Author: Kate Jacobs
Narrator: Carrington Macduffie
Published by: Blackstone Audiobooks (2007)
Length: 12 hours
My Rating: 3/5
Amazon Rating: 3.5/5 (245 customer reviews)
Narrator: Carrington Macduffie
Published by: Blackstone Audiobooks (2007)
Length: 12 hours
My Rating: 3/5
Amazon Rating: 3.5/5 (245 customer reviews)
This was one of those books I had never planned on reading, but I just happened to see in the audiobook section of my library (which is pretty limited), and for some reason I thought it was a cozy mystery. I must not have even read the back of the case! It took me a little while into listening to realize I was mistaken. I kept thinking, "Where's the mystery?" So my opinion of the book may be a bit marred by this misguided expectation.
Well-written and well-narrated, this just wasn't the kind of book I get excited about. It's the story of Georgia Walker, owner of a knitting shop in Manhattan, and a single mom successfully raising an equally independent 12-year-old daughter, Dakota. Her life gets shaken up a bit when two people come back into her life--Dakota's father, who had left her before Dakota was born, and "Cat," her best friend from high school who Georgia believes betrayed her. About this time, Georgia also begins the knitting club, which consists of other women with relationship troubles of their own. The common thread uniting the members of the club is their individual efforts to find their identities by reaching out of their comfort zones.
While I didn't find the story very engaging until the end when an unexpected (for me, anyways) tragedy comes along in Georgia's life, there were some things I liked about it. I appreciated the structure with knitting instructions which paralleled the themes that were emphasized in each section. I also liked the fact that it was emphasized that you can participate in domestic arts like knitting and baking and still be a strong and independent woman. I don't know how to knit(this book made me want to learn, though), but I can bake and do it too often to be good for my waistline! Georgia's daughter Dakota was the baker for the knitting club, and the book ends with her recipe for "Dakota's Oatmeal, Blueberry, and Orange Muffins." I just had to try them out; here's a picture:
Well-written and well-narrated, this just wasn't the kind of book I get excited about. It's the story of Georgia Walker, owner of a knitting shop in Manhattan, and a single mom successfully raising an equally independent 12-year-old daughter, Dakota. Her life gets shaken up a bit when two people come back into her life--Dakota's father, who had left her before Dakota was born, and "Cat," her best friend from high school who Georgia believes betrayed her. About this time, Georgia also begins the knitting club, which consists of other women with relationship troubles of their own. The common thread uniting the members of the club is their individual efforts to find their identities by reaching out of their comfort zones.
While I didn't find the story very engaging until the end when an unexpected (for me, anyways) tragedy comes along in Georgia's life, there were some things I liked about it. I appreciated the structure with knitting instructions which paralleled the themes that were emphasized in each section. I also liked the fact that it was emphasized that you can participate in domestic arts like knitting and baking and still be a strong and independent woman. I don't know how to knit(this book made me want to learn, though), but I can bake and do it too often to be good for my waistline! Georgia's daughter Dakota was the baker for the knitting club, and the book ends with her recipe for "Dakota's Oatmeal, Blueberry, and Orange Muffins." I just had to try them out; here's a picture:
I also appreciated this advice from James' mother: "We don't always get what we deserve. Sometimes we get more. Sometimes we get less. At least we get something. " Good to remember!
My notes here.
Prude-ometer (subjective content assessment): Moderate language including a couple handfuls of the "F" word, too much for me; references to sex throughout but nothing explicit.
I felt very similar to you about this book. I noticed at the bookstore she has a sequel out, but I'm not dying to pick it up.
ReplyDeleteGreat review...I would have been misled into thinking it way a mystery, too. I do enjoy books, though, that have things like recipes, patterns, etc in them...not sure why, but I do. I might check this one out from the library.
ReplyDeleteOh, and the muffins look beautiful! Hope they tasted as good as they look!
I've been pondering this one for a while...I think I'm going to read it now, thanks in part to your review...thanks, Shelley. :)
ReplyDeleteLove a book with a recipe in it!
ReplyDeleteI have had this book on my list of books to read but it never makes it near the top of the list. Maybe someday I will actually get to it, we'll see.
Hi everyone,
ReplyDeleteMy name is Mary and I work for Borders. If anyone wants to talk about The Friday Night Knitting Club in a book club setting, you'll want to go to your local Borders store April 23 at 7 p.m. Store staff will lead readers in a discussion and there will be coffee and delicious snacks. It's a great opportunity to meet other book lovers and voice your opinions about the book.
Great review...I would have been misled into thinking it way a mystery, too. I do enjoy books, though, that have things like recipes, patterns, etc in them...not sure why, but I do. I might check this one out from the library.
ReplyDeleteOh, and the muffins look beautiful! Hope they tasted as good as they look!