Helpful Score: 3
I am so in agreement with Cynthia; while I have thoroughly enjoyed the Elm Creek series, enough already with the slavery issue. It is a very dark (no pun intended) period of American history and for the most part one that does not need to be dredged up over and over, especially when you consider that pretty much everything you read about the so called "Underground Quilts" has been proven by scholars to be a fanciful figment of overworked imaginations. Like so much of the Elm Creek series when it comes to the slavery parts, romantic, fanciful nonsense.
I am a Black quilter and fabric store owner and, having lived in a house that was purported to have been a stop on the Underground Railroad, I have done a lot of research on the Underground Quilts and, as romantic a notion as it is, there is a lot of evidence that says it just ain't so. It seems to be a badly misguided attempt by many people to put an pretty dress on an ugly child. The same seems to be true with the Lost Quilter.
I am a Black quilter and fabric store owner and, having lived in a house that was purported to have been a stop on the Underground Railroad, I have done a lot of research on the Underground Quilts and, as romantic a notion as it is, there is a lot of evidence that says it just ain't so. It seems to be a badly misguided attempt by many people to put an pretty dress on an ugly child. The same seems to be true with the Lost Quilter.
Pamela C. (pj-s-bookcorner) reviewed The Lost Quilter (Elm Creek Quilts, Bk 14) on + 885 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
I've read all but one of the books in this series, and I believe this one is one of my favorites. As in all Chiaverini's books, I love her character development. This books goes back in the Elm Creek history to the runaway slave that was harbored pre-Civil War. It follows her life's story thru the end of the Civil War. Excellent!!!!!
Melissa B. (melissaab) reviewed The Lost Quilter (Elm Creek Quilts, Bk 14) on + 38 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
I really enjoyed this book. I was able to finish it very quickly and was disappointed when I came to the end. I did not realize it was so far into the series. I have not read any of the other books but I will look them up now. I do recommend this book to others!
Helpful Score: 1
Greatly enjoyed the continuation of the family's story. Historical novels have always been some of my favorite reading material. Would suggest to anyone who has an interest in the Civil War, slavery or quilting!
Helpful Score: 1
Up to this point, I have enjoyed every one of the Elm Creek Quilt novels, but I certainly hope that Chiaverini is done with her slavery-themed books. Could she have included any more stereotypical anti-Southern characters and characteristics in a single work? In the final pages, she writes, "There had been hundreds, even thousands, of such remarkable women in every era," yet not one of the Southern women of the mid-1800's of whom Chiaverini writes bears the least of any redeeming feature. May the last sentence of the book be true: "a quest that seemed, at last, to have reached its end." This reader hopes Chiaverini's 'quest' to vilify is all things Southern and to sanctify all things Northern is at its end as well. Maybe she will now take on the mine, mill and factory owners of the North who enslaved the Northern poor way beyond 1865.
This is a story fans of this series have been waiting for. In the 4th book of this series "The Runaway Quilt" we learned that Sylvia Bergstrom's ancestors had sheltered a pregnant runaway slave Joanna, until she was found by slave catchers. In this story an heirloom quilt is found that has Elm Creek Manor quilted into the background.
In this 14th installment to the series we get to hear Joanna's story. This story is truly heart wrenching as you hear the stories of slaves before the Civil War, the beatings, slaves being sold away from their families, children ripped from their mother's arms. Thoughout the entire ordeal Joanna dreams of running away again and is working on a quilt to help her remember her way back to Elm Creek Manor.
The book starts in current time with a bunch of letters found in an old family desk that has lived in the attic of the Manor for years. I won't tell you how it ends, but you will not want to put this book down until you reach the last page.
I loved the way Jennifer reminded us of the purpose of the quilts made in the mid 1800's until the end of the Civil War as they were used by the Underground Railway to help slaves to freedom. Today we make quilts to decorate our homes and beds, to celebrate great occasions, to give to charity or just for our pure enjoyment. It is important to have stories like "The Lost Quilter" to remind us of our history and show us how far we have come.
Jennifer has 2 more books in the series that our on my Wish List. "A Quilter's Holiday" which was released in November 2009 and "The Aloha Quilt" was is set to be released in April 2010. Jennifer has also released 4 books of quilting patterns based on the Elm Creek Series an she she has her own fabric collection made by Red Rooster Fabrics. To find out more about this wonderful author you can check out her website http://elmcreek.net/index.php
http://dollycas.blogspot.com/
In this 14th installment to the series we get to hear Joanna's story. This story is truly heart wrenching as you hear the stories of slaves before the Civil War, the beatings, slaves being sold away from their families, children ripped from their mother's arms. Thoughout the entire ordeal Joanna dreams of running away again and is working on a quilt to help her remember her way back to Elm Creek Manor.
The book starts in current time with a bunch of letters found in an old family desk that has lived in the attic of the Manor for years. I won't tell you how it ends, but you will not want to put this book down until you reach the last page.
I loved the way Jennifer reminded us of the purpose of the quilts made in the mid 1800's until the end of the Civil War as they were used by the Underground Railway to help slaves to freedom. Today we make quilts to decorate our homes and beds, to celebrate great occasions, to give to charity or just for our pure enjoyment. It is important to have stories like "The Lost Quilter" to remind us of our history and show us how far we have come.
Jennifer has 2 more books in the series that our on my Wish List. "A Quilter's Holiday" which was released in November 2009 and "The Aloha Quilt" was is set to be released in April 2010. Jennifer has also released 4 books of quilting patterns based on the Elm Creek Series an she she has her own fabric collection made by Red Rooster Fabrics. To find out more about this wonderful author you can check out her website http://elmcreek.net/index.php
http://dollycas.blogspot.com/
Excellent and powerful story of Joanna, a slave and quilter/seamstress, whose marvelous quilt survives and tells of her life and legacy. Heartbreaking at times, but a must read.
SALLY W. (thameslink) -
First off, let me say that this is my favourite of all the Elm Creek Quilters books! Totally absorbing story of Joanna, the runaway slave of "The Runaway Quilt". Quick, satisfying read that I found impossible to put down. Good historical fiction in addition to being a very worthy installment of Elm Creek Quilts. Highly recommend and you do not have to be a quilter to enjoy this story or any of the others in the series.
Elizabeth H. (willowandholly) reviewed The Lost Quilter (Elm Creek Quilts, Bk 14) on + 56 more book reviews
Quick read - enjoyed the historical perspective and followup to the story of Joanne
