The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead

★★★

An interesting take on a young slave girl's experience with the Underground Railroad.  I enjoyed some parts, but overall the story seemed a little disjointed and I found myself losing interest.

The Sugar Camp Quilt (Elm Creek Quilts #7) by Jennifer Chiaverini

★★★ 1/2

The seventh book the the "Elm Creek Series" takes place in pre-Civil War Pennsylvania.  It focuses on Dorothea - who later became involved with Sylvia's family - and her role in the Underground Railroad and building a library for what eventually becomes Elm Creek.

The Runaway Quilt (Elm Creek Quilts #4) by Jennifer Chiaverini (audio)

★★★★

The fourth book in the Elm Creek Quilts series focus's on Sylvia's search for information about her family's history.  When she finds an old journal and quilt in the attic of Elm Creek Manor, readers are taken back to the time of the Civil War and learn how Sylvia's ancestor's became one of the greatest horse breeders of the era.  I loved the historical aspects of this novel and was completely absorbed in the story.  The book includes lots of detail, history, stories of family, friendship, and trial - and, of course, plenty of quilting!   I was surprised by the unique ending to the book and also enjoyed learning a bit more about Sylvia and Andrew and their relationship as they travel.

The Runaway Quilt from the author's website

The Spymistress by Jennifer Chiaverini (audio)

★★

"Hope is never false.  One's hope may not be fulfilled, but that doesn't mean it was wrong to hope."

Set in the confederate civil war, this novel tells the story of Elizabeth Van Lew - known in the story of Lizzie.  Educated by Quakers in the north, Lizzie and her family are local to the union.  When the civil war breaks out they secretly work to aid the north by tending to prisoners.  At a great cost to their reputation, they eventually becoming involved in the Richmond Underground and in transferring information to the northern army.

I have been meaning to read something of Jennifer Chiaverini's for awhile.  It seemed interesting and I was excited to read this book, but it didn't live up to my expectations.  I enjoyed some parts, but it took me awhile to read and generally annoyed me.  Lizzie seemed super naive and whinny.  I must have missed her earlier connections to the north as a child, but it just didn't seem to add up that her and her family were so pro-union amongst so many southerners.  I have a feeling that this was true to historical fact, but the author was not able to convince me.  There also didn't seem to be much of a plot line.  I was bored by the climax (if you can even call it that) and I found myself not really caring what happened to the characters by the end of the book.

Chiaverini's books get checked out all the time at the library and a lot of people really seem to enjoy them so I'm not going to give up on her quite yet.  Maybe it was just the wrong book. Or the narrator.  I'd like to read Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker at some point or maybe one of her Elm Creek Quilt novels.

The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom (audio)

★★★★★

"What the color is, who the daddy be, who the mama is don't mean nothin.'  We a family, carin' for each other.  Family makes us strong in times of trouble.  We all stick together, help each other out.  That the real meanin' of family.  When you grow up, you take that family feelin' with you."

I've read so many wonderful books lately and this one was no exception!  This novel is set in the late 1700s and is told from two very different point of views: Lavinia, a young orphan from Ireland and Belle, the illegitimate daughter of the owner of the plantation.  After her parents die on a ship heading to America, she is taken in to live and work on a tobacco plantation.  Lavinia is eventually welcomed into the family of these working at the Big House.  As Lavinia grows up, she is torn between her adopted African-American family and her expected role as a young white women in society.  When she is forced to make a choice between the two worlds, everything she knows is put into question.

I really liked how this book incorporated the lives two very different women.  It showed not only the tragedy of slavery at the time, but of women as well.  Both Belle and Lavinia are left with very little choice on what would happen to them.  Even though the story was very sad, I felt it was very realistic and a wonderfully moving story of plantation life in the south.

This book was #4 on my top ten list of 2013.

Blue Asylum by Kathy Hepinstall

★★★★

"They had engaged in what could not be called treatment or even discussion, but open combat, the two of them a microcosm of the great war raging in the far distance: one side that desired autonomy, and the other that took independence as a sign of madness."

March by Geraldine Brooks

★★★★★

"One day I hope to go back.  To my wife, to my girls, but also to the man of moral certainty that I was that day; the innocent man, who knew with such dear confidence exactly what he was meant to do."

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

★★★★

"I'm not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship."

"I've got the key to my castle in the air, but whether I can unlock the door remains to be seen."

"Love Jo all your days, if you choose, but don't let it spoil you , for it's wicked to throw away so many good gifts because you can't have the one you want.

Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell

★★★★★

"These things I have named are but symbols of the things for which I risk my life, symbols of the kind of life I love.  For I am fighting for the old days, the old ways I love so much but which, I fear, are no gone forever, no matter how the die may fall.  For, win or lose, we lose just the same." (Ashley)

"She could look back, unmoved, at the pretty Scarlett with her fragile green morocco slippers and her flounces fragrant with lavender, but she wondered if she could be that same girl.  Scarlett O' Hara with the country  at her feet, a hundred slaves to do her bidding, the wealth of Tara like a wall behind her...somewhere, on the long road that would through those for ears, the girl with her sachet and dancing slippers had slipped away and there was left a women with sharp green eyes, who counted pennies and turned her hands into many menial tasks, a woman to whom nothing was left from the wreckage except the indestructible red earth on which she stood."

"Who am I to say?  I only know what I did, both when I was thrown out and nowadays.  I only know what other men have done.  We saw opportunity in the ruin of a civilization and we made the most of our opportunity, some honestly, some shadily, and we are still making the most of it." (Rhett)

"For years she had had her back against the stone wall of Rhett's love and had taken it as much for granted as she had taken Melanie's love, flattering herself that she drew her strength from herself alone."

"I'll think of it all tomorrow at Tara.  I can stand it then.  Tomorrow, I'll think of some way to get him back.  After all, tomorrow is another day." (Scarlett)