Reviews of The Fisherman's Quilt from:
The Kenai Peninsula Clarion Review
The Juneau Capital City Weekly
The North Seattle Herald Outlook
What readers and critics say:
"The Perfect Storm in a doublewide trailer! As soon as I
started reading The Fisherman's Quilt, I was along for the ride, up to Alaska
and into Nora Hunter's life, rooting for her all the way. A very enjoyable read,
hard to put down."
Ann Conroy, Columbia City Book Club
"I just don't believe this is a novel. Margaret Doyle lived this
book. Not only are the places authentic and accurate, the word pictures of
Alaskan fishermen and their families have to be snapshots from a family album,
not a sketch from her imagination. While this once idealistic young woman waits
for her fisherman husband to return from his life on the sea, she is waiting for
Happiness. Still, while parenting alone, she manages to create some happiness
by fixing up her little home on a limited budget, giving her kids a semblance of
a normal childhood and keeping herself growing socially and intellectually. At
once depressing and inspiring, Doyle has given voice to many young mothers who
struggle to make a life, cope with day-to-day problems and love a man they will
never fully understand – a man who finds his identity more in his profession
than his family. Interestingly, it doesn't only happen to blue collar families,
but many wealthy ones, as well. Doyle has spoken what many, perhaps most, women
think and feel. I loved this book. "
Susan Richmond, Inklings Bookshop, Yakima Washington
"Though Nora faces her challenges in an Alaskan fishing
village, her story will shout out to women everywhere. . .."
Patricia Monaco, Editor, NAPRA ReView
". . .a very disturbing book. . .My heart cries for the
women that sit alone for weeks at a time worrying about their spouse on the
water and coping with everyday problems. . . .I saw the term "reality
literature" applied to this book, and although I would like to dismiss [it] as
fiction, I fear there is a great deal of truth and accuracy in the writing."
Ruth Oie, owner, The Book Shoppe, Graingeville, ID
"Doyle's book speaks with insight and power about the lives
of neglected women. Although such stresses are notoriously acute for wives of
Alaska's commercial fishermen, the problems she depicts are universal and will
resonate with readers who have never landed a salmon or crab."
Shana Loshbaugh, Kenai Peninsula Clarion
[The Fisherman's Quilt ]"Lay[s] out the problems of change
from hippy culture and street drugs plus make-believe to resolving the questions
of actual life very well."
James Krueger, MD and WWII veteran
"I love your writing! I've read your book twice already."
Mari Runesson, Sweden
[The Fisherman's Quilt presents] ". . . a way to discuss a
type of culture that exists in Alaska . . .[I hope to] translate the discussion
of The Fisherman's Quilt into a support group."
Paster Marjorie Lorant, Wrangell AK
"The Fisherman's Quilt is a flavorful and provocative story
that you will savor long after you have read it."
Kent Sturgis, President, Independent Book Publishers
Association
"Every time I sat down to read The Fisherman's Quilt, I
felt the desperation and the cold of beautiful Alaska. Thank you for your most
vivid description of the loneliness of the Alaskan life, especially that of a
wife of a fisherman. . ."
Louise Murphy, Blaine, Washington
"I identified with Nora's pluck, her marvelous internal
dialogues that had such immediacy about them, her crazy friends, and her busy
and boisterous little children. I loved Nora's isolation, desperation, and what
I call "war-time humor." I loved the book!"
Carol Nickisher, Author, Riding the Reef
"I wish I would have read your book 30 years ago. Then I
would have known that I wasn't all alone in my loneliness. Other women were
experiencing it too. Making a life is like making a quilt . . . you take the
scraps of your life and piece it together as best you can to make something
beautiful. Even though The Fisherman's Quilt was about Kodiak and the
fisherman's wife role, the story is universal for women who find themselves
lonely. I ached for the pain in the story and could really relate. I feel that
many, many women could also relate to the story."
Ellen Hough, Founder, Widows of Living Husbands, Idaho
"The Fisherman's Quilt is a beautifully written,
emotionally sensitive book that I highly recommend! Margaret Doyle has created a
soulful piece of fine work."
Judith Orloff M.D. Author, Positive Energy and Second
Sight
"Doyle has...written a woman's story of endurance and
self-exploration. Quilt is reality literature, a reading experience you'll not
forget."
Irving Warner, Author, In Memory of Hawks and Other Stories from
Alaska
". . . devastatingly poignant"
Janeen Russell, Yakutat Book Club
"... hard to put down, reading these experiences touched a
deep place in me. Your book bravely showed that it takes more than one person to
be married. . ."
K. Metzger, Washington state
Contact us at pub@FishermansQuilt.com or 360-376-2827
