THE QUILTER'S HOMECOMING by Jennifer Chiaverini

 I am writing this though I am only half way through the book because it has taken me a while to actually get into THE QUILTER’S HOMECOMING by Jennifer Chiaverini and I just reached the point in which I am looking forward to the next page. There seems to be two unique narrative occurring with people I know from previous individuals in the series and people I don’t know, it took me a while to adjust to the way the plot was being revealed. 

The story unfolds around 1920 with Elizabeth and Henry, characters I am familiar with from the Elm Street Quilt series, preparing  to move west but then the story goes back in time, around the 1870’s, and I am introduced to Isabel and her grandparents. As the storyline regarding Isabel moves progresses in time Isabel does not know Elizabeth thus Iknow they have to meet but not yet.

And, I don’t like Elizabeth, the main character. Why? Her personality, based on what I read in the series, is not meeting my opinion. 

I am two-thirds of the way through the book and things are starting to come together, I still am not fond of Elizabeth. But a character that was introduced at the beginning of the book is now in the picture. She was interesting then, let’s see what happens now? This is not our standard Elm Creek Quilting story line, for sure.

Midway through the book I wanted to learn more about Isabel and was guessing how Rosa would fit into the plot. I began to accept Elizabeth as a necessary ‘evil’, to be fair she was not a bad person. The good news: things were starting to make sense. 

It was around two-thirds of the way in the book that I realized what my problem was. This was not  traditional  Elm Street Manor novel, it was about someone who left Elm Street Manor. TOf course the lifestyle and people would be different, this is why this book is good and why Jennifer Chiaverini is such a phenomenal writer. Fromm the moment I started reading I knew I had to finish the story, I was not disappointed in the end

The book reads like a mystery that, but it is not a mystery, you may solve the who, what, and why. But in the back of your mind you may be wondering: WHEN? When is Elizabeth going home? After all the book is called:  THE QUILTER’S HOMECOMING? Elizabeth makes quilts and Henry said she was going home. I finally got it on page 309, the last page! The book is like a jigsaw puzzle, it is not really finished until you put the last piece in, it is that last piece that helps you see that the homecoming.  Yes, I recommend this book. You will like Elizabeth. 

FOOTNOTE: As in with many of her books the author takes on an issue that affects women. This book addresses abuse.

Written by Marsha L Floyd

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

THE QUILT by T Davis Bunn

 

THE QUILT by T. Davis Bunn, an audio book with my “name on it”. It was a few minutes short of 2 hours to listen to and every second was inspirational. The story reminded me of a book I read as a child: Stone Soup, there are many variations of this theme including woven (pun  intended) within this story. Stone Soup is a short story about someone one preparing a meal and places a stone in a big pot of boiling water, slowly but surely the neighbors came and added ingredients, in the end thre was enough soup to feed the entire village.

THE QUILT is a story of an old woman with severe arthritis who wants to make one last quilt because God told her to. 

The book is inspirational, motivational and full of faith. I needed to hear this story because I am facing challenges that I can overcome but I need to disregard what “they” say just like the main character in this novelette did. 

This book is about having faith in the process. 

Written by Marsha L Floyd

THE RUNAWAY QUILT by Jennifer Chiaverini

Now she has gone and done it! Author Jennifer Chiaverini has introduced America’s ugly history with The Runaway Quilt (2002). But like all of her other books in this series, she shares with the reader just what needs to be known to complete the novel. Most readers are aware of abolitionist in times of slavery, they know that hundreds of black men, women and children attempted to escape and they know that their was this thing called the underground railroad; in addition, most people are aware that quilts played a key roll in the underground railroad. 

Sylvia, The Elm Street quilters and a woman named Gerda are the basis of this novel.  What I have learned thus far, Jennifer Chiaverini has a way of introducing new characters in one book that play important rolls in the next. (Gerda will visit again!)

Now, don’t think this book is all about slavery and the underground railroad, it’s not.Life goes on outside of Elm Creek, thus: the journey continues!

One of my take- away’s form this book was the importance of appreciating the elder members of your family. There is more to a family history than the date of birth and date of death. Even the elders in the community of family origin may be able to shed a story or two. 

Another take-away from this Historical Fiction is the significance of quilting throughout history. 

Yes, life still goes on within the Elm Street quilters community. 

Written by Marsha L Floyd