In 1946, Millie Middleton--the daughter of an Italian man and a Black woman--boarded a train and left Charleston to keep half of her heritage hidden. She carried with her two heirloom buttons and the dream of owning a dress store. She never expected to meet a charming train jumper who changed her life forever . . . and led her yet again to a heartbreaking choice about which heritage would define her future.
Now, together, Harper and Millie return to Charleston to find the man who may hold the answers they seek . . . and a chance at the dress shop they've both dreamed of. But it's not until all appears lost that they see the unexpected ways to mend what frayed between the seams.
The Dress Shop on King Street is a sobering yet hopeful tale that I fell head over heels in love with. Showing the passing of time in both the past (the 194o's) and the present, the reader witnesses the simple, yet fascinating life of Millie Middleton, the daughter of an Italian father and African-American mother, who is forced to hide her heritage in hopes of a better life, and ripping her family apart.
Millie carries this secret for years, hiding her true self from those closest to her, and the mental torture she endures while dealing with the prejudice of the times is unimaginable to me. My heart was torn apart as I witnesses the blessings and curses that Millie endured through her life, several moments bringing tears to my eyes at the unfairness of it all, and yet Millie herself was the light of the story, a woman filled with such love and grace, and touching my own heart.
Harper's story, which is told in the present, was also a joy to read, and not just because I loved reading all the details about the vintage dresses that she repaired. Though she has a hard hit to her ego at the beginning of the book, you get to behold her and Millie together fight for their dreams, and discover the satisfaction of fighting for your hearts desire.
Reading The Dress Shop on King Street filled me with unexplained nostalgia, thankfulness for all the unknown blessings that I take for granted, and hope that maybe someday my greatest dreams could come true. It is apparent that the author poured her heart and soul into this novel, and for that I am grateful, as Millie's story truly evoked deep emotions within me, reminding me of lost dreams of my own that I would love to one day see come to fruition. It's a great reminder that it's never too late.
There are so many parallels between the past and the present that are so eloquently stitched together, creating a beautiful tapestry of family, love, fighting the struggle, and finding the truth to be who you were meant to be and not giving your reverie away to fear. To see a family torn apart by prejudice and then to witness it be mended together again was so poetic. I truly loved every aspect of this deep and eye-opening novel and is another MUST READ of 2021 for me.
I loved this one as well and can't wait to read Paint and Nectar...it is sitting on my shelf taunting me, glaring at the other books I have to read before it ;)
ReplyDelete