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3.64 AVERAGE
3.64 AVERAGE
Well, this was a Godawful book. I was looking for an easy, cozy read, but not one whose plots made me want to throw the book into the nearest bonfire. The big reveal three-fourths into the book? Come on now, that's just lazy. Now, don't get me wrong, I like the occasional Hallmark movie that I know the plot of before I even turn the movie on, but the characters here were just insultingly stupid and Star and Jan, the most 'hardened' of the characters, rang so false it made my teeth hurt. There were tiny bits of real feeling in the story that made me hope the book would get better, stuff that rang true, only to be hammered down by stupid in the pages to follow. I'm pretty easy going on books, but man was this bad.
The Half-Stitched Amish Quilting Club by Wanda Brunstetter is the first book in a charming trilogy. Emma Yoder is a widow who doesn’t not wish to rely on her children to pay her bills. Emma has decided to host quilting classes. She is surprised at the diverse group of people who sign up for her first class. Jan Sweet, Paul Ramirez, Star Stephens, Pam and Stuart Johnston, and Ruby Lee Williams are her first students. Each person signed up for a different reason and it looks like it will be an interesting six weeks. They learn to stitch fabric together into a beautiful wall hanging, but, along the way, they gain friends and new insights. God has his reasons for bringing them together.
The Half-Stitched Amish Quilting Club is a heartwarming and engaging story. I was immediately drawn into the book with the writing. Ms. Brunstetter has a way of capturing my attention and keeping it until the very last page. I enjoyed the varied group of characters in the story. Seven dissimilar people brought together. Each individual has a problem in their life and the group provides a safe place for them to talk. I like that we get to know each character and their struggle (or life complication). The Half-Stitched Amish Quilting Club has a steady pace and the transitions between sections are smooth. The star of the book is Emma. She is a sweet, caring woman who is adjusting to life without her husband, Ivan. Emma is not sure what to make of her neighbor, Lamar who keeps stopping by. Is she ready for a second chance at love? There are lovely life lessons in this book. Forgiveness, communication, having faith, trust, being true to yourself are just a couple. The Christian element is present, but it is not overpowering. The author weaved it beautifully into her story. I am eager to read the next book in The Half-Stitched Amish Quilting Club Trilogy. If you are looking for a light, uplifting novel, then look no further than The Half-Stitched Amish Quilting Club.
The Half-Stitched Amish Quilting Club is a heartwarming and engaging story. I was immediately drawn into the book with the writing. Ms. Brunstetter has a way of capturing my attention and keeping it until the very last page. I enjoyed the varied group of characters in the story. Seven dissimilar people brought together. Each individual has a problem in their life and the group provides a safe place for them to talk. I like that we get to know each character and their struggle (or life complication). The Half-Stitched Amish Quilting Club has a steady pace and the transitions between sections are smooth. The star of the book is Emma. She is a sweet, caring woman who is adjusting to life without her husband, Ivan. Emma is not sure what to make of her neighbor, Lamar who keeps stopping by. Is she ready for a second chance at love? There are lovely life lessons in this book. Forgiveness, communication, having faith, trust, being true to yourself are just a couple. The Christian element is present, but it is not overpowering. The author weaved it beautifully into her story. I am eager to read the next book in The Half-Stitched Amish Quilting Club Trilogy. If you are looking for a light, uplifting novel, then look no further than The Half-Stitched Amish Quilting Club.
The Half-Stitched Amish Quilting Club by Wanda E. Brunstetter
Emma hopes to share her love of quilting as she teaches strangers how to quilt.
Since her husband had passed away over a year ago, her daughter and all the
children had sent money back home to help with the finances. Emma hoped to supplement
the income by selling her quilting items. She placed an ad around town and got
one that wanted to learn. She outlined what she'd need to teach them.
The way the author introduces the people who will be attending the classes is done makes
it easy to keep them straight, as to who they are and what they do for work.
Paul is the 2nd grade teacher and his wife has passed away and he takes care of the little girl. Thanks to his sister she invites them for dinner often.
Ruby Lee is the pastors wife and she needs something else to do besides choir and things at the church.
Beatrice/Star found a letter from her grandmother and it was for quilting class, already paid for.
Star was writing song lyrics and had piercings and dyed hair.
Pam and Stuarts marriage counselor said they should do something that the other does already. She's been fishing with him 2 times now, so it's now his turn to learn quilting with her.
Jan was a biker who got caught speeding, lost his license and now his PO wanted him to take up something to unleash his creative abilities and maybe help him relax. He is a roofer and notices the ad at the store.
They all see or hear about the ad for quilting lessons and get signed up.
Verses of scripture are throughout the book.
The people in the group start talking about losses of their loved ones and many chimed in with their grief.
Others spoke to console them and to just listen. Other weeks there are different topics and all talk about their problem and/or how to overcome them.
Love the quilting itself, Emma is easy to understand.
Recipe for angel cake is included!
Emma hopes to share her love of quilting as she teaches strangers how to quilt.
Since her husband had passed away over a year ago, her daughter and all the
children had sent money back home to help with the finances. Emma hoped to supplement
the income by selling her quilting items. She placed an ad around town and got
one that wanted to learn. She outlined what she'd need to teach them.
The way the author introduces the people who will be attending the classes is done makes
it easy to keep them straight, as to who they are and what they do for work.
Paul is the 2nd grade teacher and his wife has passed away and he takes care of the little girl. Thanks to his sister she invites them for dinner often.
Ruby Lee is the pastors wife and she needs something else to do besides choir and things at the church.
Beatrice/Star found a letter from her grandmother and it was for quilting class, already paid for.
Star was writing song lyrics and had piercings and dyed hair.
Pam and Stuarts marriage counselor said they should do something that the other does already. She's been fishing with him 2 times now, so it's now his turn to learn quilting with her.
Jan was a biker who got caught speeding, lost his license and now his PO wanted him to take up something to unleash his creative abilities and maybe help him relax. He is a roofer and notices the ad at the store.
They all see or hear about the ad for quilting lessons and get signed up.
Verses of scripture are throughout the book.
The people in the group start talking about losses of their loved ones and many chimed in with their grief.
Others spoke to console them and to just listen. Other weeks there are different topics and all talk about their problem and/or how to overcome them.
Love the quilting itself, Emma is easy to understand.
Recipe for angel cake is included!
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
Read in June 2017 and September 2023.
Per My Original Review, I still feel the same way about this book.
Rating: 5 Stars!!
Review:
This is my 2nd Time Reading this book in the series cause i won it from a contest on the authors Facebook Page.
Loved it as much this time around as it did the 1st time i read it. Star was my favorite character and i loved how it was set during a Quilting Class ESPECIALLY since My Grandma taught me how to quilt when i was a teen. I only wish she was here to read this story with me because i think she'd really enjoy it as much i did.
Per My Original Review, I still feel the same way about this book.
Rating: 5 Stars!!
Review:
This is my 2nd Time Reading this book in the series cause i won it from a contest on the authors Facebook Page.
Loved it as much this time around as it did the 1st time i read it. Star was my favorite character and i loved how it was set during a Quilting Class ESPECIALLY since My Grandma taught me how to quilt when i was a teen. I only wish she was here to read this story with me because i think she'd really enjoy it as much i did.
4.5 stars. Wanda E. Brunstetter’s The Half-Stitched Amish Quilting Club is a heartwarming story about six very different people who learn as much as about themselves as they do about quilting when they sign up for Emma Yoder’s quilting class.To read my review in its entirety, please visit http://www.bookreviewsandmorebykathy.com/2012/04/03/the-half-stitched-amish-quilting-club/
This was such a good book, each person in the quilting group came away with so much more than a quilted wall hanging. A beautiful story of friendships, family, finding love again and community. Would recommend to anyone who loves quilting, sewing or Amish books.
Such a beautiful story about finding family you didn’t know you had, appreciating what you do have and sticking through things during the hard times. Like the previous book the new students also are battling though their own struggles and challenges in life. The quilting group bought another unlikely bunch of people together.
Anyone familiar with Wanda E. Brunstetter’s vast body of work will not be disappointed by her latest novel, The Half-Stitched Amish Quilting Club, in which she takes a patchwork cast of characters and weaves them together into a beautiful work of art.
At the outset, readers are introduced to Emma Yoder, an Amish widow who has decided to teach a quilting class in order to supplement her income. This class is comprised of six very different individuals, who would never have associated with each other in their regular lives – with the exception of a married couple who are barely associating with each other anyway. As the story ensues, relationships are formed, bonds are discovered and lasting memories are created.
The journeys undertaken by each character throughout the pages of this novel and how they affect everyone else, reminds us of how interconnected we are as human beings. While some of the characters are Christian, others are not; yet everyone experiences moments of faith and hope as well as doubt and despair. Many are dealing with loss and grief and they are able to find comfort in each other.
Brunstetter’s writing evokes a cozy country atmosphere in which neighbours look out for each other and family values are reflected in the wider community. Although it takes place in northern Indiana, USA, this resident of rural Ontario, Canada, can certainly relate to the small-town touches in the narrative.
Thought-provoking discussion questions make this edition a perfect choice for a book club. As readers explore the reactions of the various characters to their circumstances, they can articulate their own views on issues revolving around marriage, childhood, and parenthood.
The Half-Stitched Amish Quilting Club has moments of humour and lighthearted fun while also being cathartic and inspirational. Everyone will be able to identify with at least one of the characters – if not more – and to root for them as the pieces of their stories are stitched together. As an added bit of indulgence, one can always whip up a batch of Emma Yoder’s Angel Cream Pie – the recipe enjoyed by the characters is available at the back of the book.
At the outset, readers are introduced to Emma Yoder, an Amish widow who has decided to teach a quilting class in order to supplement her income. This class is comprised of six very different individuals, who would never have associated with each other in their regular lives – with the exception of a married couple who are barely associating with each other anyway. As the story ensues, relationships are formed, bonds are discovered and lasting memories are created.
The journeys undertaken by each character throughout the pages of this novel and how they affect everyone else, reminds us of how interconnected we are as human beings. While some of the characters are Christian, others are not; yet everyone experiences moments of faith and hope as well as doubt and despair. Many are dealing with loss and grief and they are able to find comfort in each other.
Brunstetter’s writing evokes a cozy country atmosphere in which neighbours look out for each other and family values are reflected in the wider community. Although it takes place in northern Indiana, USA, this resident of rural Ontario, Canada, can certainly relate to the small-town touches in the narrative.
Thought-provoking discussion questions make this edition a perfect choice for a book club. As readers explore the reactions of the various characters to their circumstances, they can articulate their own views on issues revolving around marriage, childhood, and parenthood.
The Half-Stitched Amish Quilting Club has moments of humour and lighthearted fun while also being cathartic and inspirational. Everyone will be able to identify with at least one of the characters – if not more – and to root for them as the pieces of their stories are stitched together. As an added bit of indulgence, one can always whip up a batch of Emma Yoder’s Angel Cream Pie – the recipe enjoyed by the characters is available at the back of the book.
Didn't like the style of writing, but enjoyed the book. On to the second one in the series!