Book of the Week: The Runaway Quilt : An Elm Creek quilts Chiaverini, Jennifer
This book was hard for me to put down. I enjoyed reading this so much. This is the fourth book in the Elm Creek Quilts series, yes this is the first one I have read, and yes I am terrible for going out of sequence. Regardless this book was very good. It made me think and it was fun.
The main character, Sylvia Bergstrom Compson, returns to the family homestead, Elk Creek Manor after her sister Claudia's death. The homestead was a grand old house located near a creek nestled in a small farming community in Pennsylvania. The house became the site of a quilting camp started by Sylvia and her sister years before. Numerous women from all over the country came to learn how to quilt and be taught the importance of a tight stitch and honesty. Groups were paired and set up quilting-bee style forcing the participants to share stories and learn from one another.
Sylvia had moved away 50 years before due to a feud between her older sister Claudia. She loathed the return, fearing only bad memories would flood her thoughts. Yet she found that with the bad memories came fond ones.
The mystery begins with a ratty old quilt a young woman, Margaret, shares with Sylvia at a speaking engagement. Sylvia had made a name for herself in the quilting community and often traveled the country speaking to quilting groups. The young woman begins to stir curiosity with her "elm creek quilt". Margaret's quilt forces memories of a hope chest into Sylvia's mind. A chest that she has a key to that is hidden in the attic of her homestead. Sylvia discovers a dusty old trunk containing her great-aunt Gerda's memoirs and three mysterious quilts. As Sylvia reads her great-aunt's memoirs she learns of the past mistakes of her grandparents. The truth began to cause her to feel less proud of her family, and herself.
Her partner Andrew, the man she loves yet she will not admit, is her source of strength during her low moments. Throughout the story his goal is to marry her, yet she constantly pushes him away. I cannot understand Sylvia's disdain for being married. She constantly avoided Andrew and his affection. How terrible to think people to such things to others they love. Why was she so afraid to marry him? What was she going to lose? What causes people to do that?
After reading this book I am left to wonder about my own family. What are their secrets? Would I be proud or ashamed of them. What kind of people were they? Did my great-grandmothers have the same thoughts as I? So much to think about.
The main character, Sylvia Bergstrom Compson, returns to the family homestead, Elk Creek Manor after her sister Claudia's death. The homestead was a grand old house located near a creek nestled in a small farming community in Pennsylvania. The house became the site of a quilting camp started by Sylvia and her sister years before. Numerous women from all over the country came to learn how to quilt and be taught the importance of a tight stitch and honesty. Groups were paired and set up quilting-bee style forcing the participants to share stories and learn from one another.
Sylvia had moved away 50 years before due to a feud between her older sister Claudia. She loathed the return, fearing only bad memories would flood her thoughts. Yet she found that with the bad memories came fond ones.
The mystery begins with a ratty old quilt a young woman, Margaret, shares with Sylvia at a speaking engagement. Sylvia had made a name for herself in the quilting community and often traveled the country speaking to quilting groups. The young woman begins to stir curiosity with her "elm creek quilt". Margaret's quilt forces memories of a hope chest into Sylvia's mind. A chest that she has a key to that is hidden in the attic of her homestead. Sylvia discovers a dusty old trunk containing her great-aunt Gerda's memoirs and three mysterious quilts. As Sylvia reads her great-aunt's memoirs she learns of the past mistakes of her grandparents. The truth began to cause her to feel less proud of her family, and herself.
Her partner Andrew, the man she loves yet she will not admit, is her source of strength during her low moments. Throughout the story his goal is to marry her, yet she constantly pushes him away. I cannot understand Sylvia's disdain for being married. She constantly avoided Andrew and his affection. How terrible to think people to such things to others they love. Why was she so afraid to marry him? What was she going to lose? What causes people to do that?
After reading this book I am left to wonder about my own family. What are their secrets? Would I be proud or ashamed of them. What kind of people were they? Did my great-grandmothers have the same thoughts as I? So much to think about.
posted by Wild Librarian | 9:33 PM
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