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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The entertaining, original and engaging story of Flora Adams, March 3, 2006
This review is from: Crazy Quilt: A Novel (Paperback)
Crazy Quilt by Paula Paul is the entertaining, original and engaging story of Flora Adams, a cancer patient who, in the midst of a recuperation leave, stumbles upon an old man who becomes both an annoyance and an infatuation to her. Readers will be delighted as author and former journalist Paula Paul's intricate plot and an amusing spectra of characters ranging from Jillian, a young punk-rocker, to James Willie, the Texas town's sheriff. Enthusiastically recommended reading, Crazy Quilt is superbly crafted, fun and entertaining novel.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Crazy Quilt Has Own Logic, February 10, 2006
This review is from: Crazy Quilt: A Novel (Paperback)
Flora Adams' cancer treatment is over. Minus a breast and hair, she refuses to face the fear that her tumor might return. Her husband offers no support, but she cannot accept that her disfigurment is adding more stress to her already shaky marriage. So she runs from her Albuquerque home, supposedly to visit an aunt in Lubbock, Texas. In reality Flora isn't sure where she's going. She finds herself in Muleshoe, a town near the New Mexico border. There, for reasons she can't quite understand, she searches out the old ranch house where she grew up. The house isn't there. Instead, a crusty old man named Mac inhabits a shack on the land, now owned by a large corporation. In fact, as Flora arrives, Harley, a man in the company's employ, tries to drive her and Mac away. Drawn to Mac, Flora begins to protect him. Sooin, she meets old friends, including a high school flame, James Willy, now the local sheriff. Then comes Jillian, Mac's great granddaughter cast off by her own mother.
The unlikely group has a strange effect on Flora, her self confidence, her marriage, and her fear. Mac becomes an example for her to follow in her own life. Jillian, James Willy, and Mac's neighbors, Lucy, Juan, and baby Brittany add their support. Like a quilt frame, they let Flora lay out her life and play with its possibilities, as a quilter would experiment with a design.
In Crazy Quilt, Paula Paul offers a wonderful array of small town characters who have a rich existance on the beautiful high plains of west Texas. They draw Flora into this life. She feels herself reconnecting with her past. Using the metaphor of a quilt, the author cleverly weaves Flora's history into the present, as she recalls her mother and grandmother piecing fabrics together to make the bed coverings. The recollections bring Flora a healthy dose of wisdom, and understanding of herself and her situation.
As she gets more involved with her new friends, Flora realizes that they, too, have problems they must solve. Mac has several big ones. So does Jillian. Helping them sort through their messes, leads her to some interesting perspectives on her own.
Crazy Quilt is a story of growth, and the discovery that hope pops up in unlikely places. While tackling the serious subject of a breaat cancer patient's feelings after treatment, Crazy Quilt never gets maudlin or syrupy. Paula Paul has found a good balance of humor, pathos, reality, memory, sensuality, and human spirit to make her story both believable and uplifting.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
I strongly recommend reading this superb book, September 21, 2006
This review is from: Crazy Quilt: A Novel (Paperback)
Reviewed by Kelli Glesige for Reader Views (9/06)
Flora Adams is a woman of forty plus years who is returning home to west Texas from Albuquerque to visit her Aunt Cora in Luddock. It's been twenty years since Flora has been home, but she hopes a visit will help her recover from recent breast cancer surgery and the ravages of the chemotherapy treatments. Flora also hopes the time away will help her failing marriage of twenty years to husband Jeff.
While visiting her old hometown, Flora remembers all the fond childhood memories of her mother and grandmother as they put together lovely quilts for the family to enjoy, creating lasting treasures to snuggle and keep warm with. Flora remembers how the intricate patterns of special blocks were always special to behold such as the Five Point Star and the Flower Basket. With the leftover scraps, the odd shaped pieces could be used as a Crazy Quilt, and that is what Flora feels she's made of her life--not a lovely and stitch perfect block, but a crazy quilt.
While visiting the exact spot of her old home, Flora meets Mac, a stubborn old man who teaches Flora some important lessons of life. Flora ends up extending her visit and moving in with Mac. Flora reacquaints herself with old friends, even old boyfriend, James Willie, who is now the town sheriff. Mac teaches Flora to live for today and to take what your soul needs, for tomorrow may be too late. Flora tells Mac about her cancer and her fears of death. Flora and Mac become good friends and learn just how much they have in common. They soon realize they both need each other in more ways than they know. Even Shorty the dog is a loyal and needed companion in this unique partnership.
Because of troubles at home, Mac's granddaughter Jillian comes to live with Mac and Flora. It soon becomes apparent the know-it-all punk rock front that Jillian wears is just that, a front. She too is running away from something and has found solace in the lifestyle Mac leads. Jillian loves the home she now shares in Texas, especially when she meets Scott, another teen who lives nearby.
I loved everything about Crazy Quilt from the first page to the last. It is all about living and caring about what is most important in life. Crazy Quilt is about finding out who you are, what you really want out of life, and what makes you happy. Ultimately, we all desire a fulfilling life without regrets.
Women in their middle years or those touched by cancer are the target audience, for they will readily relate to Flora and her fears. Those dealing with chemo, a troubling marriage, menopause, teens, or sick and aging loved ones should also relate. Quilt lovers will enjoy the novel too.
Crazy Quilt is a lovely story with a memorable and heartwarming message you will not soon forget. The characters are interesting and their personalities are well developed. The underlying theme of quilts just pulls it together so nicely. I strongly recommend reading this superb book. Thirty percent of the author's royalties from the book goes to the University of New Mexico Cancer Research and Treatment Center for cancer research.
Received book free of charge.
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