The Persian Pickle Club (1995)

No ifs, ands or buts, Sandra Dallas has become one of my favorite authors. In The Persian Pickle Club she explores the special bond that women can create with each other. Set in rural Kansas during the dust bowl times of the 1930’s, the Persian Pickle Club, which is what these quilters called a paisley pattern, consists of local women who get together to “stitch and bitch”. Over the years the friendship and loyalty that these women have forged is strong, pure and constant. Protective of their weaker members, forgiving of each others short comings, once these women with such greats names as Queenie Bean, Septima Judd, and Opalina Dux, have a made a promise to one another, that promise will be kept forever.

The Persian Pickle Club has been flavoured with many details of the 1930’s. From the description of the dry earth that is constantly blowing, to casual references to movie stars and politicians of the day. Many men were doing back breaking work to be paid only a dollar for their days’ labour. Women struggled to keep the family fed and clothed, yet these poverty stricken people were the first to lead a hand when needed. These were hard times that would have been unbearable without community support.

I loved everything about this book from it’s authentic sound to it’s gentle rhythms of everyday rural life in the depression. The main character, Queenie, springs from the pages a fully formed real person. She and her husband, Grover are endearing, earthy and a couple that I would love to have as neighbours. But this book is far from being simply sweet, there is a dark undercurrent that runs through it’s pages and a few twists and turns along the way to keep the reader fully engrossed. A great read. ( )

on Tuesday, August 19, 2008 I wrote about this book:

Typical Sandra Dallas style. I think this was her first bestseller. I liked it but when it started to be all about the murder, I wasn't that happy cause it felt like I was reading a detective and I hate those.
All in all a very fun book. Love the atmosphere This author is always able to create in her books.
This is the third book I've read by her but my favorite is still The Diary of Mattie Spenser. 8.5

( )

Easy, quick read but not a 'page-turner'. I thought it was going to be a cute story of friendships; more of a 'diary' recording anecdotes and day-to-day living in rural Kansas in the dust bowl days. And for the firs half of the book or so, it was. Then about halfway through, the book developed a plot! Either way, it was an interesting book, but having a 'story' added to it. ( )

From quilting to murder....the quilting club took care of each other food wise as well as keeping each other's secrets. And boy can quilters keep secrets.

THE PERSIAN PICKLE CLUB was sweet and nostalgic. The book took place during the depression and drought in Kansas. The descriptions of the homes and of the characters was excellent. I could visualize their kitchens, and I could see them sitting around the quilting frame chatting, reading, planning, and stitching.

It was homey, sweet, and nostalgic. And the surprising part is that it went from sweet to not so sweet. :)

If you need a break from the hustle and bustle of every day life, check out THE PERSIAN PICKLE CLUB by Sandra Dallas. You will be transported back to when few people had telephones and everyone looked out for each other. The ending has a twist that you would never expect from a ladies' quilting club.

ENJOY!! 5/5 I read this book for one of my book clubs. ( )

BJ1,#6 ( )