Quilting in Books
Well I have managed to read another Ann Rinaldi Book, "The Coffin Quilt". Excellent story I might add. Most people I know here in Tennessee love crafts. They especially love quilting. As an avid crafter, I can appreciate a good quilt. Now my expertise is crocheting or knitting. I'm not a quilter. "The Coffin Quilt" is a story based loosely on the lives of the Hatfields and McCoys. Most people know the story that Roseanne and Johnse were lovers, had a child, caused a feud that ended in the deaths of many family members, and suddenly came to an end, thus bringing us to where we are today; pondering what could have been or what actually happened.
Roseanna begins making her coffin quilt by adding little coffin motifs or appliques. Once someone dies, then their coffin goes to the center of the quilt. Roseanna would embroider the names and dates to the coffin. The youngest child of the McCoy family at the time, Fanny, is the narrator of this wonderful story. It captures the historical facts from the perspective of a nine year-old to that of a 16 year-old girl who faced many challenges in her young, turbulent life. Fanny has to accept that there are many changes going on in her family. While many are blaming Johnse Hatfield and Roseanna McCoy, Fanny knows its not all their fault. Sometimes families keep secrets and harbor resentments from deep within that no one are responsible for except the individual harboring this in their own heart. Ma keeping Pa in his place by holding him back from being a "real" man of that time era. When most men told women what to do, here it is Ma telling Pa what he is going to do by preaching scripture to him. Fanny is bossed by big sister Alafair and threatened and abused by her. There are many elements to this story that one can pull out and make a good theme paper for any class assignment. Life deals many lesssons and Fanny sure learns her fair share of them!
I recommend this book for a good rainy day read. It really makes one appreciate life and the individual who makes the quilt and passes it on to someone they love, just as Roseanna does for Fanny in the end. Happy Crafting!
Roseanna begins making her coffin quilt by adding little coffin motifs or appliques. Once someone dies, then their coffin goes to the center of the quilt. Roseanna would embroider the names and dates to the coffin. The youngest child of the McCoy family at the time, Fanny, is the narrator of this wonderful story. It captures the historical facts from the perspective of a nine year-old to that of a 16 year-old girl who faced many challenges in her young, turbulent life. Fanny has to accept that there are many changes going on in her family. While many are blaming Johnse Hatfield and Roseanna McCoy, Fanny knows its not all their fault. Sometimes families keep secrets and harbor resentments from deep within that no one are responsible for except the individual harboring this in their own heart. Ma keeping Pa in his place by holding him back from being a "real" man of that time era. When most men told women what to do, here it is Ma telling Pa what he is going to do by preaching scripture to him. Fanny is bossed by big sister Alafair and threatened and abused by her. There are many elements to this story that one can pull out and make a good theme paper for any class assignment. Life deals many lesssons and Fanny sure learns her fair share of them!
I recommend this book for a good rainy day read. It really makes one appreciate life and the individual who makes the quilt and passes it on to someone they love, just as Roseanna does for Fanny in the end. Happy Crafting!
Comments
The scarf is very pretty.
Wow, even though I'm a native Tennessean I didn't really know the story behind the feuding Hatfields and McCoys. Thank you for visiting my blog and leaving a comment. Have a wonderful week!
p.s. I love the medallion quilt in the previous post.