A Quilter's Holiday

Customer Reviews

• Great for series fans!  Nov 4, 2009 (5 of 5 found this helpful)

  As a long-time series fan, I really enjoyed this latest edition to the Elm Creek novels. I'd give 4.5 stars, if that was a choice. The quilters gather to spend the day after Thanksgiving at Elm Creek Manor, to devote the day to quilting and togetherness. They celebrate their friendship as they individually struggle with family, life and relationship issues. There's also a lot of great, interesting description of holiday traditions from different cultures. I was impressed that Chiaverini didn't shy away from conflict or controversy, both within the characters' lives and in the larger world that influences them. It's a poignant reminder to find joy and comfort in life, while keeping awareness of those who are suffering. Plus, it takes a novel that could easily have sold just as feel-good fluff and challenges both author and readers.
  
  I haven't always thought much of these "holiday" books (like "The Christmas Quilt" or "The New Year's Quilt") which contained a lot of recycled material from Chiaverini's other novels. "The Quilter's Holiday" has just a touch of review material, but it is integrated well (and not too long). I was glad to see the storylines of the main circle of Elm Creek Quilters move forward.

• fine character driven tale of friendship  Nov 7, 2009 (2 of 2 found this helpful)

  Every year on the Friday after Thanksgiving, the Elm Street Quilters gather to spend time with friends stitching gifts for loved ones. This year is special as each person creates a quilting block to add to the cornucopia that symbolizes what they are most pleased about. The event is a success but a snowstorm threatens to strand everyone at Em Court Manor.
  
  Diane leaves anyway, but ends up stranded with a chargeless cell phone. Sylvia who once was the sole owner of Elm Creek Manor hopes that Summer, a founder of Elm Creek Quilts, has found through research her blood relatives living in California. Sarah, another founding mother of Elm Creek Quilts, learns her husband will not be there for her pregnancy because his father needs him to run the family business. Anna the manor's chef tells Jeremy , the boyfriend of another founding mother, that she loves him even as he is driving to the dorm of his girlfriend Summer. Gretchen seeks a cause to serve. Gwen misses her daughter Summer while finishing a quilt to thank the person responsible for giving her mentor a bone marrow transplant. Quilters unable to come are missed but remembered.
  
  More a series of vignettes that update the quilters' lives especially their personal problems; this novel targets the fans of Elm Creek Quilts. This novel will leave readers laughing, crying and empathizing with the woes of the quilters. Fans will relish this entry but to learn what happens to the Quilters and their staff the audience will need to continue with the next saga. For the Elm Creek Manor horde, Jennifer Chiaverini stitches a fine character driven tale of friendship.
  
  Harriet Klausner
  
  

• Another holiday visit to Elm Creek, Pa.  Nov 14, 2009 (1 of 1 found this helpful)

  The Elm Creek quilters have come together for what has become a new tradition. They return to the Manor on the day after Thanksgiving to work on quilting projects for Christmas presents. (No Black Friday mall shopping for *them*.) A heavy snowstorm develops while they work, threatening to strand the non-residents along with the three couples who make the Manor their home.
  
  Into the converted ballroom they converge: Sarah, Diane, Sylvia, Anna, Gretchen, and Gwen. Along with Agnes and Carol, the quilters work on their individual crafts. They may be sharing the same room; but each woman becomes lost in thought, as so often happens when focusing on creations with needle and thread. Each quilter is quietly dealing with a personal challenge or a real-life dilemma, often questioning her own emotions or judgment in the situation. Allowing us to delve into their lives gives these women depth as characters. The group dynamic that they project is quite different from who they are as individual personalities.
  
  Ms. Chiaverini gives attention to the six main quilters by devoting a chapter to each one, offering the woman's own perspective on the events of the day and on her personal life. The concluding chapter offers some kind of resolution to each problem, as best as it can. These are women in various stages of life who find themselves in a variety of situations. At least one is apt to resound with the reader. While being able to witness what everyone is thinking is a treat, it seems a bit forced at times. How often does someone really think about her complete backstory in the course of one afternoon? Yet some of the information is new and interesting and helps to explain what their lives are like, away from the Manor and the Elm Creek quilt classes.
  
  Fans of the series should of course appreciate any book that continues the story. Anyone who jumps into the fray at this point will wonder about some past events that are referenced but are not fully explained. Perhaps the most intriguing development has to do with Sylvia's favorite cousin, Elizabeth. I can't wait to learn the rest of the story on that topic.

• The Quilter's Holiday  Nov 9, 2009 (1 of 1 found this helpful)

  I love Jennifer's writing, but this book is a bit redundant. It's kind of the same as many of her other books. Not as interesting as some of her earlier books. I love the more historical ones that focus on only a few characters. I will keep it, because I have all of her books. If I was not collecting her I would just pass it on to someone else. Probably not a re-read book.

• Perfect for the season (Thanksgiving/Christmas)  Nov 19, 2009 

  I am a faithful reader of the Elm Creek Quilt books. While different from each other, I have enjoyed them all and look forward to each installment. I was pleasantly surprised to find out there was a holiday themed book coming out this year and immediately picked it up.
  
  The setting is the Friday after Thanksgiving which is the "official" kickoff to the quilting season. As is their tradition, the quilters gather at Elm Creek manor to share their holiday leftovers in a pitch-in meal and to work on quilting projects for Christmas. The book is a combination of Thanksgiving and Christmas traditions so perfect to read close to Thanksgiving and will get the reader in the mood for Christmas and all its festivities.
  
  For me, this was the perfect holiday book. It's 278 (small) pages since the book itself is small but it packs quite a lot in. Many holiday books are just way too light and fluffy for me or they go the other way and make fun of the season which I don't particularly like. This was wonderful! There is substantial "stuff" that happens in the novel with the Elm Creek Quilter's stories advancing or finding out about past experiences but there were also some life lessons learned by the quilters as the experience the two days immediately following Thanksgiving. Ms. Chiaverini continues to be one of my favorite authors due to her ability to bring the characters to life and make me care about them all, even the ones that have traits I find irritating.
  
  If you are a fan of the series, please pick this up and snuggle in for a great read. If you haven't read any of them yet, it's strong enough to stand independently of the others, but I think you'll want to go back and catch up. I have recommended this series to several people, two of whom have taken me up on it and read them all -- and loved them too!
  
  Festive holiday read -- highly recommended.