The Braid

July 15, 2019
True to its title, this novel, which was published as La Tresse in France in 2017, weaves together the stories of three intrepid women living in different countries. In India, Smita demands a better life for her daughter than the one she has known as a member of the Dalit caste. In Italy, Giulia must secure her family's future after an accident befalls her father, patriarch of the last traditional hairpiece and wig workshop in Palermo. And in Canada, Sarah faces breast cancer without support. Colombani tells these stories in concise chapters that alternate among the three women's points of view. While most of the novel unfolds in these close third-person perspectives, a few brief interludes, including a prologue and an epilogue, punctuate the narrative with the lyrical first-person voice of a fourth woman, adding even more texture and depth to the already charming story of how these women's lives connect. Colombani's prowess as a film and theater writer is on full display. The prose hums along without fuss, and several chapters end with terrific suspense. Only occasionally does the story stall, as when the author shoehorns in exposition to make a point about gender inequality or when she oversteps by making too direct a comparison between characters' lives. Smita's, Giulia's, and Sarah's individual stories and how they're interconnected are strong enough elements on their own without any false equivalencies. While the novel presents a romanticized version of globalization, it's unapologetic about its agenda of celebrating the bonds of womanhood. The story's masterful structure and plotting more than make up for the narrative's rose-colored glasses. An impeccably crafted love letter to the oft-unseen and ignored work of women across the world.

COPYRIGHT(2019) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

July 29, 2019
Colombani’s arresting debut follows three women facing extreme challenges in three different parts of the world. Smita, near 30 years old, lives in contemporary India, where she’s of the untouchable caste, forced to clean the excrement from neighbors’ latrines. In a parallel story, 20-year-old Giulia is in Sicily, and although she loves working with her father in his wig shop, the world of traditional goods is beginning to crumble. Lastly, 40-year-old Sarah is a lawyer in Montreal, and her obsessive work habits drive her body to a debilitating illness that she tries to conceal from the firm where she has become the first female partner. Suspense builds for each of these women as they struggle to make decisions in the face of their harsh realities. Intriguing strands connect the three: Smita’s only offering to her god can be the magnificent hair shorn from her own and her daughter’s head, young Giulia must expand the family business to an international market, and Sarah needs an exquisite wig when cancer takes her hair. A sense of urgency to learn how the stories will be resolved drives the fast-paced narrative. Each character’s intimate perspective elucidates the courage that exists in every woman’s life, regardless of age, culture, or station.

July 26, 2019

DEBUT In her newly translated international best seller, French actress, director, and first novelist Colombani weaves the stories of three unrelated women whose lives indirectly affect one another. Despite very simple writing, the women's stories are anything but that. To begin, readers travel to India, where untouchable Smita is desperate to give her daughter the life she could never have; then to Palermo, Sicily, where dedicated Giulia works in the last wig shop in all of Sicily and is proud of her family's legacy and their old tradition of wigmaking. Finally, in Canada, Sarah, a determined modern woman, is diagnosed with cancer. Linked by an object--the braid of the title--the narratives are told in alternating chapters. Ultimately, our protagonists push through their dilemmas until they persevere. VERDICT This title is perfect for those who enjoy quick reads and conflicts that resolve into satisfying endings.--Shazia Naderi, Bethpage P.L., NY

Copyright 2019 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 1, 2019
Colombani's debut is a beautiful story about women, strength, faith, and sacrifice. Smita dreams of a better life for her daughter Lalita, a life where she learns to read and write and fulfill her destiny. Smita's strong will and faith take her and Lalita on a journey to make an offering to Vishnu: to renounce all vanity and offer their hair. Giulia gets the keys to her father's wig-making workshop after he is involved in an accident, but she soon discovers that they are at risk of losing their business and their home. Meanwhile, in Canada, Sarah is a successful lawyer who has risen to the top of her firm and is in line for a life-changing promotion when a cancer diagnosis stops her in her tracks. At work she is pushed out and feels invisible, but her daughter reminds her of her strength. These women are worlds apart, but strands of hair braid them together. This beautifully written novel will leave readers entranced and empowered, perfect for fans of Three Strong Women by Marie Ndiaye (2012).(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)