THE MASTER QUILTER

Jennifer Chiaverini

Simon & Schuster

ISBN: 0-7432-3615-7

April 2004

Inspirational

 

When Sylvia Compson, founder of the Elm Creek Quilters, marries her sweetheart, Andrew, in a Christmas Eve ceremony that is a surprise to their nearest and dearest, those loved ones immediately plan a project to commemorate the wedding. Sylvia's friends send an invitation out to everyone who's ever been associated with Elm Creek Quilts, asking them to contribute a block for a wedding quilt for Sylvia and Andrew. Each block is to represent Sylvia's impact on the quilter's life. Because the quilt is to be a surprise, Sylvia's friends and colleagues begin acting peculiarly, and the once open, affectionate exchange of ideas and information is in jeopardy as each of the quilters hides pieces of herself from the others.

THE MASTER QUILTER is Jennifer Chiaverini's sixth book about the denizens of Elm Creek Manor, and her unique story-telling technique in this book is a verbal rendering of the way a quilt can be pieced together. The plot is a bit think in this book, but rather than be a handicap, this spartan approach strengthens the emotional impact of the climax. THE MASTER QUILTER relates the same brief series of events from the point of view of each of the Elm Creek staff members before arriving at the climax in a more traditional format. Much as the pattern blocks of a quilt can be turned in various directions for a stronger impact on the viewer, Chiaverini's presentation of the same scenario from eight different points of view perfectly mimics the finest quilting techniques to add depth and resonance to an otherwise spare narrative.

Readers have grown to know and love the Elm Creek Quilters over the course of Ms. Chiaverini's previous novels, but they will close THE MASTER QUILTER with a sense of having gotten to know some of Sylvia's friends in a whole new light. Sarah seems a bit bossier and snappish than in other volumes, but that may be due, in part, to a secret only hinted at in this story. The solution to Bonnie's dilemma will be obvious to series fans, but reading about it is still fulfilling. Readers will be rooting for Summer's declaration of independence, and Matt's efforts to sabotage Sarah's determination to keep a secret for once will leave them laughing. Several plotlines were left unresolved, rather like loose threads, but this could be because another Elm Creek book is being written. More backstory on the characters and their relationships would have made THE MASTER QUILTER more accessible--anyone who hasn't visited Elm Creek in a while may find it hard to remember the relationships between the ladies of this book since the previous book was published.

Ms. Chaiverini continues to do a wonderful job of using words to tell a story that mimics the stitching of a quilt. THE MASTER QUILTER beautifully illustrates how the fabric of our lives is pieced together into a cohesive whole. The quilt block illustrations in the front and back covers of the book are an added bonus for non-quilters who may wonder what a particular quilt pattern looks like.

 

Reviewed by Mellanie Crowther

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