Week Six Gentle Reads Genre Annotation

The New Year’s Quilt: An Elm Creek Quilts Novel

By Jennifer Chiaverini

Brief Summary: Sylvia Compson, an elderly woman in her eighties, has recently been married to Andrew Cooper, but Andrew’s daughter, Amy, disapproves of the idea of Sylvia and Andrew eloping. However, Sylvia and Andrew have married without Amy’s knowledge. Because of this, Sylvia decides to create a New Year’s Reflections quilt over her honeymoon trip to historical locations along the Atlantic coast with Andrew for Amy in order to encourage her to accept the marriage when Sylvia and Andrew announce the event to her. During her trip, Sylvia reminisces about missed opportunities for reconciliation and losses in the past years of her life.  

Elements of the Gentle Reads Genre:

Pacing: This novel exhibits an “unhurried pace” throughout its content (Saricks, 2009, p. 99). Specifically, the book contains a number of short, comfortable, and meandering stories from Sylvia’s past and present that are leisurely paced (Saricks, 2009, p. 99).

Storyline: The book contains very little plot (Saricks, 2009, p. 97). The novel generally lacks an element of “suspense or controversial social issues” (Saricks, 2009, p. 97). Also, both Sylvia and Amy are characters who struggle to discover their places in relationships throughout the storyline (Saricks, 2009, p. 97). In addition, bad events that have occurred in Sylvia’s past exhibit a considerable impact on Sylvia’s outlook towards Amy (Saricks, 2009, p. 97).     

Characterization: The book reveals the lives of ordinary human beings in ordinary situations (Saricks, 2009, p. 97). The novel’s situations are not always pleasant and light (Saricks, 2009, p. 97). Also, characters are emphasized over the book’s “action or actual events” (Saricks, 2009, p. 97).

Frame/Setting: The frame of the novel exhibits a timeless quality and reflects “a close-knit community” in several situations (Saricks, 2009, p. 98). The novel additionally displays a contemporary and historical setting, which contribute “layers to the stories” of Sylvia’s past and present (Saricks, 2009, p. 98). The novel is also framed by satisfaction and other skills associated with performing the domestic skill of quilting (Saricks, 2009, p. 98).  

Tone/Mood: The book’s mood is centered on stories “told from a peaceful, soothing perspective” (Saricks, 2009, p. 94). The novel conveys “a reassuring sense of well-being” in relation to its mood (Saricks, 2009, p. 94). Also, the novel contains “sweet stories of loss and reconciliation”, which contribute towards a partially bittersweet and introspective mood (Saricks, 2009, p. 95). In addition, the story reflects “traditional, rather than modern, values” (Saricks, 2009, p. 95). The tone of the novel is also partially inspirational from examples of heartwarming and truthful stories (Saricks, 2009, p. 95).   

Style/Language: The style of the storyline is not stylistically complex (Saricks, 2009, p. 96), and it is also “straightforward and easy to follow” (Saricks, 2009, p. 96). In addition, the book exhibits traditional values that “require the absence of explicit sex, violence, and profanity” (Saricks, 2009, p. 95). Also, the language of the book is polished, colorful, and mundane (Saricks, 2009, p. 96).

Read A Likes:

Two by two by Nicholas Sparks. Readers who wish to be exposed to the subjects of ‘Pennsylvania’ and ‘Remarriage’ and to experience the same specific subgenre of ‘Domestic fiction’ as The New Year’s Quilt: An Elm Creek Quilts Novel will enjoy reading this novel (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2018, n.p.).

Of the farm by John Updike. Individuals who long to comprehend the subject of ‘Fathers and daughters’ and the subgenre of ‘Domestic fiction’ to a reasonable degree will appreciate this book (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2018, n.p.).

At home in Mitford by Jan Karon. This novel is recommended by Novelist for fans of the “Elm Creek Quilts” series (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2018, n.p.).

References:

EBSCO Industries, Inc.. (2018). Read-alikes for The New Year’s quilt. Retrieved from

http://web.b.ebscohost.com/novp/detail?sid=dfc44f06-a3b4-4547-beb4-6120eabea38f%40sessionmgr120&UI=UI+203794&vid=2

Saricks, J. G. (2009). The readers’ advisory guide to genre fiction (2nd ed.). Chicago, IL:

            American Library Association.