The Elm Creek quilter's stories I know and love are now back. After being vaguely disappointed in the last two, I was beginning to worry that Chiaverini had lost her touch. Not so! With this novel she more than redeems herself. Since there are so many books before this one that it would take a whole page just to summarize and that fact that all these books can be read as a stand-alone I'm not going to go over the previous books.In Circle of Quilters, Elm Creek Quilters camp, a well renowned quilter's retreat has sent out an ad looking for two new teachers for their camp. This book details the lives and experiences of five of them and just what it would mean to them to become a part of Elm Creek Quilts.Maggie, a worker at a retirement home had never really been greatly enthusiastic about quilting until she found an antique quilt at a garage sale. After the restoration of this beautiful work, she set about remaking another one in case she ever had to give the original up. It turned out so well that she went on to teach classes and even publish a book involving the quilt. She did all this in addition to researching the maker of the quilt and just what had inspired the beautiful piece of work. Her only worry though is that she has been so centered on one quilt, that she might not be a diverse enough applicant for the job.Karen, a stay at home mother to two wily boys thinks she wants more out of life than to just be a mother. She loves her sons but has always loved quilting, so much so that she even takes to hiding her fabric stash from her eco-minded husband. She used to be a teacher but had never taught quilting but that doesn't stop her from applying. However, at a last minute cancellation from her husband her worst fear is realized and she has to take her two young boys with her to the interview.Anna is a chef and loves cooking and anything food. While being troubled with an obnoxious boyfriend (my opinion, not hers) she has to hide her quilting as he thinks it is useless frippery and a waste of time. He also doesn't appreciate her quilting very much even though she has a very unique style. Due to her lack of experience teaching quilting Anna isn't sure how good of a chance she will have getting the job, but she knows she has to try.Russell was probably one of the most touching stories within the book. His late wife was a quilter and after her death, he found an impulse to finish one of her quilts. Though it was trial and frustration at first, when he at last finished it he felt a deep sense of accomplishment and to his surprise, wanted to make more. He ended up being such a distinctive quilter that he was invited to lectures and started teaching classes. Elm Creek Quilts would be a great fit for him but he's not sure how receptive the group will be to a male quilter and his style.Last but not least is Gretchen. Born into a poorer family that had always worked for a family of upper class standing, Gretchen is no different when she works with the daughter of that family in helping run a quilt shop where she is a minor partner. Her partnership is not considered equal however and she finds herself longing for more and also wanting some kind of recognition for her talents. She is perfectly qualified for the job and has vast teaching experience, but will Heidi her partner let her go?Reading the stories of all these characters was very interesting. They all came from very different backgrounds and it showed quite a difference in their talents. All wanted the job so badly and deserved it so much that I had trouble knowing who I was rooting for!Chiaverini's writing is always so pleasant. I don't think she could be offensive if she meant to. I was pleased to find that the description of the different quilts was returned to an outstanding quality. This was something that had lacked in previous books and I had missed it.I have to say this is probably one of my favorite books in the series. So much so that I'm glad that I have the next book on hand and can start reading it right away. I can't wait to find out what happens at Elm Creek Manor now that there are new teachers entering the picture.Circle of QuiltersCopyright 2006309 pages
After a novel out of time, Jennifer Chiaverini writes Circle of Quilters where she explores five different quilters on their path towards becoming an Elm Creek Quilts teachers. The time lines for these stories was peculiar. Each different “chapter” for each different character started at a random time in their life history. We watch them grow as a quilter, but how odd is it to not have a fixed understanding of where the character is in time. Without a beginning all we know is that every beginner will end proficient enough to consider becoming a quilting teacher. Only one of the applicants is actually less than fully qualified. Maggie picks up a quilt at a yard sale and it takes her on a journey through a failing job and into a published author. Russell takes his journey with quilting learning after his quilter wife dies and he uses her quilting stash to grow out of his pain. These two characters have such a similar ending place it is amazing how diverse their starting places are. Anna mostly has a young persons problems boys, food/dieting, and finding respect for her burgeoning career. She wants to own a restaurant and her academic-oriented boyfriend can’t respect a career that is solidly along a traditional gender role line and involves cooking in the food services division of the very school he is “improving” himself in. His roommate is amazingly stereotypical of a liberal-arts English major snob and they end his relationship with Anna when he forces her to abandon her prepared gourmet dinner because ‘she shouldn’t have felt compelled to slave away in the kitchen for him’ so that he can triumphantly force box macaroni and cheese upon her. She competently quilts mostly food related blocks and thankfully ends up becoming the new chef for the camp. Karen and Gretchen were two very different women at opposite times in their lives, but both searching for respect for their positions. Karen is searching for respect from her husband for her work as mother to their children. She is also looking for some outward respect from the world, but that will never really happen. Gretchen is passively looking for respect from her boss, a woman who though 3 years her junior has always been her boss. Gretchen’s family had for generations worked for Heide’s family and eventually Gretchen spent a spell as Heide’s tutor. Heide always had to do what Gretchen did and eventually that led her to opening a quilting shop after being asked by Gretchen for help as a financier. Heide and her family before her had always tried to hold Gretchen back, snide comments about being her maid or too traditional in her work. Anything to keep her unbalanced and not totally confidant in her sense of self worth. Karen is eventually given “mommy time” by her husband to do what she needs to do. Gretchen finally gives Heide her notice and is able to find herself as a valuable person. The job becomes obvious Maggie and Gretchen get the job, Russell looses out on a technicality. (He has fallen for Maggie and can’t take the job cross country without knowing she will have it too.) Karen is told to get some more teaching experience and Anna gets the chef job that just opened. Now Jennifer Chiaverini just needs to write the next book so we see how they truly work out.
What do You think about Circle Of Quilters (2007)?
What a wonderful novel. It is a series of stories about people who apply for two openings at the Elm Creek Quilt Camp. Each individual had a different background that brought them to the application process. We learn about each and their journey into the world of quilting. While heavy on the quilting language, the characters are portrayed realistically in their struggles through life. I was intrigued by each one and whether they would be chosen for the Circle of Quilters. I loved the ending. This is a very heartwarming book for anyone but especially anyone who quilts or knows someone who does.
—Judee
I must say I LOVED this book! I couldn't wait to hear what was next and it helped that I read it in a week where I was struggling with sleeplessness (don't know if it was related but it helped pass the long hours). Anyhoo, two of Elm Creek Quilters founding members are quitting to pursue other dreams and so they must hire two more. Five very different candidates are chosen to interview--all of different ages, background, even sexes! It was fascinating to hear their story and how they came to become dedicated quilters--one of the most moving was of the one man of the bunch, Russ, who lost his wife (who was a dedicated quilter) to ovarian cancer and who learned to quilt as a way to deal with his grief and stay connected to her. All the stories were fascinating and you rooted for each one to be hired yet knowing only two could be hired! I wonder how in the world this would be resolved and it was resolved somehow satisfactorily. I love happy endings! As a side note, I've enjoyed Jennifer Chiaverini of intersecting all the characters' story. The stories are told from their point of view and the characters do meet briefly and we get to see both side of the story. It would be interesting to be able to see that in REAL life! Also kudos to Christina Moore, the reader, for bringing the characters to life. I've heard her previously but hadn't liked her reading but she's won me over in this series.
—Nathalie S
A must read for all moms to encourage them to look beyond their brood of children to keep your passion. The biggest guilt all moms have when they had careers prior to childbirth. The Cheerios scene is the best and her child's response it looked pretty. I cried a lot as I had a plan to balance both but my birth story of Mr Toads Wild Ride continues with my now 10 year old whose special needs require my help and supporting my husband career as he is and will always be the bread winner. I am still working on acceptance which hit a plateau with this book. Who needs psychologists when you can read an Elm Creek Quilt story and there are tons with a recent one Sonoma Rose taking place in my neck of the woods and missed meeting Jennifer at a local book reading/signing but missed darn it! I have added to my child raising fighting disabling side effects from breast cancer side effects. Maybe I need a Quilt Camp week to kickstart my batteries literally after I have surgery to improve my mobility and praying will improve ability to sit and use of arms and hands to do quilting again. my mom taught me to sew around 5 years old and progressed skills from there to transferring them into a career in graphic design till becoming disabled. This is where I was blessed to be given mellow meds as would have gone into full depression having given up everything I do during the day to finding audio books for company during the day or on demand TV/Netflix. god continues to wake me up that he is in charge of my journey and I am in the comfort of his hands. I pray my journey stories reach someone to help out their hole and find a beautiful flower to make them smile and look at their world with God instead of anger sadness and fear. hugs
—Barbara
