The Braid
Author: Laetitia Colombani
Smita has spent her life cleaning out rich people’s latrines for a “living”. That’s just the way life is when you are a member of the lowest social caste. But she wants a better life for her daughter, a life of opportunities. After sending her to school doesn’t work she makes the decision to escape her life.
Giulia lives in Sicily and assists her father in running his wig-making business. When her father suffers an accident and Giulia takes charge of the factory she unveils the truth: the business isn’t doing all that well. But she loves the business and the people she works well, and so starts her mission to save it.
Sarah seems to have it all. She has the kids and a successful career. She has it all and yet has to keep clear boundaries between her family life and her life as a fancy lawyer. Sarah then receives news that threatens to disrupt the careful balance she has managed to achieve through so much hard work.
The three women protagonists of this powerful novel have never met and yet their choices will bring their stories together in unexpected ways. Their lives and experiences are completely different but they all face similar struggles – the struggles of women in a man’s world. The Braid is a tale of women’s strength and their ability to overcome hardship.
Despite its simplicity and brevity, it packs a powerful punch. The characters are vivid and multi-layered. The writing is so compelling it will keep you hooked from beginning to end and you will be rooting for the women from the word go. The Braid is truly complex in its simplicity. Colombani makes a perfect job of grabbing complex themes and turning them into a narrative that will resound with many.
All in all, I’m so glad this wonderful novel has finally been translated into English. I know I will be thinking about The Braid for many years to come and it is sure to become one of those books I recommend to everyone. Loved every word of it!
> Naomi Round
