The Dressmaker

A Novel

By: Rosalie Ham

Narrated by: Rachel Griffiths

Length: 7 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's summary

A darkly satirical novel of love, revenge, and 1950s haute couture - now a major motion picture starring Kate Winslet, Judy Davis, Liam Hemsworth, and Hugo Weaving.

After 20 years spent mastering the art of dressmaking at couture houses in Paris, Tilly Dunnage returns to the small Australian town she was banished from as a child. She plans only to check on her ailing mother and leave. But Tilly decides to stay, and though she is still an outcast, her lush, exquisite dresses prove irresistible to the prim women of Dungatar.

Through her fashion business, her friendship with Sergeant Farrat - the town’s only policeman, who harbors an unusual passion for fabrics - and a budding romance with Teddy, the local football star whose family is almost as reviled as hers, she finds a measure of grudging acceptance. But as her dresses begin to arouse competition and envy in town, causing old resentments to surface, it becomes clear that Tilly’s mind is set on a darker design: Exacting revenge on those who wronged her, in the most spectacular fashion.

©2015 Rosalie Ham (P)2015 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“It’s clear we’re visiting a small 1950s town not of history but as imagined by Tim Burton: the gothic, polarized world of Edward Scissorhands... Ham has real gifts as a writer of surfaces and pictures, bringing Tilly’s frocks to surprising, animated life.” (The New York Times Book Review)

“The book’s true pleasures involve the way Rosalie Ham has small-town living down pat...she channels welcome shades of British novelist Angela Carter’s sly, funny, and wickedly Gothic adornments...Blunt, raw and more than a little fantastical, the novel exposes both the dark and the shimmering lights in our human hearts.” (The Boston Globe)

“With the retribution of Carrie, the quirkiness of Edward Scissorhands, and the scandal of Desperate Housewives, this novel will lend its cinematic qualities to the big screen later this year.” (Booklist)

Unexpected

Overall I enjoyed. The narration at time felt slow. Unexpected enjoyment. Needed to keep listening and persist. I am glad I kept listening.

Daisy

Too many characters for storytelling

For the book read, the constant characters are consumable. For the Audible version, create a character chart, which is tough to do while walking, driving, etc. and good luck! At some point, you'll realize remembering only a few will get you through. That said, for readers, clearly not listeners, the comments hold true.

The Dressmaker - a fun read

I really enjoyed this book. I had already seen the movie and loved it. the movie followed the book fairly well, but had changed up the order of some scenes . I recommend reading this book for a taste of small towns and small lives.

Incoherent plot, inconsistent characters

What did you love best about The Dressmaker?

Detailed descriptions of a culture and geography unfamiliar to me made it easy to follow the story, but could not overcome the failures of plot and characterization. Even if this book was intended as an example of how lack of communication and the inability to have emotionally intimate relationships leads to the breakdown of individuals and society as a whole, it fails to achieve that goal because the author herself fails to communicate the intimate thoughts and feelings of the most of the characters.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

The one exception to this failure is the police sergeant who sews himself a beautiful wardrobe and crossdresses in the privacy of his home. His experience of imagining, designing, making, and wearing luxurious clothes, followed by his discovery of a kindred spirit of sorts, makes him the most fully-developed character-and yet we still learn nothing of his history, he never expresses his thoughts or feelings about what he is doing.

The only reactions we ever know about are the presumed protagonist of the title, and even her reactions are third-hand, unclear and unexplained.

Have you listened to any of Rachel Griffiths’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have not listened to anything read by Rachel Griffiths before, but found her narration easy to follow and pleasant.

Disappointing

I bought this recorded book after seeing the movie hoping to get an enlarged view of the characters and their internal thoughts. As I read I kept waiting for it to get better, as interesting as the movie was. It didn't. I found the narrator's rate of speech so slow l that, in order for my mind not to wander, I had to listen at 1.25 speed.
Many years ago I watched a 1961 movie called "Town Without Pity." That phrase kept echoing in my ears as I listened to the last half of the book. Dungatar truly was a town without pity.

the ultimate revenge!

I love this book!! if you have ever dreamed of revenge, this is a must read!

One of my three things to take to a Desert Island

What made the experience of listening to The Dressmaker the most enjoyable?

The book is a mouth-watering listen, not only for the efforts of Rachel Griffith (what a treat to listen to this narration by her) but because Rosalie Ham is such a pleasure to read/listen to - her prose takes you to another world, another time.

What other book might you compare The Dressmaker to and why?

I'm picking my brains here - whilst there is humour, and there is drama, there is undoubtedly the most incredible description of a small Australian town and the mind-set of small minded, small town people. It is a novel that should be up there as one of Australia's best.

Which character – as performed by Rachel Griffiths – was your favorite?

Oh, I loved them all but I still have Mona in my head - that drawl... "Mother said....."

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

All good things come to those that wait...

Best seller???

This book is depressing. Almost Nothing good happens to main character, set in a town full of sick evil people. Don't want to see the movie!

Great narration

I just love the narrator. Great voice and accent. The book is so unique and memorable. If you've seen the movie already this is much different but the movie keeps mostly in line with this. I saw the movie and wanted more. This was what I was hoping for.

Mixed Bag

I almost returned the book due to the narrator's monotone reading style, but hung in there. I felt like the main character, the dressmaker, kept everyone from getting to know her, including the reader. I wanted to have the book read prior to seeing the movie. From the movie trailer, I can already tell that there were liberties taken with the novel to enhance the characters. Will definitely see the movie, since I'm in it for the fashion.