Linda is a quilter and as her only daughter Molly readies for college, Linda is working on the quilting project of her life… a memory quilt for Molly. This quilt has squares hand stitched in from her first blanket, to her kindergarten skirt, to her prom dress. If was a memory – Linda has saved it to put pieces of it into the quilt. Even to the point of having the quilt edged with a ruffle of material from Molly’s grandmothers square dancing dress.
Together Linda and Molly embark on the adventure of driving cross-country together from their home in Wyoming to move Molly states away into her dorm room. Along for this road trip is the unfinished quilt, that Linda is working on while Molly drives in hopes of having it done in time to be placed on Molly’s dorm bed. As each new scrap of fabric is removed from the large quilt bag, mother and daughter share the memories of the piece, stitching together their bond as mother and daughter with every bit of love and care that is put into the making of this quilt.
While Linda has fears for her daughter living so far away she wonders if Molly has these same fears. As the quilt helps them relive the past, mother and daughter and heading mile by mile into the unknown future.
I really wanted to post this review on Mother’s day as this sweet novel is a perfect read for just such an occasion. Filled with a mothers love for her child, and a child, now a young woman longing to have the chance to move forward on her own.
Susan Wigg’s had a brilliant idea when she centered the entire story around a quilt that was made of memories, sticking together not only a masterpiece but a story that pulls at the heart-strings. As I read on I loved the idea of keeping a scrap of life memories and envisioned what my own would have looked like had I the foresight to save such things.
The characters were well-developed, the story read as you would expect a mother and teenage daughter relationship to go…. Linda asking the questions that plague her – still wanting to be that protector of her daughter even now… Molly letting out exasperating sighs as she tries not to hurt her mothers feelings but longs for the right to make her mistakes on her own
Throughout the read, both mother and daughter grow in ways that embrace the story line. My only complaint is that a piece of the ending becomes easy to guess as it is hinted at way too many times throughout the read to the point that about half way through this audio when it was mentioned I was shouting at the speakers how it was all going to come together. 😛
This would make a lovely gift of book or audio to a daughter or to a mother.
Amazon Rating
The 2011 WHERE Are You Reading Map has been updated to include The Goodbye Quilt
I found this at my local library
Book Journey 
I love quilts and the idea of creating one from the pieces of “memories” is an enchanting idea.
Too bad about the broad hints throughout, though. LOL
Right- I totally get what she was trying to do but it was just too obvious… 🙂
My great grandmother stitched me a quilt from scraps of clothes she had around the house, and while I don’t know what the pieces of material came from I do know they were theirs and that means a lot to me. I love my quilt!
Angie, Helen Murray made me one from my moms clothes… I guess I didn’t think of that until now… that would have been great to put in this review – and on Mother’s Day!
This does sound like the perfect book for Mother’s Day! I can’t quilt (or really sew at all) but the idea of a memory quilt is wonderful. I remember the episode of Gilmore Girls where we see the quilt Lorelai made of Rory’s childhood clothing. Such a nice memento to have.
Great review! I’ve only read one book by Susan Wiggs but I really liked it and plan to read more. I’ll have to add this to my TBR list.
Oh yeah! I Forgot about the Gilmore Girl episode! How unlike me! 😛
I think I know what piece of the ending you’re talking about – it didn’t bother me at all, because I was hoping it would happen. I thought this book was great!
Oh I hoped it would too Kathy – just didnt need to be hinted about it again and again…. 😛
I absolutely want to read this book! It has been on my TBR list for a little while. Its funny that I’m reading this post now as I just came downstairs from working on my own daughter’s quilt (granted she is 3 and no where near ready to leave for college).
Oh how sweet you are making her a quilt Bonnie! 🙂
I loved this one!
Oh good – I am trying to recall if I have read her before…
I’ve made a few quilts but nothing big. I just recently sold my sewing machine because I haven’t used it in years. I’m always drawn to stories though where women create things with their hands!
I love memories Staci…. this one was so sweet. 🙂
I do hope this is available at the library
I think you will enjoy it and it is a sweet read 😀
I’m glad you enjoyed this one as I need to read it at some point soon. It does sound like the perfect Mother’s Day read!
It was – I hope you enjoy it too 🙂
Sounds like a fun story! Memory quilts are so great.
I hope to learn how to do them someday 🙂
I don’t really want to be a quilter, but there are a couple patterns that have stayed in my head for years, that I really really want to make, someday. 🙂
Don’t you HATE when you know the ending so far in advance? 🙂 But this sounds like a wonderful, sort of lazy day read, the kind that makes you feel as soft and gushy inside. Thanks for the review!
Hi Julie – like Kathy (Bermuda Onion) mentioned above, it was a great end to the story one that you would hope – but they played it up too much – I felt, so that it was so obvious by the time it happened I was like….. yup. 😛
I wish Joan Vassiliadis would reproduce the pattern online. I just finished reading the book on my nook and the picture is so small.
I wish Joan Vassiliadis would reproduce the pattern online. I just finished reading the book on my nook and the picture is so small.
That would be cool Kathy 🙂