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machadofam8's review against another edition
3.0
I know nothing about quilting, but I've seen these books at the library and finally decided to try one out. I'm glad I did - I enjoyed the story telling very much.
vkimble's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
vikingwolf's review against another edition
3.0
Sarah and her husband move to a small town so he can take up a job offer. Sarah is desolate about her inability to find a job herself. Then she meets one of her husband's clients, the rude and bristly Sylvia Compson, who offers her a job helping to restore the old Elm Creek Manor ready to sell. Sarah agrees, if Sylvia will teach her how to quilt. A unique friendship develops as Sylvia tells her of the life she has lived.
I enjoyed reading this book and finding out why Sylvia was so rude and distant with everyone. I also liked the other members of the quilting group and I look forward to finding out more about them in the later books.
I knew nothing about quilting when I started to read this book, given to me by a bookcrossing friend, but by the end of it I was browsing quilting web sites and getting interested in the subject. Now I am about to embark on making my first quilt! So a new hobby has been spawned by reading this book!
I enjoyed reading this book and finding out why Sylvia was so rude and distant with everyone. I also liked the other members of the quilting group and I look forward to finding out more about them in the later books.
I knew nothing about quilting when I started to read this book, given to me by a bookcrossing friend, but by the end of it I was browsing quilting web sites and getting interested in the subject. Now I am about to embark on making my first quilt! So a new hobby has been spawned by reading this book!
abbydawn84's review against another edition
4.0
Nice story. Loved all the details on quilt blocks and styles. You could tell there was a surprise waiting, but I was delighted I didn’t guess it. I am looking forward to reading more of the series. Love that the author has actual quilts mentioned in the story and photos of them on her website.
chelse34's review against another edition
4.0
This book was recommended to me by my mother-in-law (more like thrust into my hands) who is an avid quilter. She loved these books. And I must say I kind of saw myself and her while reading these because pretty much everything I know about quilting, I learned from her. So I was the Sarah and she was the Mrs. Compson because she tutored me and showed me how to quilt! I liked that comparison!
I also enjoyed learning about some of the history of quilts and the superstitions of their names. I found the name important in my own quilting too! Like when I made Brian his Batman quilt, I used the Bear Claw pattern because it sounded strong and fierce.
I also found that they used different terms and ways of quilting that I wasn't familiar with (like basting the quilt together... we just used safety pins), and I enjoyed getting a different perspective with that! AND! I was able to connect some things together that I really didn't ever know or realize... like the Memorial Quilt. I've seen one because my mother-in-law made one of those, but I didn't necessarily put the name to it and realize that it happens frequently in the world of quilters.
So, word of advice - I think it would be best to have SOME form of knowledge about quilting before reading this book because I would have been totally confused and had no idea what they were talking about half the time if I hadn't made a quilt myself (novice, though I am).
I also enjoyed learning about some of the history of quilts and the superstitions of their names. I found the name important in my own quilting too! Like when I made Brian his Batman quilt, I used the Bear Claw pattern because it sounded strong and fierce.
I also found that they used different terms and ways of quilting that I wasn't familiar with (like basting the quilt together... we just used safety pins), and I enjoyed getting a different perspective with that! AND! I was able to connect some things together that I really didn't ever know or realize... like the Memorial Quilt. I've seen one because my mother-in-law made one of those, but I didn't necessarily put the name to it and realize that it happens frequently in the world of quilters.
So, word of advice - I think it would be best to have SOME form of knowledge about quilting before reading this book because I would have been totally confused and had no idea what they were talking about half the time if I hadn't made a quilt myself (novice, though I am).
duckinggreyduck's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
sandlerpage's review against another edition
3.0
I really wanted to like this book. I really did. But the main character was so... bland. She just wasn't an interesting person, neither was her husband, and even the old lady she befriends wasn't that interesting. I enjoyed the different layers of stories, as well as the quilting info, but overall it was just so-so. All that said, I think I might get the next one in the series from the library b/c it really does seem like it has potential. Plus, the author is from my hometown!
rebelbelle13's review against another edition
3.0
I was not overly impressed with this one. It was simply ok. There was nothing memorable about it or anything that made it stand out from any other contemporary novel of the same type. Couple moves to new town. Wife looks for job. Finds job helping old woman. Old woman reveals her past to wife while teaching her a skill or spending time with her. The story focuses heavily around the manor house where Sylvia (old woman) grew up, and continues to be a driving force in the story up until the very end. I did learn quite a bit about quilting, although a lot of it went over my head since I listened to it on audiobook (I'm more of a visual learner, and had I known the author was going to go into so much detail about the quilting patterns I would have picked up a hard copy, hoping that some of the explanations and patterns were in there).
I don't think I liked any of the characters in this book. Sarah was wimpy and wishy-washy, Matt was goofy, Sylvia was stubborn and vengeful (and probably could have used a good dose of therapy), Claudia was inflexible and harsh, Agnes was childish and spoiled, and I didn't know the husbands well enough to make judgments on them.
There were obvious points in the novel where Chiaverini was deliberately drawing out Sylvia's story points just to make the book longer and add cliffhangers where they weren't needed. At one point, she stopped telling Sarah her story when the husbands went off to war. Sarah didn't immediately ask the question that ANY PERSON LISTENING would have asked- what happened to them. We don't find out for 3 chapters. This happens several times- Sylvia stops telling her history simply because it makes sense for the pacing of the novel.
I might be interested in continuing in the series, but as it stands, this is a cute, but entirely forgettable novel.
I don't think I liked any of the characters in this book. Sarah was wimpy and wishy-washy, Matt was goofy, Sylvia was stubborn and vengeful (and probably could have used a good dose of therapy), Claudia was inflexible and harsh, Agnes was childish and spoiled, and I didn't know the husbands well enough to make judgments on them.
There were obvious points in the novel where Chiaverini was deliberately drawing out Sylvia's story points just to make the book longer and add cliffhangers where they weren't needed. At one point, she stopped telling Sarah her story when the husbands went off to war. Sarah didn't immediately ask the question that ANY PERSON LISTENING would have asked- what happened to them. We don't find out for 3 chapters. This happens several times- Sylvia stops telling her history simply because it makes sense for the pacing of the novel.
I might be interested in continuing in the series, but as it stands, this is a cute, but entirely forgettable novel.
tarahmanning's review against another edition
3.0
I found the flashbacks the most interesting part of this whole story, the rest of it just was "eh" to me. A simple read, nothing that requires much thinking on your part.
ashocap's review against another edition
4.0
I liked this touching story about one woman drawing a family back together with the love of quilting. Lots of good descriptions about quilts and the good times they can bring.