Tuesday, October 30, 2012

The Giving Quilt - book giveaway

Earlier this month I was contacted to do a review on The Giving Quilt by Jennifer Chiaverini.  I really enjoyed her last book, Sonoma Rose, and happily said yes to this too.

Photo from amazon
I'm not going to copy the summary sheet that we got, but you can go here to read the synopsis if you would like.

My review may contain some spoilers, so if you just want to enter the giveaway for the book I decided to give those details first.  Please leave a comment with what you are currently reading.  The giveaway will close Friday morning.

On to my review.

The book tells the individual stories of five ladies that have come together for a week to make quilts for project Linus.  I think that Ms. Chiaverini was trying to show how there no matter what your circumstances, there is always something you can do to help.  While I agree with that, I found most of the book to be rather depressing.  All the stories had hope and cheerful elements, but to me there was a thread of sadness through the stories.  The stories did feel real to me though...maybe that's what many lives feel like right now with the economic depression along with the normal sadnesses that can be found in life.   The good news is that things get mostly resolved in the last ten pages, which I found to be a little too convenient.  Overall I'd probably give the book a 2.5 on a scale from 1 to 5, where a 2 is "I'm not sure why I finished that book" and a 3 is "that was a decent book."

The other very minor thing that disappointed me was the front cover.  In the last book I read, Ms. Chiavernin's characters saw lots of different quilt blocks, referred to them by name, and then I could look to see what they looked like on the cover.  In this book the blocks weren't mentioned.  I sort of understand why some of them were shown on the front cover, but some I have no idea.

I was not compensated for this review and all opinions expressed here are (obviously) my own.  If you would like a chance to tell me that it is really a heartwarming story of people overcoming adversity, enter the giveaway! 

9 comments:

  1. I would love to read this book. I have only read the very first book which was the Quilters Apprentice and liked it. Currently, I am reading the Quilters Knot by Arlene Sachitano.

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  2. I have not read any quilt-related fiction before. I am currently in-between books and am trying to figure out what to take with me on my trip.

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  3. I'm currentlly reading an embroidery book - Little Stitches by Anela Hoey. With Christmas sewing in full swing, I can't concentrate on the novel at the side of my bed so I go to stitchery books instead!!

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  4. I am currently reading a book by Dorothy Sayers. I've read several of Jennifer's books, and have enjoyed most of them. I think so many times we tend to give quilts to charity or to help others that have been through difficult situations. I am assuming from your review that this is what this book covers. I'd love to read it. Thanks!

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  5. I'm reading the Jeanne M. Dams mystery series featuring Dorothy Martin. Just finished the 1st in the series & started the 2nd yesterday. Love the Elm Creek series - thanks for the chance to win.

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  6. I've never read any of the Jennifer Chiaverini books although I've seen many different reviews on blogs. I'd love to win one! I'm currently reading The Quilt Chronicles series by Stephanie Grace Whitson.

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  7. Currently I'm reading Under a Wing, by Reeve Lindbergh. Very interesting so far.

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  8. thank you for the chance. I would love to read this book.

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Thanks for commenting...I love seeing what you have to say!