The Aloha Quilt

I thoroughly enjoyed this latest outing in the Elm Creek Quilts series. This novel focused on Bonnie, who is smarting from her struggles with Craig, her cheating, soon-to-be ex-husband. Bonnie decides to go to Hawaii, both to get some R&R and help her friend, Claire, get the Aloha Quilt Camp off the ground. Hawaii is a pleasant distraction from Bonnie's problems, as is a certain Hawaiian named Hinano. I thought the exotic setting helped breathe new life into the series and I enjoyed getting to know Bonnie better, and watching her develop a backbone.

I have to admit to not reading the whole series so some of my average rating may be due to having lost some back story. However, if Bonnie has been the main character of the whole series she is not an inspiration. There is lots of self-doubt and angst in a book that is part of such a long series that purports at this point to be made up of a solid group of friends. I most enjoyed the Hawaiian history and locale (having visited Maui, some places were familiar) and culture. When we got in Bonnie's head not so enjoyable. Probably won't seek out more in this series.

Another season of Elm Creek Quilt Camp has come to a close, and Bonnie Markham faces a bleak and lonely winter ahead, with her quilt shop out of business and her divorce looming. A welcome escape comes when Claire, a beloved college friend, unexpectedly invites her to Maui to help launch an exciting new business: a quilter's retreat set at a bed and breakfast amid the vibrant colours and balmy breezes of the Hawaiian Islands. Soon Bonnie finds herself looking out on sparkling waters and banyan trees, planning quilting courses, and learning the history and intricacies of Hawaiian quilting, all the while helping Claire run the inn.

As Bonnie's adventure unfolds, it quickly becomes clear that Claire's new business isn’t the only show more excitement in store for her. Her cheating, soon-to-be ex-husband decides he wants her stake in Elm Creek Quilts, which threatens not only her financial well-being but her dearest friendships as well. Luckily she has the artistic challenge of creating her own unique Hawaiian quilt pattern to distract her and new friends like Hinano Paoa, owner of the N'Mele Hawai Music Shop, who introduces Bonnie to the fascinating traditions of Hawaiian culture and reminds her that love can be found when and where you least expect it

This is practically a stand alone novel in the series, and concentrates on Bonnie, one of the original members of Elm Creek, travelling to Hawaii to help her friend Claire establish a new quilting retreat, whilst putting some distance between herself and her husband during a rather acrimonious divorce.

The new setting allows Chiaverini to introduce her readers to a new way of quilting - this is number 16 in the series after all! - as well as giving a potted history of Hawaiian history (no idea if it's right or wrong but fair dues to her for even trying!). The Elm Creek Quilters are barely seen until the end, for various reasons, so is pretty much a standalone book.

The divorce has been a long time coming, so it's a relief that it's finally over, even if it's a small part of the back story.

Claire is the opposite of Bonnie - the former ignoring the things she sees as negative, where as Bonnie takes everything the wrong way and thinks it's for the worst.

I have to admit I did skim the occasional small set of pages in this book - there were parts that it did seem to be more of what us Brits call "a party political broadcast on behalf of..." so it ran very close to being a lecture on how bad things had gone for the Hawaiians over the years.

So in summary: a fairly standalone book in the series, that gives the reader a decent overview of Hawaiian quilting, and finishes one of the long running threads in the series, but little more show less

This is the first of the Elm Creek Quilt books that I have read. It is this month's book club selection. At first I was disturbed because I do not like starting a series this far in; however, the author does a good job with the backstory (for the most part). After reading other reviews of the other books, I see that each book highlights one of the quilters.
Bonnie Markham has found out that Craig, her husband, has been cheating on her. Her friend Claire has invited her to help her organize a quilting camp in Hawaii, just like the Elm Creek Quilting Camp. Bonnie gladly accepts to help her friend as this will be a great way for her to leave all of the unpleasantness back in Pennsylvania. The unpleasantness isn't entirely left behind as show more her ex does show up.
I liked this book, but non-quilters may get bogged down in some of the quilting terms. I especially enjoyed learning about the Hawaiian style of quilting Lots of Hawaiian history is also brought out. Chiaverini does a good job incorporating the history into the storyline with one of the characters. show less

Fantastic, and I hope the beginning of a new series! This feels like the first Elm Creek Quilts novel. As the Elm Creek Quilts novels have progressed, I've lost interest - I'm not sure if it's me or if the stories were progessively harder to come. They began to feel like the characters weren't telling the author their story anymore, which leads to a manufactured read. But The Aloha Quilt is so refreshing, with just enough of the Elm Creek Quilts story brought in for it to relate. I couldn't put it down.

Very good story in the series of Elm Creek Quilters. One of the founding members goes to Hawaii to recover from a crisis in her life. She finds the same acceptance and friendship shared by quilters everywhere.

Ms Chiaverini does a very good job of incorporating Hawaii's history, politics, and beauty into the story without sounding preachy or boring.

As usual, I can't wait for the next espisode.

In an unusual variation for an Elm Creek Quilts novel, the setting for this book is Hawaii! Bonnie has gone to help her friend Claire set up the Aloha Quilt Camp in Hawaii and to escape her soon-to-be ex-husband. What makes this books especially interesting is all of the history and background material that the author includes about Hawaii. Also noteworthy are the details on Hawaiian quilting techniques. What is especially annoying is the lack of details about Elm Creek quilter Sarah's newborn twins. I'm very aggravated to have to wait for yet another book to find out about those babies. Still, I recommend the book and think that anyone interested in quilting will find it extremely enjoyable.