Threads

Sophie's Kin & Quilt

by Patsy Brookshire

Sophie is growing old and it's time to tell her secret. She chooses to confide in Annie, a niece who may have chosen the wrong man to love.
In 1918 Sophie went to Cannon Beach, on the Oregon Coast, to keep house for two bachelor brothers. Fascinated with the view from the cabin, she decides to "paint" it with fabric, to create a quilt that pictures what she sees through her kitchen window. A neighbor, an artist, becomes first her friend, then her lover. But David is not free. He has a wife whom he loves, a wife who recently lost the child they had long hoped for. Can there be a way he can be with Sophie without betraying his wife?
Old memories, old pain, and a secret kept for most of a lifetime come to light as Sophie tells Annie her story. And when it is done, there is one more surprise.

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting read. This is the kind of book that will have a lot of different opinions. Interesting but I still liked it.

[Ann Littlewood · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this from the author at a local book fair and admit to low expectations. But this is a fine little novel, a tale of a strong woman and her difficult choices. The setting is mostly the Oregon coast and the time period fluctuates between the twenties/thirties and "present time." It's told in two voices--Aunt Sophie and her niece's. Sophie's language has an authentic roughness, with word choices and cadences familiar from my grandmothers' voices. The punctuation anomalies, intended or otherwise, add to that voice. I found the storyline convincing--unusual but not improbable--and the characters appealing and believable.

Sophie leads a life of isolation and hard work, with only her ignorant brothers for company. When she's drawn to an attractive man, his wife is less of an obstacle to love than Sophie expected. When she finds she's pregnant, her life becomes complicated in ways she could never imagine--complicated and unconventional, but far less bleak, at least for awhile.

[Moonkiszt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Threads was interesting. . . I was smug and did some skimming ready having a clear idea where this sleepy story was going. And then it took a turn I couldn't have predicted if I tried. . .and I tried! At the tale's end it got me. . . Danged if it wasn't just as weird as family life is with all those absolutely true improbability sitting pretty in the family tree. I expected to wall away smug and self-satisfied at being right. I was not right. . .it was dear, and real, and I'm going to find her next book.

[Judi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting story, lots of quilting references (which was why I bought it.) The relationships were rather bothersome to my way of thinking.

The writing left something to be desired as well. I often found myself re-reading paragraphs in order to make sense of what the author was trying to say. I may be mistaken but I'd swear that the brother named Zack was referred to as Zeke at one point.

I will probably not bother to read the rest of the series.

[Kim · Rating 1 out of 5]

The kindle book is defective

Tried it on two devices and it will not scroll through the pages. Cannot find how to return it to Amazon.

However did manage to skip past the chapter endings the kept bumping me out if the book. It is not a bad read but hardly worth the effort to deal with the technical difficulties.

[Greg · Rating 5 out of 5]

A unique setting on the Oregon Coast in a time at the turn of the century nearly forgotten. The story is populated by accessible characters who are faced with provocative choices who make unorthodox decisions. A sensual historical novel with an unpredictable and engaging storyline.

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

A warm story of love and family, and how circumstances can change.