How to Make an American Quilt

by Whitney Otto

Book Overview

Remarkable...An affirmation of the strength and power of individual lives, and the way they cannot help fitting together. THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEWAn extraordinay and moving reading experience, HOW TO MAKE AN AMERICAN QUILT is an exploration of women of yesterday and today, who join together in a uniquely female experience. As they gather year after year, their stories, their wisdom, their lives, form the pattern from which all of us draw warmth...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0679400702
• ISBN13: 9780679400707
• Release Date: March 1991
• Publisher: Villard Books
• Length: 179 Pages
• Weight: 0.72 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.6" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

Did not like it hopping around among the characters. Not sure the story was pulled together at the e

Out of print, but well worth the search

Every individual remains entitled to their own taste, but as Roger Ebert once observed in regard to movies, there are some that if a person didn't like they "just didn't get." Whitney Otto's highly original, engaging, and meticulously fashioned "How to Make an American Quilt" falls firmly in that category. Weaving together her subject as device, metaphor, and over-arching theme, Otto introduces us to her cast of characters all women whose lives are knitted together by their participation in a quilting circle. Some are close, others have no other thread connecting them, but each have a story. Yet Otto uses the quilt metaphor to its full effect, not only through the narrative, but interspersing between these women's stories short sections on the subject of that craft, each of which elucidate some emotional point which she explores in the next woman's story. Each story stands as distinct, yet serves as an integral part of the greater whole; like patches in a quilt, together their assembled scraps simply took my breath away.

Great read

I love how this is one of those books with so many different levels. Yes, I thought it was a great read but it had so many aspects to it. I loved how the quilt instructions in the book would foreshadow what was to come in a quiet, straightforward tone, and then the chapter that followed would be a story of love or adultery or loss or whatever each of these women had to handle in their own way; a story they synthesized down to a square on a quilt (one of the few art forms that used to be open for women to express themselves). It gave the book a quilt-like pattern of its own. It also was a great change to see women who didn't just jump at the chance to get married - who realized how marriage opened AND closed possibilities for their lives, whether or not they loved the man. I know I get too analytical since I'm just completing my degree in literature but I hadn't read anything by this author before and expected just a fun book and then it turned out to be one I've been thinking and talking about ever since.

Good, but...

I loved this story. I could relate to the characters. But that's not why I decided to write this review. I want to tell people something about this. I am sick of book-bashers. No novel, no matter how bad in your opinion, should be called bad literature or ragged on. You can say why you like or dislike something, but don't try to encourage or discourage people from buying the book. This story is pivotal. For me, reading it was an enchanting experience. I loved the characters, (especially Glady) and it was very moving. (I was a little disappointed that Constance changed the roses from yellow, though. Chickie's roses were yellow!) But there are dislikable qualities, too. I didn't like the fact that Finn cheated on Sam. It was pointless, and had little to do with the rest of the story. And I didn't especially like Sophia. Also, I really wondered what happened to Marianna's father. Did he even know about her? They didn't say enough about him. But for those of you who call it the most promising novel of our time, and also those who call it the worst novel of the century,I think that you should see it for what it really is: a book. It's all a matter of tastes, of likes and dislikes. People are like snowflakes--there are no two alike. So if you're reading these reviews to try and decide whether or not you want to buy this book, I suggest that you ignore these reviews. Read the summary and see if it sounds good to you. It's not likely that you will share an opinion with one of the reviewers, even if you do have the same general perspective. Each one of us is different, and this book is just an example of how different we all can be. (And also, how similar.) Read it for yourself, or rent the movie before you decide.

If you liked the movie, you'll love the book!

I saw the movie when it first came out and I loved it, but it was missing some information. Being the type of person I am, (once I see the movie, I read the book)I went out at once and borrowed a copy from the library. Once I started reading I couldn't put it down! Over the past three years I have read it four times, and I still love it!I recommend this book to everyone, it absolutly wonderful!

This book is why moveable type was invented

This is an utterly magical book, delicately put together like lace -- if you have a triple digit IQ and like to read, this book will delight you.I cannot believe that anyone would slam this book. Every word glows as though it was made from light fashioned by tiny, happy elves. This is the kind of book that will make you a better person for having read it.Ignore the movie. Read the book.Hey, that art student with the thin wrists who smells like dope sure seems familiar to me -- not sure why...