Customer Reviews

The Christmas Quilt (Elm Creek Quilts Series #8)

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(12)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

After five decades away from Elm Creek Manor, the estranged Sylvia Compson returned home too late make any amends with her deceased Bergstrom relatives. Now Christmas is coming, but the septuagenarian does not feel like celebrating her first Yuletide in her family home in fifty years.

Her quilting camp partner Sarah McClure and the youngster's spouse orchards gardener Matt plan to celebrate Yuletide at Elm Creek. Sarah feels some guilt that she is not going to visit her family, but believes the fault lies with her mother who overtly displays her loathing of Matt. Sarah persuades a reluctant Sylvia to go into the attic to look at the holiday ornaments where they find an unfinished Christmas quilt and the memories of the joys in spite of the Depression; the depression of loved ones dying during World War II, and much more. Sylvia regrets her stubbornness that is too late to mend fences and pleads with Sarah to square things with her mother.

Though fans of the Elm Creek Quilt series might be a bit confused as to the timing as this entry occurs before Sylvia marries Andrew (see last year's THE MASTER QUILTER), long time readers will enjoy the latest tale. The somewhat sugary story line contains a deep message that there is no time in life to hold grudges. Sarah is terrific as the attic mementos have her looking back on the joys, tragedies, and mistakes in her life. Though suited for those in the audience who have read most of the previous novels (memories will mean much more) because some newcomers might have some problems with what happened to whom, Jennifer Chiaverini provides a warm holiday tale that adds to the Elm Creek manor saga.

Harriet Klausner

Every year at this time I look forward to reading a couple of good holiday books. So it was with some great anticipation that I picked up A Christmas Quilt by Jennifer Chiaverini. What could be better than a cup of hot tea on a cold winter's day here in the Northeast and visiting with my old friends at Elm Creek? But instead my tea grew cold as I found myself somewhere in between two books merely rehashing what I read in previous books. I imagine if I never read any of the other books I would run to read them but having read all of them I was disappointed in this small book. I would hate to think that the author like so many others churned out this book in an attempt to cash in at holiday time with a small offering based on their other books.

Because I enjoyed the other books so much and this did have its moments, I found out about the Bergstorm tradition of choosing each year's Christmas tree, I did rate it with a B. But my take on it is to read the other books in this series and save this one if you have nothing else to read. Final words a rehash and repetitive and lacked the feelings of the women I hoped to visit with for the holidays.

I must say I really agree with the reviewer who remarks that these novels are a guilty pleasure, they aren't the strongest written books, and yet I have been reading them compulsively. I while I enjoyed the ones with a historical bias at first, I find that I am more drawn to the modern ones lately. I looked at this one for several days before deciding to read it and I do wish I wasn't so addicted to them because I found this one a disappointment in the way the others weren't.

The conflict of generations - Sylvia in her 80's and wise but a little jaded, against Sarah her assistant in her 20's and bouyed by enthusiasm for Christmas and the holiday traditions. I just felt this had been written to take advantage of the American Christmas book market and not really with a strong story to bind it.

The whole issue of the bergstrom strudel recipe was uncompelling. I read and I enjoyed - but it was more of a flick through to finish it rather than deep enjoyment as I have with many of the others.

I have to say though that the reading of these novels has really inspired a love of quilting - well at least in theory, I have been getting out books on the library on quilting, and finally learned what pineapple quilting is, along with dozens of quilting blocks and their names. It is rather nice to have that background knowledge even if I have no real ability.

The only thing that puzzles me is that Sylvia with all her love of quilting, and historical quilts, why does she allow all these ancient quilts to be stored in the attic and not get them down?

The was a great book... it gave such insight into so many generations. It reminds us of the importance of family and traditions... as well as giving "simple gifts" of love and joy. My only complaint is that I finished it too soon. It is a must read!!!

Christmas is a fine time for a bit of nostalgia. A time for looking back on family now gone. Ms. Chiaverini uses her knowledge of the mental attitudes of quilters to bring back to life some of our favorite characters from the past books.

The opening of the boxes of old Christmas ornaments brings out one of her favorite aids to story telling, an unfinished Christmas quilt. The quilt had been started by great-aunt Lucinda and her mother and remains unfinished and basically forgotten until now.

Among the memories the quilt brings back is that of the rivalry, arguments, friction that existed between Sylvia and her sister Claudia. Claudia is now gone, and Sylvia realizes that she has missed something important that cannot be regained. She sees young Sarah making some of the same mistakes, but realizes that there is still time for them to get together before time pulls them apart forever.

That Ms. Chiaverini can pull this off without having the book turn sugar sweet is a tribute to her growing capabilities as a novelist.

My wife had read all of the previous Jennifer Chiaverini " Quilt" novels, and has loved every one. When I saw that the Christmas Quilt was in the bookstore I check with the reviews posted in Amazon prior to buying it. It was a gift after all.
I wasn't sure after reading some of the reviews whether I should buy it or not. It really is a small book but she had loved all of Chiaverini's previous books so I took a chance.
From the time she unwrapped it until she finished it all she did was rave at how good it was and how it filled in some blanks in previous stories. My wife loved it very much and asked me to write this review to let others know who wonderful this book is.
So my best advice it to pick this small book up for a quick read and get lost in the world that the author quilts up in each of her books.

I always try to read a holiday novel in November to help psych me up for Christmas. I had heard of this series before but had not read any of the other novels. I wondered if I would understand the book without any other background information. It wasn't a problem at all. This book can definitely stand on its own. The author was great at combining mystery, historical fiction, family drama and accurate quilting details into a heartwarming novel that is quick to read. It will leave you feeling thankful for your family and family traditions and maybe spur you into starting some new traditions. Now to order the other books from this series and start from the beginning...

Another wonderful book from Jennifer Chiaverini. I wanted to save mine to read until Christmas Eve but I could not resist peeking at the first page and after that I was hooked until the end. I loved the way Sylvia's memories trace the Christmas traditions of the Bergstrom family. I hope this is the start of a two-book-a-year trend from Jennifer, because I can't wait a whole year in between visits to Elm Creek Manor!

I haven't read any of the others in this series. This book caught my eye at the library because I was looking for a Christmas story and I enjoy quilting. It was an absolutely wonderful book about the importance of family. It has an important message for any time of year. It spanned several generations and I enjoyed the flashbacks to the Depression and World War II era. It was a page-turner and I loved every minute of it. I wished it had last longer!

I enjoy all of Jennifer Chiaverini's novels. New readers to the Elmcreek Quilt novels will be able to read The Christmas Quilt before the other books in the series because the story takes place after The Quilter's Apprentice (first in the series). Those who enjoy well-written fiction will love this novel.