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Sweetgum Knit #1
The Sweetgum Knit Lit Society
Sometimes life has to unravel before you can knit it together…
On the third Friday of each month, Eugenie, Ruth, Esther, Merry, and Camille meet at the Sweetgum Christian Church to enjoy the two things that connect them: a love of knitting and a passion for books. Their camaraderie remains unthreatened until Eugenie, the town librarian, introduces an angry teenager into their midst. Eugenie also gives them a new reading list: the classic novels of girlhood that young Hannah has never read. Little Women. Pollyanna. Heidi. Books that remind the women of the hopes and dreams they have lost along the way.
With each click of their needles, the ladies of the Knit Lit Society unravel their secrets: A shadow from Eugenie’s past haunts the controlled order of her life. Merry’s perfect little family is growing again–but will she continue to feel her identity slip away? Camille dreams of leaving town but is bound by ties of love. And the sisters, Ruth and Esther, must confront a lie they have lived with for over thirty years.
As Hannah is reluctantly stitched into their lives, the women discover the possibility that even in sleepy Sweetgum, Tennessee, they can still be the heroines of their own stories.
On the third Friday of each month, Eugenie, Ruth, Esther, Merry, and Camille meet at the Sweetgum Christian Church to enjoy the two things that connect them: a love of knitting and a passion for books. Their camaraderie remains unthreatened until Eugenie, the town librarian, introduces an angry teenager into their midst. Eugenie also gives them a new reading list: the classic novels of girlhood that young Hannah has never read. Little Women. Pollyanna. Heidi. Books that remind the women of the hopes and dreams they have lost along the way.
With each click of their needles, the ladies of the Knit Lit Society unravel their secrets: A shadow from Eugenie’s past haunts the controlled order of her life. Merry’s perfect little family is growing again–but will she continue to feel her identity slip away? Camille dreams of leaving town but is bound by ties of love. And the sisters, Ruth and Esther, must confront a lie they have lived with for over thirty years.
As Hannah is reluctantly stitched into their lives, the women discover the possibility that even in sleepy Sweetgum, Tennessee, they can still be the heroines of their own stories.
342 pages, Paperback
First published May 20, 2008
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3018 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 217 reviews
May 22, 2012
This book is about a knitting and literary society in a small town. It is *exactly* the kind of book you would expect from reading that description - sentimental, trite, predictable, etc. However, last week when I was feeling particularly bleurgh I needed the literary equivalent of a McDonald's chocolate fudge sundae and I got it. It won't blow your mind or change your life, but it delivers what it promises.
On an interesting side note, this is the first book I have ever read which self-identifies as 'Christian fiction'. If this is indicative of the genre, then Christian fiction is very similar to normal fiction except that characters randomly quote scripture and refer to Christian values a lot. Honestly, if I'd realised it was categorised as religious I wouldn't have read it, but reading it doesn't seem to have damaged me in any way.
On an interesting side note, this is the first book I have ever read which self-identifies as 'Christian fiction'. If this is indicative of the genre, then Christian fiction is very similar to normal fiction except that characters randomly quote scripture and refer to Christian values a lot. Honestly, if I'd realised it was categorised as religious I wouldn't have read it, but reading it doesn't seem to have damaged me in any way.
July 7, 2012
After reading about a father's poignant love for his son in an almost dead world traveling South in The Road and man's extreme hubris of Mother Nature in Isaac's Storm: A Man, a Time, and the Deadliest Hurricane in History, I needed a comfort read. And, THE SWEETGUM KNIT LIT SOCIETY fulfilled that need.
Beth Pattillo combines 2 of my favorite past-times: knitting and reading. One evening every month in Sweetgum, TN five women cast on together to form a comfortable group discussing their knitting projects that are connected to the Society's selected discussion book. The women are as diversent as their book selections.
*Eugenie Pierce runs the Society with an iron fist as she does in her domain, the town's public library. She worries the town board will force her to retire and will lose the carefully constructed life she has knitted, especially when her past arrives in town.
*Merry McGavin is a harried stay at home mother who has lost control of her family, home, and marriage. Bewildered by the chaos, she is about to add a new wrinkle in her family's fabric.
*Ruthie Allen is a free spirit, plagued with a long held secret. She has been in love with her sister's husband for 30+ years. She has stayed in Sweetgum to be close to Frank and her nephew. She is not your "normal" fifty-something spinster church secretary.
*Esther Jackson is Ruthie's sister and is the Great Dame of both the Society and Sweetgum's Society - or so she thinks. She is a great manipulator, and her latest manipulation will have lasting and devastating effects.
*Twenty-four year old Camille St. Clair has taken her mother's place in the Society and at the dress store. Her mother is dying and Camille has put her dreams on hold, except one. She loves the wrong
man.
*Thirteen year-old Hannah Simmons is the newest member to the Society. She is serving penance in both the Society and the library after Eugenie caught her defacing a knitting book.
The increase of this sullen Gothic waif to the Society at first is as jarring as the introduction of a seemingly wrong color to a solid comfortable color in a knitted scarf. At first the stripe is surprising then becomes integrable to the scarf's pattern, reflected by Eugenie's declaration that the selections for the next six months will be young girls Classics and projects suitable to Hannah's knitting skills. But secrets revealed during the Society playing of Pollyanna's "glad" game and Hannah's startling insights and revelations stretch the very seams of The Sweetgum Knit Lit Society.
While Pattillo writes a sweet and engaging story, the characters are more 2 dimensional than I would have liked to them to be. Each character was likable, but I wanted more. But for readers who like the new "crafty books" of women's fiction, they will enjoy this novel.
Beth Pattillo combines 2 of my favorite past-times: knitting and reading. One evening every month in Sweetgum, TN five women cast on together to form a comfortable group discussing their knitting projects that are connected to the Society's selected discussion book. The women are as diversent as their book selections.
*Eugenie Pierce runs the Society with an iron fist as she does in her domain, the town's public library. She worries the town board will force her to retire and will lose the carefully constructed life she has knitted, especially when her past arrives in town.
*Merry McGavin is a harried stay at home mother who has lost control of her family, home, and marriage. Bewildered by the chaos, she is about to add a new wrinkle in her family's fabric.
*Ruthie Allen is a free spirit, plagued with a long held secret. She has been in love with her sister's husband for 30+ years. She has stayed in Sweetgum to be close to Frank and her nephew. She is not your "normal" fifty-something spinster church secretary.
*Esther Jackson is Ruthie's sister and is the Great Dame of both the Society and Sweetgum's Society - or so she thinks. She is a great manipulator, and her latest manipulation will have lasting and devastating effects.
*Twenty-four year old Camille St. Clair has taken her mother's place in the Society and at the dress store. Her mother is dying and Camille has put her dreams on hold, except one. She loves the wrong
man.
*Thirteen year-old Hannah Simmons is the newest member to the Society. She is serving penance in both the Society and the library after Eugenie caught her defacing a knitting book.
The increase of this sullen Gothic waif to the Society at first is as jarring as the introduction of a seemingly wrong color to a solid comfortable color in a knitted scarf. At first the stripe is surprising then becomes integrable to the scarf's pattern, reflected by Eugenie's declaration that the selections for the next six months will be young girls Classics and projects suitable to Hannah's knitting skills. But secrets revealed during the Society playing of Pollyanna's "glad" game and Hannah's startling insights and revelations stretch the very seams of The Sweetgum Knit Lit Society.
While Pattillo writes a sweet and engaging story, the characters are more 2 dimensional than I would have liked to them to be. Each character was likable, but I wanted more. But for readers who like the new "crafty books" of women's fiction, they will enjoy this novel.
January 5, 2009
Most of the reviews I have read refer to the "friendship" aspect of this book -- I just don't see it. Yes, these women get together once a month for knitting & book club, but that's it -- I didn't get the feeling that there was any real friendship among them, most of the time I didn't even get the feeling that they particularly liked one another. The knitting parts seemed forced -- almost as if some one some where decided that it was time for another book about a group of women who knit, so knitting was inserted into an existing story.
October 21, 2010
I wanted so much more.
All the characters in this book seems so sad and bitter and trapped. There was no hope or love, and I think that's what I kept looking for. None of the women seem to really CARE. About their knitting projects, about the books that their reading, about each other. Every plot point seems inspired by guilt or a burdensome sense of obligation.
How much more wonderful this book could have been if the characters felt a sense of joy and or love in their lives, their friends and lovers, their knitting, or even in the act of getting together to talk about books.
All the characters in this book seems so sad and bitter and trapped. There was no hope or love, and I think that's what I kept looking for. None of the women seem to really CARE. About their knitting projects, about the books that their reading, about each other. Every plot point seems inspired by guilt or a burdensome sense of obligation.
How much more wonderful this book could have been if the characters felt a sense of joy and or love in their lives, their friends and lovers, their knitting, or even in the act of getting together to talk about books.
September 9, 2013
Sometimes life has to unravel before you can knit it together...
I was lucky enough to win The Sweetgum Knit Lit Society by Beth Pattillo from a giveaway hosted at Michelle Sutton's blog. So thank you, Michelle, for sending this book to me! I loved every minute of it.
In Weekly Geeks #12 fashion, I'm going to do an interview-review for this book, aswering the questions I was asked in this post.
Joy Renee asked: How does the title relate to the story? Was it fitting?
Yes, it was very fitting. The book follows the sotires of the characters taking part in the Knit Lit society over a period of about six months. During this period, many changes take place in their lives, but the central event remains the meetings of the Knit Lit Society.
Jennie asked: How do Knit and Lit work together for a Knit Lit society?
The Knit and Lit Society meets once a month. Each month Eugenie, the town librarian and leader of the Society, assigns a book to read and a knitting project to complete before the next meeting. The knitting project is always related in some way to the book--for example, when reading Heidi, the assignment is to create a felted lunch bag for Peter.
Jennie asked: What role does knitting and/or reading play in the book?
Knitting and reading are the leading themes of the book. Each month, the characters reflect on the books they're reading and compare the heroines in the books to their own lives. As months go by, the characters' live become knitted together ina way, so that they learn to care deeply for each other.
Somer asked: Have you read any of the currently popular knitting-related books (The Friday Night Knitting Club, Knitting, or The Knitting Circle are the ones that come to mind), and if so, how does this one compare?
No, sorry, I haven't, so I don't know.
Kim asked: How is the characterization in the Knit Lit Society? Do you find yourselves caring about the characters? Do you feel like you know them?
Characterization was my favourite part of this book. I really got to care about the characters. Eugenie, the town librarian, has always led a controlled, rational and lonely life, when a shadow from her past comes to haunt her. Merry is a stay-st-home mum of three whose family is growing, but who feels her identity is slipping away. Camille, who is 24 anmd runs a boutique, dreams of leaving town but has to take care of her terminally ill mother. The sisters, Ruth and Esther, must confront a lie they have lived with for thrity years. And Hannah, a troubled and neglected teenager, is introduced by Eugenie to the group.
I think the best fleshed-out character was Merry; her caring side as a mother was beautifully portayed. My least favourite charatcer was Camille, who is closer to me in age, but whom I didn't like very much.
Dewey asked: I'm interested in The Sweetgum Knit Lit Society because I'm a knit-lit sort of person, but what I would like to know is whether this book would only appeal if you're so into knitting and lit that you can't help but like it, or whether any reader, even one who doesn't knit, would enjoy it.
I think anyone would enjoy it. I can't knit to save my life, but I loved this book.
Bookchronicle asked: If you had to briefly, in a sentence or two, categorize this book -- what would you say?
The lives and stories of the participants to a knitting book club become knitted together.
I was lucky enough to win The Sweetgum Knit Lit Society by Beth Pattillo from a giveaway hosted at Michelle Sutton's blog. So thank you, Michelle, for sending this book to me! I loved every minute of it.
In Weekly Geeks #12 fashion, I'm going to do an interview-review for this book, aswering the questions I was asked in this post.
Joy Renee asked: How does the title relate to the story? Was it fitting?
Yes, it was very fitting. The book follows the sotires of the characters taking part in the Knit Lit society over a period of about six months. During this period, many changes take place in their lives, but the central event remains the meetings of the Knit Lit Society.
Jennie asked: How do Knit and Lit work together for a Knit Lit society?
The Knit and Lit Society meets once a month. Each month Eugenie, the town librarian and leader of the Society, assigns a book to read and a knitting project to complete before the next meeting. The knitting project is always related in some way to the book--for example, when reading Heidi, the assignment is to create a felted lunch bag for Peter.
Jennie asked: What role does knitting and/or reading play in the book?
Knitting and reading are the leading themes of the book. Each month, the characters reflect on the books they're reading and compare the heroines in the books to their own lives. As months go by, the characters' live become knitted together ina way, so that they learn to care deeply for each other.
Somer asked: Have you read any of the currently popular knitting-related books (The Friday Night Knitting Club, Knitting, or The Knitting Circle are the ones that come to mind), and if so, how does this one compare?
No, sorry, I haven't, so I don't know.
Kim asked: How is the characterization in the Knit Lit Society? Do you find yourselves caring about the characters? Do you feel like you know them?
Characterization was my favourite part of this book. I really got to care about the characters. Eugenie, the town librarian, has always led a controlled, rational and lonely life, when a shadow from her past comes to haunt her. Merry is a stay-st-home mum of three whose family is growing, but who feels her identity is slipping away. Camille, who is 24 anmd runs a boutique, dreams of leaving town but has to take care of her terminally ill mother. The sisters, Ruth and Esther, must confront a lie they have lived with for thrity years. And Hannah, a troubled and neglected teenager, is introduced by Eugenie to the group.
I think the best fleshed-out character was Merry; her caring side as a mother was beautifully portayed. My least favourite charatcer was Camille, who is closer to me in age, but whom I didn't like very much.
Dewey asked: I'm interested in The Sweetgum Knit Lit Society because I'm a knit-lit sort of person, but what I would like to know is whether this book would only appeal if you're so into knitting and lit that you can't help but like it, or whether any reader, even one who doesn't knit, would enjoy it.
I think anyone would enjoy it. I can't knit to save my life, but I loved this book.
Bookchronicle asked: If you had to briefly, in a sentence or two, categorize this book -- what would you say?
The lives and stories of the participants to a knitting book club become knitted together.
October 17, 2012
I'm rather at a loss for my opinion of this book. I have read beyond dozens of rave reviews for this story telling of how it is a fun, cozy, and light read for lovers of Christian fiction. I really just do not get that from it at all. I read Christian fiction for an uplifting escape from the whoas of my current day. This was a story that made it feel like I've never experienced anything bad in my life ever before, especially nothing in comparison to the characters of this story. It in a way reminded me of my split feelings toward Tracie Peterson's A Slender Thread. The whole book was a continuous detailed account of what was wrong in each individual's life and I just felt more and more depressed with reading about them. Once I had gone so far and was not sure if I could continue the book ends with a good three chapters giving a solution to most of all the issues at hand.
I know that life can be difficult at times. I know that I personally suffer from a severe depression with no cause of rhyme nor reason. The problems in their lives are real life issues that cannot just be wished a way. I do not see any benefit from reading this story, where it seems to be mope mope mope until there is a surprise solution for most things. Many times in life the solutions never come along, especially not all at the same time and as easily as they did in this story. Sometimes miracles do happen and greatly so. I just felt more depressed than uplifted with this story, so I just cannot really recommend it. But many have read it and loved it. So please make your own judgment of it.
I know that life can be difficult at times. I know that I personally suffer from a severe depression with no cause of rhyme nor reason. The problems in their lives are real life issues that cannot just be wished a way. I do not see any benefit from reading this story, where it seems to be mope mope mope until there is a surprise solution for most things. Many times in life the solutions never come along, especially not all at the same time and as easily as they did in this story. Sometimes miracles do happen and greatly so. I just felt more depressed than uplifted with this story, so I just cannot really recommend it. But many have read it and loved it. So please make your own judgment of it.
October 23, 2008
Each month five ladies meet together at Sweetgum Christian Church to share their love of knitting and the books they've read. Two are sisters with a precarious relationship at times; one is a harried mom of three that finds out she's expecting; 24 year old Camille is caring for her terminally ill mother. Eugenie is the spinster town librarian who brings troubled teen Hannah into their group and assigns them all classic young girl novels to read. Each of the women have secrets they are harboring and personal crises to deal with as they try to fit Hannah into their knit lit group.
This book is written by new to me author Beth Pattillo, an inspirational romance writer living in TN. This is maybe a little along the lines of the Good Yarn/Blossom Street books by Debbie Macomber. For the most part the characters are probably people that seem fairly real and maybe like people we'd know in real life; I think people we come in contact with every day have secrets and things we don't know about them. I didn't just love something toward the end that tied up the story with Eugenie but don't want to give anything away for anyone that might read it! It's more of a friendship type book than one dealing specifically with their faith. Not an extraordinary story but a pretty good one.
This book is written by new to me author Beth Pattillo, an inspirational romance writer living in TN. This is maybe a little along the lines of the Good Yarn/Blossom Street books by Debbie Macomber. For the most part the characters are probably people that seem fairly real and maybe like people we'd know in real life; I think people we come in contact with every day have secrets and things we don't know about them. I didn't just love something toward the end that tied up the story with Eugenie but don't want to give anything away for anyone that might read it! It's more of a friendship type book than one dealing specifically with their faith. Not an extraordinary story but a pretty good one.
August 31, 2012
I've had this book sitting in my Kindle for awhile; I picked it up when it was free or nearly free at Amazon. It is basically what I've come to expect from knitting novels: a bunch of women deal with life struggles whilst also knitting. A number of the characters are stock ones, but there are a few twists that make them more interesting than you might expect. They're not all lovable or even likeable. Nevertheless, at the end of the book, I found myself engaged enough with them to go get the sequel and read it as well.
I've seen this described in other reviews as "Christian fiction," but I don't recall seeing it marketed that way on Amazon. (I might have skipped it if I had, out of fear of preachiness.) Really, though, the only "Christian" thing about it is that they meet in a church that some of the characters also attend. There might be a line or two of scripture thrown in by a character, not gratuitously at all. It could equally be described as "women's fiction" (some of the characters are women) and "Southern fiction" (it takes place in Tennessee).
Great literature this isn't, but it was pleasant and a nice break from all the dark murder mysteries I've been reading.
I've seen this described in other reviews as "Christian fiction," but I don't recall seeing it marketed that way on Amazon. (I might have skipped it if I had, out of fear of preachiness.) Really, though, the only "Christian" thing about it is that they meet in a church that some of the characters also attend. There might be a line or two of scripture thrown in by a character, not gratuitously at all. It could equally be described as "women's fiction" (some of the characters are women) and "Southern fiction" (it takes place in Tennessee).
Great literature this isn't, but it was pleasant and a nice break from all the dark murder mysteries I've been reading.
June 8, 2012
This book was ok. It was pretty predictable, and pretty saccharine-sweet. There's virtually no edge here, no suspense. Nothing keeps you hanging on. The characters are relatively one-note. That said, it wasn't horrible, and I did keep reading to the end.
This was my first foray into "knit-lit" and I was hoping for a little more knitting.
I realized about halfway through the book that it is "Christian fiction," which I wasn't looking for but it wasn't very preachy or anything. I recommend this book for those looking for an easy read that's very light and sweet with a neat ending, all tied up in a pretty bow.
This was my first foray into "knit-lit" and I was hoping for a little more knitting.
I realized about halfway through the book that it is "Christian fiction," which I wasn't looking for but it wasn't very preachy or anything. I recommend this book for those looking for an easy read that's very light and sweet with a neat ending, all tied up in a pretty bow.
August 27, 2015
Easy, pleasurable romance novel. Don't we all take in one (or three) of these from time to time? A group of small town ladies meet once a month to discuss books selected for the most part by the town's head librarian (who as it happens, is a spinster knitter). Go ahead, LOL! I am as I write this:) Anyway, the ladies read a book and knit something that speaks to the theme of the book ( or try to). As is the case with most ladies, they have challenges in their lives that they must overcome.
I can't say more or I'd spoil it for you.
I can't say more or I'd spoil it for you.
July 9, 2012
This is the kind of book I love to read...several women, with individual lives but one thing in common, come together and grow. I'm ready to start the second book!
It was shelved in the religious fiction section of my library, but I wouldn't let that stop you from reading this heartwarming book!
It was shelved in the religious fiction section of my library, but I wouldn't let that stop you from reading this heartwarming book!
January 25, 2013
Positively a great book. The author's introductions of the characters meshed well with the combined storylines throughout and the conclusions were great! Can't wait to read book 2 in the series!
December 6, 2015
3.5. A cheerful read about a group of friends connected through their love of knitting and reading. A bit " convenient" in wrapping up the threads of the story but warm-hearted. A quick easy read.
February 21, 2020
This was a very quick and easy read. I enjoyed it. It tells the story of a group of women who get together to knit, while also having it serve as a book club. There are many characters in this club, whom all have different types of issues and problems in their lives. From a troubled teen, to a librarian being pushed to retire. Some issues are not so pleasant, but everyone helps each other through the good and bad times.
What I liked about this book is that they tell you the titles of the books that they are reading, which makes it easier for you to follow along if you have read the books.
What I liked about this book is that they tell you the titles of the books that they are reading, which makes it easier for you to follow along if you have read the books.
June 4, 2017
I had to stay up late last night to finish this book. I have never read any of Beth Pattillo's books but I really loved this one.
It has been a long time since I read a book that I could say I really cared about each of the characters. She was sneaky leaving one character or family situation up in the air at the end of chapters and then going to another one. I hope there will be more to follow in the Knit Lit Society. So please if there isn't more, write more please Beth! Should have looked first, there is a second in the series.
It has been a long time since I read a book that I could say I really cared about each of the characters. She was sneaky leaving one character or family situation up in the air at the end of chapters and then going to another one. I hope there will be more to follow in the Knit Lit Society. So please if there isn't more, write more please Beth! Should have looked first, there is a second in the series.
July 30, 2018
Five ladies meet once a month to discuss a book and show a knitting project they have made that ties in with the book. One month Eugenie brings a 13 year old girl who has a horrible home life and was causing trouble in the library where Eugenie works. As they go through the year each woman has goes through different troubles in their lives.
August 20, 2017
Quick, easy, feel good read, but with real life difficulties to be sorted out.
January 10, 2024
This is my favorite book I've read so far this year. I enjoyed the entwining of the different character story lines. It had a sweet little testimony of the power of community!
August 27, 2019
I enjoyed it but not enough to make me run out and get the next book. Will continue with it at some point. Lots of characters to keep track of and do want to know what happens to a couple of them.
February 10, 2016
The book club that I attended all of the last year while we read the entire set of Louise Penny's Inspector Gamache novels has become a knitting book group. This is quite a change since I loved the series set in Three Pines; loved the characters, loved the mysteries and loved the setting. But, in spite of my reservations, so far (2 books in) I have enjoyed the first two offerings. I expected some saccharine prattling with undeveloped characters and little to no plot other than a lot of talk about yarn and patterns. Instead I have found some very flawed but interesting characters who come together, not only to share their love of creativity, but also to bolster one another in spite of their widely varied personalities. I'm not saying this month's book was entirely unpredictable, but there were certainly some unusual life events and personality quirks thrown in to keep the book from being just a cookie cutter story of a bunch of women coming together to knit and discuss books. Eugenie is the librarian for the Sweetgum Library and also the leader of the Knit Lit Society. She selects one book a month for her group to read and also asks them to knit an item that would be helpful or appropriate for one of the characters in the book. One afternoon she sees a young girl in the library who is poorly dressed, poorly groomed and has torn some pages containing a knitting pattern out of one of her library books. Eugenie tells Hannah that she must pay to have the book replaced. When Hannah says that she has no money Eugenie insists that she begin working in the library every afternoon to pay off the debt. Sensing that this youngster could use some attention and guidance (although Hannah would disagree), she also insists that she join the Knit Lit Club. Also, discovering that Hannah has never read any classic children's literature, she changes the reading schedule so that the group reads Little Women, Heidi, The Wizard of Oz and other books that she thinks may draw Hannah in. What Eugenie doesn't realize is that the discussion of these books will ultimately end up being beneficial for all of the group members since they lead to discussions of more basic morals and beliefs. There is a neatly "wrapped with a bow" ending and some life changes come a little more quickly than I think is believable but I really became interested in the lives of these disparate women and enjoyed their journey. Maybe I have more need for sweet, happy endings than I think.
October 19, 2009
Not bad for light, mindless reading but I have to be honest, I was hoping for more. The characters are all members of a combination book club / knitting circle who (after a troubled teen joins the group) start reading the "girlhood classics" like Little Women, Heidi, Pollyanna, Little Princess. It sounded like something that I would particularly enjoy. Knitting... check. Discussions of books and literature.... check. Discussions of some of my favorite books in the world... check.
The problem was that the author skipped any real resonance that these women could have found in the books they were reading and just picked random fluff to obsess on.
For example, you have the two sisters who are rivals for the same man reading Little Women. Instead of finding anything relevant about the Jo-Amy-Laurie dynamic in the book... you get a (in my opinion) missing-the-point analysis of Meg settling down with the right man and living the "right" lifestyle from the appearances-obsessed sister who actually married the man in question.
The dour, spinster librarian who ends up taking in the aforementioned troubled teen and ends up reuniting with the love of her life finds nothing familiar in the pages of Pollyanna (dour, spinster aunt takes in young girl, transforming her life and eventually getting married and becoming happy)
In my opinion if you are going to invoke some of the most well-loved literature in the world and almost go there with your plots, you should actually go there. It frustrating because this book could have been good but instead was just a lightweight.
The problem was that the author skipped any real resonance that these women could have found in the books they were reading and just picked random fluff to obsess on.
For example, you have the two sisters who are rivals for the same man reading Little Women. Instead of finding anything relevant about the Jo-Amy-Laurie dynamic in the book... you get a (in my opinion) missing-the-point analysis of Meg settling down with the right man and living the "right" lifestyle from the appearances-obsessed sister who actually married the man in question.
The dour, spinster librarian who ends up taking in the aforementioned troubled teen and ends up reuniting with the love of her life finds nothing familiar in the pages of Pollyanna (dour, spinster aunt takes in young girl, transforming her life and eventually getting married and becoming happy)
In my opinion if you are going to invoke some of the most well-loved literature in the world and almost go there with your plots, you should actually go there. It frustrating because this book could have been good but instead was just a lightweight.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 27, 2015
So you know I'm going to love a story that revolves around a group of women who get together every month & talk about a book they've read & do a knitting project along with each book. How can I NOT like this?
I found it was written by the same lady who wrote "Heavens to Betsy" & the follow up to that - books I so enjoyed reading, I even reached out to the author & emailed her how much I loved them.
So yeah, this book was just as good as I expected it to be.
The story of 5 ladies who are in the Sweetgum Knit-Lit Society. All different stories, all different life dramas that are coming at them. Secrets they keep from everyone. And enter a troubled teen who has to 'pay' back for damaging a library book & she's ordered to join the club for awhile. The way this young lady, Hannah, touches the lives of the women & how her life is changed herself, it all comes full circle.
I have the follow up book & can't wait to dig into it & see how my new knitting friends are.
& this book just makes me want to start up a knitting group so badly, I can't hardly stand it. My own knit-lit group... maybe it'll happen.
I found it was written by the same lady who wrote "Heavens to Betsy" & the follow up to that - books I so enjoyed reading, I even reached out to the author & emailed her how much I loved them.
So yeah, this book was just as good as I expected it to be.
The story of 5 ladies who are in the Sweetgum Knit-Lit Society. All different stories, all different life dramas that are coming at them. Secrets they keep from everyone. And enter a troubled teen who has to 'pay' back for damaging a library book & she's ordered to join the club for awhile. The way this young lady, Hannah, touches the lives of the women & how her life is changed herself, it all comes full circle.
I have the follow up book & can't wait to dig into it & see how my new knitting friends are.
& this book just makes me want to start up a knitting group so badly, I can't hardly stand it. My own knit-lit group... maybe it'll happen.
July 31, 2011
Sweet indeed. I read pretty widely, but this crafts-and-female-friendship-complexities yarn (pun intended) was a bit outside of my norm. Many of the plot tensions were fairly mundane and had to do with interpersonal relationships rather than external conflicts, though that made it feel more realistic than fictional. As did the faith-incorporated but not quite 'inspirational' undertones.
There is a fair bit of head-hoping throughout, which made me think there was perhaps one too many characters to keep track of in the knitting club. But the interweaving of knitting and classic literature tidbits carried the emotional framework rather believably. It left off with enough resolution for closure, but enough openness to pull my interest into the sequel. I don't know that I'll ever develop an interest in knitting, but I look forward to seeing more pronounced character growth with the next book. There does seem to be more story to be told.
There is a fair bit of head-hoping throughout, which made me think there was perhaps one too many characters to keep track of in the knitting club. But the interweaving of knitting and classic literature tidbits carried the emotional framework rather believably. It left off with enough resolution for closure, but enough openness to pull my interest into the sequel. I don't know that I'll ever develop an interest in knitting, but I look forward to seeing more pronounced character growth with the next book. There does seem to be more story to be told.
January 13, 2014
This was the best book I've read in a long time. The characters immediately pulled me in to their lives and I wanted to know what would happen next with each of them. I felt the small knit lit society a small group of peculiar woman held secrets that were realistic. This little group of women were a book group discussing literature and knitting projects together that could be found in the pages of the books they choose. The head librarian Eugenie who is very much like many determined teachers rules their small town library and book group with regulations to keep them all on track. Each of the woman has secrets in their lives that they share with no one. The librarian decides to help a unruly teenager who soon turns their lives upside down. Before you know it the whole group of woman who are vastly different in their lives start to let down their walls and let one another see who they really are and the difficulties they face.
July 12, 2015
I stumbled upon "The Sweetgum Knit Lit Society" while scanning through the shelves at the library. And an excellent find, it was. It was an easy, enjoyable read. While the story line's primary focus was the activities and lives of the members of the Sweetgum Knit Lit Society, it also offers a deeper look at human nature. The women of the unique knitting and book group each have a personality the world sees and one they hold to themselves. But don't we all do that. Eugenie, the town librarian, refuses to let anyone see her except as a stern, hard hand she believes her job requires. Esther is a one of the richest woman in Sweetgum, a pillar of the community, who can not let any one see her cry or show any emotion. I will be looking for the next book in this series on my next trip to the library.
August 5, 2014
Usually, these kind of books disappoint me. A ladies group, pulling in all their different current life struggles, and how they resolve them. Typically, these types of books fall one of two ways - the characters are unbelievably AWESOME and solve all their problems because they are WOMAN! The men are secondary. Or their problems are all solved in unrealistic, and sometimes, unexpected ways. Considering the lightness of the two previous books I've read by this author, I was surprised at how she tackled some harder topics, such as unplanned pregnancy, neglected children, forced retirements, sibling disagreements. Sounds hard, right? But she was able to keep a light touch, while still keeping it real. Surprising. I actually really enjoyed this book and would recommend it.
September 11, 2015
A very interesting look at the lives of six women and the way in which they intertwine as they get to know each other as members of a knitting/book group.The characters were realistic and well-developed, and it was very interesting to watch the young teenage girl, Hannah, change during the course of the book. The main drawback I found with the book is that for most of the story all of the women had very serious difficulties they were going through, and even though things changed for many of them, it made the story somewhat depressing at times; not really an uplifting read. Abuse, abandonment, affairs, bankruptcy, perfectionism, betrayal, faith, love, and friendship are all present, and I wouldn't mind reading the sequel to see how things continued to work out for these women.
March 18, 2016
An interesting book for anyone who enjoys both reading and knitting
Eugenie is the town librarian who is approaching retirement age. She rules her library with an iron fist and tries her best to rescue youths who are about to stray. Hannah is one of her projects. After she catches Hannah tearing pages from a book, she gives her three choices pay for the book, be turned over to the police, or work off the cost of the book AND attend the Sweetgum Knit Lit Society.
The other members of the society are thunderstruck when Eugenie shows up with Hannah in tow. Each of the other women has a secret of their own. Hannah's entrance into the society seems to be a catalyst for growth for all members of the group.
Eugenie is the town librarian who is approaching retirement age. She rules her library with an iron fist and tries her best to rescue youths who are about to stray. Hannah is one of her projects. After she catches Hannah tearing pages from a book, she gives her three choices pay for the book, be turned over to the police, or work off the cost of the book AND attend the Sweetgum Knit Lit Society.
The other members of the society are thunderstruck when Eugenie shows up with Hannah in tow. Each of the other women has a secret of their own. Hannah's entrance into the society seems to be a catalyst for growth for all members of the group.
October 6, 2013
Sweetgum, TN is the kind of perfect little town that exists only in fiction. But wait a minute: the perfect members of the knitting and book club do have problems. Merry is worried about her marriage; librarian Eugenie is afraid of her forthcoming retirement; Camille's mother is very ill; sisters Ruth and Esther share an unresolved conflict. When Eugenie brings a neglected teen-ager into the group, Hannah seems to act as a catalyst for all the changes that are in store for the ladies. But the biggest changes will come to Hannah herself.
May 24, 2014
This is a book about the members of a combination book club and knitting club. The members meet each month to discuss the "book for that month" as well as to display their finished projects from the "Knit of the Month". The people in the group (who are woman of varying ages and one teenager) have complex relationships with both the group members and with the people in their lives outside the groups. Most of what happens is interesting if somewhat predictable. The book is a nice read, but not very remarkable.
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