Customer Reviews

Sarah's Quilt: A Novel of Sarah Agnes Prine And The Arizona Territories, 1906

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Sarah's Quilt is the sequel to These Is My Words. It is 1906, Sarah's children are grown, and her ranch is gripped tightly in the 3rd year of a fierce drought. Charlie and Gil arrive home at the ranch after dropping out of college. To Sarah, an education is worth more than gold and she can't understand why they would rather work the ranch than sit in a class room and learn.

Sarah's well runs dry and things are looking very grim for the survival of her cattle when her mother announces she paid a water witch to come find a new well. Lazarus arrives on a white mule, spouting Biblical verses and sparking fear in Sarah...but he delivered and water is found...but instead of easing the struggle from the drought, more problems arise and this is only the beginning of Sarah's struggles...she faces trials that would break most people...deaths, betrayal, forces of nature that rip away at her iron will. Sarah's nephew arrives unannounced one day demanding to become a cowboy. Willie is the son of her brother Ernest and a "slatternly" woman he married, Lulu. But Willie is family and Sarah takes him in. Little does she know the pain Willie has buried so deep inside him and the tragic consequences that erupt when that pain surfaces.

The story is filled with the gritty reality of ranching in Arizona in the early 1900's. The backbone of the story is as strong as Sarah herself. This book is a fast read, filled with tension and harsh emotions...I pushed myself to finish it late in the night, because I simply couldn't put it down without knowing how Sarah would come out. I wasn't disappointed. This is a great adventure.

This continuing saga of Sarah Prine and her family is just as compelling as "These Is My Words", which was one of the best historical fiction books I have read in years. I grew up in Tucson, and the author captured the stark beauty and incredible heat of the desert so beautifully. When I was a young girl, I knew an original Arizona pioneer and used to ask her questions about living in Arizona prior to the turn of the century. I felt like this story finally describes that life. This book was absolutely as good, if not better than the first book. I would rush out and buy any new book by Nancy Turner.

Sarah's Quilt continues the life story of Sarah Prine that began in These is My Words. The book starts up about 5 years (in 1906) after These is My Words ended, in the midst of a long drought in the Arizona territories.

Sarah's Quilt is not told in diary format, the way These is My Words is, so it lacks a bit of the immediate connection readers had with Sarah in the first novel. However, Sarah's tone is clearly present- the novel is still told through her point of view, and so the effect is much the same as achieved in These is My Words.

In Sarah's Quilt, Turner focuses a great deal on Sarah's family unit- her brother and his family, her mother, and her own children. There are some bizarre characters that show up, and several odd twists to the story, but it holds your attention and Sarah is just as true and real as she was in the first novel- blunt, honest, and hard to break.

With Sarah's Quit, Turner achieves what so many authors have trouble achieving- a sequel that is true to the heart of the original, while also creating enough new plot twists and turns to keep a reader's attention.

Sarah's Quilt picks up the story of Sarah Prine Elliott in 1906, about six years after the loss of her beloved Jack. Sarah has moved back to the ranch and is facing many obstacles,including a drought that has caused her well to run dry. Again Turner brings to life Sarah's indomitable spirit and forces us to get inside her skin. Turner excellently depicts the hardships of life on a ranch around the turn of the century, and she effortlessly makes us understand Sarah's motivations, fears, and regrets. My only disappointment with this book is the fact that it is not written in diary format as was These Is My Words and I think it takes a little away from the intimacy of the writing. But other than that admittedly minor complaint, this book is a worthy sequel and just as engrossing. It will grip you around the heart and run you through the gamut of emotions. Highly, highly recommended.

A rip-snortin'novel of the Arizona territories and a fine sequel to "These Is My Words". I could not stand to wait for the paperback and I was not disappointed. Any story written by Nancy Turner is a friend of mine. You will stay up way past your bedtime reading this book.

I enjoyed this book SO much!! I almost didn't want to start reading it, because I knew if I did I would read it so fast and it be all over! I live in Tucson and really enjoyed the 'historical' point of view of the area in the late 1800's. I love the strong woman Sarah is in the story. If you read the first book "These is my Words"...you will really enjoy this one!!

Upon finishing "These Is My Words" I immediately ordered "Sarah's Quilt." This sequel about Sarah Agnes Prine is a true page turner and the reader's heart is captured through the last page. Nancy Turner immerses Sarah in some huge, gripping adventures and true-to-life personal challenges. I highly recommend this for anyone drawn to stories of the developing southwest, especially if you have roots there.

This sequel to "These is My Words" is absolutely riveting. Rarely does a sequel live up the to the original, but in this case, I can definitely say I was completely satisfied. Pioneer life was hard and agonizing at times - this book captures the grit and savvy of one early pioneer woman beautifully and without reserve. Be prepared to have a water bottle on hand, as you will be thirsty throughout the book!

THis book is a wonderful continuation of the Sarah Agnes Prine Life! I couldn't put it down and read well past midnight because i just didn't want to leave them! Nancy does a wonderful job writing vividly about their lives and feelings ! I would highly recommend this book to transport anyone back to the Territory!

I just loved These is my Words, I couldn't put it down. This book was good also but it was missing one of my favorite characters, which made it a little sad for me. Which is why it wasn't a five star.