The Sugar Camp Quilt

Publisher's Summary

Jennifer Chiaverini's New York Times best-selling Elm Creek Quilt novels, with their irresistible blend of storytelling magic and quilting lore, have captured the hearts of countless fans. In this moving novel about morality, freedom, and the power of human courage, Chiaverini whisks listeners back to antebellum America.

As the nation moves toward civil war, one resident of Creek's Crossing, Pennsylvania, has her life irrevocably changed. Dorothea Granger is asked by her uncle, shortly before his violent death, to stitch an unusual quilt. When she learns that the quilt contains hidden clues for the Underground Railroad, Dorothea makes a brave decision. She will put her own life at risk to continue the work that cost her uncle his life.

The Dallas Morning News hails the Elm Creek Quilt books as "classics of their kind", and this stirring historical yarn is another satisfying entry in the series.

©2005 Jennifer Chiaverini (P)2005 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic Reviews

"Even a newcomer to the popular Elm Creek Quilts series will quickly get caught up in the lives of the ladies who stitch." (Publishers Weekly)

A Story with Too Much

I enjoyed this story very much. This was the first Jennifer Chiaverini Quilt book that I've ever listened to or read, and probably will not be my last. The characters were well formed, the plot moved along nicely, and I learned a lot about life as an abolitionist. The only problem I have with this fine tale is that the author blatantly copys or borrows the entire love story directly from Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, my favorite novel of all time. I understand all about allusion, and this was not an example of that at all. In The Bridget Jones Diaries, Helen Fielding playfully references Pride and Prejudice several times, but always in an obvious and tongue in cheek way. Alluding to a great work of literature in this manner is great. Jennifer Chiaverini, however, has her characters, Dorothea Granger and Thomas Nielson speaking lines practically verbatim that Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett said years ago. I didn't like this at all. Surely a capable author such as this could have created a more clever and less cliched romantic element to this otherwise enjoyable story.

12 of 15 people found this review helpful

Take Two

I agree with the previous reviewer - the author must have read Pride and Prejudice one time too many and couldn't get it out of her mind. From the very first introduction of the "Mr. Darcy" character and his comments at the dance, I saw it coming. Instead of creating any tender feeling for a developing relationship, the dialogue that was blatantly Austen made me laugh and made me mad! I DID enjoy the remainder of the book, about the events of the time and the clever use of the quilt. I just wish she had started with an original - or at least significantly altered - premise for the interaction of the characters.

5 of 6 people found this review helpful

Clean story. Kept my interest

Historically accurate fiction with a very interesting storyline. The villains were worth hating and the heroes and heroines could be admired. This is the second one in this series that I have listened to and it won't be my last.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Absolutely a great listen

I couldn't even be disturbed to answer the phone with this one. Wonderful for quilters and non-quilters alike. Great offering by this wonderful author. Cynthia

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Nice little history reminder

This was a good example of a little research for the civil war era. It gave a good peek at how life really was. How people lived and the difference in political persuasions.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

audio book

I enjoyed this book on audio. The reader was very entertaining with voice changes and kept the story moving nicly.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

The Sugar Camp Quilt

Great story telling ability by author. Enjoyable listening from a very good narrerator.

2 of 3 people found this review helpful

Only buy this book if it is on sale.

I think the author is a fan of Jane Austin and Mr. Darcy. I foresaw almost everything that was going to happen and then waited for the story to catch up. The book was on sale for $5.00. At this price it was a good value for the money.

Great rook

I really enjoyed this book it is one that I would listen to again. I quilt myself or will be starting to quilt again after a 10 year hiatus and will be joining the local quilters guild soon. I could really relate to this book. I immersed myself in the book and listened it as I was falling asleep do I intend to listen to the part that I missed while I slept.

wonderful series for quilters and non-quilters

I read this series on my Kindle and now I have started listening to it from Audible. Every book is wonderfully written. The historical stories are educational as well and being interesting and enjoyable. The current day stories are touching and enjoyable.