- File Size: 1441 KB
- Print Length: 240 pages
- Publisher: Abingdon Press (March 18, 2014)
- Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
- Language: English
- ASIN: B00IBJP64C
Maybelle In Stitches | A Quilts of Love book.
Maybelle Kazinzki can’t sew. She was after all, the only girl in the seventh grade Home Economics class to sew the zipper in the neck hole of the A-Line dress they were supposed to make. But when she finds an unfinished quilt in the attic of her mother’s house she gets the crazy idea to finish it—somehow, come heck or high water. She thinks it will help fill the lonely nights while her husband, Holden, is serving overseas during World War II.
Her recently departed mother’s quilt is made from scraps of material Maybelle traces back to her mother’s childhood, her grandmother’s childhood and her own childhood. She tries to add one of Holden’s stripes to it but the sewing is not going well and neither is her life. After receiving some harsh news, Maybelle’s faith falters and she puts the quilt away and stops trusting God. But God is faithful- no matter what. And it’ll take a group of neighborhood women armed with quilting needles to help Maybelle believe that.
My take on this book:
Imagine being married for just a few weeks and having your husband go off to war, well that's just what happens to Maybelle Kazinski. The year is 1943, and Maybelle's husband Holden is off fighting in the war while she is at home doing her part by taking a job as a welderette in a shipyard. She lives with her mother, but when her mother suddenly dies, and then earth shattering news comes about Holden Maybelle's faith is tested.Thing is Maybelle isn't alone, there are several war wives and widows in the neighborhood, including her friend Doris. When Maybelle decides to finish the quilt her mother was working on, the scrap pieces in the quilt remind her of faith and family.
I really enjoyed the historical aspects of Maybelle in Stitches. From the unconventional job that Maybelle worked to the way that the ladies at the Yard pulled together to support each other this book was so easy to get into. Rich detail really brought the story to life, I could just imagine the emotional upheaval that so many of the characters faced as they worried about their loved one off at war.i also got a sense for the day to day life of the characters and the bond that formed between the characters. I found the few letters that Maybelle and Holden wrote at the beginning of the story to be a joy to read, and I only wish there might have been more of that. I thought the author's notes at the end of the story shared interesting details about the shipyard and really piqued my interest to read more about it. The discussion questions makes this a perfect selection for a group read. Great historical detail, a faith based message,and characters who were faced with very real problems makes this another great installment in the Quilt of Love Series.
A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.
About the author:
Joyce Magnin is the author of the Bright’s Pond novels, including the award-winning The Prayers of Agnes Sparrow. A member of the Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers Fellowship, Joyce is a frequent workshop leader and the organizer of the StoryCrafters fiction group. She lives near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Don’t miss this month’s Quilts of Love book, Maybelle in Stitches, by Joyce Magnin. Maybelle can’t sew. But when she finds an unfinished quilt in the attic of her mother’s house, she gets the crazy idea to complete it.
Joyce is celebrating the release with a $200 Modcloth giveaway. Enter today for a chance to spruce up your spring wardrobe!
One winner will receive:
- A $200 Modcloth gift card
- Scraps of Evidence by Barbara Cameron
- A Sky Without Stars by Linda S. Clare
- Maybelle in Stitches by Joyce Magnin
Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on April 19th. Winner will be announced on April 21st on the Quilts of Love blog!
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