THE GOODBYE QUILT
Author: Susan Wiggs ISBN: 9780778329961 4/2011 CONTEMPORARY Publisher: MIRA
Linda Davis’s local fabric shop is a place where women gather to share their creations: quilts commemorating important events in their lives. Wedding quilts, baby quilts, memorial quilts — each is bound tight with dreams, hopes, and yearnings.
Now, as her only child readies for college, Linda is torn between excitement for Molly and heartache for herself. Who will she be when she is no longer needed in her role as mom? What will become of her days? Of her marriage?
Mother and daughter decide to share one last adventure together — a cross-country road trip to move Molly into her dorm. As they wend their way through the heart of the country, Linda stitches together the scraps that make up Molly’s young life. And in the quilting of each bit of fabric — the hem of a christening gown, a snippet from a Halloween costume — Linda discovers that the memories of a shared journey can come together in a way that will keep them both warm in the years to come.... |
 RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS: 
THE GOODBYE QUILT is a fabulous mother/daughter read! I loved this tale, seeing everywoman on every page. I related to the journey Linda and Molly take, and I believe many others will see at least bits of themselves in this, too.
While driving across the country together, Linda and Molly learn more about each other than years of close living has divulged. Linda is making a memory quilt for her daughter, and listening to their conversations is truly heartwarming. I loved that they pick up a stranger on their trip, and laughed out loud when Molly says her father is going to freak when he finds out! Such a great moment, especially when Linda's reaction is factored in.
I don't want to give much away, especially because while this is a fantastic book, it is honestly fairly predictable. It is a feel-good story, with no major upheavals. It's a solid tale of how mothers and daughters relate. Their expectations, hopes and dreams are all front and center, and it is a pleasure to watch this story unfold. I loved it!
Kay James |
