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piperscarlett's review against another edition
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
jbojkov's review against another edition
3.0
I really don't have much of a memory of this one. In fact, I think i may have preferred the movie- which is unusual for me.
kahale's review against another edition
2.0
More soap opera-ish than I usually like but enjoyed the information about quilting.
tmobil's review against another edition
5.0
Favorite Quotes
No one fights dirtier or more brutally than blood; only family knows it’s own weaknesses, the exact placement of the heart. The tragedy is that one can still live with the force of hatred, feel infuriated that once you are born to another, that kinship lasts through life and death, immutable, unchanging, no matter how great the misdeed or betrayal. Blood cannot be denied, and perhaps that’s why we fight tooth and claw, because we cannot—being only human—put asunder what God has joined together.
Why are old lovers able to become friends? Two reasons. They never truly loved each other, or they love each other still.
All you have to go on is the faith of a kiss.
The best men tell you the truth because they think you can take it; the worst men either try to preserve you in some innocent state with their false protection, or are ‘brutally honest.’ When someone tells, lets you think for yourself, experience your own emotions, he is treating you as a true equal, a friend…And the best men cook for you.
I have an affection for those transitional seasons, the way they take the edge off the intense cold of winter, or heat of summer.
…she eventually forgave him, because she understood him.
The worst dream of the night, when you are parted from someone you love and you do not know exactly where he is, but you know that he is in the presence of danger. You are tormented by a desire to keep the one you love safe.
…brotherhood of the firstborn, which can be both a blessing and a curse: the overwhelming attention to the detail of their lives and development. The expectations that run too high: being the bridge between adults and children, one foot in either place and the accompanying hollow lonely feeling of being nowhere.
…that would be too much like running away, and that, she would not do. She does not run—they cannot make her—she walks.
…she is admired from afar. These admirers court her in secret, in the safety of their dreams.
No one fights dirtier or more brutally than blood; only family knows it’s own weaknesses, the exact placement of the heart. The tragedy is that one can still live with the force of hatred, feel infuriated that once you are born to another, that kinship lasts through life and death, immutable, unchanging, no matter how great the misdeed or betrayal. Blood cannot be denied, and perhaps that’s why we fight tooth and claw, because we cannot—being only human—put asunder what God has joined together.
Why are old lovers able to become friends? Two reasons. They never truly loved each other, or they love each other still.
All you have to go on is the faith of a kiss.
The best men tell you the truth because they think you can take it; the worst men either try to preserve you in some innocent state with their false protection, or are ‘brutally honest.’ When someone tells, lets you think for yourself, experience your own emotions, he is treating you as a true equal, a friend…And the best men cook for you.
I have an affection for those transitional seasons, the way they take the edge off the intense cold of winter, or heat of summer.
…she eventually forgave him, because she understood him.
The worst dream of the night, when you are parted from someone you love and you do not know exactly where he is, but you know that he is in the presence of danger. You are tormented by a desire to keep the one you love safe.
…brotherhood of the firstborn, which can be both a blessing and a curse: the overwhelming attention to the detail of their lives and development. The expectations that run too high: being the bridge between adults and children, one foot in either place and the accompanying hollow lonely feeling of being nowhere.
…that would be too much like running away, and that, she would not do. She does not run—they cannot make her—she walks.
…she is admired from afar. These admirers court her in secret, in the safety of their dreams.
nobodyatall's review against another edition
3.0
This is a really nice book. It seems to be somewhere between a collection of short stories and a novel. Separate stories with shared characters and places. The author's tone is very comforting and comfortable to read and can very gently sneak emotions up on you.
Based around a diverse group of women in a California town we see each of them growing up and living with changing attitudes to gender and race and the expectations and judgement of society. This is the kind of really thoughtful book that subtly highlights how easy I can have it as a white male without pushing anything. It's great to see those different viewpoints in a way that is quite easy to connect with.
I didn't finish it thinking "wow, I need to read that again" but I'm glad that I have read it.
Based around a diverse group of women in a California town we see each of them growing up and living with changing attitudes to gender and race and the expectations and judgement of society. This is the kind of really thoughtful book that subtly highlights how easy I can have it as a white male without pushing anything. It's great to see those different viewpoints in a way that is quite easy to connect with.
I didn't finish it thinking "wow, I need to read that again" but I'm glad that I have read it.
lisa_pisa's review against another edition
4.0
Great novel about the many facets of being a woman. The weaving of stories and instructions for how to make a quilt are delightful and engaging
innae's review against another edition
3.0
I quite enjoyed these stories (because it really is a succession of stories about the quilters, interspersed with a story about making the quilt itself). I think Sophia's story was the saddest, although most of the women have sad tales.
this was a quick read, and I am sorry that I had it for so long collecting dust.
this was a quick read, and I am sorry that I had it for so long collecting dust.
chpark012's review against another edition
4.0
Wellllll I actually give this one 3.5-3.75 stars.
It wasn’t amazing, but it was good. The various stories of each of these women’s lives, loves, disappointments, and failures were interesting to explore. The parallels between the binding of parts together in quilting and in marriage was well done. They even addressed this same theme by exploring the challenges of being biracial.
The narrator talks about her apprehension that her single self and her married self can’t be reconciled AND that her life and her fiancé’s life can’t be joined. She attempts to address this by talking about quilting a Crazy Quilt, which is a joining of random themes from these quilters’ lives. All their stories are told... but I just didn’t feel like the “instructions” chapters did a good job of tying the stories together (ironic for a book about tying disparate parts together). The book ended up feeling closer to a collection of short stories.
I still think that this book was worth reading once... but that’s probably it.
It wasn’t amazing, but it was good. The various stories of each of these women’s lives, loves, disappointments, and failures were interesting to explore. The parallels between the binding of parts together in quilting and in marriage was well done. They even addressed this same theme by exploring the challenges of being biracial.
The narrator talks about her apprehension that her single self and her married self can’t be reconciled AND that her life and her fiancé’s life can’t be joined. She attempts to address this by talking about quilting a Crazy Quilt, which is a joining of random themes from these quilters’ lives. All their stories are told... but I just didn’t feel like the “instructions” chapters did a good job of tying the stories together (ironic for a book about tying disparate parts together). The book ended up feeling closer to a collection of short stories.
I still think that this book was worth reading once... but that’s probably it.
laurenleigh's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I did not expect to fall in love with this novel, but here I am! What a gorgeous, heart opening fictional debut. The stories of these women are so touching, even if I’ve never experienced anything close to them. I’m totally struck by Otto’s liberal slant, especially since this was punished in 1991. (Older than me!) I dare say this work is “ahead of its time.” I thought a 30 year-old novel about a quilting circle might be a bit trite, but I realize I’m playing into a lot of ageism there! These grandmas have sex lives, smoke weed, and struggle with war, racism, sexism, classism…the layers to this “story quilt” are beautiful and complex. There is a lot of reference to the quilting process and how it relates to the women’s lives. Someone who knows nothing about quilting would still find the stories just as interesting, but it’s even more special to me and those who work with textiles. Those of us who know their power and their reach. I’m really drawn to Otto’s terse style. I would often stop after a short paragraph and revel in how much was contained in just a few sentences. My instinct would be to write a lot more words, but she shows how much can be said with so little.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity and Cancer
Moderate: Sexual content, Racism, Child death, and War
sarahbowman101's review against another edition
3.0
I look at a lot of book lists to prepare for my book discussion at my library and this one often comes up as a good book to discuss. Which sort of makes me wonder. This is a strange little book with many short sentences. Maybe. To think. There were endless interchangeable characters and I never felt connected. Some of the book is written in second person which instead of making me feel drawn into the story, left me feeling a little bit more disconnected. Watch the movie instead.