Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Main Character of The Persian Pickle Club

Prairie Queen Quilt Block
In the on-line Quilters' Book Club, we're reading and discussing The Persian Pickle Club by Sandra Dallas for the month of February.  This week's focus is on the characters.
 
Farmwife Queenie Bean is the main character in this book, set in Kansas during the Great Depression of the 1930's.  If you'd like to make a quilt block to go with the book, here are some block patterns I found on the internet that fit Queenie perfectly:

The Queen’s X: http://www.quilterscache.com/T/TheQueensXBlock.html

If you'd like to make a quilt block that goes with the theme of friendship found in The Persian Pickle Club, click here for ideas:  http://www.starwoodquilter.blogspot.com/2013/01/theme-of-friendship-in-persian-pickle.html

And if you'd prefer a block that goes with the setting, click here:
http://www.starwoodquilter.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-setting-of-persian-pickle-club.html

Prairie Queen Quilt Block in Another Colorway

 
Mother's Dream Quilt Block


Question:  The members of the Persian Pickle Club provide an interesting study in characters.  Do you have a favorite?  Can you see yourself being friends with any of the members?   

Please reply in the comments section so all book club members can see and respond.  You have to choose a Profile in order to comment.  You may select Anonymous if you have no other profile name.
 

Check out all book club posts by clicking "Quilters' Book Club" under "Labels" on the right of my blog.  Here is the previous Quilters' Book Club blog post:

14 comments:

  1. I like Queenie because she finds something to like about everyone.

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    1. I like Queenie, too. I feel like if I went to Harveyville, I would immediately recognize Queenie and feel like I was already her friend.

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  2. My book finally arrived yesterday, hoping to start reading it at the weekend.

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    1. Hurrah! I hope you enjoy it. I believe it's my favorite Sandra Dallas book. I like it everytime I read it.

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  3. I will be finishing the book tonight. I really like the characters in the book because none of them are perfect (like in real life) but Queenie always finds the best in each of her friends. A sweet book read.

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    1. Each Pickle has a very distinct personality. They certainly are not perfect, but they are there for each other despite their differences.

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  4. As I am reading, I have decided to write down the different names of the blocks and quilts mentioned in the book. Has anyone else done this? It would make an interesting Sampler Quilt, don't you think? Maybe using 1930's repro fabrics? I have read the book many times, but always see something "new" each time! It is my all-time favorite book. I don't really identify with any of the characters, but some I like more then others. Such is life, eh? June in NC

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    1. June, when you've finished the book, would you mind listing all of the different names of the blocks and quilted mentioned - in a comment so book club members can see it? I think a Sampler Quilt made of those blocks is a fun idea! I enjoy this book every time I read it.

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  5. It is interesting to find that, when reading a book like this, there is always one character that you really like and one that really turns your goat so to speak. For me, I real enjoyed Queenie as she had her flaws, but she was real and gentle and looked for the good in people. As I read, I couldn't help but wonder what had are Agnes T Riddle like she was but it was Rita who rubber me the wrong way, right from the start. If I tried to analyze why, I probably couldn't say why although she seemed somewhat of a fraud when compared to the other Pickles. At the end of the book I felt like i was left with unanswered questions about the various Pickles and had hoped to find a sequel. Wishful thinking I think.

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    1. There isn't a sequel, so you are left to wonder! However, Sandra Dallas often casually mentions characters from one book in another of her books, even though it's not a sequel - so you may have your questions answered eventually. I think Rita was shallow. She was beautiful and wore beautiful clothes but didn't really have the strength of character Queenie had.

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  6. I really liked Queenie, especially in the chapter where she made the "rhubarb pie". Rita, however, is another favorite character. I identified with her because she came to the Pickles as an fashionable city girl.
    As you know, most quilters are not fashionistas, and it has been my experience that some of those gals do not like to see a hip new quilter coming along.
    I would have liked to see the Zepha character fleshed out a bit more.

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    1. I'm in the Modern Quilt Guild, although I consider myself a mix between a traditional and a modern quilter. I have learned so much from both types of quilters. I know that Rita was so different than the other Pickles, but I feel like, in the end, she became part of the group and considered herself a Pickle and so did the others.

      I loved how Queenie let herself appear foolish with the "rhubarb pie" just to make Rita feel less foolish.

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  7. I was really happy when Queenie warmed to Agnes near the end of the book. I know that Agnes has a prickly manner but Queenie's attitude toward her just didn't fit with Queenie's otherwise genuine openness toward people. I think she and Agnes may become good friends in the future.

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    1. I agree with you, Janet. It's always interesting to see how characters grow and change over the course of a book. It gives us hope that we can do the same!

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I love hearing from readers. Your comments make my day!