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The Knitting Circle
After the sudden loss of her only child, Stella, Mary Baxter joins a knitting circle in Providence, Rhode Island, as a way to fill the empty hours and lonely days, not knowing that it will change her life.
Audiobook
First published January 1, 2006
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About the author
Ann Hood
72 books1,271 followersAnn Hood is the editor of Knitting Yarns: Writers on Knitting and the bestselling author of The Book That Matters Most, The Knitting Circle, The Red Thread, Comfort, and An Italian Wife, among other works. She is the recipient of two Pushcart Prizes, a Best American Spiritual Writing Award, a Best American Food Writing Award, a Best American Travel Writing Award, and the Paul Bowles Prize for Short Fiction. She lives in Providence, Rhode Island.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,617 reviews
June 25, 2022
Audiobook….read by Hillary Huber
….9 hours and 50 minutes
“The Knitting Circle” clearly deals with dark difficulties and an important subject…trauma, loss, and grief—
The thought of losing a child is unbearable—unbelievable sorrow—
Ann Hood did lose a child — that first year had to be hell—a nightmare that wouldn’t go away.
The stories that each of characters bring to ‘The Knitting Circle’ are heartbreaking—very real life situations….
Manuel labor….knitting…has the power to heal — add comfort….and aid in healing.
Ann Hood seamlessly and graciously spins the yarn …. Knit one, purl one, K - 1, P-1….
Strangers experiencing their private grief come together…learn to weave on Wednesday nights —
Mary is grieving the loss of her five-year-old daughter name Stella.
Each member is grieving a loss ….slowing revealing their unmasked stories and unspeakable truths.
The intimacies and friendships - that developed were a God send!
Nothing about this novel is trite — the emotional overwhelming suffering - profound sadness - shock - guilt - fear - hopelessness and even anger was intrinsically honest.
This was the third book I’ve read by Ann Hood.
“The Obituary Writer”, and “Fly Girl” were the others.
She has written 14 novels, 4 memoirs, a short story collection, and a 10-book series for middle school ages.
I can’t express enough admiration, love, and respect for Ann.
She writes books that touch our hearts very acutely.
….9 hours and 50 minutes
“The Knitting Circle” clearly deals with dark difficulties and an important subject…trauma, loss, and grief—
The thought of losing a child is unbearable—unbelievable sorrow—
Ann Hood did lose a child — that first year had to be hell—a nightmare that wouldn’t go away.
The stories that each of characters bring to ‘The Knitting Circle’ are heartbreaking—very real life situations….
Manuel labor….knitting…has the power to heal — add comfort….and aid in healing.
Ann Hood seamlessly and graciously spins the yarn …. Knit one, purl one, K - 1, P-1….
Strangers experiencing their private grief come together…learn to weave on Wednesday nights —
Mary is grieving the loss of her five-year-old daughter name Stella.
Each member is grieving a loss ….slowing revealing their unmasked stories and unspeakable truths.
The intimacies and friendships - that developed were a God send!
Nothing about this novel is trite — the emotional overwhelming suffering - profound sadness - shock - guilt - fear - hopelessness and even anger was intrinsically honest.
This was the third book I’ve read by Ann Hood.
“The Obituary Writer”, and “Fly Girl” were the others.
She has written 14 novels, 4 memoirs, a short story collection, and a 10-book series for middle school ages.
I can’t express enough admiration, love, and respect for Ann.
She writes books that touch our hearts very acutely.
June 27, 2007
Expert Craftsmanship
I enjoyed every minute spent reading The Knitting Circle by Ann Hood. Knitting is far more than just a device in this well-crafted tale. It provides the warmth and the intimacy, and is the central focus for a group of people (mostly women) who are in various stages of emotional distress.
The writing is straightforward and easy to read, and I can't offer enough praise about the expert craftsmanship used to propel the story. It's as though the author follows a pattern as simple as Knit One, Purl One (K-1, P-1) as she weaves together this unlikely group of people who form the Wednesday night knitting circle at Big Alice's shop, the "Sit and Knit."
The main character is Mary, and we follow her as she grieves over the sudden death of her five-year-old daughter, Stella. In addition, there is a relatively large cast of characters. Hood allows the reader to get to know each one as Mary gets to know them. Mary learns not only about a new stitch or a new pattern or project, but she also builds friendships through listening to stories illustrating a vast array of the human condition and various forms of grief. I was riveted to each tale told via memory from the characters, who had credited Big Alice, a knitting mentor to all, and in the case of Mary's mother, Mamie, an AA Sponsor as well, as they engaged in the craft of knitting to get through the difficult days as life goes marching on, indifferent to pain and suffering. They knit to save their lives.
The story comes full circle without being the least bit corny as Hood expertly "casts off." I was left thoroughly satisfied. Highly recommend.
I enjoyed every minute spent reading The Knitting Circle by Ann Hood. Knitting is far more than just a device in this well-crafted tale. It provides the warmth and the intimacy, and is the central focus for a group of people (mostly women) who are in various stages of emotional distress.
The writing is straightforward and easy to read, and I can't offer enough praise about the expert craftsmanship used to propel the story. It's as though the author follows a pattern as simple as Knit One, Purl One (K-1, P-1) as she weaves together this unlikely group of people who form the Wednesday night knitting circle at Big Alice's shop, the "Sit and Knit."
The main character is Mary, and we follow her as she grieves over the sudden death of her five-year-old daughter, Stella. In addition, there is a relatively large cast of characters. Hood allows the reader to get to know each one as Mary gets to know them. Mary learns not only about a new stitch or a new pattern or project, but she also builds friendships through listening to stories illustrating a vast array of the human condition and various forms of grief. I was riveted to each tale told via memory from the characters, who had credited Big Alice, a knitting mentor to all, and in the case of Mary's mother, Mamie, an AA Sponsor as well, as they engaged in the craft of knitting to get through the difficult days as life goes marching on, indifferent to pain and suffering. They knit to save their lives.
The story comes full circle without being the least bit corny as Hood expertly "casts off." I was left thoroughly satisfied. Highly recommend.
June 26, 2008
A quick and easy read, but yikes--depressing. Not everybody starts knitting because of tragedy. Some of us just like to do it.
March 14, 2024
“In knitting you can always correct the mistakes. Always.”
Our book club March read was about how crafting brings people together and offers friendship and help in grieving. It showcases the different fingerprints of grieving and reminds us how important it is to find our tribe.
Big Alice’s Sit And Knit in Providence, Rhode Island provides solace to a group of people united in loss and offers a safe community for those who are damaged and bereaved.
Mary Baxter has recently lost Stella, her five-year-old daughter and only child, to meningitis and has turned inward in an attempt to make peace with her loss. She’s closed out her husband, Dylan, and is unable to function; she just exists day after day. A distant relationship with her mother, Mamie, means that she can’t find comfort in her family at all. Oddly enough, at her mother’s nagging suggestion, Mary agrees to try Wednesday night knitting sessions. As these souls knit and natter, they share their sorrows.
You’ll meet:
🧶Scarlet, a bakery owner, whose guilt over an accidental death is consuming her.
🧶Lulu, scared by violent rape
🧶Ellen, who lost her son-in-law in the 9/11 attacks and who is caring for her daughter who is waiting for a heart transplant
🧶Beth is fighting breast cancer
🧶Roger and his gay partner knit to forget terminal illness
🧶Harriet, gruff, well-travelled, divorcee who lost two loved ones on 9/11.
Knitting for these women is more than just a hobby; it’s therapy. Meeting together is a form of support and a safe place for them to work through their personal challenges. I liked the theme of helping others through tragedy, which heals both us and them. Although the loss of a child is the core of this book, the author also explores motherhood and the transitions to other roles in life. The emotional toll of this book and the profound sadness and hopelessness overcame me at times and I appreciated the time to set it down and pick it up again when I was ready. The crippling effect of grief is forefront but the hope provided carries these women through to another day.
"It is my story, yet I do not have the words to tell it. Instead, I pick up my needles and I knit. Each letter is a stitch. A row spells out 'I love you'….. Like a prayer, or a wish, I send it out to you… "
I read this book with my mom as the March 2024 Prairie Pages Book Club selection. We met via Zoom with Melissa Gilbert and munched on Elephant Ears, a treat Scarlet made in the book.
Our book club March read was about how crafting brings people together and offers friendship and help in grieving. It showcases the different fingerprints of grieving and reminds us how important it is to find our tribe.
Big Alice’s Sit And Knit in Providence, Rhode Island provides solace to a group of people united in loss and offers a safe community for those who are damaged and bereaved.
Mary Baxter has recently lost Stella, her five-year-old daughter and only child, to meningitis and has turned inward in an attempt to make peace with her loss. She’s closed out her husband, Dylan, and is unable to function; she just exists day after day. A distant relationship with her mother, Mamie, means that she can’t find comfort in her family at all. Oddly enough, at her mother’s nagging suggestion, Mary agrees to try Wednesday night knitting sessions. As these souls knit and natter, they share their sorrows.
You’ll meet:
🧶Scarlet, a bakery owner, whose guilt over an accidental death is consuming her.
🧶Lulu, scared by violent rape
🧶Ellen, who lost her son-in-law in the 9/11 attacks and who is caring for her daughter who is waiting for a heart transplant
🧶Beth is fighting breast cancer
🧶Roger and his gay partner knit to forget terminal illness
🧶Harriet, gruff, well-travelled, divorcee who lost two loved ones on 9/11.
Knitting for these women is more than just a hobby; it’s therapy. Meeting together is a form of support and a safe place for them to work through their personal challenges. I liked the theme of helping others through tragedy, which heals both us and them. Although the loss of a child is the core of this book, the author also explores motherhood and the transitions to other roles in life. The emotional toll of this book and the profound sadness and hopelessness overcame me at times and I appreciated the time to set it down and pick it up again when I was ready. The crippling effect of grief is forefront but the hope provided carries these women through to another day.
"It is my story, yet I do not have the words to tell it. Instead, I pick up my needles and I knit. Each letter is a stitch. A row spells out 'I love you'….. Like a prayer, or a wish, I send it out to you… "
I read this book with my mom as the March 2024 Prairie Pages Book Club selection. We met via Zoom with Melissa Gilbert and munched on Elephant Ears, a treat Scarlet made in the book.
June 18, 2023
The protagonist, Mary has lost her five-year-old child to meningitis. The loss is so sudden she doesn’t even have a chance to make peace with her loss.
Surviving unfathomable grief and finding the will to live in the world again is the poignant theme of Hood’s novel.
It is through knitting that the healing begins.
Hood weaves the chapters of her book together, giving readers images of human loss in all its painful forms.
She weaves the finished piece as unique as the ladies who gather to mend their lives in the knitting circle.
Surviving unfathomable grief and finding the will to live in the world again is the poignant theme of Hood’s novel.
It is through knitting that the healing begins.
Hood weaves the chapters of her book together, giving readers images of human loss in all its painful forms.
She weaves the finished piece as unique as the ladies who gather to mend their lives in the knitting circle.
February 8, 2016
I normally would not have picked up this book . Even though I have been a lifelong knitter and crocheter, I make it a point to avoid books in which children die or are kidnapped or missing. As a mother, I cannot imagine … no, I cannot even force myself to contemplate… any of my children dead or missing. But life is funny… sometimes a book finds YOU and it turns out to be just what you needed to read at the time.This book, 'The Knitting Circle' by Ann Hood, turned out to be a book I needed to read.
In 'The Knitting Circle', Ann Hood introduces Mary Baxter. Mary, a mother, a wife and a writer of magazine articles, is being swallowed by her grief over the death of her only child… her young daughter Stella. Stella became ill with meningitis and died suddenly. It's no accident that Stella's name means 'star'… she was and continues to be the shining star in her parents' lives.. the center around which their family revolved. In many ways, the Baxter's story is the 'classic' story of grief and loss but I don't want to minimize its power. The story focuses on Mary and you get the sense that Mary is paralyzed … she is stuck and weighed down by her feelings. She isn't functioning in any way that people expect adults to function…she doesn't eat, she can't read or write… she can't even carry on with the simplest daily activities like grocery shopping. Everything she attempts to do reminds her of Stella and those thoughts are too painful. Mary grieves…. loudly, effusively and without apology. She has what feels like a hole in her heart and her life and her suffering is intolerable. Sadly for Mary, her grief separates her from those who care… her husband, co-workers, friends and even her mother, Mamie, with whom she has a difficult relationship.
Finally, Mamie tells Mary about the 'Sit and Knit'… a knitting shop operated by a motherly. compassionate woman named Big Alice. Mary resists accepting the invitation extended to her by Big Alice… after all, what could knitting possibly do to ease her enormous suffering? Eventually, Mary… exhausted by her own feelings and sick of her thoughts… decides to attend. At first, Mary sits and listens to the conversations taking place around her… warm, caring conversations between women who obviously know each other well… and of course, Mary learns to knit. First, she learns to cast on stitches and through the process of learning how to form the stitches with her needles, she realizes that this simple act of counting stitches in her begins to help her feel peaceful and calms the thoughts racing through her mind.
Mary met the other members of the knitting circle… who each have their own stories of loss, grief and regret.. but also stories of love and hope for their futures. Each member … Alice, Scarlet, Lulu, Beth, Harriet and Ellen… teach Mary a particular stitch and during the quiet , each instructor shares their own stories. Mary begins to realize that despite her reluctance, this group of strong, wonderful women have drawn her back into the world of the living again.
Perhaps this story sounds a bit sappy and a little oversimplified, but Ms. Hood's writing about Mary and her grief is so eloquent , I couldn't help but be moved. I did a bit of research about Ann Hood and I discovered that she had lost a young daughter… a fact that shows through in every word of this poignant story. Ms. Hood also found a calmness and peace in the simple act of knitting,so when Mary says…"It is my story, yet I do not have the words to tell it. Instead, I pick up my needles and I knit. Each letter is a stitch. A row spells out 'I love you'….. Like a prayer, or a wish, I send it out to you… ", it is so clear that Ms. Hood is speaking her heart through her character, Mary.
I don't usually share such personal information publicly but I want to add a bit of a personal note to my review. Recently, an old friend lost her son…. he was a boy the same age as my OWN son and I watched him grow from a child to a young man. His death left me shocked and dismayed and asking the question that can never be answered …. why? It was clear to me that Ann Hood wrote her grief and suffering into every word of her prose; and my reading her story brought a sense of comfort… and inspiration. Perhaps I will soon pick up my needles and make a wool scarf of many shades of purple for my daughter. I know she would love it.
In 'The Knitting Circle', Ann Hood introduces Mary Baxter. Mary, a mother, a wife and a writer of magazine articles, is being swallowed by her grief over the death of her only child… her young daughter Stella. Stella became ill with meningitis and died suddenly. It's no accident that Stella's name means 'star'… she was and continues to be the shining star in her parents' lives.. the center around which their family revolved. In many ways, the Baxter's story is the 'classic' story of grief and loss but I don't want to minimize its power. The story focuses on Mary and you get the sense that Mary is paralyzed … she is stuck and weighed down by her feelings. She isn't functioning in any way that people expect adults to function…she doesn't eat, she can't read or write… she can't even carry on with the simplest daily activities like grocery shopping. Everything she attempts to do reminds her of Stella and those thoughts are too painful. Mary grieves…. loudly, effusively and without apology. She has what feels like a hole in her heart and her life and her suffering is intolerable. Sadly for Mary, her grief separates her from those who care… her husband, co-workers, friends and even her mother, Mamie, with whom she has a difficult relationship.
Finally, Mamie tells Mary about the 'Sit and Knit'… a knitting shop operated by a motherly. compassionate woman named Big Alice. Mary resists accepting the invitation extended to her by Big Alice… after all, what could knitting possibly do to ease her enormous suffering? Eventually, Mary… exhausted by her own feelings and sick of her thoughts… decides to attend. At first, Mary sits and listens to the conversations taking place around her… warm, caring conversations between women who obviously know each other well… and of course, Mary learns to knit. First, she learns to cast on stitches and through the process of learning how to form the stitches with her needles, she realizes that this simple act of counting stitches in her begins to help her feel peaceful and calms the thoughts racing through her mind.
Mary met the other members of the knitting circle… who each have their own stories of loss, grief and regret.. but also stories of love and hope for their futures. Each member … Alice, Scarlet, Lulu, Beth, Harriet and Ellen… teach Mary a particular stitch and during the quiet , each instructor shares their own stories. Mary begins to realize that despite her reluctance, this group of strong, wonderful women have drawn her back into the world of the living again.
Perhaps this story sounds a bit sappy and a little oversimplified, but Ms. Hood's writing about Mary and her grief is so eloquent , I couldn't help but be moved. I did a bit of research about Ann Hood and I discovered that she had lost a young daughter… a fact that shows through in every word of this poignant story. Ms. Hood also found a calmness and peace in the simple act of knitting,so when Mary says…"It is my story, yet I do not have the words to tell it. Instead, I pick up my needles and I knit. Each letter is a stitch. A row spells out 'I love you'….. Like a prayer, or a wish, I send it out to you… ", it is so clear that Ms. Hood is speaking her heart through her character, Mary.
I don't usually share such personal information publicly but I want to add a bit of a personal note to my review. Recently, an old friend lost her son…. he was a boy the same age as my OWN son and I watched him grow from a child to a young man. His death left me shocked and dismayed and asking the question that can never be answered …. why? It was clear to me that Ann Hood wrote her grief and suffering into every word of her prose; and my reading her story brought a sense of comfort… and inspiration. Perhaps I will soon pick up my needles and make a wool scarf of many shades of purple for my daughter. I know she would love it.
June 8, 2011
The Knitting Circle is a semi-autobiographical novel by Ann Hood. She starts the book with a prologue that applies both to her own life and to a character in the book. She says...
Daughter, I have a story to tell you. I have wanted to tell it to you for a very long time. But unlike Babar or Eloise or any of the other stories you loved to hear, this one is not funny. This one is not clever. It is simply true. It is my story, yet I do not have the words to tell it. Instead, I pick up my needles and I knit. Each letter is a stitch. A row spells out "I love you." I knit "I love you" into everything I make. Like a prayer, or a wish, I send it out to you, hoping you can hear me. Hoping, daughter, that the story I am knitting reaches you somehow. Hoping, that my love reaches you somehow.
I'm not going to lie to you. This isn't a fun book. But, it is an amazing book. You will cry and feel the characters' anguish. In the end, you will also come out with a deeper understanding of grief and the way it affects us. Ms. Hood handles the subject of loss and the surprising things that pull you through it with a frankness and sensitivity that comes from having made the journey herself. For some of you, Cara, my dear friend Chris, and many others, this book may hit almost too close to home, to close to the pain you felt and lived through. Despite the pain and raw grief Ms. Hood depicts, the unexpected friendships that sustain the protagonist and ultimately bring her to the point of living again, loving again, and having the strength to help others on their own journey back to life keeps this book from being depressing or dark.
Hilma Wolitzer (The Doctor's Daughter) says,
"The Knitting Circle is that rare thing: a wrenching story about loss that also manages to be consoling. It's a testament to women's friend ship and to ann Hood's talent."
And, Caroline Leavitt (Girls in Trouble and Coming Back to Me) says,
"The Knitting Circle kept me up all night reading. It is brilliant and brave and extraordinary. It does what the very best novels do - it takes a tragedy and finds the heart of the pain and turns it into shimmering art."
Do yourself a favor and give this fabulous book a chance.
Daughter, I have a story to tell you. I have wanted to tell it to you for a very long time. But unlike Babar or Eloise or any of the other stories you loved to hear, this one is not funny. This one is not clever. It is simply true. It is my story, yet I do not have the words to tell it. Instead, I pick up my needles and I knit. Each letter is a stitch. A row spells out "I love you." I knit "I love you" into everything I make. Like a prayer, or a wish, I send it out to you, hoping you can hear me. Hoping, daughter, that the story I am knitting reaches you somehow. Hoping, that my love reaches you somehow.
I'm not going to lie to you. This isn't a fun book. But, it is an amazing book. You will cry and feel the characters' anguish. In the end, you will also come out with a deeper understanding of grief and the way it affects us. Ms. Hood handles the subject of loss and the surprising things that pull you through it with a frankness and sensitivity that comes from having made the journey herself. For some of you, Cara, my dear friend Chris, and many others, this book may hit almost too close to home, to close to the pain you felt and lived through. Despite the pain and raw grief Ms. Hood depicts, the unexpected friendships that sustain the protagonist and ultimately bring her to the point of living again, loving again, and having the strength to help others on their own journey back to life keeps this book from being depressing or dark.
Hilma Wolitzer (The Doctor's Daughter) says,
"The Knitting Circle is that rare thing: a wrenching story about loss that also manages to be consoling. It's a testament to women's friend ship and to ann Hood's talent."
And, Caroline Leavitt (Girls in Trouble and Coming Back to Me) says,
"The Knitting Circle kept me up all night reading. It is brilliant and brave and extraordinary. It does what the very best novels do - it takes a tragedy and finds the heart of the pain and turns it into shimmering art."
Do yourself a favor and give this fabulous book a chance.
January 10, 2014
Technically a 2.5 star review.
I really wanted and fully expected to love this book (that's probably where I went wrong, expectations) because Ann Hood's 'Modern Love' contribution to The New York Times broke my heart and made me want to read more of her writing.
Other than Mary, the characters in this book felt flat and one-dimensional. We are all more than our biggest, saddest tragedy or grief - even if it defines us for a period of time - and none of these characters had more than their sad story.
I had a hard time believing some of the character portrayals and plot points. Why didn't anyone tell Mary upfront that Beth was suffering from cancer - before Mary felt fully annoyed and incapacitated by Beth's obnoxious, seemingly-perfect life?? How could Scarlet and Lulu be so unforgiving as to find Beth annoying, knowing that she was battling cancer?? And really, Mary's mother suffered the EXACT SAME tragedy as Mary and was unable to share that with her?! I get why Lulu felt she had to leave the city - but why would she leave her loving, caring husband behind? The sole person she could've counted on to allay her fears and care for her as she became a recluse? Even with the minor characters - I had no idea Holly was supposed to be flighty and flaky until she decided to dump her son on Mary. The Holly I knew up until that point continuously, regularly and reliably stopped by Mary's home - even when she refused to answer the door - to offer support, love and condolences in the form of funky-colored baked goods.
From a knitting perspective, it also felt highly unlikely that Mary jumped from scarves and hats to knitting socks and sweaters in a matter of months. And unless the knitting circle sat and knit all day, it is very doubtful they could knit complete sweaters in one session.
Overall, this book felt superficial and forced. Not terrible - because Hood still writes well, albeit inconsistently - but disappointing because I expected a lot more. I'm not sure at all what her "point" was. That someone else always has a sadder story? That to get through the grieving process, you just need to find these sadder stories? I don't know.
I really wanted and fully expected to love this book (that's probably where I went wrong, expectations) because Ann Hood's 'Modern Love' contribution to The New York Times broke my heart and made me want to read more of her writing.
Other than Mary, the characters in this book felt flat and one-dimensional. We are all more than our biggest, saddest tragedy or grief - even if it defines us for a period of time - and none of these characters had more than their sad story.
I had a hard time believing some of the character portrayals and plot points. Why didn't anyone tell Mary upfront that Beth was suffering from cancer - before Mary felt fully annoyed and incapacitated by Beth's obnoxious, seemingly-perfect life?? How could Scarlet and Lulu be so unforgiving as to find Beth annoying, knowing that she was battling cancer?? And really, Mary's mother suffered the EXACT SAME tragedy as Mary and was unable to share that with her?! I get why Lulu felt she had to leave the city - but why would she leave her loving, caring husband behind? The sole person she could've counted on to allay her fears and care for her as she became a recluse? Even with the minor characters - I had no idea Holly was supposed to be flighty and flaky until she decided to dump her son on Mary. The Holly I knew up until that point continuously, regularly and reliably stopped by Mary's home - even when she refused to answer the door - to offer support, love and condolences in the form of funky-colored baked goods.
From a knitting perspective, it also felt highly unlikely that Mary jumped from scarves and hats to knitting socks and sweaters in a matter of months. And unless the knitting circle sat and knit all day, it is very doubtful they could knit complete sweaters in one session.
Overall, this book felt superficial and forced. Not terrible - because Hood still writes well, albeit inconsistently - but disappointing because I expected a lot more. I'm not sure at all what her "point" was. That someone else always has a sadder story? That to get through the grieving process, you just need to find these sadder stories? I don't know.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 13, 2008
A bit sappy and unrealistic. Also, the author has problems with time.
1. It is impossible to have your 25th wedding anniversary in November and, three weeks later in December, lose your son and daughter-in-law in the September 11th terrorist attacks.
2. You cannot, especially if you are a beginning knitter, knit the top six inches of a sock and turn the heel on size 1 needles during a 45 minute conversation. Unless I missed the bit about where "they sat in silence for about 12 hours, while Mary knit."
That first one almost made me put the book down and walk away. How could the author have missed that? What really gets me is that she did manage to remember that 9/11 was a Tuesday (ooh, aah) but screwed up the date.
I zipped through it, but my brain was definitely not fully engaged. Entertaining, but mostly in a "I need something to watch on TV while I daydream" kind of way.
1. It is impossible to have your 25th wedding anniversary in November and, three weeks later in December, lose your son and daughter-in-law in the September 11th terrorist attacks.
2. You cannot, especially if you are a beginning knitter, knit the top six inches of a sock and turn the heel on size 1 needles during a 45 minute conversation. Unless I missed the bit about where "they sat in silence for about 12 hours, while Mary knit."
That first one almost made me put the book down and walk away. How could the author have missed that? What really gets me is that she did manage to remember that 9/11 was a Tuesday (ooh, aah) but screwed up the date.
I zipped through it, but my brain was definitely not fully engaged. Entertaining, but mostly in a "I need something to watch on TV while I daydream" kind of way.
January 13, 2009
This book would definitely fall under the heading of "chick lit," which is not my cup of tea to begin with, and I'm afraid it did nothing to shake my perceptions of the genre. I found myself getting extremely frustrated with the main character and her refusal to do anything to improve her life, although, as a mother, her story touched me. There were several elements of the novel that were completely unbelievable, including the fact that every single one of the women had amazingly tragic pasts. Hood also tried to cram too many "trendy" elements into her story, including 9/11, out-of-wedlock pregnancies, AIDS, breast cancer, and no less than 3 homosexual relationships. While the book did make me want to learn to knit, it also made me much less likely to read another book by the same author.
May 10, 2014
Before Hood explicitly vented her grief over her daughter’s death in the 2008 memoir Comfort, she first tried to find catharsis in fiction, with this sweet little novel. The Knitting Circle focuses on a group of women who, like Hood, have all turned to knitting to save their lives after experiences of bereavement or suffering. Mary is the stand-in for Hood, having just lost her five-year-old daughter Stella; as she comes to know the other ladies who frequent Big Alice’s Sit and Knit group, she learns that they all have their own private tragedies: and so on.
It perhaps stretches the imagination to have so many characters with ‘issues,’ but only a bit – everyone, especially by middle age, will have had a memorable experience of illness or grief. The plot is also slightly far-fetched in some of its turns (e.g. . In all, though, I found it a touching and genuine portrait of grief and recovery. My major disappointment was that the UK publication went for a very chick-lit style cover, and continued this association by comparing the book to Dorothy Koomson and Maeve Binchy and labeling it a ‘tearjerker’ in the back cover text. The US edition has a more staid, classy cover, better aligned with Hood’s sophisticated prose.
It perhaps stretches the imagination to have so many characters with ‘issues,’ but only a bit – everyone, especially by middle age, will have had a memorable experience of illness or grief. The plot is also slightly far-fetched in some of its turns (e.g. . In all, though, I found it a touching and genuine portrait of grief and recovery. My major disappointment was that the UK publication went for a very chick-lit style cover, and continued this association by comparing the book to Dorothy Koomson and Maeve Binchy and labeling it a ‘tearjerker’ in the back cover text. The US edition has a more staid, classy cover, better aligned with Hood’s sophisticated prose.
March 18, 2024
This was an interesting read about grief, how different women deal with it, and how similar they are. This follows Mary, who lost her 5 year old daughter, and how she found a knitting group that was much more than just learning to knit. What she didn't know was that each woman had a story, and each person handled grief differently, and that even her mother had grief, which is probably what contributed to the difficulties in their own relationship.
I enjoyed this book for the most part, there were a couple things I didn't like, but it didn't deter me from the story being told. I read this for a book club and am enjoying the new reads, none that I have read before.
I enjoyed this book for the most part, there were a couple things I didn't like, but it didn't deter me from the story being told. I read this for a book club and am enjoying the new reads, none that I have read before.
July 15, 2012
Again, another 3.5 stars.
I did like this book, but, and in my case it is a big but, it is full of tragedy, and I don't really want to be reading too much tradegy. Yes, it makes me feel very grateful for what I have, but I have been through the emotional wringer too much myself too recently to want to go there again. The way that the issues heal is very truthful though.
The basic premise of the book is that knitting is wonderful therapy, something I will most definitely not be disagreeing with. But knitting is so great in part because it is something you can do anywhere, something you don't need to travel to a group to do, something soothing to do when you are alone. I know that there are knitting groups, I just don't know if I believe that it is likely for a knitting group to be as tightly knit as this group is - I think most knitting groups would have a looser membership.
If you could bear a book that will make you shed tears, then I recommend this book to you.
I did like this book, but, and in my case it is a big but, it is full of tragedy, and I don't really want to be reading too much tradegy. Yes, it makes me feel very grateful for what I have, but I have been through the emotional wringer too much myself too recently to want to go there again. The way that the issues heal is very truthful though.
The basic premise of the book is that knitting is wonderful therapy, something I will most definitely not be disagreeing with. But knitting is so great in part because it is something you can do anywhere, something you don't need to travel to a group to do, something soothing to do when you are alone. I know that there are knitting groups, I just don't know if I believe that it is likely for a knitting group to be as tightly knit as this group is - I think most knitting groups would have a looser membership.
If you could bear a book that will make you shed tears, then I recommend this book to you.
February 9, 2016
Mary's life is falling apart after the sudden death of her five year old daughter Stella. While her husband tries to find solace in his work, Mary finds it difficult to get her life back together. That's when her almost estranged mother prods her into joining a knitting circle run by old Alice. The women and a couple of men that she meets there, their own stories of pain and redemption helps her start healing.
After reading mostly non fiction these days, this book came as a welcome change. The pain and the emotions of each of the characters have been etched so beautifully, each of the character stays with you. The fact that each one has their own crosses to carry, irrespective of how perfect their lives seem to be, and that there is redemption at the end of it all, is the subtle message that the author gives here.
Definitely going to read more books of hers.
After reading mostly non fiction these days, this book came as a welcome change. The pain and the emotions of each of the characters have been etched so beautifully, each of the character stays with you. The fact that each one has their own crosses to carry, irrespective of how perfect their lives seem to be, and that there is redemption at the end of it all, is the subtle message that the author gives here.
Definitely going to read more books of hers.
December 23, 2008
Mentions the characters' 2 week visit to NS - strawberry festivals, church halls, fiddle music! :) The authour is from Providence RI and it reminded me of my memories to her city :)
Funny, a reviewer before me called this "relentlessly depressing" but i think it's more bittersweet. Anyone who has experienced a tragedy that felt, to them at least, quite significant will be able to identify with the pain of these characters. I enjoyed hearing their life sories, how the overcame adversity, or in some cases just learned to manage it through some form of daily life.
Interesting how not only knitting but books about knitters have become popular in the past few years.
Funny, a reviewer before me called this "relentlessly depressing" but i think it's more bittersweet. Anyone who has experienced a tragedy that felt, to them at least, quite significant will be able to identify with the pain of these characters. I enjoyed hearing their life sories, how the overcame adversity, or in some cases just learned to manage it through some form of daily life.
Interesting how not only knitting but books about knitters have become popular in the past few years.
November 27, 2022
The story and characters drew me in early and while the story is very very sad, I could feel a sense of travelling a journey with the protagonist.
But then I read a small paragraph, a description of someone on the periphery. And I would ask the author - why did you feel assigning a race to a character was necessary in this case. What did it add to the story. Describing a teenage boy in a hoodie as black, and then writing that it reminded the protagonist of the rape and assault of another character…why did you need to do that. The only thing it added was a hidden bias. No other characters had been assigned a race.
The book is being returned to the library unfinished.
But then I read a small paragraph, a description of someone on the periphery. And I would ask the author - why did you feel assigning a race to a character was necessary in this case. What did it add to the story. Describing a teenage boy in a hoodie as black, and then writing that it reminded the protagonist of the rape and assault of another character…why did you need to do that. The only thing it added was a hidden bias. No other characters had been assigned a race.
The book is being returned to the library unfinished.
September 8, 2024
I haven’t cried over a book in a long time. It was time
August 22, 2013
Spoiler and UN-PC comments alert
Last disc--not quite done. I admit that her writing about the death of Stella was traumatic and heart-wrenching in the real sense. Obviously, her personal grief at the loss of her own daughter in real life fueled her writing to truly the level of great literature. For that part I give the book 5 full stars. I had tears running down my face as I drove this morning. The rest of the book was as I sad below.
*****************************************
Going into disc 7...let's do a fast cliche check:
1. Obligatory g/l/b/t character regardless of fit with story line [which is not a slam at anyone of those groups, just this is a cliche check, ok?:] CHECK
2. Stupid names CHECK for "Scarlett" CHECK for Lulu CHECK for hubby in his 40s unbelievably named "Dylan" or "Dillon"....
3. Mandatory gut-wrenching angst CHECK
4. Mandatory TMI offered in Mandatory sex scences CHECK
5. Kleenex required? CHECK (Not if you prefer to snark at it all)
6. Obligatory neatly wrapped up ending Pretty much check!
Is this a "good book?" No. Ok, is this a "bad book?" No. Just too predictable: dead child [sob:], multi-decade hubby leaves, [sob:], Daddy of dead child ditches grieving angst-ridden wife for someone "happy" (yes, of course, he's a lawyer) [sob:], perfect mother of 4 dying of cancer [sob:] Central Park Jogger-ish assault victim [sob:], Elderly English lesbian puts others above self to patch all of these back together including the obligatory gay male couple who love to knit [yep, you guessed it! one of them dies:], child of single mom ditched by Irish lover awaits [and gets:] new heart via transplant [sob and yeah!:]Mom bounces back from losing child by writing "history of knitting and it's thereputic uses article".... Oiy.....
If it's so bad why give it 3 stars?
1. It's not set in LA or NYC
2. The writing itself is very nice
3. I wish I could still knit
Don't read this if you tend to feel this kind of book to deeply. Don't read this, say, on the Golden Gate Bridge......you could want to jump.
****************************
I'm listening to this in the car and could have done without the commentary on a blow job during the morning rush hour, but otherwise this is ok. Slightly predictable..... I've only read one other Ann Hood ["Somewhere Off the Coast of Maine" I think it was called:] Not bad. Not the raves I've read elsewhere. We'll see how this goes.
Last disc--not quite done. I admit that her writing about the death of Stella was traumatic and heart-wrenching in the real sense. Obviously, her personal grief at the loss of her own daughter in real life fueled her writing to truly the level of great literature. For that part I give the book 5 full stars. I had tears running down my face as I drove this morning. The rest of the book was as I sad below.
*****************************************
Going into disc 7...let's do a fast cliche check:
1. Obligatory g/l/b/t character regardless of fit with story line [which is not a slam at anyone of those groups, just this is a cliche check, ok?:] CHECK
2. Stupid names CHECK for "Scarlett" CHECK for Lulu CHECK for hubby in his 40s unbelievably named "Dylan" or "Dillon"....
3. Mandatory gut-wrenching angst CHECK
4. Mandatory TMI offered in Mandatory sex scences CHECK
5. Kleenex required? CHECK (Not if you prefer to snark at it all)
6. Obligatory neatly wrapped up ending Pretty much check!
Is this a "good book?" No. Ok, is this a "bad book?" No. Just too predictable: dead child [sob:], multi-decade hubby leaves, [sob:], Daddy of dead child ditches grieving angst-ridden wife for someone "happy" (yes, of course, he's a lawyer) [sob:], perfect mother of 4 dying of cancer [sob:] Central Park Jogger-ish assault victim [sob:], Elderly English lesbian puts others above self to patch all of these back together including the obligatory gay male couple who love to knit [yep, you guessed it! one of them dies:], child of single mom ditched by Irish lover awaits [and gets:] new heart via transplant [sob and yeah!:]Mom bounces back from losing child by writing "history of knitting and it's thereputic uses article".... Oiy.....
If it's so bad why give it 3 stars?
1. It's not set in LA or NYC
2. The writing itself is very nice
3. I wish I could still knit
Don't read this if you tend to feel this kind of book to deeply. Don't read this, say, on the Golden Gate Bridge......you could want to jump.
****************************
I'm listening to this in the car and could have done without the commentary on a blow job during the morning rush hour, but otherwise this is ok. Slightly predictable..... I've only read one other Ann Hood ["Somewhere Off the Coast of Maine" I think it was called:] Not bad. Not the raves I've read elsewhere. We'll see how this goes.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 6, 2010
It's been a tough one to walk away from. This book had left me numb (extremely close to the feeling left after reading The Kindness of Strangers by Katrina Kittle).
The Knitting Circle by Ann Hood is a self written autobiographical novel about a young couple coping with the loss of their only child, their daughter, after a quick battle with Meningitis.
This book was penned by Ann Hood after the loss of her own child after dealing with viral strep.
The story in The Knitting Circle is painful and yet full of slow healing. Mary, the mother spends her days in a complete fog, unable to grip the change that has come into her life so suddenly. Mary used to be a reviewer for books, restaurants and movies, but now spends her days in baggy overalls watching TV and crying or sleeping. Mary has a non-existent relationship with her mother; former alcoholic. But her mother, calls, persists and irritates Mary to the point that she finally shows up at a knitting studio an hour from her house.
Mary struggles to fit in with the circle, complaining about the littlest knitting task. She looks around the room to each Wednesday night slowly learning about the people in this group. This group is not ordinary, for each member has a horrid story of pain, loss and suffering... but the truth is where they are now. Because of Alice, the store owner.
Mary finally starts to open up to her grief, finds time to learn about each other with her mother and finds life again...
In my humble opinion, I know this book could be better based upon reading about the author. However, the basis behind this book.... the quality of writing through a desperate, heartfelt struggle is amazing. This book is such a lesson in learning just how to live and breath; one step at a time... (in the words of knitting... one stitch at a time...) So, based on all of the above, this book should be picked up and enjoyed in both tears and laughter!
5 Stars!!
The Knitting Circle by Ann Hood is a self written autobiographical novel about a young couple coping with the loss of their only child, their daughter, after a quick battle with Meningitis.
This book was penned by Ann Hood after the loss of her own child after dealing with viral strep.
The story in The Knitting Circle is painful and yet full of slow healing. Mary, the mother spends her days in a complete fog, unable to grip the change that has come into her life so suddenly. Mary used to be a reviewer for books, restaurants and movies, but now spends her days in baggy overalls watching TV and crying or sleeping. Mary has a non-existent relationship with her mother; former alcoholic. But her mother, calls, persists and irritates Mary to the point that she finally shows up at a knitting studio an hour from her house.
Mary struggles to fit in with the circle, complaining about the littlest knitting task. She looks around the room to each Wednesday night slowly learning about the people in this group. This group is not ordinary, for each member has a horrid story of pain, loss and suffering... but the truth is where they are now. Because of Alice, the store owner.
Mary finally starts to open up to her grief, finds time to learn about each other with her mother and finds life again...
In my humble opinion, I know this book could be better based upon reading about the author. However, the basis behind this book.... the quality of writing through a desperate, heartfelt struggle is amazing. This book is such a lesson in learning just how to live and breath; one step at a time... (in the words of knitting... one stitch at a time...) So, based on all of the above, this book should be picked up and enjoyed in both tears and laughter!
5 Stars!!
April 19, 2009
Just started reading this last night and found it very hard to put down. It is easy to read and so far a good story. I read about half of it last night. Will update when I am finished.
I am now finished with the book - took me only about two days to read. One evening, one lazy afternoon, and another late evening.
I found it a good story about pain of loss and getting past the pain into a more hopeful state. It was at times depressing and scary because of the loss of the central character's daughter. All of the characters in the knitting circle had a major tragedy in their life. In the book the knitting helped them find peace in the repition and concetration required for their projects. I felt the characters helped each other more than the knitting as they gradually revealed their own tragedies. Sometimes I did tend to think the main character needed to push herself to help herself get over her hump, but the time line of the book was not that long - about two years or so - and the tragedy she suffered would definitely require a long road back to some semblance of normalcy. I would recommend this read - but not to anyone who is currently recovering from loss or is feeling down or depressed.
I am now finished with the book - took me only about two days to read. One evening, one lazy afternoon, and another late evening.
I found it a good story about pain of loss and getting past the pain into a more hopeful state. It was at times depressing and scary because of the loss of the central character's daughter. All of the characters in the knitting circle had a major tragedy in their life. In the book the knitting helped them find peace in the repition and concetration required for their projects. I felt the characters helped each other more than the knitting as they gradually revealed their own tragedies. Sometimes I did tend to think the main character needed to push herself to help herself get over her hump, but the time line of the book was not that long - about two years or so - and the tragedy she suffered would definitely require a long road back to some semblance of normalcy. I would recommend this read - but not to anyone who is currently recovering from loss or is feeling down or depressed.
June 29, 2016
I didn't know that this story is based on Author's personal experience. The book took a different meaning after knowing this.
This is a story of survival, from grief and sadness. What I liked in this book was the endless ways how people find calmness in simple hobbies, baking, knitting, talking etc. I personally like doodling or reading light books when I feel low. So I could relate to that. Still it takes a strong will to find solace in some other things when you are troubled with a death, especially when its your own child who died.
Its a sad story, at one point I wondered "Oh, God! why there are no happy moments in this book?", and god heard me, and gave me a happy incident like . :P
SO, Mary (our protagonist), trying to save herself after her daughter's death along with trying to save/mend her other relationships, joins a knitting group. A group who are/were in a similar kind of situation like Mary. If you are ready to be sad , read it. this book is just like a sad song!!
This is a story of survival, from grief and sadness. What I liked in this book was the endless ways how people find calmness in simple hobbies, baking, knitting, talking etc. I personally like doodling or reading light books when I feel low. So I could relate to that. Still it takes a strong will to find solace in some other things when you are troubled with a death, especially when its your own child who died.
Its a sad story, at one point I wondered "Oh, God! why there are no happy moments in this book?", and god heard me, and gave me a happy incident like . :P
SO, Mary (our protagonist), trying to save herself after her daughter's death along with trying to save/mend her other relationships, joins a knitting group. A group who are/were in a similar kind of situation like Mary. If you are ready to be sad , read it. this book is just like a sad song!!
April 1, 2019
I absolutely loved this book, reading about all of the stories of the women in the knitting circle. I couldn’t put the book down. It isn’t the type of book to read if you’re looking for a happy story but the message in it for me was a strong one.
October 10, 2020
I cried but in a good way. If only we all had a knitting circle to belong to.
March 31, 2020
Like everyone else today I am stressed and unfocused. I thought this story might inspire me to get back into knitting and focus on some of my old projects. We’ll see. I wish I could go to my local knitting store right now. Soon.
Ann Hood wrote a beautiful story about how learning to knit and joining a group can help deal with one’s personal tragedy and realize that you are not the only one and most importantly not alone. The unique support given by each member of the group is unbelievable. A true story of love, friendship, kindness and a bit of forgiveness. Starting out as strangers and ending up as a loving, caring family.
PS. It amazes me how they could knit and talk and accomplish so much in one session.
Ann Hood wrote a beautiful story about how learning to knit and joining a group can help deal with one’s personal tragedy and realize that you are not the only one and most importantly not alone. The unique support given by each member of the group is unbelievable. A true story of love, friendship, kindness and a bit of forgiveness. Starting out as strangers and ending up as a loving, caring family.
PS. It amazes me how they could knit and talk and accomplish so much in one session.
August 25, 2024
An amazing book, with rich, full characters that you've met, but don't know it. People who seem distant, or that annoying person who always has to tell you about her perfect kids, or that fabulous woman whose everything you want to be but don't feel you'd ever be... And you write them off. But they have angst, tragedy, unfulfilled dreams, heartache -- just like you. Meet them here. And knit with them.
June 24, 2023
Nicely done. Dealing with grief through others who knit. Rather Madame Defarge-like!! Lol. Like author’s style and see other works by her I might try. Very sad when you lose a child but life goes on and time is the great healer. Brought back memories of tragedies in my life and how I dealt with them.
December 21, 2024
From the very first chapter, it was clear to me that Hood writes from a place of experience. My experiences with grief--especially over a child--are luckily very few, but Hood writes so poignantly about the aftermath of a loss of this magnitude. This book is, undoubtedly, heavy in subject matter, but I think that the convoluted path towards making peace with a world that is often unfair. Most importantly, Hood shows how community and intentional craft can be a balm to such wounds.
There are so many things I loved about reading this. Obviously, as a knitter, I loved that Hood included actual insight about knitting. There were so many technical details that were peppered throughout the text. I am unsure about how this would read to someone unfamiliar with knitting technique, but I think the steady progression of Mary's skill and devotion to the craft was quite accurate (although it did seem like she was flying through projects at a super human speed. Thismight just be is me reading about chunky knits while knitting a sweater on 3 mm needles). I also felt like for a novel that contained so much insight into many characters, I didn't really struggle to remember them all because they were so fully formed. Plus, I really liked the descriptions of the kind and colors of yarn; I spent a considerable amount of time looking up and nearly buying a bunch of chartreuse merino for *another* hat. I also really loved that Mary was a deeply complicated character with morally complicated reactions.
In all honesty, there were only a couple of things that I didn't particularly like and they aren't really that serious. First, while I think that showing Mary's reintroduction to the work force made perfect sense, they sometimes felt like two different stories happening at the same time. I also couldn't keep track of the passage of time really well, which I can't tell if that was a deliberate effort on Hood's end to show the concatenating days bleeding into each other due to grief, me sleepily reading this on a 5am flight, or any other reasons, but I personally would have appreciated the clarity.
Ultimately, this isn't exactly a "feel-good" book. In fact, there were plenty of parts where I was so overwhelmed that I had to set the book down to get back to myself (i.e. not a binge book). If anything, this book reminds me of the song "Auld Lang Syne": reflective, wistful, and deeply in search of that which is old long since. In addition to this novel, I would strongly recommend picking up a set of needles and a skein of yarn. I am happy to show you the ropes.
There are so many things I loved about reading this. Obviously, as a knitter, I loved that Hood included actual insight about knitting. There were so many technical details that were peppered throughout the text. I am unsure about how this would read to someone unfamiliar with knitting technique, but I think the steady progression of Mary's skill and devotion to the craft was quite accurate (although it did seem like she was flying through projects at a super human speed. This
In all honesty, there were only a couple of things that I didn't particularly like and they aren't really that serious. First, while I think that showing Mary's reintroduction to the work force made perfect sense, they sometimes felt like two different stories happening at the same time. I also couldn't keep track of the passage of time really well, which I can't tell if that was a deliberate effort on Hood's end to show the concatenating days bleeding into each other due to grief, me sleepily reading this on a 5am flight, or any other reasons, but I personally would have appreciated the clarity.
Ultimately, this isn't exactly a "feel-good" book. In fact, there were plenty of parts where I was so overwhelmed that I had to set the book down to get back to myself (i.e. not a binge book). If anything, this book reminds me of the song "Auld Lang Syne": reflective, wistful, and deeply in search of that which is old long since. In addition to this novel, I would strongly recommend picking up a set of needles and a skein of yarn. I am happy to show you the ropes.
November 17, 2016
Ann Hood vit aux Etats-Unis. Elle est l'auteure de quatre autres romans qui ont connu un grand succès populaire et remporté plusieurs prix littéraires. Le cercle des tricoteuses est le roman féminin par excellence. Authentique et douillet, on s'y sent à l'aise, comme au sein d'une vraie famille.
J'ai adoré découvrir les histoires entremêlées de ces femmes qui se réunissent pour passer le temps et profiter des vertus thérapeutiques du tricot ! Au fil de ces soirées, des liens se tissent, des amitiés parfois improbables se nouent et les membres du cercle de la Grande Alice, bien que d'âges et d'horizons différents, finissent par former une famille pas comme les autres, dans laquelle les unes et les autres s'épaulent pour faire face aux aléas de la vie. Au fur et à mesure que ces femmes tricotent, elles dévoilent, pour le plus grand bonheur de la lectrice, leurs joies, leurs bonheurs, mais aussi leurs peines, leurs chagrins et leurs regrets, toutes les difficultés qu'elles éprouvent à être tout à la fois femmes, mères, filles et amies...
«Mary songea à toutes les histoires qu'elle avait entendues depuis qu'elle avait rejoint le cercle de tricot. Alice ne lui avait-elle pas dit qu'écouter aussi procure du réconfort ?»
Inutile d'être passionnée de tricot pour apprécier le roman de Ann Hood ! Les histoires de ces femmes sont si poignantes, leurs secrets si habilement dévoilés qu'on ne peut que s'émouvoir, s'attacher, et finalement, s'identifier à chacune d'entre elles ! Rédigé dans l'esprit de ces séries télé qui nous rendent accro, Le cercle des tricoteuses est un roman choral passionnant, qui se dévore plus qu'il ne se lit. À la fois plein d'humour, de drames et d'émotions, c'est une véritable leçon de vie, d'optimisme et de courage qui encourage la lectrice à aller de l'avant !
«Mary fouilla dans son panier à tricot et en ressortit un pelote de grosse laine chartreuse. Peut-être était-ce pour cela que les tricoteuse achetaient toujours plus de laine qu'il ne leur en fallait : pour la donner à quelqu'un qui en avait besoin.»
Les thèmes abordés dans ce roman ont beau ne pas être réjouissants, ils ressemblent finalement à ce que la vie a d'imprévisible, d'injuste et de cruel. Même s'il est question d'alcoolisme, de mariage qui prend l'eau ou de reconstruction après un deuil, l'ensemble sonne juste et reste incroyablement léger. Ann Hood sait doser les émotions et ne pas abuser des larmes. De ses personnages, elle dresse des portraits juste ce qu'il faut d'authentique et de réaliste pour susciter l'empathie de la lectrice.
Le cercle des tricoteuses est un roman revigorant, une comédie vive et alerte qui célèbre d'une très jolie façon l'amitié et la solidarité féminine ! Elle fera le bonheur de toutes les quadras à la recherche d'un roman de chick-lit différent et plus mature. Un très bon roman de détente, idéal pour s'évader et s'émouvoir !
J'ai adoré découvrir les histoires entremêlées de ces femmes qui se réunissent pour passer le temps et profiter des vertus thérapeutiques du tricot ! Au fil de ces soirées, des liens se tissent, des amitiés parfois improbables se nouent et les membres du cercle de la Grande Alice, bien que d'âges et d'horizons différents, finissent par former une famille pas comme les autres, dans laquelle les unes et les autres s'épaulent pour faire face aux aléas de la vie. Au fur et à mesure que ces femmes tricotent, elles dévoilent, pour le plus grand bonheur de la lectrice, leurs joies, leurs bonheurs, mais aussi leurs peines, leurs chagrins et leurs regrets, toutes les difficultés qu'elles éprouvent à être tout à la fois femmes, mères, filles et amies...
«Mary songea à toutes les histoires qu'elle avait entendues depuis qu'elle avait rejoint le cercle de tricot. Alice ne lui avait-elle pas dit qu'écouter aussi procure du réconfort ?»
Inutile d'être passionnée de tricot pour apprécier le roman de Ann Hood ! Les histoires de ces femmes sont si poignantes, leurs secrets si habilement dévoilés qu'on ne peut que s'émouvoir, s'attacher, et finalement, s'identifier à chacune d'entre elles ! Rédigé dans l'esprit de ces séries télé qui nous rendent accro, Le cercle des tricoteuses est un roman choral passionnant, qui se dévore plus qu'il ne se lit. À la fois plein d'humour, de drames et d'émotions, c'est une véritable leçon de vie, d'optimisme et de courage qui encourage la lectrice à aller de l'avant !
«Mary fouilla dans son panier à tricot et en ressortit un pelote de grosse laine chartreuse. Peut-être était-ce pour cela que les tricoteuse achetaient toujours plus de laine qu'il ne leur en fallait : pour la donner à quelqu'un qui en avait besoin.»
Les thèmes abordés dans ce roman ont beau ne pas être réjouissants, ils ressemblent finalement à ce que la vie a d'imprévisible, d'injuste et de cruel. Même s'il est question d'alcoolisme, de mariage qui prend l'eau ou de reconstruction après un deuil, l'ensemble sonne juste et reste incroyablement léger. Ann Hood sait doser les émotions et ne pas abuser des larmes. De ses personnages, elle dresse des portraits juste ce qu'il faut d'authentique et de réaliste pour susciter l'empathie de la lectrice.
Le cercle des tricoteuses est un roman revigorant, une comédie vive et alerte qui célèbre d'une très jolie façon l'amitié et la solidarité féminine ! Elle fera le bonheur de toutes les quadras à la recherche d'un roman de chick-lit différent et plus mature. Un très bon roman de détente, idéal pour s'évader et s'émouvoir !
September 9, 2011
Knit one...
Mary Baxter lives in Providence, R.I.. After losing her five year old daughter, Stella to meningitis, Mary struggles even getting out of bed. Her marriage to her husband Dylan seems to be crumbling as Mary's depression makes it impossible to be there for him, let alone even smile. Her job as a writer for a local newspaper has become unbearable and she has bitter memories of her child hood and even adult life connects to her own mother who always has seemed distant and aloof and currently resides in Mexico.
Purl two...
At her mother's urging, Mary joins a knitting circle and meets Alice who invites her to a weekly evening gathering of knitters which at first seems frightening to Mary, but then figures, what does she have to lose? Instead of loss.... Mary gains insight into the women, and occasionally a few men, who make up the knitting circle...
Knit Two, Purl Two...
Harriet, Scarlett, Lulu, Beth, and Ellen all slowly knit their way into Mary's life. As Mary learns how to make scarves and hats, and even socks... she also learns that every one has hurts and her own life becomes entwined - with theirs...
The Knitting Circle appealed to me right from the start for several reasons.
The cover... soft and inviting, I want to go hang out there
Perhaps my inability to knit and my fascination with those who do was an atraction
But mostly... the books draw for me was the cultivating of womens' friendships, a topic that always draws me in. I think having a house full of boys really drew that out of me... knowing that I needed "girl time" to hang out with my girlfreinds and talk about life and dreams and yes, even hurts.
I enjoyed the flow of this story it was very paced, never hurried, and somehow that fit into the theme of a books knitted around friendships. The message within the book for me (and I think for our author too, who had also lost a daughter), was the power of friendship. It's easy to get drawn into thinking we are the only ones dealing with certain pain and tragedy and when we open our eyes and our hearts find that there is a whole world of hurting out there, and together - we are stronger.
Mary Baxter lives in Providence, R.I.. After losing her five year old daughter, Stella to meningitis, Mary struggles even getting out of bed. Her marriage to her husband Dylan seems to be crumbling as Mary's depression makes it impossible to be there for him, let alone even smile. Her job as a writer for a local newspaper has become unbearable and she has bitter memories of her child hood and even adult life connects to her own mother who always has seemed distant and aloof and currently resides in Mexico.
Purl two...
At her mother's urging, Mary joins a knitting circle and meets Alice who invites her to a weekly evening gathering of knitters which at first seems frightening to Mary, but then figures, what does she have to lose? Instead of loss.... Mary gains insight into the women, and occasionally a few men, who make up the knitting circle...
Knit Two, Purl Two...
Harriet, Scarlett, Lulu, Beth, and Ellen all slowly knit their way into Mary's life. As Mary learns how to make scarves and hats, and even socks... she also learns that every one has hurts and her own life becomes entwined - with theirs...
The Knitting Circle appealed to me right from the start for several reasons.
The cover... soft and inviting, I want to go hang out there
Perhaps my inability to knit and my fascination with those who do was an atraction
But mostly... the books draw for me was the cultivating of womens' friendships, a topic that always draws me in. I think having a house full of boys really drew that out of me... knowing that I needed "girl time" to hang out with my girlfreinds and talk about life and dreams and yes, even hurts.
I enjoyed the flow of this story it was very paced, never hurried, and somehow that fit into the theme of a books knitted around friendships. The message within the book for me (and I think for our author too, who had also lost a daughter), was the power of friendship. It's easy to get drawn into thinking we are the only ones dealing with certain pain and tragedy and when we open our eyes and our hearts find that there is a whole world of hurting out there, and together - we are stronger.
October 12, 2013
I was in the mood for a bit of chick lit..... and one that featured knitting, well - that just completed the desire.
What I wasn't expecting was the sadness. I didn't really want a book that dealt with sadness - with grief - I wanted one that maybe dealt with something a little "emotional" but not necessarily one with a great big swimming pool depth of grief. *sigh*. If I hadn't such a pull to the knitting side of the story - if it wasn't fall and cool - I could have easily put down this book and waited. Too soon after my Dad's death maybe. Too quick to feel sad.
So it really is a story about dealing with the depth of grief but finding that light - that far away light that glimmers at the end of a long dark tunnel after you experience the worst thing you can imagine, the accidental unexpected death of your child. It's the fall into the abyss of depression clutching what ever you can so you don't slip too fast and finding the restorative and gentleness of knitting as that life line. And discovering that you aren't alone; that others are dealing with their own grief in their own ways in the same way - by meeting and knitting and living.
Crazy as it sounds, it works. Knitting your prayers and thoughts with every hand made stitch, it can calm the warring of your thoughts into a reasonable purr and get you back on track, at least for another day. The repetitive motions are calming and the wonder of creating something by hand are added bonuses. Knitting in a group just adds to the experience.
Good story with a healing message. And the knitting. Makes me want to get back at it!
What I wasn't expecting was the sadness. I didn't really want a book that dealt with sadness - with grief - I wanted one that maybe dealt with something a little "emotional" but not necessarily one with a great big swimming pool depth of grief. *sigh*. If I hadn't such a pull to the knitting side of the story - if it wasn't fall and cool - I could have easily put down this book and waited. Too soon after my Dad's death maybe. Too quick to feel sad.
So it really is a story about dealing with the depth of grief but finding that light - that far away light that glimmers at the end of a long dark tunnel after you experience the worst thing you can imagine, the accidental unexpected death of your child. It's the fall into the abyss of depression clutching what ever you can so you don't slip too fast and finding the restorative and gentleness of knitting as that life line. And discovering that you aren't alone; that others are dealing with their own grief in their own ways in the same way - by meeting and knitting and living.
Crazy as it sounds, it works. Knitting your prayers and thoughts with every hand made stitch, it can calm the warring of your thoughts into a reasonable purr and get you back on track, at least for another day. The repetitive motions are calming and the wonder of creating something by hand are added bonuses. Knitting in a group just adds to the experience.
Good story with a healing message. And the knitting. Makes me want to get back at it!
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