Bought at Goodwill for 75 cents. I think I'll start a ring if there's enough interest...

**Different cover - mine is the movie cover...so there's no description on the back.

From Amazon:

"From Publishers Weekly
Imaginative in concept and execution, Otto's remarkable first novel is designed with deliberate analogies to quilt-making; like the scraps of fabric that make up a quilt, a series of neat vignettes cumulatively reveal the lives of eight members of a woman's sewing group in a small California town, in portraits that include their families and neighbors. Moreover, each chapter is followed by a short set of "Instructions," which provide lucid explanations of the histories, designs and techniques of various quilt patterns that reflect and symbolize the conditions of the characters' lives. The instructions also carry a subtext: assemble and stitch a quilt as you would build and sustain a human relationship.

The women who form Otto's narrative quilt include two sisters whose love for each other survives sexual betrayal; a fearless teenager who loses her determination to lead a free, unfettered life when she traps herself into marriage; a half-black woman who cannot escape her heritage; a wife who forgives her husband's flagrant affairs.

The economically phrased, intricately designed narrative touches on the larger issues of war, prejudice and the economic condition of women. Concluding with a description of the Crazy Quilt, "the pattern with the least amount of discipline and the greatest measure of emotion," this affecting novel demonstrates that a writer's self-discipline can engender in a reader a significant emotional response."

If I get enough interest, I'll be starting a bookring for this one.

Final shipping order:
HamishsMom...Beaverton ON (returned to me to start bookring)
Rhonnie...Melbourne, Australia (Int'l ok)
Hetku77...Finland (pref Europe, Int'l if nec)
WelshHelen...UK (pref UK or Europe, Int'l if nec) It's here 8/12/06
lolly-the-tall...UK (ship anywhere)
saidenuj...IA, US (pref Canada or US)
Terristem...Canada (pref Canada or US if poss)
and back to me,
BrooklinBrat...Canada

I loved this story. I had seen the movie quite some time ago but couldn't really remember it except that I knew I had enjoyed it.
The only reason I didn't rate it more highly was because at times I was a bit confused as to who was narrating.
The characters are so diverse and amazingly honest with themselves.
Many of them are so brave it makes me ashamed of my dull existence!
I went out and walked my dog for an hour across the snow on the river and down through our small town trying to capture some of the book's essence.

Mailed to Rhonnie yesterday.

Perfect timing just about to finish current book & looking for the next so won't be long before it's travelling again! Thanks Susan

RELEASE NOTES:

Bookring continues. Posted via Air mail to Hetku77 in Finland.
Enjoyed the book and found it very easy reading. Cleverly written to compare quilt making to marriage/relationships.
Hope Heidi enjoys it too. Thanks Susan

12.5. I received the book today, thank you Rhonnie! I have a few other rings to read before this due to my move 2 weeks ago and all the hassle that comes with it.

3.8. I finished the book last night - sorry about the delay, but I've for example moved twice in 3 months... I've seen the movie, but somehow I remember it wasn't exactly according to the story of the book, i.e. Finn's story was told more. I could be wrong too, as I don't recall the details. Anyhow, I liked the book very much, though I did have problems too with who was narrating. The characters were very different from each other, which made reading their lifestories very interesting. I guess what I found the best part of the book was how the characters lead their lives content despite of the difficulties they faced. And how they analyzed the happenings of their lives and were able to learn about themselves.

Arrived safely today. Thanks, hetku77. I have a few ring books ahead of this one but should get to it soon.

I really enjoyed this book, helped along by Whitney Otto's style of writing - it was a "comfortable" read. I didn't particularly have any probelms knowing whose story was being narrated but I did have to check every now and again to see whose husband was who :-)

It was a slightly different read than I was expecting - I thought there'd be more of Finn herself and more of the characters interacting during a quilting session but I wasn't disappointed by that.

It's so great to read of strong women and how they survived during times of racism and sexism. Quite a thought-provoking read.

Thank you to BrooklinBrat for sharing. I've requested lolly-the-tall's address.

Finally got this in the mail to lolly-the-tall. Apologies for the delay.

received yesterday. Will start soon

sorry about the delay, book got trapped in pile of non-bc books.

really liked the story, very nice read, made me go at my crafting (beads, scrapping) with real enthusiasm and feel like the things I make should mean something. I liked the film and, like usual, the book is better. I think I enjoyed the bits about the quilts,the instructions the most. There is a lovely attitude to craft in the book, which I loved, and how things intertwine, how one thing looks different laying next to someting else, like the quilt pieces.
(The attitude to craft in general does seem to be changing, more people 'craft' now than for a long time, and it is losing it's 'loser'image, although, thinking about it, would a story about a cross stitch circle work? Hmm, sorry, I'm rambling)

PMing saidenuj for address right away.

Very pleasantly surprised to receive this book in the mail today! Will read soon and see if we can get this ring completed. =0)

Good read. Interesting without being totally engrossing (if that makes sense). Because of the writing style, it was an easy book to set down and pick up again later without losing the strain of the story. Being a crafter myself (crochet and other needle arts), I enjoyed the perspective on the various quilt patterns and how these works of art are handed down from one generation to the next along with their story. Made my heart happy. =0D

Will pass along as soon as I get mailing info.