Synopses & Reviews
In These Is My Words, Sarah Agnes Prine told the spellbinding story of an extraordinary pioneer woman and her struggle to make a home in the Arizona Territories. Now, in this mesmerizing sequel, a three-year drought has made Sarah desperate for water. And just when it seems that life couldn't get worse, she learns that her brother and his family are trapped in the Great San Francisco Earthquake. A heartwarming blend of stubbornness and compassion, Sarah Agnes Prine will once again capture the hearts of readers everywhere.
Review
Praise for Nancy E. Turner and Sarah Agnes PrineSarah's Quilt "Older, tougher, wiser, Sarah enchants with her plainspoken energy and honesty. The title may suggest a gentle tale of domestic comfort, but the book is as straightforward, gritty and persistent as the woman who inspires it and as memorable as the landscape where she carves out her life."- Publishers Weekly "Robust, authentic, and exciting as its predecessor . . . a vividly conjured picture of her place and time."- Booklist "Authentic in its detail, the novel's pace and intriguing cast of characters are reminiscent of Larry McMurtry's Lonesome Dove. A sensitive, vibrant story about the strength of love and family told in the voice of a woman who must be reckoned with."- Denver Post "If you want a picture of what life was like back then, look no further. Authentic in feel, [this] is convincing historic fiction. The armchair traveler is in for an exciting trip."- The New Mexican
"Hard times, danger, love, well-defined characters and a strong sense of place all merge to form the heart of this realistic novel."- Dallas Morning News
"All the enduring elements of the mystery that is life on earth can be found between the pages of this book. It is a perfectly authentic story, beautifully executed by its author."
- Michael Blake, author of Dances with Wolves and The Holy Road
"Gritty Sarah Elliot, who lassoed our hearts in These Is My Words, proves that women as well as men tamed the West."
- Sandra Dallas, author of The Diary of Mattie Spenser
"Sarah Prine is the real article . . . the kind of woman that any real man will cherish, if he's lucky enough to find her, and smart enough to know it."
- Don Coldsmith, author of the Spanish Bit Saga
"Action-packed. . . . We'd trust [Sarah's] judgment if a wildfire were running straight at us. We're in good hands, calloused and strong. Turner has lived in Sarah's landscape and writes with a sharp eye for the fine points of the times."
- Tucson Guide Quarterly
These Is My Words
"Nancy E. Turner approaches the fine qualities of Larry McMurtry's Pulitzer-winning Lonesome Dove. The two books share unforgettable characters, a grand sweep of history, adventure, love, and emotion so real that you feel it. These Is My Words is a book not to miss."
- Omaha World-Herald
"Incredibly vivid and real."
- Rosamunde Pilcher, author of The Shell Seekers
"[These Is My Words] says more about America than Gone with the Wind, and I'd put it up there with To Kill a Mockingbird. It is moving, funny, and rings very true."
- Mary Stewart, author of The Crystal Cave
"Readers who enjoyed Sandra Dallas's The Diary of Mattie Spenser are sure to love this one."
- Booklist
Synopsis
Sarah's Quilt, the long-awaited sequel to These Is My Words, continues the dramatic story of Sarah Agnes Prine. Beloved by readers and book clubs from coast to coast, These Is My Words told the spellbinding story of an extraordinary pioneer woman and her struggle to make a home in the Arizona Territories. Now Sarah returns.
In 1906, the badlands of Southern Arizona Territory is a desolate place where a three-year drought has changed the landscape for all time. When Sarah's well goes dry and months pass with barely a trace of rain, Sarah feels herself losing her hold upon the land. Desperate, Sarah's mother hires a water witch, a peculiar desert wanderer named Lazrus who claims to know where to find water. As he schemes and stalls, he develops an attraction to Sarah that turns into a frightening infatuation.
And just when it seems that life couldn't get worse, Sarah learns that her brother and his family have been trapped in the Great San Francisco Earthquake of 1906. She and her father-in-law cannot even imagine the devastation that awaits them as they embark on a rescue mission to the stricken city.
Sarah is a pioneer of the truest spirit, courageous but gentle as she fights to save her family's home. But she never stops longing for the passion she once knew. Though her wealthy neighbor has asked her to wed, Sarah doesn't entirely trust him. And then Udell Hanna and his son come riding down the dusty road. . . .
About the Author
Sarah's Quilt is Nancy Turner's sequel to These Is My Words, both inspired by family stories about her great-grandmother, who retired from running a cattle ranch at the age of eighty-five.
Reading Group Guide
1. Why the name
Sarahs Quilt? And, how does the quilting metaphor apply to the story at large?
2. The story takes place over a mere seven months time. Does the pace seem appropriate for a novel this size?
3. Do you feel the depictions of Territorial life in 1906 were historically accurate?
4. Discuss secondary plot elements such as letting go of the past, the concept of “home”, pride vs. courage, and family as fortress.
5. The book focuses on Sarah Elliots relationship with her sons and nephews. How does that compare with her relationship to her only daughter, April?
6. How does Grannys mental detachment effect the other characters?
7. Could Mary Pearl really have stopped Esther from eloping?
8. Arriving at the ranch, Willie was given a second chance at his life. Was it too unlike anything he knew to work? Was there anything Sarah might have done differently to reach his heart?
9. Why did Willie confess only to the judge? What in his background led him to make that association?
10. Did Charlie and Gilbert go too far in their teasing Willie?
11. How does Sarahs want of education color her every decision?
12. What in Sarahs personality is the trigger point for how she reacts to Udell Hanna? What role does he serve in the story?
13. Contrast the character of Lazrus with that of Rudolfo Maldonado and discuss how each one threatens or relates to Sarah.
14. Does Sarah really know Rudolfo? What if she had married him?