I love to read and my family and friends know this. Often someone gives me a book or recommends a book for me to read.
My sister gave me a book that was written by Irene Latham. Irene lives in Birmingham, Alabama and this is her first novel. Leaving Gee's Bend is the story of Ludelphia Bennett set in 1932. Although this is a book of fiction it tells a story of the Gee's Bend Quilters. Latham based some of Ludelphia's adventures on the history of Gee's Bend, Alabama. Ludelphia's adventures in this novel were written for children and it recently received the Alabama Library Association's 2011 Children's Book Award. It is a very easy read and can be completed in a sitting or two. I think you would enjoy the story of this sharecropper's struggle, as seen through the eyes of this young girl, and the eventual intervention of the Red Cross sending care packages that saved the destitute families.
My brother sent me a copy of Jennifer Chiaverini's latest book. Chiaverini has written a series of books called The Elm Creek Quilts Novels.
I have read all of her books to date and find them very entertaining both for the story lines and the quilting stories.
The Union Quilters is set in 1862 in Water's Ford, Pennsylvania. It is a compelling story about the life of the men who served in the Civil War. Behind the scenes of the war itself is the story of the Union Quilters who diligently made quilts and supplies for the troops. In true Chiaverini style, this story holds you spellbound as the characters come alive and the reader shares in the joy, heartache, and love of these fine people in the Elm Creek Valley.
A recently widowed Amish woman named Emma Yoder decides to offer quilting classes to help with her finances. This will make it possible for her to be a bit more independent and able to take care of herself without burdening her children. She has never done this kind of thing before but she strongly believes she has something more than just quilting to offer the students who come her way. I don't want to spoil the story for you but I will mention that this group of adults are the most unlikely folks you will ever meet in a quilting class. The stories of the students become interwoven as they share and accept each other. Emma indeed has something besides quilting skills to offer this group of new quilters. A super good read!
These are just three of my summer books. What have you been reading?
-sandi
All three books sound like must-reads.
ReplyDeleteThe House on Tradd Street is set in Charleston, SC. It is my current summer read. Karen White the author has written a number of books. Some readers of this blog may have read them.
She has now written a series of novels set in the City of Charleston, not the outlying islands. The books are mysteries and ones that are hard for me to put down and work on something.
Even if one has not been to Charleston I recommend putting these on your reading list.
Lucy, I will put these on my must-read list. I love mysteries and historical fiction.
DeleteThese sound great. I have not been reading much of late. But need to get start again. My friend Pat who is coming to visit next week is bring the Union book. Can't wait. Thank for sharing. I needed some new ideas on what to read. I used to read a lot of mysteries but I found that I didn't want to put some of that stuff in my head.
ReplyDeleteI read mysteries, too, Bren, but I thoroughly enjoy anything that is historical in nature.
DeleteDo you monitor your time with your projects and reading?
ReplyDeleteLucy, I do not live "by the clock" but I do manage my time and am a great advocate of timers for certain projects.
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