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eosin's review against another edition
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
juliews's review against another edition
3.0
This is not the type of book I would normally read but I'm glad I did. It was reminiscent of Fried Green Tomatoes.
shaylag's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.5
midnightbookreading's review against another edition
4.0
A surprising historical fiction novel that all crafters (especially quilters) will enjoy!
I was drawn to this book because of the unique title. I would classify it as a historical mystery book. The novel follows the members of a local quilting club in Kansas during the Depression era. Queenie Bean is the narrator of the book and is a young farmer's wife who is desperate to have children. She forms a quick friendship with Rita, an aspiring journalist and city girl, who is married Tom Ritter. Rita does not quite fit in with the other ladies of the club, but Queenie takes Rita under her wing and inducts her into the Persian Pickle Club. The ladies of the club are thick as thieves and look out for one another, even throughout their personal tragedies.
Trigger Warnings: The novel contains hate speech/racial slurs, racism, sexual violence, miscarriage, and abuse.
I would have never guessed the amount of drama that came with each of the strong characters in this book. The quilters live such ordinary lives during the Depression, but readers will soon find that they are anything but ordinary. The book took a turn halfway through and technically should be categorized as a murder mystery. Aside from the racism that went along with rural Kansas in the 1930's, this book had a wonderful storyline.
I was drawn to this book because of the unique title. I would classify it as a historical mystery book. The novel follows the members of a local quilting club in Kansas during the Depression era. Queenie Bean is the narrator of the book and is a young farmer's wife who is desperate to have children. She forms a quick friendship with Rita, an aspiring journalist and city girl, who is married Tom Ritter. Rita does not quite fit in with the other ladies of the club, but Queenie takes Rita under her wing and inducts her into the Persian Pickle Club. The ladies of the club are thick as thieves and look out for one another, even throughout their personal tragedies.
Trigger Warnings: The novel contains hate speech/racial slurs, racism, sexual violence, miscarriage, and abuse.
I would have never guessed the amount of drama that came with each of the strong characters in this book. The quilters live such ordinary lives during the Depression, but readers will soon find that they are anything but ordinary. The book took a turn halfway through and technically should be categorized as a murder mystery. Aside from the racism that went along with rural Kansas in the 1930's, this book had a wonderful storyline.
justpeachy007's review against another edition
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.0
theonewheremonicareads's review against another edition
4.0
In rural Kansas during The Great Depression, Queenie is a young housewife and beloved member of The Persian Pickle Club, a women’s quilting circle founded on deep female friendships. At once a family of drifters come to stay on Queenie’s property and a new young woman joins The Persian Pickle Club. The newcomers stir up some dark secrets, and the circle of women will do anything to protect each other.
This book was published in 1994, and I certainly wasn’t planning on picking up a thirty year old book this week, but I saw it at the thrift book store and had heard of it. It’s very short at just about 200 pages, so I decided to give it a go while waiting for a new release that arrived this week. I’m so glad I did! This book was so heartfelt and magical. The female friendships were so deep and inspiring, and the way all the characters come together in hard times to care for one another made me nostalgic for another time. I couldn’t believe how much story Sandra Dallas could tell in so few pages, and I have to say, some books these days are just too long. This was a love story, a murder mystery, and a tale of hope and friendship all wrapped up in a tidy little package. I loved it!
👉🏼 I recommend this book for just about anyone, but especially those who enjoy early 20th century American historical fiction.
⚠️ Infertility, infant loss, murder, mild references to violence
This book was published in 1994, and I certainly wasn’t planning on picking up a thirty year old book this week, but I saw it at the thrift book store and had heard of it. It’s very short at just about 200 pages, so I decided to give it a go while waiting for a new release that arrived this week. I’m so glad I did! This book was so heartfelt and magical. The female friendships were so deep and inspiring, and the way all the characters come together in hard times to care for one another made me nostalgic for another time. I couldn’t believe how much story Sandra Dallas could tell in so few pages, and I have to say, some books these days are just too long. This was a love story, a murder mystery, and a tale of hope and friendship all wrapped up in a tidy little package. I loved it!
👉🏼 I recommend this book for just about anyone, but especially those who enjoy early 20th century American historical fiction.
⚠️ Infertility, infant loss, murder, mild references to violence
maria161985's review against another edition
3.0
I would have to give this book more of a 3.5 as opposed to a 3. I did like the premises of a group of women coming together on a weekly-basis to quilt, and also, speak openly about their lives. I loved the ambiance of friendship and trust that each of the women boasted with one another. It was definitely one of those novels that made you feel good about the friends that you have, and the desire to make new friends while you are at it! The part that I wasn't too keen on was the discussion around Ben Crook's death; I found this part to be a tad boring, and at the end, when the truth came-out about how Ben had passed away, I found it to be predictable in terms of how the women would answer. I did enjoy the various events which happened to each of the women, and was overjoyed when Queenie was given the greatest gift that she could have ever asked for. I found that the book was a tad short however, it did cover all of the basis in terms of plot expansion and character development. This story was different from something I would normally read therefore, I would definitely give this type of story another try in the future however, not for the time being.
jebba_debba_doo's review against another edition
4.0
I didn’t know what this book was about but saw that some of my friends had read it so I gave it a try. I turned it on while I was working in a quilt and was happily surprised to learn it was about a quilting group in Kansas. It was a sweet story with an unexpected ending. The author got very repetitive with some phrases that she liked to use like “the best I ever saw”.