Others say...

"Better than I'd like!"
I don't normally read these types of books, but Ms. Chiaverini is an excellent story-teller. What I don't like is that her chapters are LONG - and that once I start reading one, I can't put the book down until the end!

"Pieced Together in a Lovely Pattern"
This book, Circle of Quilters, is a collection of several stories, sewn together to create a satisfying tale. The book is divided into character portraits of five people, all job applicants for a teaching position at the prestigious Elm Creek Quilter's camp in rural Pennsylvania. Some of their paths cross on interview day, but there is lengthy back-story and development for each, which elicits sympathy from the reader. I found myself rooting for each to do well during the interview for this highly desirable position. Each back-story leads to the interview experience, and not one candidate believes the interview went well.

The characters are as diverse as the blocks of a sampler quilt. Maggie is humble, hardworking, smart and capable. Karen is an overwhelmed mother of two small children, whose lack of childcare (at the last minute) makes you ache with sympathy. Anna, an underappreciated chef, tolerates her boyfriend's mistreatment and has an annoying lack of self-confidence--but anyone would want to taste her homemade cookies (!) Russ, a rare male participant in the quilting world, takes up the hobby after his wife's death and perseveres to become a renowned author and teacher of the art. And finally, there's Gretchen, who spends her entire life dealing with an evil neighbor and so-called friend named Heidi. I kept hoping Gretchen would at last go off on her with a sharp seam-ripper! But Gretchen had far too much class for that.

All of the candidates face the Elm Creek Quilters staff for an extensive and, due to a blonde named Diane, grueling interview. Each is also tested by a white-haired lady acting has a baffled camper in need of help with her appliqué piece. The way Jennifer Chiaverini pieces together the characters is clever and enjoyable, particularly if you have an appreciation for quilts and quilting. It was fun trying to guess which characters would receive offers for the two positions available.

A very fast read and I truly enjoyed it.

Michele Cozzens is the author of It's Not Your Mother's Bridge Club.

"I love this series!"
When my mother suggested that I read these books, I resisted, thinking "why would I want to read a book about a bunch of quilters?" But I was not far into the very first book in the series (The Quilter's Apprentice) before I realized it is not a story about quilting at all. True, quilting forms the framework for the novels, but they are stories of friendship, life, and loyalty. I have sped through all the series that has been published so far, and cannot wait for the next one!

"What a wonderful story"
I bought the first of these books because of the quilting theme. Imagine my surprise when I found a new author that became my number one favorite. I've read all this series and only hope for more. Unbelieveably solid reading entertainment.

"Great stories for all sorts of hand crafters!"
I picked up this book by chance at Borders and then stayed up reading until I'd finished it. I've since read the first 4 books in the series, and I love all of them. I'm slowly accumulating the other books. Ms Chiaverini's writing style is smooth, natural storytelling, and her characters are vividly alive on the pages. It is easy to come to care about the people at Elm Creek. This book in particular can stand alone, with the stories about five people, why they became dedicated quilters, how quilting brings happiness and personal growth to them, each of them with a different reason why they want to become part of the Elm Creek 'family'.

I'm a knitter and have no interest in learning to quilt, but I have friends who are amazingly good quilters. But Ms. Chiaverini's stories are just as applicable to knitters or needlepointers or any others who love their handcrafts, the fibers and patterns and the satisfaction of creating beautiful things. I found many instances in these characters' lives that echo the reasons why I came to be an avid knitter and how it has added friendships and much happiness to my life.

To say these are 'heartwarming' stories makes them sound sappy, but they are not. One of the tags listed is "old lady fiction"; I don't find them so and I don't think many readers will either. Read this one book. You'll want to read more.