Customer Reviews

Sarah's Quilt: A Novel of Sarah Agnes Prine and the Arizona Territories, 1906

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I approached Sarah's Quilt with some hesitation as so often sequels just don't live up to the anticipation of the first book's enjoyment. Sarah's Quilt, however, did not disappoint. The characters of the story are so fleshed out in such subtle ways, I feel as if I have come to know and love these people. The plot is, like life itself, a bit disjointed, and takes a while to get started. Certain matters occupy Sarah's mind more than others at times, but all the storylines ultimately are resolved.

I think this book had particular meaning for me because my second son recently left home for college. With two children away, and only one left at home, I felt many of Sarah's difficulties in how to resolve being a good mother to "children" who are growing up so fast, how to care for an older mother, and questions where life is heading. I am not sure if I had read this novel when I was younger (and by "younger" I mean ten years ago) if it would have had the same impact for me. It was comforting to know that the concerns of a pioneer woman over one hundred years ago can still resonate with a middle-aged woman in 2007.

Read this book if you like historical American fiction, especially involving a strong, independent woman as main character. Also, if you like reading stories where hearth and home are considered something worth fighting for.

This is a good book and on some levels I'd happily give it five stars... but maybe comparing it to "These is my words" I liked it but it didn't strike me the same way. I wish there was a 4.5 star rating...
I don't know, there was just something bout "These is my words" that really struck me. It was one of my favorite books I'd read in years.
It is nice to have a sequel, and this is a really good book, and I liked hearing the next chapter in the story. It's a great story, a great cast of characters...
Maybe nothing could match 'Words' but that might all be in my head.

I really enjoyed it. I loved and cared about the characters. This continuation of an amazing woman's life was fun to read, interesting, insightful and worth my time and money.

A sequel often doesn't live up to the original, but I believe this one does.

Let me begin by saying that "These is my Words" was inspiring, and I couldn't put it down. But it feels as though the author put less effort into this novel technically, and therefore "Sarah's Quilt" didn't draw me in quite as much -- I was too busy noticing the inconsistencies in the writing.

This novel is written in diary format much like "These is my Words", but the format serves only to interrupt the flow of the story. The "diary entries" are inconsistent and cover huge chunks of time, including future days, which doesn't make sense. Also, Sarah's voice doesn't sound like she's writing in a journal, she sounds like she's writing the novel herself. I wish Turner had just written the book as a novel reflecting Sarah's history: still in Sarah's words, but without the unnecessary fictional "diary."

I found the actual story to be wholly engaging, but at the same time I agree with another reviewer who said that storylines such as Harland and his family were built up and then forgotten. I couldn't stop reading, but the disjointedness was frustrating!

My final criticism regards the title itself: Sarah's Quilt. Sarah and her mother work on this quilt throughout the story, but in the end it is just another prop. It doesn't have deep meaning or form a bond that links the story's different parts together. It's a convenient title which recalls Turner's family heirloom but has little to do with the actual story.

I DO recommend this book to people who enjoyed "Words" because Sarah Prine is such an engaging character and I enjoyed riding along with her on her journey. And I will probably buy Turner's next book based on the Prines as well. But reader beware: don't expect the same experience you had with "These is my Words."

This book is wonderful. I easily fall into that place where I imagine myself there with them. Very few authors write well enough to let their readers experience that.

I wish I could think of the words to sing this book's praises properly.

If you read These Is My Words then don't miss out on Sarah's Quilt.

Imagine the Arizona Territories at the end of the 1800's and the settlers who tamed it. Now imagine EVERY possible tragety imaginable, and you have the jist of the book! Come on, now. It becomes a little tireing, unbeleiveable, and ridiculous after a bit. This was a bit disappointing to me because, even though there was plenty of heartache in the first book, it was a great story and you had.... Jack (sigh). In book two the tragic life becomes unreal and there is no...(sigh) Jack. Don't waste your time. I'm not even going to pursue book three.

Not only is "Sarah's Quilt" a wonderful sequel to "These Is My Words" but another amazing book in itself. Turner continues the amazing story of Sarah Prine's life and also the lives of those around her. It's filled with action, romance, love, problems, and solutions just as the first, and you'll never want it to end!!! "Sarah's Quilt" is a must-read!

If Sarah Prine were real, she and I would be friends, most particularly because of her love of books. I loved "These Is My Words". "Sarah's Quilt" doesn't grab me with the creative edge, but Sarah makes a believable central character; smart, gritty, determined, vulnerable and, eventually, humble. Turner's writing style is easy to read and she keeps you interested in the constant flow of adventures and calamities that befall our heroine. (Although, for some reason the print in this book is very small and that bothered me.) The characters around Sarah are strong and stand up well. I was surprised,however, that Sarah didn't prevent Rudolfo from running for governor knowing what she did about him and having such high moral standards for herself. Nevertheless, her natural generosity of spirit is so engaging, she is likeable in so many ways, and is truly a pioneer of extraordinary ability.

I loved this book. If you like historical fiction, especially about the West, buy this book. The thoughts and actions of Sarah as a woman and a mother, while perfectly fitted to 1906, are still so relevent today. All of the characters are well developed and believable. The descriptions of Arizona, the climate, and the land are excellent. Excellent writing all around.

This is one of those books that you don't want to end. I have not read These is My Words and am anxiously looking forward to it so I can spend more time with Sarah.

I absolutely loved the first book in this series, so I bought this one. But I was highly disappointed and couldn't get into it. The writing style was completely different. Granted, the character has aged 20 years, so perhaps that is literarily acceptable, but I didn't relate to it as well and missed the character I had grown to love in the first book. It also was less like a diary, lacked voice, and didn't suck me in.