Joan's picks: Light at Lavelle and Behind the Seams - The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin

Light at Lavelle by Paullina Simons. Beloved author of The Bronze Horseman trilogy is back with the story of a young Ukranian refugee who makes her way to the US and meets a billionaire banker who gives her a home – but this is just before the Wall Street crash, in which he loses almost everything and they both have to find a new future. Good storytelling set against some fascinating history. 

Behind the Seams by Dolly Parton. An extraordinary book which showcases many of the clothes, costumes, wigs and jewellery worn by Dolly throughout her career. She has an army of designers, tailors and curators behind her, and has kept meticulous records of everything. She talks about the items in the context of where she wore them – concerts, movies, public events, meeting the Queen – so many memories bound up with them all. Her voice is very strong in the book, talking about how she always had her own idea of how she wanted to look – which in the beginning many people tried to talk her out of, but she was determined to express herself in the way she wanted and now has this remarkable collection to look back on and to share. It’s beautiful. 

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