally Sarah the

driven lawyer hellbent on partner track who discovers she has breast cancer. Eventually their stories are woven or braided together.
I was very impressed by this book mainly because the descriptive details of the narrative and the characters' emotions made it feel very real. I was particularly moved by the hardships of the untouchables. I read it over three mornings with my coffee as it demanded full attention and appreciation.

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