by Jennifer Chiaverini
Carver County Library, paperback 337 pages
genre: historical fiction, slavery, quilting
Sigh. When I impulsively grabbed this at the library TWO MONTHS ago, I was in the mood for a little quilting "escape." Too busy, it sat & I renewed it & it sat . . . until I could renew it no more. So I HAD to read it. Alas, it was a slavery story with quilting in it and not the sweet quilting escapism I longed for. But of course I read the whole thing, because that's the kind of person I am. So now I have to pay the late fees, I haven't done any quilting, and I find slavery stories in general to be incredibly depressing. What human beings have justified as acceptable is absolutely intolerable.
Joanna's story is ultimately a story of triumph over evil, but it wasn't an especially fun read. Well-written, but not what I was looking for in a Chiaverini book.
Showing posts with label Chiaverini. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chiaverini. Show all posts
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Monday, March 30, 2009
The Master Quilter
by Jenifer Chiaverini
Carver County Library, hard cover, 327 pages
I did not enjoy this one. Too many problems, too little communication among friends (until the very end), too much repetition. The story is told from multiple characters' points of view and tends to cover the same info from a different perspective. All in all, the story got old fast. It did make me appreciate my husband, my job, my friends, etc. in contrast to these women's issues. Probably my least favorite Elm Creek book so far, and it didn't even make me want to work on a quilt at all.
Carver County Library, hard cover, 327 pages
I did not enjoy this one. Too many problems, too little communication among friends (until the very end), too much repetition. The story is told from multiple characters' points of view and tends to cover the same info from a different perspective. All in all, the story got old fast. It did make me appreciate my husband, my job, my friends, etc. in contrast to these women's issues. Probably my least favorite Elm Creek book so far, and it didn't even make me want to work on a quilt at all.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
The Quilter's Legacy
by Jennifer Chiaverini
Carver County Library, hard cover, 310 pages
Sylvia tries to locate her mother's quilts. Andrew's children object to their marriage. The parallel story focuses on Sylvia's mother, Eleanor, and her upbringing, marriage, and making of her quilts.
I liked it, especially the historical storyline. I also enjoyed stretching this out over a long time, as I only read it a little bit at a time before going to sleep. I still need to make time to quilt!
Carver County Library, hard cover, 310 pages
Sylvia tries to locate her mother's quilts. Andrew's children object to their marriage. The parallel story focuses on Sylvia's mother, Eleanor, and her upbringing, marriage, and making of her quilts.
I liked it, especially the historical storyline. I also enjoyed stretching this out over a long time, as I only read it a little bit at a time before going to sleep. I still need to make time to quilt!
Saturday, November 08, 2008
Runaway Quilt
by Jennifer Chiaverini
Carver County Library, hard cover, (large print), 421 pages
Sylvia finally locates the Civil-War era quilts in the attic and a journal along with them. The memoir tells her stories about her ancestors that she never knew, upsetting her and raising more questions.
I loved the parts of the story that were the journal left by Sylvia's great-great-aunt Gerda. The modern-day parts were kind of irritating (except the cornerstone scene with Sylvia and Andrew). I may need to take a break from the Elm Creek Quilt novels . . . and start to work on some actual quilting! I just needed to chill out last night.
Carver County Library, hard cover, (large print), 421 pages
Sylvia finally locates the Civil-War era quilts in the attic and a journal along with them. The memoir tells her stories about her ancestors that she never knew, upsetting her and raising more questions.
I loved the parts of the story that were the journal left by Sylvia's great-great-aunt Gerda. The modern-day parts were kind of irritating (except the cornerstone scene with Sylvia and Andrew). I may need to take a break from the Elm Creek Quilt novels . . . and start to work on some actual quilting! I just needed to chill out last night.
Sunday, November 02, 2008
The Cross-Country Quilters
by Jennifer Chiaverini
Carver County Library, hardcover, 367 pages
Reading this book is like snuggling up with a nice quilt. Aaahhhh. It just feels good. I especially enjoyed the storyline of Megan and Adam ('cuz I'm just a hopeless romantic, I guess). But I also appreciated the stories of the other women. One thing that concerns me, though, is that reading these books is like a pseudo-quilting escape. . . but what if I worked on a quilting project instead of reading? Wouldn't that be more fulfilling? I might have to take a break from the Elm Creek novels and work on a quilting project instead!
Carver County Library, hardcover, 367 pages
Reading this book is like snuggling up with a nice quilt. Aaahhhh. It just feels good. I especially enjoyed the storyline of Megan and Adam ('cuz I'm just a hopeless romantic, I guess). But I also appreciated the stories of the other women. One thing that concerns me, though, is that reading these books is like a pseudo-quilting escape. . . but what if I worked on a quilting project instead of reading? Wouldn't that be more fulfilling? I might have to take a break from the Elm Creek novels and work on a quilting project instead!
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Round Robin
by Jennifer Chiaverini
hardcover, Dakota County Library, 304 pages
Book two in the Elm Creek Quilters series. At first, I thought there were too darn many story lines, but then I realized that it fit right in with the "round robin" idea. I liked learning more about the characters in this setting. I enjoyed Diane's storyline with her sons and the skateboarding.
I wish I spent time at a quilt retreat and worked on quilting as a regular part of my life!
hardcover, Dakota County Library, 304 pages
Book two in the Elm Creek Quilters series. At first, I thought there were too darn many story lines, but then I realized that it fit right in with the "round robin" idea. I liked learning more about the characters in this setting. I enjoyed Diane's storyline with her sons and the skateboarding.
I wish I spent time at a quilt retreat and worked on quilting as a regular part of my life!
Sunday, September 28, 2008
The Quilter's Apprentice
by Jennifer Chiaverini
Dakota County, paperback, 271 pages
Quilting story - Sarah McClure is job-hunting and stumbles into quilting. Sylvia Compson is a bitter old woman who just wants her house fixed up so she can sell it.
Liked - the description of the house, the fact that I've met this author, the relationships among the women, the historical storytelling, the draw to quilting. I loved it when Chiaverini (in person, at a Minnesota Quilt meeting) told us about people who have asked her about going to workshops at (fictional) Elm Creek Quilts. :-)
Didn't like - how mousy Sarah was, especially in her job-hunting and in how she communicated with her husband. What a wimp.
Dakota County, paperback, 271 pages
Quilting story - Sarah McClure is job-hunting and stumbles into quilting. Sylvia Compson is a bitter old woman who just wants her house fixed up so she can sell it.
Liked - the description of the house, the fact that I've met this author, the relationships among the women, the historical storytelling, the draw to quilting. I loved it when Chiaverini (in person, at a Minnesota Quilt meeting) told us about people who have asked her about going to workshops at (fictional) Elm Creek Quilts. :-)
Didn't like - how mousy Sarah was, especially in her job-hunting and in how she communicated with her husband. What a wimp.
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