New Year's Quilt - Elm Creek Quilts Novel

Elm Creek Quilts #11

by Jennifer Chiaverini

As each holiday season approaches, some revel in welcoming the New Year ahead; others quietly mourn the passing of time gone by. "We can't hold on to the past," says Master Quilter Sylvia Compson, "but we can keep the best part of 'Auld Lang Syne' in our hearts and in our memories, and we can look forward to the future with hope and resolve." As Sylvia, a late-in-life newlywed, has discovered, love can enter our lives at any age. Yet before she can truly delight in her present happiness, she must face the sorrow hidden in her past -- her own role in the tragic circumstances that left her estranged from her sister, Claudia, until it was too late to make amends. Vowing not to repeat the mistake with her new daughter-in-law, Amy, who opposed Sylvia's marriage to her father, Andrew, Sylvia must convince Amy that family is more precious than pride. As Sylvia takes up a quilt for the season, begun and abandoned over six years, she recalls the New Year's Eve festivities of her youth at Elm Creek Manor as a member of the Bergstrom family. She titles the quilt "New Year's Reflections," after her belief that year-end reflections precede resolutions. The quilt blocks she chooses commemorate the wisdom that no one can ever be truly alone if she keeps the memory of those she loved and those who loved her alive in her heart. The New Year's Quilt is a novel to enjoy today and to treasure anew each holiday season.

Genres: Fiction, Quilting, Historical Fiction, Audiobook, Chick Lit, Womens Fiction, Holiday

Hardcover

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Jennifer Chiaverini is the New York Times bestselling author of thirty-three novels, including acclaimed historical fiction and the beloved Elm Creek Quilts series. She has also written seven quilt pattern books inspired by her novels. A graduate of the University of Notre Dame and the University of Chicago, she lives with her husband and two sons in Madison, Wisconsin. About her historical fiction, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel writes, "In addition to simply being fascinating stories, these novels go a long way in capturing the texture of life for women, rich and poor, black and white, in those perilous years."

Reviews

[Tina(why is GR limiting comments?!!) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I admit I was first attracted to this book because of its title. Second, I have always wanted to read a Jennifer Chiaverini book.

I'm so glad I read this one! It's part of a series but I think it can be enjoyed as a stand-alone with no problem.

It's so heartwarming and I loved hearing about the quilting (which I don't know a lot about!) This was mainly the Master Quilters story. Her name is Sylvia Bergstrom Compson. She is preparing a New Year's quilt for her daughter-in-law and is reminiscing and recalling many of her New Year's celebrations and traditions as a child. I loved listening to her backstory!

The book has a wonderful message of love and forgiveness. It's filled with warmth and joy. Perfect for this time of year. The narration was lovely.

[Taury · Rating 3 out of 5]

New Year’s Quilt by Jennifer Chiaverini is part of the Elm Creek Quilts series. It’s set in 2005 and follows Sylvia Bergstrom Compson and her husband, Andrew, as they start their lives and families during the holidays. The story writes on themes of forgiveness, family reconciliation, and the legacy of quilting. Chiaverini is known for her well-developed characters.

[Deanne Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book #11 in the Elm Creek Quilting series. I really love this series . This book revolves around the making of a New Years quilt. Basically the same characters are in all the books so it makes the books easy to keep track of. The books bounce back and fourth between main character Sylvia's childhood and her now as an elderly woman. She got her love of quilting as a young child from relatives she lived with. No matter how they may quarrel the characters are there for each other. I enjoy reading about the different types of quilting patters and what each individual quilting block stand for. Each quilt has built in story. I look forward to finishing this quilting series, it's fabulous!
Published January 1st 2007. Owned book.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sometimes I'm just not sure what to think of these books. I get done reading a fantastic one and eagerly start on the next when I'm vastly disappointed. At least in this book the return of one of the main characters happens, but it is just her and the book really ends up being a rehash of previous books. I won't take the time to go through what's happened in the first ten books because it'd take forever, but that's ok because this could be read as a stand alone.

Sylvia Compton has recently married Andrew, a wonderful man who had been friends with her brother back when they were younger. Both in their twilight years, they were lucky to have found love this late in life. However, not everyone is so accepting of their relationship. Andrew's daughter Amy is dead set against it and they haven't even told her yet that they have been married. The biggest obstacle in this book will be telling her the news.

As they travel to New York for their honeymoon, and then onto Amy's house afterwards, Sylvia works on a New Years quilt. With each block she reminisces about past New Years in her life and resolutions she has made. She also thinks back on how she could have changed some of the sadder moments in her life and what she could have done differently. She hopes that with this quilt she can gain the acceptance of Andrew's daughter.

Chiaverini has always been a wonderful writer. However, its sad to see such a regurgitation of her previous books in that one. Some scenes are almost exactly the same as previous books with only a few different words thrown in. I was looking for something new. She is unoffensive in her writing and that is a positive. It makes this book a nice easy read for a rainy day or lazy afternoon. I just wish she'd get on with her original story.

Aside from the book being mostly repeats, for such a theme as New Years it was surprisingly a very gloomy book. It fit very well with the rainy day outside while I was reading it. I was expecting to be uplifted and shown the greatness of starting new, but this book only gave me a fraction of those feelings. Some more cheery memories could definitely have been added.

I like the series but I'm tired of all the weaker books in the link. I'd love to see Chiaverini get back to her original characters and plot line. I understand she's trying to branch out, but sometimes its better to let a good thing be.

The New Years Quilt
Copyright 2007
223 pages

[Dlora · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have enjoyed all of Jennifer Chiaverini's Elm Creek Quilts novels, though some more than others. I find the history and skills of quiltmaking described in her series quite interesting. She also adds a lot of historical details; her books that are set in the past have been my most favorite (The Runaway Quilt and The Sugar Camp Quilt).

This book relates many traditions surrounding New Years as celebrated by the ancestors and friends of Sylvia Bergstrom Compson, the main character of this book-- particularly traditions from Germany. I liked her thoughts about New Year's resolutions leading to improving self and resolving conflicts. The tone of this book seemed a bit preachy to me at times, but then it was told from the viewpoint of the master quilter and matriarch who was stubborn and judgmental growing up and is only now learning to be less so.

Though The New Year's Quilt is the 11th in the series, it does a pretty good job of over viewing the family history and setting of the series. You can read it as a stand-alone book, though you'll find the characters richer if you start at the beginning.

[Kathie H · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series! I'm a quilter & quilt restorer so I really relate to the moments when Ms. Chiaverini's characters are searching through their stashes or lingering over the fine stitches in an heirloom quilt. The narrator of this CD, Christina Moore, makes the experience of reading Ms. Chiaverini's books all the more sublime.

[Padmini Prasad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though not a quilter, I love the Elm Creek Quilt Series - especially the volumes that meld stories of the older generation of quilters with the modern time quilters. This book is one of them. I loved it - the 4 start rating is because I found some parts very repetitive.

[Cathey Page · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read the first book in this series so I knew the characters already, but you learn all you need to know about them and their history reading this book. These books are light, enjoyable reads. I always get through them quickly. I enjoy their stories and enjoy the info about quilts. Makes me wish I had the patience to quilt. This story emphasizes the importance of family, and not letting your pride and stubbornness get in the way of loving and forgiving those important to you. Don’t let family disagreements continue and grow until they rob you of precious time spent with family.

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the quilting books of Elm Manor Quilts. Sylvia has found a second love her new husband Andrew. Her first husband, James had died in the war and she lost her first and only child in child birth. It was almost too much for her to handle. She spent time with her inlaws and finally came to the conclusion to go back to school and become an art teacher. She had a falling out with her sister and brother in law and stayed away for years from her home at Elm Creek Manor. After her sister died and brother in law also she returned to Elm Creek Manor as the sole owner.
There is a very distinct message that every one should adhere to. That is "do not let little differences come between family members. Find a way to solve them. Sylvia let this go on for too many years and never were they resolved. This book is very well written and easy to read.

[Charity · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is latest Elm Creek Quilter's book. I enjoyed reminiscing with Silvia as she prepares a New Year's Quilt for her new daughter-in-law. The stories of her life are a lesson to all of us of the importance of forgiveness and kindness. I enjoyed thinking about New Year's Resolutions as I read. Silvia points out in the book that she likes resolutions because it means that the person making them still has hope for the future. I liked that perspective and it helped me to reflect on hope as a action principle.

[Toni Wyatt · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars, rounded up here.

I think this holiday edition to the Elm Creek Quilt series suffers in comparison to the previous book, The Quilter’s Homecoming which was simply fantastic.

In this book, Sylvia and Andrew are on their honeymoon. They go to New York and then to Andrew’s daughter’s house. All the while, Sylvia is going back over her whole life’s history reliving memories that we’ve read about but with more depth and detail.

It’s good, but nowhere near reaching how wonderful the previous book was.

[Debbie Floyd · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have enjoyed all of the Elm Creek Quilts books. The book mentions traditions that people observe on New Year's Day. My family has served black eyed peas every New Year's for good luck. The books also cover historical aspects and the quilt making history and details that the author writes about are clearly well researched. I give this book 3 1/2 stars.

[HadenXCharm · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book circles back around to confront the question of Andrew's children (mostly his daughter) refusing to accept his decision to remarry in old age. He and Sylvia take a road-trip on their honeymoon to 'surprise' the kids with the news that they got married, an objectively terrible decision.

They stay in a historic hotel -- that sequence was interesting as it touched on a lot of different historical eras -- NYC reconstruction-era race-riots, the civil war, the depression, etc. -- But most of the book was about Sylvia's childhood and her estrangement from Claudia.

I always thought the kids' (in their 40s, by the way) justification for rejecting the marriage was kind of bullshit? "I don't accept your marriage because I don't want you to be heartbroken again, the way you were after mom died?... So to show my disapproval, I will refuse to see you and your new wife for the remainder of your life, and let our relationship die in estrangement." Like, if you don't accept the relationship because you don't want him hurt, then why are YOU hurting him!

The narrative tries to draw parallels between the kids' rejection of their marriage, and the way Sylvia refused to accept Elizabeth and Henry's marriage in The Christmas Quilt; except, Sylvia was seven, and these 'kids' are in their late forties... yet behave like first-graders. Then tries to force-feed us the idea that it's okay, they 'grew up' and realized its wrong to protest someone's marriage, and we all need to forgive each other! Which.... is actually kind of bonkers, considering that after The Quilter's Homecoming, we know for a fact that Sylvia was absolutely right to be against Henry and Elizabeth's marriage.... That whole thing was a disaster. So why are you shoe-horning in this message that doesn't make any sense.

Something I think this book series is clumsy with is the concept of forgiveness, something narcissists love to abuse for their own advantage. 'Forgiving' someone who hasn't apologized, shown remorse, made amends in some way, is basically just an exercise in the victim giving the abuser access to them again and releasing them from accountability. 'Forgiving' an unrepentant person is just you deciding to stop being upset that someone hurt you. With no change or remorse on the offenders' part, the victim opens themself up to be hurt again when the behavior inevitably continues. This is false forgiveness that does not benefit the victim in any way. The enablers benefit, as enablers value 'peace and quiet' over actual justice, and the abuser benefits, as they are granted continued access to the victim, and there is no further expectation of change or consequences of any kind. How is this relevant to the book series, you ask? Well, the series repeatedly pounds home that you must forgive family members who have hurt you, even if they've never apologized, or YOU will regret it! Even if you've built a life that you are perfectly satisfied with without your abusers in it, you should let them back in, because FAMILY.

Despite multiple books where we see Sylvia's childhood and the clear favoritism shown to her sister, while Sylvia is scape-goated, told she is bad, while Claudia instigates constantly and is repeatedly enabled by every adult -- adult Sylvia thinks that she should have apologized to Claudia, so they could mend their relationship. Even though Claudia was just as much to blame for their 50 year estrangement. Claudia also chose never to make amends, despite being the aggressor. If she was sorry, she could've shown it. Yet Sylvia is the one who feels guilty. It's victim-blaming, dude!

It drives me crazy, especially since we also got a book that showed us how Sylvia's mother's childhood was a mirror image of Sylvia's. Sylvia's mother also had a sister who was the golden child, and was made a scapegoat by her own abusive parents, then... repeats the cycle with her own daughters. Sylvia is scapegoated constantly, Claudia is praised and enabled. Everyone in the family convinces her that she's naughty, that she should be like Claudia, when really Claudia was the aggressor that was being enabled and excused by everyone. Sylvia then internalizes the idea that she needs to be like her mother, and forgive (accept) the abuse. Claudia is unambiguously in the wrong the entire time, throughout their entire lives, culminating in the ultimate betrayal of the bond of sisterhood: kicking her widowed sister while she's down, right after the death of her husband AND a miscarriage, and telling her she's jealous that her husband didn't die. The idea of one of my brothers saying something like that to me, they'd be dead to me.

That kind of thing is a death blow to any type of relationship. You can't take some words back. Even if you 'forgave' them, those words can't be unsaid, and the relationship will never fully recover with words like those hanging there. Yet the book doesn't think so!

We revisit their final fight, and then after Sylvia leaves, there is then a long interlude where Sylvia's in-laws are trying to make her forgive Claudia -- despite not knowing the details of the situation, Claudia is STILL being fucking enabled and given the benefit of the doubt. "I'm sure she's sorry; whatever it is, I'm sure she didn't mean it, bla, bla, bla..." Except.... We've read enough books with Claudia at this point, that we know she did mean it. What's more, Sylvia knows her; knows her in a way that none of these enabling shits do. The scapegoat is the only one who knows the true nature of the enabled golden child. They know the nasty side that everyone else is deliberately blind to. Sylvia knows EXACTLY who Claudia is, and she knows that Claudia meant every word. "How can she apologize to you if you won't listen!" cry the enabling family members who have been blind to literal decades of abuse, the decades that the victim has already spent trying to have a relationship. People forget that by the time an estrangement happens, the victim has already tried everything and likely stayed in contact way longer than they should have. Estrangement is a last resort. Insisting they make up with their abusive family member does nothing but further enable the aggressor. It's a form of denial - you're denying the victim's experience and tacitly siding with the abuser.

We read the books. Claudia was ALWAYS the instigator. Yet Sylvia has regrets about their estrangement. She wishes she'd apologized to CLAUDIA. You heard right. She doesn't regret that she didn't forgive Claudia, despite Claudia never being sorry about any of it. She regrets not APOLOGIZING. The magic apology, the final enablement that would have magically healed their relationship -- the relationship that never existed between them to begin with. They could've been sisters again, if only Sylvia was willing to give Claudia the upper hand for the millionth time. I say hell no.

Anyway, this whole thing seems to have fundamentally broken Sylvia's thought process when it comes to family, because it's constantly on her mind, every time she hears about other families with strife and estrangement (situations she knows nothing about and is not privy to the details of), she immediately thinks to herself that they should make up. Even when hearing a story about a Civil War abolitionist who disowned and was disowned by his family for renouncing slavery, she thinks its a shame that they never made up. ... WHAT?! There has to be a line. Fundamental differences when it comes to basic values is one of those lines. In every relationship, there is a line, even in familial ones, and disagreements about slavery should be one of those lines. Hot take, you should not 'make amends' with family members who are pro-slavery. There are some issues that there is no 'seeing eye to eye' on.

We're supposed to see 80 year old Sylvia's outlook on family as one that was cultivated through wisdom and experience, but 7 year old Sylvia who makes a secret new years resolution that her family should resolve to treat her and her sister more fairly, i.e., not blame her for everything and praise Claudia for everything... 7 year old Sylvia is the one who's absolutely right, in retrospect. We're supposed to see this as some sort of immature and childish wish, but she's right! Her family members' favoritism towards Claudia is messed up and unfair, and absolutely widened the rift between the sisters.

This series really forces family estrangement and reconciliation down everyone's throats. Estranged families ended up that way for a reason. Again, we need to think about what purpose forgiveness serves. It is a tool to repair a relationship that you want to continue. Of what benefit is a relationship with a person who has done nothing but abuse you for your entire life, casts you in a false light in front of every other family member, and kicks you when you're at your lowest. There is simply no reason to repair such a relationship. It benefits no one except the abuser, who wants access to the victim. "Eventually you're going to have to move on with your life; your place is at Elm Creek Manor." Why does 'moving on' seem to mean forgiving the abuser for the 1000th time and returning to your punching bag role. This series seems to think that 'moving on' can't happen without forgiveness, but that's not true. Sylvia did move on. She created a life without her abusive sister. Some relationships SHOULD end. Certain lines shouldn't be crossed. Ever.

Anyway, I know the forgiveness theme is so heavy in this one, because it's trying to set up the struggle between Sylvia and her 'step-daughter' (if you are an adult when your parent remarries, you do not have a step-parent step-child relationship, in my opinion) argue and reconcile, but it really just reads like abuse apologia to me.

The final scene where the adult daughter admits what's really bothering her and holding her back from accepting their marriage, and it's actually so fucking boring and trite. It's literally a 40 year old woman acting like a 10 year old complaining that she doesn't WANT daddy to remarry, I don't WANT a new mommy! It's ridiculous. How are the literal kids in the situation more mature and accepting and emotionally regulated than this 40 year old adult woman. Mind-boggling.

[Monica · Rating 2 out of 5]

So, this was another choice for our Reader's Advisory group at work. Chiaverini was one of the canon authors for 'Gentle Reads', and since I've (FULL DISCLOSURE) recently taken up quilting, I thought this was the cozy little book for me.

This is the 11th book the the Elm Creek Quilts series, and its the first one I've read. The first book in the series was unavailable at the library, so I decided to jump in and read this one.

The characterization and style was pretty light and breezy, and the plot could have been covered in a 20 page short story. Chiaverini fills in with remembrances of New Year's past and of course the hand quilting details.

Everything seemed sort of dull and unmemorable, and although there was nothing offensive in the writing style, it didn't particularly hold my interest either. I was also feeling pretty bitter towards the main character and her asides about the ungrateful nature of children, which didn't help me enjoy this anymore.

I think before I give a final judgement on the series, I may still have to go back to the first book, The Quilter's Apprentice. The story seems a little more my speed and I did sort of enjoy the talk about quilting (she said reluctantly).

[Holly (2 Kids and Tired) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book picks up where The Quilter's Legacy left off. Sylvia and Andrew married on Christmas Eve, and then set off to visit his daughter who is opposed to their marriage. Along the way, Sylvia works on her New Years Quilt and remembers past New Years Eves.

While much of Sylvia's experiences have been told in other books, this one does add some additional dimensions to those stories. For one, you learn about Sylvia's regrets in leaving Elm Creek Manor the first time, and her regret at never reconciling with her sister, who apparently had attempted to find her.

Reading the rest of the series is not a requirement for enjoying this book although, if you have read the others, this will simply provide a richer understanding of Sylvia and her life.

[Carol Jones-Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed Silvia as she prepares a New Year's Quilt for her new daughter-in-law. The stories of her life are a lesson to all of us of the importance of forgiveness and kindness. I enjoyed thinking about New Year's Resolutions as I read, though I don't often keep them, so I don't make them. Silvia points out in the book that she likes resolutions because it means that the person making them still has hope for the future. I liked that perspective and it helped me to reflect on hope. There are some fun surprises in this book. I was quite old when I got married for the first time, so I a small way I could appreciate the fun part this played in the story. I really like Andrew....he is a kind and gentle soul who is a wonderful and patient companion for Sylvia.

[Elaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this was an OK book -- not great literature, but an easy, quick read with a decent story line. It was a little difficult remembering who was who, but perhaps if I'd read the previous ones in the series, that would have made it easier to keep track. A lot of the book is flashbacks -- which helps to fill in the back story and adds some depth and interest. Story is a bit predictable; I have a small problem with believability with some of the conversations involving the main character when she was a child, but I'll probably read more of the series just for fun. Love the quilting references and totally appreciate the lack of bad language.

[Christie Brumley]

This was one of those books that I didn't expect much from but a quick holiday inspired read. It was so much more. I love books that refer back to many years ago during simpler times and when family truly spent time together and enjoyed one another's company. I also enjoy learning about different countries holiday traditions and this book discussed it a lot. It's amazing all the hard work that goes into making a quilt which I don't know personally but I've witnessed from my Granny. Their is so much love, time and sacrifice put into them and they are truly a treasure to behold. The ones described in this book would be exquisite based on my imagination. I thoroughly enjoyed this book

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know why I love these books but I really do. This book is a part of a whole series of "quilt" books. The writer is an avid quilter (from Madison) who now writes books about a group of quilting ladies. (The first in the series is called The Quilter's Apprentice.) I don't feel like the writing is wonderful but I feel like the stories are easy to read, entertaining and inspiring. I liked this one because of the talk about traditions-it reminded me that I want to make strong traditions a part of my home for my children's sake.

[Nathalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sylvia and Andrew have finally married on Christmas Eve at the manor surrounded by their many friends. Unfortunately, Andrew's children were missing as they had declined spending Christmas with them. Sylvia and Andrew had decided to keep their wedding a surprise. After Christmas and on their honeymoon, they decide to head out to Amy's home, figuring that if they could win Amy over, the others would follow for Amy was the biggest hurdle. All is well in the end but not without much worry and drama of course. But I like happy endings so this worked for me!

[Lauri · Rating 4 out of 5]

A heartwarming tale of an older couple with a second chance at love. They have many obstacles to overcome but are truly in love. The most difficult thing is the lack of support they receive from Andrew's adult children. This story takes place over the Christmas and New Year's holidays beginning with a festive wedding at Elm Creek Manor. It's filled with remembrances, regrets, happiness and sadness and through it all is the strong sense of family values and quilts. Always the idea of what quilting did & can do for a sense of self-esteem and purpose

[Jean · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although I gave it two stars, it was well written. I have read nine previous books in the quilt series by Jennifer and frankly this one was a composition using many of the stories in the the first books only adding more detail. If you need to catch up before moving on to her future quilt books, this is a good one to read.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series of books. Besides the quilting info the story of the Bergstrom family over the years since they came to America is fascinating. The author has woven a believable family history! I love this story for it's emphasis on forgiving and letting go in order to move on and find happiness in life even through immense trial and sorrow.

[Pat · Rating 1 out of 5]

Maybe I've been reading too many of Chiaverini's books in a row but this book is most definitely a re-hash a re-cap of the others. A very small, undeveloped conflict coupled with an ending that "tells" instead of "shows" made this a bore.

[Betsy Diamant-cohen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was given to me by a good friend and I can see why! It is a lovely story about love, friendships, mistakes, forgiveness, and hope. What a great way to start out the New Year by reading this book!

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

After Sylvia Compson marries Andrew on Christmas Eve, they travel to Andrew's daughter's home hoping for her approval of their marriage. Sylvia relives memories of past New Years along the way. The book was mainly a rehashing of incidents from other books in the series, but still fun to read.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is another enjoyable book in the Elm Creek Quilt series. This story is about putting aside conflict and putting family first. I enjoyed it; it was a quick read, a tear-jerker at parts, and yet it has a happy ending. It was also a quick and easy read.

[Robynne Lozier · Rating 3 out of 5]

****SPOILERS****


This book is set immediately after Quilters Legacy. In Legacy Sylvia and Andrew got married against the wishes of Andrew Children by his first wife.

I am going to assumes that readers already know the main story line and who Sylvia Bergstrom is and what she does.

Sylvia and Andrew have known each other since they were children. They are now both in their 80s at least when they got married to each other.

This novel is their honeymoon. They head to NYC for a few days and then up to Connecticut to tell Andrew's daughter Amy of their marriage. She has been the most resistant.

I originally gave this book 4 stars. It was ok. There was nothing earth shattering in the plot line.

But I do have to knock at least 1 star off for the lack of continuity. In an earlier novel, when Andrew tells his children that he is engaged to be married, Amy's husband was named Paul. In this novel he is named Daniel.

As for Amy's resistance to Sylvia as her new step mother, It turns out that since Andrew and Sylvia have known each other since they were children, long before Andrew ever met his wife, Amy wondered if her mother was Andrew's second choice since Sylvia was already married to her first husband, James, before he and Andrew went off to war in the Pacific. (WW2).

Andrew came home from the war. James did not.

Sylvia and Amy get some bonding time in as Sylvia does her best to assure Amy that her mother was Andrew's great love, not Sylvia.

This story also details the 50 years of Sylvia being absent from Elm Creek Manor while her older sister Claudia and her husband Harold lived there, after WW2.

Sylvia was so angry at Harold for his cowardly actions during WW2. And when Claudia was told about those actions, Claudia called Sylvia a liar. Sylvia promptly left home.

Claudia wrote letters looking for Sylvia but she never apologized for calling Claudia a liar. So Sylvia stayed away. She went to Carnegie Mellon University, got herself an arts degree in the fine arts and became a quilting teacher.

Sylvia only returned to Elm creek Manor after Claudia and Harold had both died. Claudia was told that she was the last living descendent of the Bergstrom Family Name.

Clearly the lawyers did not look far enough for descendants, because several years later, Sylvia did find some distant cousins in California. (mentioned in Quilters Holiday)

[April · Rating 3 out of 5]

Master quilter and teacher Sylvia Carson Mary‘s later life her second love. Together they sought acceptance from his family his daughter having strong objections. The family conflict reminds Sylvia of the estrangement within her own family with her sister Claudia leaving Sylvia after World War II. Sylvia starts a new life on her own, then founds her quilting g camp when she inherits the family manor after her sister’s death. She finds her sister struggled to keep up the family land, manor and business without her help.
Quotes:We can’t hold onto the past but we can keep the best of old Lang Syne in our hearts and in our memories and we can look forward to the future with hope and resolve.
195-6 if she were to take an honest look at her life and her choices, she could not pick and choose what to remember the new year had not always fulfilled his promise of good fortune, and when it had not, it had been up to her to make the most of what was given, to learn and to grow, and in doing so, to turn your fortune into good. In the stillness of her heart, she knew she had sometimes stumbled along the way, had a loud fear or anger or resentment to prevent her from living as fully as she could have. She could not change the mistakes of the past, but she could learn from them.
219 there’s nothing wrong with you that a little perspective wouldn’t cure said Sylvia. You are the only one who feels a little bit of sadness to see the old year ago. After all what’s the most popular song on New Year’s but old and Lang Syne? Even Robert Burns felt melancholy reflecting upon the day is gone by, upon friends no longer near. We can’t hold onto the past it’s true, but we can keep the best part of the days of all things on in our hearts and in our memories and we can look forward to the future with hope and resolve.
I’ve learned to think of the new year as a gift. It’s a blank page and you can write upon it as you wish. Sometimes we make a pledge to improve ourselves in the year ahead. My mother taught me that it’s also wise to make the world a better place for someone else. Even if it’s only in small ways a resolution is also a settlement of a dispute.

[Louis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to this book on CD in my car.

This is part of a series, and I had read none of the other volumes in the series.

I found this book to be engaging enough. I was interested in what was going on for the most part.

But I often found the protagonist Sylvia unlikeable in her younger years. At least when she was a child, you could excuse some of the behavior. But talk about someone who never seemed to learn from her own experience how to be a better person and you are describing Sylvia.

As she experienced tragedy in World War II, she compounded her grief by ostracizing her sister completely. This included moving to her in-laws' place and making them lie for her so that her sister could not make contact.

She continued pouting for over 50 years! Now in the course of this time she became a Master Quilter.

The book is mostly told in flashback. She has married, against the wishes of his daughter, an old childhood friend. She now is receiving treatment from that relative such as she dished out in the olden days.

I was just struck by a feeling of immutable sadness reading this book. What a wasteland she made of her personal relationships through her poor choices as both a child and an adult. She doesn't blame anyone else in her older age, but she also does not seem very affected by the lost opportunities.

Yes, you can justify her decisions by saying that if these things did not happen, she would not have become the positive things that she likes about her current life. But at what cost?

The book's resolution seemed abrupt to me and almost unbelievable.

There isn't too much about quilting in this book to detract from its basic story.

But this is a downer.