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50th out of 362 books
—
370 voters
The Persian Pickle Club
It is the 1930s, and hard times have hit Harveyville, Kansas, where the crops are burning up, and there's not a job to be found. For Queenie Bean, a young farm wife, a highlight of each week is the gathering of the Persian Pickle Club, a group of local ladies dedicated to improving their minds, exchanging gossip, and putting their quilting skills to good use. When a new me...more
Paperback, 208 pages
Published
September 15th 1996
by St. Martin's Griffin
(first published October 1st 1995)
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A gentle portrait of Kansas during the Depression. A group of ladies meet regularly for quilting bees, and help each other through death, childbirth, pain and sorrow.
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Well, you learn something new every day. "Persian Pickle" is a traditional American term that quilt makers used for the Paisley pattern.
Hand stamp for printing traditional "paisley" designs, Isfahan, Iran
Picture from Wikipedia
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Well, you learn something new every day. "Persian Pickle" is a traditional American term that quilt makers used for the Paisley pattern.
Hand stamp for printing traditional "paisley" designs, Isfahan, Iran
Picture from Wikipedia
7 likes · like · see review
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My grandparents and great-grandparents, the Butlers and the Fouts, owned farms probably on the exact land Sandra Dallas places her story. I spent many a summer break helping out on the farm. The pickle club so matches the politeness, rhythm, dialect, and pace of my grandmother's and the extended families' speech that I cried at the rememberences. The stories "Bean", as my grandfather was known (omigosh, "Queenie Bean" a coincidence?), and my father told me of growing up in the depression echoed...more
13 likes · like · see review
Love, love this book! I have rarely seen characters so flawed, true and dang funny. Especially Queenie, the MC, who I found myself identifying with in a heartfelt way. Her insecurities felt like my insecurities--the way she longed for and loved her friends, the way she baked and visited to solve problems, and even her marriage.
Queenie is a member of the Persian Pickle club--a quilting club of ladies in rural Kansas I think around the 1930s. The group is composed of opinionated, diverse personali...more
Queenie is a member of the Persian Pickle club--a quilting club of ladies in rural Kansas I think around the 1930s. The group is composed of opinionated, diverse personali...more
This book was chosen for a book club. I enjoy books from by gone era's and this is one of them. It takes a look at the lives of women living in Kansas during the depression. It illustrates their strong characters, their work ethic, and the strength of friendship. Besides all of this it has a wonderful plot with twists and turns that made it even more enjoyable to read. I also liked the book because it reminds us that even people living "simple" lives can have a strong understanding of those arou...more
I'm still thinking about it. do women really go to these extremes to support one another? Or was the author talking about the collective guilt women take upon themselves for the misbehavior of the men in their lives?
It was well written and I enjoyed the character's development. I was surprised the direction the book took having never read the author before. I especially liked the setting of the dust bowl era and a story about those who didn't go to California and I liked that the farmers and th...more
It was well written and I enjoyed the character's development. I was surprised the direction the book took having never read the author before. I especially liked the setting of the dust bowl era and a story about those who didn't go to California and I liked that the farmers and th...more
1 like · like · see review
I have to save my review until after my friends read it, and after the Knit*Lit Club meets! This was the on the list for our Library book club.
The Persian Pickle Club by Sandra Dallas is a favorite of mine among novels I had read by her. The story takes place in the 1930's in northeast Kansas. Dallas has done an outstanding job in portraying the way of life at that time in Kansas, including her portrayal of characters. Her style of writing in how she describes people and the conversations they have is rich in authentic detail. When you read one of her descriptions, you can almost see that person or object because of her vivid and speci...more
The Persian Pickle Club was just a mediocre read for me, although the rest of the members of my book club liked it. I thought that the writing was over-simplified, and I know that part of the reason for this impression was that there was a lot of back and forth everyday dialogue about things inconsequential to the plot (and a lot of folksy Southern speech).
My guess is that this was one of those friendship club books that got churned out after the Ya-Ya book gained popularity (even though this bo...more
My guess is that this was one of those friendship club books that got churned out after the Ya-Ya book gained popularity (even though this bo...more
I have to say that this book didn't really do anything for me. It's supposed to be light hearted and a story about friendship, which I guess it is. But it just wasn't interesting to me.
In the 1930's in Kansas, a group of women get together for a quilting and literature club every week. They call themselves the Persian Pickles (named after a paisley print) and in the depression its a good way to add some fun to their life. But then, the body of one of their member's husband is found. The newest m...more
In the 1930's in Kansas, a group of women get together for a quilting and literature club every week. They call themselves the Persian Pickles (named after a paisley print) and in the depression its a good way to add some fun to their life. But then, the body of one of their member's husband is found. The newest m...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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I thought this was a cute story about ladies who were in a quilting club in the 1930's.
I did enjoy reading a book based in a different time and culture (Kansas farmers). It's always interesting to see how "far" we've come since then. There are things like buttermilk that I'm glad aren't the norm anymore, but then things like affairs and unwed mothers are totally acceptable now. So, yes, it's kinda fun to read and imagine what it would be like to have lived then.
I thought the characters and even...more
I did enjoy reading a book based in a different time and culture (Kansas farmers). It's always interesting to see how "far" we've come since then. There are things like buttermilk that I'm glad aren't the norm anymore, but then things like affairs and unwed mothers are totally acceptable now. So, yes, it's kinda fun to read and imagine what it would be like to have lived then.
I thought the characters and even...more
Sep 17, 2010
Amy
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
book-club-read,
historical-fiction
More like 3.5 stars. And I was hesitant to call this historical fiction. But I did learn a lot about every day life in the 1930's depression era.
This book immediately drew me in by its poignant, well articulated voice of a small town farmer’s wife with spunk. The storytelling was casual and upbeat. And the often humorous metaphors were farm appropriate and well drawn out.
Luckily, this is such a short book that the slow pace didn’t bother me. (I’m more of an action seeker, generally.) Although th...more
This book immediately drew me in by its poignant, well articulated voice of a small town farmer’s wife with spunk. The storytelling was casual and upbeat. And the often humorous metaphors were farm appropriate and well drawn out.
Luckily, this is such a short book that the slow pace didn’t bother me. (I’m more of an action seeker, generally.) Although th...more
Named after the other title for paisley cloth, the Persian Pickle Club tells the story of a country quilting club. Good characters, really great setting, good accounts of women comforting and standing up for each other. While there's a murder mystery in the plot, the book seems to progress around it, rather than building on it. Far more important are the simple interactions between characters: a young married woman who wants a baby and a new best friend; a snooty girl her age; an unbearable prea...more
I've read at least a handfull of books about the Kansas dust bowl and/or the hardships of the 1930's and most were so mournful or stress-inducing that they left me with a hollow feeling that took a long time to relieve. The Persian Pickle Club takes an entirely different approach by showcasing a community of people that have very little but share what they have.
I was impressed by Dallas' characters because she succeded in creating an environment of need and deprivation without presenting a group...more
I was impressed by Dallas' characters because she succeded in creating an environment of need and deprivation without presenting a group...more
2 likes · like · see review
I saw that all the book clubs in America seemed to be reading this book, so I was glad when my church book club chose this title. First let me say that this is a clean and wholesome book, and I can recommend it to anyone. But then suddenly, about three-fourths of the way in, there's a swear word! And it is shocking! However, it is in an extreme scene where the use of the word can be justified, so I chose not to take offense. All the ladies at the book club agreed. So don't worry about that.
It's...more
It's...more
I have become very fond of these books by Sandra Dallas. This was one of her best. It involves a quilting circle in a small Kansas town during the depression. As the women meet together to quilt and discuss the details of their lives, they become so bonded to one another that they are able to share intense secrets almost as one person.
Into this mix comes the son and brother of two of the members and his new wife, Rita. Tom has gone to college in Denver and he and his young wife intended to conti...more
Into this mix comes the son and brother of two of the members and his new wife, Rita. Tom has gone to college in Denver and he and his young wife intended to conti...more
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 nostalg...more
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 nostalg...more
I haven't heard to much about this book before I read it, but apparently it's popular at the books clubs, because that's where my sister recommended it to me.
Honestly, when I started, I wasn't expecting much. I mean, essentially it's a book about Kansas - that threw me off to begin with (I feel like I can Kansas bash a little because my fiance is from there). And then it's a book about the depression - which is fairly classic thanks to good old Steinbeck. And then it's a book about a ladies qui...more
Honestly, when I started, I wasn't expecting much. I mean, essentially it's a book about Kansas - that threw me off to begin with (I feel like I can Kansas bash a little because my fiance is from there). And then it's a book about the depression - which is fairly classic thanks to good old Steinbeck. And then it's a book about a ladies qui...more
I feel like I've read this before. Maybe I haven't and the premise just feels familiar because of a common theme or message that is also in movies. I'm not sure. Regardless, The Persian Pickle Club is a fast and enjoyable read. It doesn't take long before you're attached to the characters and finding yourself biased by their opinions and riding along in their old automobiles charmed by their manners. It was interesting to see which character I related to most and why. As the story unfolds you l...more
This book was rather delightful. I loved reading about these women who had little in common except a shared love of quilting in a time when little else could be afforded. They were selfless in their devotion to each other through some turn of events that ended to improve each of their lives. I thought the main character's realationship with her husband, although very subtle, throughout the book was enjoyable as well.
The Persian Pickle Club is a gathering of ladies in Harveyville, Kansas in the 1930's depression era who love to quilt, gossip, and improve their minds thru literature. I discovered in reading this book that the quilting term for a paisley pattern is called the Persian Pickle. I was also going to give the book three stars until I read a review from a gentleman on this site that grew up in the very area that the story was written and commented that "the author did an awesome job of describing the...more
As if the title alone did not intrigue me, the synopsis on the cover reeled me in. I enjoyed the premise of the book - a group of small town neighbor women who meet weekly to quilt, read and chat. As can be expected, these strong, independent women ended up being and doing so much more than merely that. I found Queenie Bean to be a spunky, determined character whose compassion encouraged her to go to great lengths for her cherished friends.
I thought the book well presented life during the Depres...more
I thought the book well presented life during the Depres...more
I loved this book--and I really didn't expect to. The first chapter had a lot of characters to learn, but after that it just got better with each chapter. There are some fun unexpected twists to the plot, a few predictable parts, but a very good surprize ending. It definitely made me think a little deeper, feel a little more, and find a connection to the characters. Very good read!
This book was such a quick read! (view spoiler)...more
This is the third Sandra Dallas novel that I have read. I previously read The Chili Queen and Tallgrass. Impressed with her work I picked up several more novels, including this one. I was not disappointed. The Persian Pickle Club follows a diverse group of ladies in Harveyville, Kansas who get together once a week to quilt. I was immediately immersed in the story. I enjoy quilting, but haven't experienced a quilting group like this. For those of you who are not familiar (which I wasn't) Persian...more
Wow...to me, this is one excellent book! And now I have another favorite author whose other books will be added to my future reading list! I was much reminded of The Help while reading this; we get to know a group of tightly-bonded women, BFFs in today's lingo! It is amazing to me how female bonding can provide so much validation and security to each person's individual life, especially for these women who were geographically and socially isolated in Depression dustbowl Kansas. These woman were...more
This fits in there with The Secret Life of Bees, for me. Get me out of the deep country, depressing poverty, and books about women's groups. Yikes. I feel like I'm suffocating. This book is partially redeemed by a little plot twist at the end and could bump it up to two stars, but I was forced to read it for a book club, so it stays at one star.
I just love a Sandra Dallas book. This is one of my favorites. There are many twists and turns, relationships revealed, a murder to solve and all sorts of confusions and mishaps. Many eccentric characters populted the story and a few will be found in other books by the author.
Queenie and Grover are a husband and wife who live and farm in Kansas. They take in a family, the Massies, Zepha and Blue and their 2 children, who break down and need to save money for the trip west. There's a dead body t...more
Queenie and Grover are a husband and wife who live and farm in Kansas. They take in a family, the Massies, Zepha and Blue and their 2 children, who break down and need to save money for the trip west. There's a dead body t...more
Read this for book club...never would have found it without. I enjoyed the characters in this novel. However thought there were a lot of women (and men) to remember who was who in the "Pickle". There were some funny parts and sad parts. It was a very quick, easy read. I thought it showed how life would of been in the 1930's. It is a cross between a story about true friendships and mystery. It was interesting how the author wove those two subjects together. I liked it more as I read on than I tho...more
Very enjoyable. A glimpse at life as a farm woman during the long drought in America when jobs, farms and homes were lost. A small group of women meet once a week to make quilts, meanwhile having what to them was probably the most important social gatherings they could have, considering their circumstances. It looks into the history of each woman and how these parts of each other's lives create an interesting organism that survives and thrives, despite their difficult but productive lives. All s...more
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| Bookworm Bitches : November 2011: The Persian Pickle Club | 49 | 152 | 17 de Dic 14:59 |
Award-winning author SANDRA DALLAS was dubbed “a quintessential American voice” by Jane Smiley, in Vogue Magazine. Sandra’s novels with their themes of loyalty, friendship, and human dignity have been translated into a dozen foreign languages and have been optioned for films.
A journalism graduate of the University of Denver, Sandra began her writing career as a reporter with Business Week. A staff...more
More about Sandra Dallas...
A journalism graduate of the University of Denver, Sandra began her writing career as a reporter with Business Week. A staff...more
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