The Friday Night Knitting Club

Overrated!

Whew -- I thought you had to be a good writer to get a book contract and sell a gazillion books! Clearly, a good book cover and the word "knitting" in the title are more important.

I felt like I was reading the draft of a book written by a new author. While she was clearly earnest in her endeavor, she needed a really good editor to make her book shine.

There were a lot of characters in the book, and there was something about each that was almost likeable. However, they were each so lightly developed that it was like reading a book about stick figures. It enough to make the reader angry that the author didn't care enough about them to give them the flesh and bone they deserved. Fewer characters more thoroughly developed would have made for a much better book.

And as for the author's unceremonious dumping of the main character at the end of the book, all I can say is that she deserved better as well. What a waste to build a plot around this woman's life and then ditch her in all of about two pages. This was done with no creativity, very little sympathy and, as far as I could tell, without much purpose.

Overall, the book was a big disappointment. I won't be buying any more of this author's books.

6 out of 6 people found this review helpful.

Great idea but it ended up being depressing

I don't want to give any spoilers, but I was looking for something uplifting and cheerful, not this.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Disappointing

I was excited about this book and then very disappointed. I couldn't connect with the characters and didn't care for her writing style.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Sweet, but predictable

This is a sweet, easy-reading book, good for quiet stress-relieving moments. The characters are believable and likeable, but a little too contrived to cover all minorities. It didn't add to mention one was Jewish, one was Asian, one was Black. It didn'tchange the themes of the book. The plot was sweet, but don't go too deep into the relationship theme of the book. It was predictable.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

PREDICTABLE!

Very predictable. The only redeeming quality is that the characters are likable.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

The Friday Night Knitting Club

It was an excellent book about a group of different women, gathering to knit. Different women and different lives, emotions slowly begin to form a bond. When faced with difficulites they all help each other with their different life gifts. Beautifully written. Can't wait to read the next one, Two Yarns.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Good story line, kept me wanting to read more

Would like very much to read other books by this author

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Good Story

I thought the book was a good read. I did relate to the members of the knitters club, not because I knit but because I enjoy talking and shareing lifes experiences with others.
It had some really high points and some sad things that happened to good people.
I feel that I would tell others that it was worth reading.
linda

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Good and Not So Good All At The Same Time

The book was an enjoyable read, especially in the middle, but it was lacking enough to be a let down.

By about 100 pages in I was really into the book. It was enjoyable and had me going back for more. The author had a way of pulling the reader into each of the characters and made me - a total non-knitter or crafter - really interested in taking up knitting!

There were a few oxymoronic elements, for example, the author was trying to portray the independence of women coming out in the face of life's challenges, while they discovered themselves and their dreams. But each woman was either independently wealthy thanks to a man or a wealthy benefactor. Nice, but neither realistic nor very independent and it certainly takes the challenge out of much of living "independently".

The ending felt distant and wasn't really engaging for me. More like the author was telling the story and not "showing" it. She pulled me in, but let me down!

I'd say still worth reading if you have it, but don't go in with high expectations."

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

the facts

Jacobs' debut novel is something to be commended. I wasn't too impressed with the first chapter, but by the second I was intrigued enough to continue. It's an easy read which I finished within two days and an interesting story. I knit occasionally, but not enough to make the knitting connection with the characters that they author may have intended. Still, it was a very vivid story, I thought, true to form of relationships: be they between a single-mom and her older mentor in New York or a single-mom and her co-worker here where I'm from (Kalamazoo, MI). There were many characters jumbled in this story, but isn't that so true to life? The random hodge-podge of the club is no different than my own and although a bittersweet ending, I felt it was a very real novel. Forget technical writing and character development - it's meant to portray the relationships in woman's wife so we could all relate. I think that is exactly what this novel accomplished.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Sparked the Knitter in me

When I picked this book up in the library I was quite reluctant to reading it but needless to say once I got started it was hard to stop. I enjoyed this book greatly because I feel it was beautifully written. Along with the dialogue the message behind the book was quite inspiring because it propelled you to appreciate the true meaning of sisterhood and to reconcile with those whom have hurt you. I would read this book over and over and I am sure it will be special each time!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

COZY, WARM, AND FRIENDLY

A bit reminiscent of Ann Hood's The Knitting Circle we are again introduced to a group of women who meet to knit and find that they've stitched strong bonds of friendship. What raises Jacobs's debut novel above the average women-support-women tale is the author's finely crafted prose and a sterling reading by Carrington MacDuffie. A recording artist and spoken word performer, MacDffie vitalizes a disparate cast of characters from Georgia Walker, a single mom and owner of a yarn ship to daughter, Dakota, to Darwin Chiu, a militant feminist, to shop staffer Peri, to Anita, Georgia's stalwart friend and helper, and more. Her narration ably reflects the different ages, backgrounds, and personalities involved. The Friday Night Knitting Club is a cozy, warm read peopled with characters we'd like to know. It's easy to lose oneself in the story and feel very much a part of the group, as we hear: 'Without ever putting up one sign or announcing the creation of a knitting club, these women began regularly appearing in the evenings and, well, loitering. Chatting with each other, talking to Anita, gathering about the large round table in the center of the room, picking up where they had left things the week before. And then, one Friday last fall, it became official. Well, sort of. Lucie, a striking woman with short, sandy-colored hair, who favored tortoiseshell glasses over her big, blue eyes and colorful, funky outfits, was an occasional shopper at Walker and Daughter. She came in every few months and was always working on the same piece, a thick cable knit sweater--a man's garment. There were a lot of these types who came in to the store, folks whose knitting ambitions were out of line with either their ability or with whatever mysterious comings and goings kept them from sitting down and getting the job done. ' And so it began. All seems to go smoothly until the reappearance of Dakota's dad who wants to move back into Georgia's life, and unexpected events in the other women's lives. Jacobs is a deft storyteller and along with the laughter and tears she has surprises in store. The Friday Night Knitting club is an affectionate, engaging story of female friendship and will soon be found on the big screen starring Julia Roberts. Enjoy! - Gail Cooke

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Very Enjoyable

I very much enjoyed the book. Feel in love with the characters. I could totally relate to the main character. I wish it could have gone on longer. I was hoping for a lighter ending.

I couldnt pay attention

I got really bored couldnt finish it

Recommended

Very heart warming and heart wrenching. Laughed and cried a lot.

I liked the book

Being a knitter myselfI, liked the book. The story was fun and touching. I felt as though I knew the women personally (knowing someone just like them). I think she captured the essence of a knitting group and I found this book to be a very good read.

Sorry I Finished It

I ususally enjoy books like this, which cover the lives of several different characters. "The Friday Night Knitting Club" may have its good chapters, but overall not worth the time to read it and the end was stupid.

My Favorite book of the novels!

I love this first part of the novels!

Keep on reading.

I'll admit the pace of the opening was too slow for me. I'd actually put this book down. BUT a friend raved about it so I picked it up again and I am so glat that I did. It's a really good story. I'd have been sad to not have made that journey.

Stick it out. You won't regret it.

Wonder how it ends...?

I tend