Book Review: The Moses Quilt by Kathi Macias

The Moses Quilt by Kathi Macias is a moving story that blends past and present into a carefully woven tale of one woman's journey to happiness.

Mazie Hartford doesn't know why she can't commit to her boyfriend, Edward Clayton. He has agreed to patiently await the answer to his marriage proposal, but it isn't easy. When Mazie's great-grandmother, Mimi, decides to share her story of the Moses Quilt and the life of Harriet Tubman, Mazie's life will change forever.

There is so much to love about The Moses Quilt. The amazing story of Harriet Tubman's life is shared in a new and unique way. Macias does a fine job of blending the past and the present that allows both stories to co-exist nicely throughout the novel. As I mentioned in my first chapter review, the author drops you right into the middle of Mazie's conflict, which compels the reader to continue.

I did, however, have some challenges with this novel. Though this book is told with Macias's award-winning style, the situations of the main characters lead to some monotony. Mazie is between the end of school and the start of her new job, so her two main activities are taking care of Mimi and spending time with Edward. She doesn't seem to have any other friends. Lilly, Mazie's mom, is busy as a hairdresser and alternate caregiver for Mimi. Again, this woman has no life outside of these duties. Most times, she comes home, eats, and collapses into bed. Not that this is surprising for either character, but it makes the story drag a bit. And when you combine that with Mimi's character, who at ninety-three is pretty much bedridden, the majority of the novel is eating, sleeping, and storytelling.

My other challenge is there was so much build up to the reason Mimi felt the need to share Harriet Tubman's story and the story of the Moses Quilt before she died, that the resolution for Mazie and Edward comes too quickly. Twenty-eight chapters build up the suspense as to what could be causing Mazie's hesitation to marry Edward and the motivation behind Mimi sharing the story of Tubman and the quilt. Then in the next chapter, everything is revealed and wrapped up. I have to admit I was a bit disappointed. There was little time to explore how Mazie and Edward felt about what they learned.

The Moses Quilt is the first book in a planned series. Though this wasn't my favorite book, I'm looking forward to the next two installments of the series because I know Macias is a consistent deliverer of books that touch the heartstrings. A lover of history, I enjoy books that connect past and present. All three of these books feature modern-day women and the stories of groundbreaking women of the past. I'm eager to see how the series evolves.



Paperback: 240 pages
Publisher: New Hope Publishers (January 1, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1596693584
ISBN-13: 978-1596693586

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. This review contains my honest opinions, for which I have not been compensated in any way.

This is the 6th book I've read for the following challenge:

First Chapter Review: The Moses Quilt by Kathi Macias

The Moses Quilt is a contemporary women's fiction novel by multi-award-winning Christian author Kathi Macias. This book was recently voted the January Fiction Book of the Month by The Book Club Network. Kathi is on tour with this novel with Pump Up Your Book.

BLURB: The Moses Quilt is a contemporary novel that bridges racial and generational divides. With a realistic and compassionate look into a twenty-first-century dilemma, multiple award-winning author Kathi Macias introduces readers to a confused and apprehensive young woman, Mazie Hartford. Facing major decisions about the love of her life and her future, she must also wrestle with a nagging question about her family's past. She finds the answer to her questions in a most unexpected way—her great-grandmother's Moses quilt. As her great-grandmother begins to explain how each patch represents a story of courage and freedom, Mazie must decide if she has the courage and freedom to overcome her own personal fears and prejudices.

COVER: Beautiful. It's definitely lovelier up close than this picture gives it credit for. The picture of Harriet Tubman alongside the young woman that represents Mazie is a personal touch, while the miniature quilt adds a colorful contrast.

FIRST CHAPTER: As this chapter opens, Mazie Hartford recalls the time she visited her great-grandmother in Prattville, Alabama for the summer. Now living with her great-grandmother and mother in California, she is contemplating the proposal of her boyfriend, Edward Clayton. Her great-grandmother, Mimi, is wondering how her life has come to this: living in a strange place, eating flavorless food, and tied to a wheelchair.

KEEP READING: As a history lover, I knew I would be attracted to this new series. My daughter recently put together a poster and oral report on Harriet Tubman for school, so the history of this American hero is fresh in my mind. While the reader doesn't get into this aspect in the first chapter, the scene is being set for the story to unfold. Told from Mazie's and Mimi's points of view, we find a conflicted young woman who is struggling over a marriage proposal and an infirm elderly woman forced to live out however many days God has given her on this earth in a place so different than her beloved home in the south. Right away, Macias gets you caring about the characters you will traveling with over the next 200+ pages. She makes clear their personalities and their struggles. By dropping you right into the conflict, this chapter encourages the reader to continue. I can't wait to see how Tubman fits into this whole picture and how the story evolves.



Paperback: 240 pages
Publisher: New Hope Publishers (January 1, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1596693584
ISBN-13: 978-1596693586

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. The author paid me to promote her book through a virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book. This fee did not include a review. This review contains my honest opinions, for which I have not been compensated in any way.