My first thought on finishing this novel a few minutes ago was, "I'm so glad that I've only read two of Elizabeth Berg's books. This means that there are so many more waiting for me on the library's shelves!" Tapestry of Fortunes is the lovely, life affirming story of a woman, Cece, who has lost her best friend, Penny. A successful motivational speaker and author, Cecelia Ross is fifty-something when she comes to the realization that the life she has been living has lost its meaning for her. She decides to take a break from her career, sell her house, and volunteer at a local hospice. In an unlikely move, she also chooses to rent a room in a beautiful old house and live there with a disparate group of women with whom she develops an immediate rapport. A postcard from Cece's old love Dennis Halsinger prompts the women to embark on a road trip where each of them revisits past life decisions and embraces new hope for the future. Along the way, Cece communicates mentally with Penny, who remains an integral part of her life and her decisions and urges her to find her true joy in life.
I can't begin to say how much I enjoyed this novel. The title is apt, for Berg is a genius at interweaving the emotional threads of each woman's story into a beautiful blend of colors and feelings. Interspersing the use of tarot cards lightheartedly throughout the novel adds an extra touch of interest. Anyone who loves women's fiction, stories about friendship, middle-aged romance, local color, and the captivating details of everyday life lived to its fullest should read this novel. I just loved it! By the way, it also has one of the most beautiful covers I've ever seen. Look for it!
I was just reading some of the reviews on Goodreads about this book and they were all over the map. Someone even hated the cover! It's amazing how varied people's tastes can be!
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