The wedding quilt

The latest Elm Creek novel offers fans glimpses into the future as well as the past. It is the weekend of Caroline's wedding, and Elm Creek CEO Sarah reflects on her twins' lives and on those who have made an impact on her own life. James is the twin with the quilting talent, and he now helps run Elm Creek while dating the chef's daughter. Caroline is becoming a doctor and lives away. Many previous scenes and stories from the series are repeated as Sarah reminisces and supplies bittersweet answers to what has happened to beloved Elm Creek founders from a viewpoint in the future. Readers will find it easier to endure the sad parts through the veil of Sarah's current happiness. Chiaverini seamlessly intersperses quilting details and history among the stories of the diverse, vibrant characters who constitute the cornerstone of the series. Fans of this series will also enjoy titles by Anne Tyler, Virginia Ellis, and Sandra Dallas.--Alessio, Amy Copyright 2010 Booklist

This latest installment in the popular Elm Creek Quilts series proves to be a mild, unambitious addendum. In the run-up to protagonist Sarah McClure's daughter Caroline's wedding, which takes place at Elm Creek Manor, Sarah reflects on the people and quilts who have figured in her life since she herself came to the manor as a newlywed. The resulting stories recap the plots of previous books, which may bore fans of the series, while not offering enough context for first-time readers. The drama surrounding Caroline's wedding lacks vigor: whether the wedding ceremony will be rained out; whether or not the memory album quilt that Sarah wants to give her daughter will be completed; and whether or not the bride and groom are too young. Moreover, the novel's central relationship-between Sarah and her daughter Caroline-feels uninhabited, stilted, and overly formal. Only die-hard fans will be able to appreciate this lackluster novel. (Nov.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.