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.
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