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kathydavie's review against another edition
5.0
Second in the Elm Creek Quilts quilting series set in contemporary Waterford, Pennsylvania.
My Take
This is such a lovely story and so very hard to put down of family histories and love. The love between parent and child, the love between wife and husband, between sisters. A reflection of love, family, and acceptance. It also shows the friendship which exists between each of the quilters, how it affects their relationships, the support it provides, and their love for each other.
The airing of a segment of a television show, America's Back Roads, which explores the hidden gems within our country, is about Elm Creek Manor and the quilt camps it provides to beginning to advanced quilters. It's this broadcast that sets in motion some major changes for several members of the Elm Creek Quilters, one change brings Richard's childhood friend, Andrew, back into Sylvia's life.
In Round Robin, each addition reflects the central theme, Elm Creek Manor, and the experiences each quilter is undergoing during the quilt's creation. We also learn more about each quilter's past and the choices made to bring them to this day.
The Characters
Diane's son, Michael, is struggling in school and in himself losing himself in his skateboarding as he attempts to find some worth in his life. Diane's contribution reflects the challenges and resolution she and her husband, Tim, find in helping Michael achieve that worth. A worth that will last his lifetime.
Agnes' contribution reflects the joy and fulfillment she finds in Elm Creek Manor and her renewed friendship with Sylvia while Bonnie experiences an unexpected trauma with Craig, which affects her choice. Gwen's shock at Summer's choice and the resolution she comes to influences her decision to use the haphazardness of crazy quilting to match life.
Judy's choice comes about when she meets the family of her father. The father who refused to have anything to do with her mother, who abandoned them in Vietnam. And abandoned them yet again when her mother with baby Judy managed to reach the States. Choosing green for her homeland, blue for the skies of her new home in a Mariner's Compass to reflect her journeyings.
Sarah's quilting revelation actually occurs with her mother, Carol. A woman she could not flee fast enough both for the criticism leveled at her throughout her life and for that hurled at Matt. Sarah is probably the hardest hit in this story as Sylvia pursues a tack that almost destroys both Sarah and Sylvia, Matt is drawing away from her, and her mother is . . . her mother is simply there.
The Cover and Title
The cover is gorgeous with its en pointe diamond medallion in a field of intensely quilted cream surround by a sawtooth border of gold and cream floral print triangles. It is so beautiful that I hate to nitpick and wish that it had reflected the round robin quilt created by the Elm Creek Quilters instead . . .
The Round Robin of the title refers to a type of quilt made by one quilter creating a center medallion then passing it to another quilter who adds onto this center. Then passing it on to the next quilter and the next until each in the group has added her creation to the finished piece.
My Take
This is such a lovely story and so very hard to put down of family histories and love. The love between parent and child, the love between wife and husband, between sisters. A reflection of love, family, and acceptance. It also shows the friendship which exists between each of the quilters, how it affects their relationships, the support it provides, and their love for each other.
The airing of a segment of a television show, America's Back Roads, which explores the hidden gems within our country, is about Elm Creek Manor and the quilt camps it provides to beginning to advanced quilters. It's this broadcast that sets in motion some major changes for several members of the Elm Creek Quilters, one change brings Richard's childhood friend, Andrew, back into Sylvia's life.
In Round Robin, each addition reflects the central theme, Elm Creek Manor, and the experiences each quilter is undergoing during the quilt's creation. We also learn more about each quilter's past and the choices made to bring them to this day.
The Characters
Diane's son, Michael, is struggling in school and in himself losing himself in his skateboarding as he attempts to find some worth in his life. Diane's contribution reflects the challenges and resolution she and her husband, Tim, find in helping Michael achieve that worth. A worth that will last his lifetime.
Agnes' contribution reflects the joy and fulfillment she finds in Elm Creek Manor and her renewed friendship with Sylvia while Bonnie experiences an unexpected trauma with Craig, which affects her choice. Gwen's shock at Summer's choice and the resolution she comes to influences her decision to use the haphazardness of crazy quilting to match life.
Judy's choice comes about when she meets the family of her father. The father who refused to have anything to do with her mother, who abandoned them in Vietnam. And abandoned them yet again when her mother with baby Judy managed to reach the States. Choosing green for her homeland, blue for the skies of her new home in a Mariner's Compass to reflect her journeyings.
Sarah's quilting revelation actually occurs with her mother, Carol. A woman she could not flee fast enough both for the criticism leveled at her throughout her life and for that hurled at Matt. Sarah is probably the hardest hit in this story as Sylvia pursues a tack that almost destroys both Sarah and Sylvia, Matt is drawing away from her, and her mother is . . . her mother is simply there.
The Cover and Title
The cover is gorgeous with its en pointe diamond medallion in a field of intensely quilted cream surround by a sawtooth border of gold and cream floral print triangles. It is so beautiful that I hate to nitpick and wish that it had reflected the round robin quilt created by the Elm Creek Quilters instead . . .
The Round Robin of the title refers to a type of quilt made by one quilter creating a center medallion then passing it to another quilter who adds onto this center. Then passing it on to the next quilter and the next until each in the group has added her creation to the finished piece.
kimberlyds's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.75
stephaniealysse's review against another edition
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
mschrock8's review against another edition
3.0
I was not at all pleased when Diane stopped in to make a decision about her daughter attending graduate school. She should trust that she raised her now 22-year-old to make her own mature and informed decisions.
The part about blended and separated families was interesting to me.
I am enjoying filling in this series.
The part about blended and separated families was interesting to me.
I am enjoying filling in this series.
michellehenriereads's review against another edition
3.0
The second installment, Round Robin, stays in the present and feels slightly more soap-operatic with the growing list of problems in the quilter's lives. I still enjoyed the novel and it completed thoughts I had of what "needed" to happen in the series. I do feel a slight concern that the majority of men seem to have...
To read the full review go to http://talesuntangled.wordpress.com
To read the full review go to http://talesuntangled.wordpress.com
gabbikay's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
duckinggreyduck's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
amibunk's review against another edition
3.0
I was thoroughly prepared for this book to be a disappointing sequel to Jennifer Chiaverini's first novel, something extremely too fluffy to enjoy with a good conscience. I was pleasantly surprised to find I thoroughly enjoyed this book. While it was slightly fluffy, I felt this second novel in the series more fully fleshed out its characters and gave the reader deeper insights into life at Elm's Creek. In fact, I think I liked this book better than the first. Dang it! Now I'm going to have to read the third in the series.