The Giving Quilt

Written by Jennifer Chiaverini

Narrated by Christina Moore

Jennifer Chiaverini's Elm Creek Quilts novels are as lovingly crafted and heartwarming as the homemade quilts featured prominently in each story. The milestone 20th entry in this charming series, The Giving Quiltchronicles the week af-ter Thanksgiving- Quiltsgiving- as residents of Elm Creek Manor find creative ways to answer the question, ''Why do you give?''

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Oct 30, 2012
• ISBN: 9781470327637

Jennifer Chiaverini

Jennifer Chiaverini is the New York Times bestselling author of thirty-four novels, including critically acclaimed historical fiction and the beloved Elm Creek Quilts series. In 2020, she was awarded an Outstanding Achievement Award from the Wisconsin Library Association for her novel Resistance Women. In 2023, the WLA awarded her the honor of Notable Wisconsin Author for her significant contributions to the state’s literary heritage. Chiaverini earned a BA from the University of Notre Dame and an MA in English Language and Literature from the University of Chicago. She, her husband, and their two sons call Madison, Wisconsin home.

Reviews for The Giving Quilt

[judiex · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Giving QuiltIn THE GIVING QUILT, a free quilting camp at Elm Creek attracts women of diverse backgrounds as they spend a week creating quilts to donate to Project Linus, an actual national group that makes and donates quilts to children in need. Each has a different reason for being there and besides providing patterns and information about how to quilt, the story delves into several of the reasons and the women’s relationships with each other. Several of the stories are told in detail. Many of their situations (job loss, internet, cheating, etc.) are known to all of us, either personally, through someone we know or from the media.Pauline, the first woman profiled, belonged to a very prestigious quilting club but left because of difficulties with one of the other members who had been a member longer and seemed to have strong support. She missed her friends in the other group but thought it was time to move ahead.Linnae and her sister Mona lived far from each other and had an annual vacation together. The quilting camp was this year’s destination. Linnae is a librarian in a small town in southern California. The national economic downturn has affected the town and left it with a $4 million dollar deficit. Closing the library would reduce the expenses considerably and she is worried that she may lose her job. Her husband was laid off from his job and has been unsuccessful in finding another one, partly due to his age and his experience. An inflammatory media personality, working with a local resident, have led a campaign to close the libraries saying that they are no longer needed in the age of the internet. The resident also is outraged about some of the books in the library considering them subversive and objectionable. Linnae disagrees, saying that “People need stories....We use stories to teach, to learn, to make sense of the world around us. As long as we need stories, we will need books, and as long as there are books, there will be libraries.”.Mona works for the state government and is the vice president of her union. Attempts by the government to abolish collective bargaining rights is a major problem for her, though it isn’t discussed very much. Her husband has also lost his job because of economic conditions.Michaela is a college student who is there to fill her community service requirements. Her main goal at college was to be a cheerleader, something she had done since her middle school days. Several factors work against her, culminating in an incident in which she broke her leg. Her chapter includes the place for women in traditionally male jobs.Jocelyn is a school teacher. In her story, she takes over as coach for the school’s Imagination Quest team following the death of her husband. She is uncertain if she wants to do so but realizes how important the competition is to the students and that no one else is willing to do it. She mentions to one of the other quilters that her husband had big shoes to fill. The quilter responds, “Who said you had to fill his shoes? Wear your own shoes. They’re bound to fit better. Walk your own path your own way and you’ll be more likely to get where you need to be.” One of the rules is that all the work and planning must be done by the students themselves. Another team’s entry appears to have adult involvement. What should be done about that and who should do it form an important part of her story. One thing that bothered me about their project, determined by the national organization, was the potential use of it: They had to figure out a way to use mechanical means to deliver objects over a high wall to hit targets on the other side. The main use I can see for that would be in warfare.Karen, who was an expert quilter, had applied for a teaching job at Elm Creek several years ago and was hurt because she wasn’t hired. She was told that while her skills were excellent, she hadn’t taught quilting and was advised to do so. She does get a job at a local quilting shop (String Theory Quilt Shop) and really loves her work. She realizes that the local small shop owners have to work together to get customers because if people go to one store, they are more likely to visit other ones. The loss of any business effects other ones as well. She helps the local owners organize to promote each other. Things are going well until the customers start going to the shops to find what they want and then order the products from the internet for less money. She works to try to overcome that problem.The book provides an interesting look at the problems people face and how they are helped by others. It’s an easy, insightful read.

[anglersrest_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Continuing the wonderful Elm Creek series. I had been eagerly awaiting the book's publication when I had the chance to review via NetGalley. My recently ordered hardback edition arrived a few weeks ago and now joins the rest of the series on my bookshelf.In this latest instalment, we are in the week following Thanksgiving. This week is know at Elm Creek as Quilt Giving which is an opportunity to attend a retreat and quilt. At the end of the week the quilters donate their accomplishments to local charities.We meet the regular Elm Creek Quilters - Matt and Sarah and their toddler twins, Sylvia and Gretchen. We also meet the quilters attending the retreat - Jocelyn, mother of two children and a widow, Mona & Linnea, who are sisters, Michaela a student with her leg in plaster cast, Karen an employee of a quilt shop who had previously applied and been rejected to work at Elm Creek and Pauline a rather gifted quilter and a member of a rather prestigious quilting bee.The story unfolds with a customary meal and the allocation of a Giving Journal, where the attendees are asked to record what they are thankful for and what they give to others (as well as receive). Each of the women, apart from the sisters are strangers and gradually they become immersed within the confines of the retreat and start to let down their personal barriers and each begins to share her story. As each one shares and listens we start to see the foundations of friendships form and the love they each have for their families and their quilting.I was not disappointed with the latest instalment and I look forward to the next visit to Elm Creek.