Round Robin

Elm Creek Quilts #2

by Jennifer Chiaverini

Round Robin reunites readers with the Elm Creek Quilters in this poignant and heartwarming follow-up to The Quilter's Apprentice, Jennifer Chiaverini's acclaimed debut novel. "She chose green and blue for the colors of Elm Creek Manor. She chose blue for truth and green for new beginnings . . ."

The Elm Creek Quilters have begun a round robin...a quilt created by sewing concentric patchwork to a central block as it is passed around a circle of friends. Led by Sarah McClure, who came to Waterford, Pennsylvania, with her husband, Matt, a few years ago, the project is to be their gift to their beloved fellow quilter Sylvia Compson. But like the most delicate cross-stitch, their lives are held together by the most tenuous threads of happiness...and they can unravel.

As each woman confronts a personal crisis, a painful truth, or a life-changing choice, the quilt serves as a symbol of the complex and enduring bonds between mothers and daughters, sisters and friends. In weaving together the harmonious, disparate pieces of their crazy-quilt lives, the Elm Creek Quilters come to realize that friendship is one of the most precious gifts we can give each other, and that love can strengthen understanding, lead to new beginnings, and illuminate our lives.

Genres: Fiction, Quilting, Chick Lit, Audiobook, Historical Fiction, Contemporary, Adult Fiction

304 pages, Paperback

First published April 4, 2000

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

[Raven]

I enjoyed the first book in this series and that's why I picked this book up, the second in the Elm Creek Quilts series. I still enjoyed reading about quilting and getting to know each of the characters a bit more in depth since each chapter (basically) highlights a different character. However, I just got really annoyed with the main character, Sarah, and her immature attitude toward her mother. She and her mother do not get along and I can understand Sarah's feelings, but she seems unwilling to do anything to reconcile, even when her mother reaches out. This book made it hard for me to even like Sarah sometimes. And there were a lot of times when cruel words were said (between various characters) and I kept yelling (internally, of course), "Think before you speak!" For instance, the main character's husband tells her that marrying her was the biggest mistake of his life. But then the next day they've made up and he apologizes for being a jerk. This kind of thing happened over and over again and I found it frustrating. Still a cute read, but I'm not sure if I'll continue the series.

[chucklesthescot]

Having enjoyed the first one, I was very disappointed in this one. What made the first book so good was how much I liked the characters. This time round, all the characters I had liked, other than Sylvia, had turned into horrible characters!

Lets start with Diane, who doesn't really seem to have much interest in her kids or their interests, and likes to show off in front of the neighbours. She likes to judge her friends and tell them what they should be doing based on her standards, which I also found annoying. Her dumb feud with Mary Beth was childish, immature and pointless, and took up too much of the book.

Sarah was annoying me. I had sympathy with her about why she fell out with her mother but because she won't tell anyone the details, they all take Carol's side and think Sarah is over-reacting. Jeez Sarah stop being such a dummy and tell your friends what she did!!!

Sarah's mother Carol is a dreadful woman who finds fault in everything that Sarah does, right down to the way she cuts carrots. She is constantly on at Sarah about having children when it is obvious to anyone with a brain that there is an issue there. And of course she tried to bribe Sarah with money not to marry Matt after trying everything else to break them up. What a bitch! It's actually beyond me why so many reviewers seem to be on Carol's side!

Matt is a real asshat in this book, moaning at Sarah all the time, not showing any sympathy for her and then telling her that marrying her was the biggest mistake of his life. Oh you are such a sweetheart aren't you?

Then we have Bonnie, who discovers that her husband is having an online affair with another woman and is planning to spend time in a hotel with her. So does Bonnie throw him out or stand up to him? No, she decides that she must make herself look prettier to stop him cheating. Oh that was just the last straw for me with this book. Of COURSE it is the woman's fault for getting older and FORCING her poor devoted husband to look for a younger woman! That really made me mad. I did like how she finally shows him up but the whole women being doormats to men bevaving badly thing does not entertain me.

The cast of monsters, I mean characters, was not entetaining. I wish the book had focused a bit more on Sylvia's story instead of the very annoying dramas of the others dominating it. I've decided that I don't want to read on with the series based on what I saw here.

[Carmen]

It wasn't until Sylvia was engrossed in conversation with one of the last guests that Agnes beckoned the other Elm Creek Quilters. “I think we should make Sylvia a round robin quilt for that wall,” she said, keeping her voice low so that Sylvia wouldn't overhear.

“What's a round robin quilt?” Sarah asked, picturing a circular quilt with birds appliquéd in the center.

“It's a quilt made by a group of friends,” Bonnie explained. “Each quilter makes a center block and passes the block along to a friend, who passes her own block along to the next person in line, all the way around the circle. Then each quilter pieces a border and attaches it to the block she received.”

[Beverly]

This is a series that I really enjoy. Although the books are "cozy" they still tackle some difficult issues regarding mothers and daughters, husbands and wives and families in general. This is only the second book in the series but since I have read a few "out of order", I already feel like I know some of these women. I have a group of friends that I have cross stitched with for about 25 years and the stories from Elm Creek just ring true. So, if you like cozies and crafting, I think you would love this wonderful series.

[Rachel B]

I didn't enjoy the plotlines of this as much as the ones in other Elm Creek Quilt books, and I was surprised to see a fair amount of profanity, including God's name used flippantly. There were also some brief sexual references.

My least favorite in the series so far.

[Furrawn]

We all need to be able to forgive. Do I think sometimes forgiveness is impossible? Perhaps. I think usually though, we can forgive though we might not forget. Sometimes maybe a person simply chooses to be evil at which point a good person chooses to stay away…

This book is about understanding and forgiveness. It’s about empathy. It’s about walking in another person’s shoes.

The relationships in this novel are severely strained. There are problems all over. But, because there is love, there is the continued effort to reach a better place. It can take months or years… but understanding where the other person is coning from, perseverance, and a willingness to forgive are essential…

I know what it’s like to have a bad relationship with one’s mother like Sarah did. Frankly, the book is quite accurate. My problems with my mom were deeper than Sarah’s but still I recognized the truth in the book.

I read plenty of reviews where people were unhappy at the dark turn of this book. I agree that this book was filled with characters working on repairing damages… but isn’t that one side of life for everyone? Doesn’t everyone have a family member or friend that they fell out with but miss? This book just handled them all at once. I agree that it was a lot to hit us with in one book. Believable but a lot. Especially for a cozy book. Perhaps it would have been better to spread the plot over multiple books. Still, we get where we want to be when we read a cozy novel…. Also, the book has a truly lovely ending.

[Kathryn]

After a cheerful and hopeful book one, this was a real downer! We get to know more about all the characters we met in the first book – in the context of past or present trauma or trial. No one escapes having something bad happen to them over the course of this book. It just felt piled on in what seemed like an otherwise light and enjoyable read. And then it all ends rather nicely (conveniently?) with a bow wrapping up all the loose ends.

I’m going to take a little break before I go onto the next book.

[Dawn]

Great book for quilters! The third book is on order.

[Melissa]

I listened to this book on audio.
I really enjoy this series.

[Julie]

I was intrigued by the book but finally had to put it down as I didn't enjoy reading about the infidelity in the relationships and how it affected the individuals in a negative way. I am glad that it was written that way to show the true consequences and I hope that at the end of the story that they patched up the relationships that could be but I didn't want to have to read all about it. How thankful I am for a beautiful relationship with my husband!

[Donna]

so many books, so little time; at least now I can cross some off my to-do list. The 2nd book in this series depleted my enthusiasm for more. I had looked forward to it; but found it to have too much whining in it, and then miraculous happy-ever-after endings. I envision more of the same in the ensueing books in the series.

[Jen]

Not a life-changer. But a nice easy read. Did make me cry ... but then again, I've got hormones surging these days.

[Milly]

Another great book! I have fallen in love with these characters.

[Lisa]

I really enjoyed this story; it is a great audiobook. The reader was great as well.
The story picks up about 2 years after the first, and the quilters are hosting week-long camps for other quilters. The members decide to create a round-robin quilt for Sylvia, the owner of Elm Creek Manor. For those non-quilters, this means that each member creates a border piece that will be pieced together into the same quilt, and each piece that is contributed is as unique as the individual quilter. The story follows each quilter as they create their piece and the story of their lives that has brought them to where they are now. It was wonderful to get to know each of these women and understand their history and to better understand how they made it to this point in their lives. It made me laugh, cry, and better appreciate these women and what they overcame in their lives.

[Anne G.]

I read the first book in this series around 3 years ago and really enjoyed it. This one was just as enjoyable, it did not take me long to get reacquainted with everyone and of course there were a few new people added to the mix, which no doubt will show up in a future book. I will not wait as long to read the next book

[Shauna]

I am not ready to give up on the Elm Creek Quilters. However, this installment was hard to follow. With so many individual threads, I found it difficult to keep everything straight. I understand the purpose of the camp is to allow a freedom to introduce new characters and back stories, but maybe slow down the rate that we meet them.

[Kiri Dawn]

Loved spending more time with the Elm Creek quilters and learning more back story of the various ladies. (Other than Sarah’s toxic mom. She was a new addition I could had done without. Although I like Sarah having more backstory.). Also, once again leaving the story inspired to make the quilt described in the book, lol.

[Meg Mary]

3.5 ⭐️

“Friends are the most precious gift, and that even in the darkest of times love illuminates the way home”. Another heartwarming quilting story… I’m finding myself thinking I may need to pick up another hobby!

[Tatyana Naumova]

А больше у нас и не перевели(

[Tracy McLean]

This is a cute, light series. This was a good read, not great. Part 3 is better.

[Christine]

I love books about women's friendships.

[Barbara Dutton]

Book 2 in the quilters series. I read a few of these books a few years ago and enjoyed them. This book was weak and somewhat boring.

I’m on to book 3 now…

[Stephanie]

Now this is a sophomore success!
I loved every second of this continuation of a story that reminds us of friendship and compassion and communication and love. This ‘fluff’ isn’t just fluff.

[Nicole]

Unfortunately all of the men in this book are eviiiiillll

[Meg]

Lots of real life problems which brings some realism to a cozy craft series, and surprised morally grey.

Do I agree with how things were resolved? Not always

[Kathryn]

DNF. This book is too slow moving . I was bored and the previous book I found too slow also and although it improved after the halfway; I couldn't bear to listen to half of this being so bored. Too many books, too little time. Lifed too short and there are too many good books waiting for me to discover them.

[Janet]

Quick feel good read.
Highly recommend this series.

[Sharon W. Cordray]

love the characters

The characters are so focused and so dull of
fun. I love their dedication to quilting and to the teaching of quilting.

[Mary]

3.5 stars. I do enjoy this series. I love how Chiaverini weaves intentional fabric/pattern selection into the quilting. I love how she bounces between characters/friends. It's so natural that there would be so much going on in a friend group. It always surprises me when books include parts of life that have been so dramatically altered - like the airports! This was definitely pre-9/11. Curious what will creep into books post-covid...

[Jennifer Johns]

A lot of the reviews share disappointment about the narrative not being focused on just Sarah and Sylvia as the first was. Well, I disagree, completely. I LOVED this book. All the stories distinct yet stitched together, literally. These are my happy books. I love them. They feel like friends.