Alice's Tulips

by Sandra Dallas | Literature & Fiction |
ISBN: 0312203594 Global Overview for this book
Registered by pixelmutt on 4/30/2005
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9 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by pixelmutt on Saturday, April 30, 2005
From Publishers Weekly
Loyalty, trust and friendship are the themes of Dallas's (The Persian Pickle Club) cozy, suspense-driven epistolary novel, set during the Civil War. When her husband enlists as a Union soldier, teenage newlywed Alice Keeler Bullock must live on his family's Bramble Farm on the outskirts of Slatyfork, Iowa, with only her stern mother-in-law, Mother (Serena) Bullock, for company. Alice is lonely without the constant companionship of her sister, Lizzie, and their six younger brothers. She passes the time writing long, gossip-filled letters to Lizzie in Galena, Ill., and growing passionate about her quilting. Newly pregnant, Alice hopes that the baby will win over her fault-finding mother-in-law, but Alice doesn't make things easy for herself. She regularly boasts about her superior sewing skills, yearns aloud for fashionable clothing and speaks before she thinks. In other words, she is young and ignorant of the ways of the world, which leads to trouble with a Confederate sympathizer, Samuel Smead, who, encouraged by Alice's innocent flirtations, pursues her with an intensity that tarnishes her reputation. Meanwhile, Alice slowly makes friends with girls her own age, including Samuel's sister-in-law, Nealie, and a runaway mother, Annie, seeking shelter for herself and her blind daughter. As the story unfolds, secrets and mysteries abound, and Alice shares every joy and sorrow with her sister by letter, a credible narrative form except when Alice reproduces extended dialogue. The last third of the novel is a delicate balance between sentiment and tragedy; in some instances, the secrets spilled go over the top, with no adequate motives for why characters are so cruel. Alice is a feisty Northern counterpart to Scarlett O'Hara, however, and her irreverent humor and precise expression will keep readers entertained.

Journal Entry 2 by pixelmutt on Saturday, April 30, 2005
Registered on pixelmutt's shelf by mistake; see awakeagain's shelf

Journal Entry 3 by awakeagain from Port Murray, New Jersey USA on Saturday, April 30, 2005
This should have been registered on my shelf in the first place but I was doing some registering for pixelmutt and forgot which name I was under.

Journal Entry 4 by awakeagain from Port Murray, New Jersey USA on Wednesday, June 15, 2005
I got this book at a library sale because I already had The Persian Pickle Club on my TBR pile and and this a perfect condition hardcover.

It's a story set in the civil war and again surrounds women brought together by quilting. A lot of the story is told in letters from Alice to her married sister. Alice has been left on an Iowa farm with her mother-in-law when her husband enlists.

Alice is a very real, very endearing character and I found myself thinking about her inbetween reading and wondering what she would do next. She has strength and spirit to spare even when the times are very tough.

I'm interested in reading others by this author; these two were great.

Journal Entry 5 by awakeagain from Port Murray, New Jersey USA on Monday, July 4, 2005
Reserved for a bookray

Journal Entry 6 by awakeagain from Port Murray, New Jersey USA on Saturday, July 9, 2005
Starting a bookray with Alice's Tulips and Persian Pickle Club.

Mailing order:

LoriPed (Oregon)
flowergirl68 (UK)
quizgirl (UK)
sydney2259 (Australia)

Journal Entry 7 by loriped from Keizer, Oregon USA on Saturday, July 30, 2005
I received this book in the mail today and will get started on it in the next day or two. I have one that I am just about finished with. This will be the first book by this author that I have read, and I am excited to read it, as I love trying new authors.

Journal Entry 8 by loriped from Keizer, Oregon USA on Tuesday, August 9, 2005
What a great introduction to Sandra Dallas! Alice Bullock, the main character, has just sent her husband off to war and is now staying on the farm with her mother-in-law. Alice, who is young and very self-centered, tells the story of her life through the letters she writes to her sister. The story is rich in details, and as the years go by we see Alice mature into a strong woman who is forced to confront the hardships that any war brings to those who wait at home. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more by this author.

Mailed off today by surface mail. 8/12/05

Journal Entry 9 by flowergirl68 from Fleet , Hampshire United Kingdom on Saturday, September 3, 2005
Found this waiting for mr after my hols. I will hopefully get to this pretty quickly.

Journal Entry 10 by flowergirl68 from Fleet , Hampshire United Kingdom on Tuesday, September 27, 2005
I was about to send this on its way unread, as I didn't think I was going to find time. However, I had to wait while my car was in the garage, and I took this along to keep me company. Needless to say, I did not then put it down until way past bedtime when I finished it. I absolutely loved it. I had forgotten about how much I enjoy reading books about this era. It reminded me a bit of Gap Creek by Robert Morgon. I also found the paragraphs at the beginning of the chapters very interesting, and as a result I finally sat down yesterday and started the patchwork quilt I have been promising to make my daughter since she was born - in 1998! I thought that the relationship between Alice and her mother-in-law was very well portrayed, and also made me realise just how strong women had to be.

I would recommend this without hesitation.

Have pm'ed quizgirl for her address.

Journal Entry 11 by flowergirl68 from Fleet , Hampshire United Kingdom on Wednesday, September 28, 2005
Sent on to quizgirl this afternoon.

Journal Entry 12 by quizgirl from Chesterfield, Derbyshire United Kingdom on Thursday, September 29, 2005
Received in the post today. After reading the journal entries I'm looking forward to reading this book. It looks a quick easy read, and should soon be on its way to the next reader in Australia.

Journal Entry 13 by quizgirl from Chesterfield, Derbyshire United Kingdom on Tuesday, October 25, 2005
I really enjoyed this book. I like the way it is written in the form of letters Alice sends to her sister. I would like to read others by Sandra Dallas and will add their titles to my wish list.
Will mail tomorrow to Australia.


Journal Entry 14 by sydney2259 on Tuesday, November 1, 2005
This book reached me safely today, thank you so much, I am really looking forward to reading it :)

Journal Entry 15 by sydney2259 on Monday, November 21, 2005
This is a truly wonderful book, and one you wont want to put down! I too enjoyed the paragraphs about the quilts... very interesting!

I am now sending this along with The Persian Pickle Club, to Julie in Queensland to enjoy.

Journal Entry 16 by sydney2259 on Monday, January 2, 2006
This book will depart for Queensland tomorrow morning (04/01/2006). Enjoy :)

Journal Entry 17 by frangipanis from Rockhampton, Queensland Australia on Saturday, March 18, 2006
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, and am now passing it on to my friend Anne ...

Journal Entry 18 by wingAnonymousFinderwing at Emu Park, Queensland Australia on Friday, December 16, 2016
I am from a small town in Queensland, by the beach with only 3000 people. I am half way through and motivated to read it! I have enjoyed quilting books before and the early American history they bring alive. This book has reappeared and has been kept by an old lady who has gone into care. I will definitely pass it on, although I don't know where!

Journal Entry 19 by mozart19 at Emu Park, Queensland Australia on Friday, December 16, 2016
I am from a small town in Queensland, by the beach with only 3000 people. I am half way through and motivated to read it! I have enjoyed quilting books before and the early American history they bring alive. This book has reappeared and has been kept by an old lady who has gone into care. I will definitely pass it on, although I don't know where!

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