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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
An excellent continuation of the "Runaway Quilt" story. By far my two favorites in the Elm Creek series.
Sandwiched inside a little bit of discovering old papers at Elm Creek is the tale of Joanna, the slave who was harboured there when she escaped from her owner and was heading north to Canada. Pregnant by her master she'd been unable to continue with the others in her group, and she had the child at Elm Creek. Before she was able to continue she was recaptured (though the baby was not), and this story is her life subsequent to that.
This is an excellent portrayal of a slave's life in the time up to and during the American Civil War. There is only one improbable item, in the speed with which Joanna learnt to read fluently (taught while at Elm Creek), but as it's a major plot requirement I let it go. Everything else had me totally engrossed.
I've read a few now of these historical novels within the Elm Creek Quilts series - the author places them well, and tells them well. I don't generally seek out historical novels but am keen at some stage to read this author's works that are separate works.
This is an excellent portrayal of a slave's life in the time up to and during the American Civil War. There is only one improbable item, in the speed with which Joanna learnt to read fluently (taught while at Elm Creek), but as it's a major plot requirement I let it go. Everything else had me totally engrossed.
I've read a few now of these historical novels within the Elm Creek Quilts series - the author places them well, and tells them well. I don't generally seek out historical novels but am keen at some stage to read this author's works that are separate works.
This is the story of Joanna, a slave and her life before the Civil War and then what happens when the war is fought. She is a remarkable woman and I can never quite get over how horribly so many slaves were treated no matter how many times I read about it. I loved listening to every disc of this book.
Her most substantive and best written quilt-themed novel so far!
I've read the Elm Creek books and, with few exceptions, I've liked them all. The Lost Quilter picks up the story of Joanna, the runaway slave from The Runaway Quilt. As with the other Elm Creek books, this one begins with Sylvia discovering a new fact about her family or their quilting. While the beginning and end of the book are about Sylvia trying to find out information about Joanna, the book itself is, Joanna's story.
After her son was born at the Bergstrom farm, Joanna was recaptured and returned to her master in Virginia. She took with her a desire to find her son, her newly found ability to read and her mastery with the needle. Her master sells her to his brother in South Carolina and Joanna begins a new life, finding friends and love. Joanna dreams of returning to Elm Creek and she pieces a quilt, reminiscent of the underground railroad quilts. In it she sews the landmarks she remembers, in hopes that someday it will guide her back to Elm Creek.
Joanna's strength sees her through difficulties with selfish mistresses and the Civil War, and the legacy she leaves behind will finally answer some of Sylvia's questions.
I was prepared to not like this book. I think that, at some point, a story needs to end. While I do think Jennifer Chiaverini runs the risk of weakening a strong story if she insists on giving every possible character their own book, I enjoyed this one. Slave narratives have always fascinated me, and reading the story from Joanna's viewpoint was compelling.
An easy, interesting read.
After her son was born at the Bergstrom farm, Joanna was recaptured and returned to her master in Virginia. She took with her a desire to find her son, her newly found ability to read and her mastery with the needle. Her master sells her to his brother in South Carolina and Joanna begins a new life, finding friends and love. Joanna dreams of returning to Elm Creek and she pieces a quilt, reminiscent of the underground railroad quilts. In it she sews the landmarks she remembers, in hopes that someday it will guide her back to Elm Creek.
Joanna's strength sees her through difficulties with selfish mistresses and the Civil War, and the legacy she leaves behind will finally answer some of Sylvia's questions.
I was prepared to not like this book. I think that, at some point, a story needs to end. While I do think Jennifer Chiaverini runs the risk of weakening a strong story if she insists on giving every possible character their own book, I enjoyed this one. Slave narratives have always fascinated me, and reading the story from Joanna's viewpoint was compelling.
An easy, interesting read.
I know I say this almost every time, but I think this was my favorite of the series yet!
Got this book from my mom. The main story is about a runaway slave and how she's recaptured and the struggles she has to make the best for her family. The whole intro where they fit it into the Elm Creek Quilts series seems a little contrived. I also think the ending could've been firmed up a bit.
This book is sad because it tells the story of a slave and how she is treated by the family who keeps her, but the story is good.
challenging
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual harassment