How to make an American Quilt
(Whitney Otto)

I saw the movie when it first came out and I loved it, but it was missing some information. So, I went out at once and bought the book. In comparison, the movie is much better than the book.

This book tells the stories of several women who sew in the same California quilting circle. And as they stitch, we listen to the stories they have to tell of their successes and failures, their lives and loves, their dreams, desires, and the surprise and sometimes joy of living.

Finally, the reason why I like this book is because of how the quilt becomes a metaphor for the women's lives, made of different fabrics (experiences, personalities, thoughts, actions...) but surprisingly harmonious when woven together by the quilters (the storyteller).

Some of the thoughts I ponder after the movie.
1. Staying together after love fades
2. Surviving an affair
3. Not being able to say goodbye
4. Reaching out during grief
5. Disloyalty and infidelity
6. Value of novelty and surprise
7. What is the difference between love, passion and commiment?
8. "The hardest part about being a woman is having woman friends."
9. Inequality in relationships
10. Social and cultural contects of relationships
11. How can you "move on and live our life.?
12. It is easier to reconstruct or start all over again?
13. The quilt metaphor