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Friday Night Knitting Club #2
Knit Two
Five years after the death of the knitting stores owner, Georgia Walker, Georgias daughter, eighteen-year-old Dakota, is running the knitting store part-time, but only with the help of the members of the Friday Night Knitting Club.
8 pages, Audiobook
First published November 1, 2008
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6434 people want to read
About the author
Kate Jacobs
16 books694 followersKate Jacobs is the New York Times-bestselling author of Comfort Food, Knit Two, and The Friday Night Knitting Club, which has over 1 million copies in print.
Kate grew up near Vancouver, British Columbia, in the scenic and delightfully named town of Hope (pop. 6,184). It’s an area filled with friends and family and Kate loves to visit. Back then, of course, it was tremendously boring, as only home can be to a teenager. As a result, Kate begged her parents to send her to boarding school in Victoria, BC. From there she traded in her navy blazer to earn a Bachelor’s degree in journalism at Carleton University in Ottawa. Next, in a fit of optimism/courage/naivete – take your pick – she followed it up with a move to bustling New York City (pop. 8,143,197).
The plan? Breaking into magazine publishing. First she received a Master’s degree at NYU and worked at a handful of unpaid internships, then got a spot as an assistant to the Books & Fiction Editor at Redbook magazine. It was here that Kate answered multiple phones, read a ton of slush (getting to know some wonderful writers- to-be), and began to experience the impact of sharing women’s stories. Around this time, Kate settled into an apartment complex that housed about as many people as her entire hometown in Canada: It seemed that she wasn’t just a small-town girl anymore.
Professionally, Kate made it a priority to explore content that resonated with women: She was an editor at Working Woman and Family Life and was later a freelance writer and editor at the website for Lifetime Television. Personally, as a newcomer to New York, she learned the power of building a surrogate family and stitching together friendship connections that will endure. Exploring the richness of women’s relationships is a key focus of her novels.
After a decade of Manhattan living, Kate moved to sunny Southern California with her husband. (And discovered that she likes suburban living just fine, thank you very much.)
She relished the idea of her very own home office but found herself setting up the laptop on the dining table, just as she’d done in New York, and writing late at night in her pajamas.
A firm believer in the creative power of free time, Kate loves to recharge by tackling knitting projects that she can finish quickly (all the better to feel that sense of accomplishment). She’s also a fan of taking naps, especially when she’s on deadline, snuggling under a favorite green-and-yellow afghan knitted by her grandmother decades ago. Her beloved liver-and-white English Springer Spaniel, Baxter, often snoozes alongside.
Kate grew up near Vancouver, British Columbia, in the scenic and delightfully named town of Hope (pop. 6,184). It’s an area filled with friends and family and Kate loves to visit. Back then, of course, it was tremendously boring, as only home can be to a teenager. As a result, Kate begged her parents to send her to boarding school in Victoria, BC. From there she traded in her navy blazer to earn a Bachelor’s degree in journalism at Carleton University in Ottawa. Next, in a fit of optimism/courage/naivete – take your pick – she followed it up with a move to bustling New York City (pop. 8,143,197).
The plan? Breaking into magazine publishing. First she received a Master’s degree at NYU and worked at a handful of unpaid internships, then got a spot as an assistant to the Books & Fiction Editor at Redbook magazine. It was here that Kate answered multiple phones, read a ton of slush (getting to know some wonderful writers- to-be), and began to experience the impact of sharing women’s stories. Around this time, Kate settled into an apartment complex that housed about as many people as her entire hometown in Canada: It seemed that she wasn’t just a small-town girl anymore.
Professionally, Kate made it a priority to explore content that resonated with women: She was an editor at Working Woman and Family Life and was later a freelance writer and editor at the website for Lifetime Television. Personally, as a newcomer to New York, she learned the power of building a surrogate family and stitching together friendship connections that will endure. Exploring the richness of women’s relationships is a key focus of her novels.
After a decade of Manhattan living, Kate moved to sunny Southern California with her husband. (And discovered that she likes suburban living just fine, thank you very much.)
She relished the idea of her very own home office but found herself setting up the laptop on the dining table, just as she’d done in New York, and writing late at night in her pajamas.
A firm believer in the creative power of free time, Kate loves to recharge by tackling knitting projects that she can finish quickly (all the better to feel that sense of accomplishment). She’s also a fan of taking naps, especially when she’s on deadline, snuggling under a favorite green-and-yellow afghan knitted by her grandmother decades ago. Her beloved liver-and-white English Springer Spaniel, Baxter, often snoozes alongside.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,841 reviews
August 1, 2009
You have to wonder why I read this book after only giving the first one two stars. This is what happened: I was headed to an out-of-town swim meet and needed something to read. I ran into the library and couldn't find two books that had been recommended to me. I went over to the "new" shelf, and there was Knit Two, staring me in the face. I thought, "Well, at least the first book is still fresh in my mind," and I grabbed it. I will say that at least no one dies of a terminal illness at the end of this book, so that's an improvement. Otherwise, I have the same complaints I had the first go round. The characters are implausible. They are also too successful in all their endeavors. You think you might want to go to law school? Then your LSAT scores will be through the roof. You think you might want to open an antique store? You will be bored with its success. You think you'd like to start a purse business? A rock star will pose nude with them in Vogue. Come on. None of these women try something and fail. That said, I am sure there will be a third book, and you know what? I will probably read it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 18, 2019
It’s been five years since Georgia walker died of cancer, leaving her daughter and friends to manage the knitting store.
Knit Two
picks up the dropped stitches and unfinished projects that are the lives of Georgia Walker’s daughter Dakota, shop manager Peri, and friends of the Friday night Knitting Club: Catherine, Anita, KC, Darwin, and Lucie. Dakota’s father James is now an active figure in her life as well as a friend and confidant of Catherine. Life has moved on for each of these dear friends of Georgia, yet for each and every one, there remains a lingering grief for the friend who meant so much to every one of them - for Dakota, most of all, as struggles to become an adult. Now a freshman at NYU, she seeks the freedom to seek her own path. James tries hard to be father he was never able to be while Georgia was alive, and although Dakota enjoy spending time with her dad, she also wants to establish her own identity and independence.
She’s not the only one struggling with identity issues and change. Catherine, a divorcee in her 40s, still longs for the perfect relationship. Anita, on the other hand, has found the man of her dreams in Marty. The 78-year-old woman just can’t settle on when and where to have the wedding. Finally, she admits that it is because the wedding cannot be complete without her estranged sister’s presence.
Lucie and Darwin are learning the joys and frustrations of motherhood. Lucie must balance career, single-motherhood, and sharing responsiblities for an aged parent while Darwin finally gives in to her mother and mother-in-law to accept help with her newborn twins.
I, too, found myself missing Georgia. She seemed to be the glue the held everyone together. So the first third of the book felt a bit scattered to me while the author caught up to date with to the characters. Bit by bit, each woman seem to come to the conclusion that she needed to move on with her life and in that way honor Georgia. Oh there are plenty of missteps and regrets. Catherine, in particular, find herself taking a step forward and then step back before she gets herself untracked. To her surprise, she discovers that she is much more appreciated and well-liked than she ever thought possible.
Knit Two has humor. It has a romance. It has adolescent angst and midlife crisis; it has senior moments. It has adventures! It has sadness. It has happiness. Above all, it features the power and perseverance of female friendship.
3.5 rounded to 4 stars
She’s not the only one struggling with identity issues and change. Catherine, a divorcee in her 40s, still longs for the perfect relationship. Anita, on the other hand, has found the man of her dreams in Marty. The 78-year-old woman just can’t settle on when and where to have the wedding. Finally, she admits that it is because the wedding cannot be complete without her estranged sister’s presence.
Lucie and Darwin are learning the joys and frustrations of motherhood. Lucie must balance career, single-motherhood, and sharing responsiblities for an aged parent while Darwin finally gives in to her mother and mother-in-law to accept help with her newborn twins.
I, too, found myself missing Georgia. She seemed to be the glue the held everyone together. So the first third of the book felt a bit scattered to me while the author caught up to date with to the characters. Bit by bit, each woman seem to come to the conclusion that she needed to move on with her life and in that way honor Georgia. Oh there are plenty of missteps and regrets. Catherine, in particular, find herself taking a step forward and then step back before she gets herself untracked. To her surprise, she discovers that she is much more appreciated and well-liked than she ever thought possible.
Knit Two has humor. It has a romance. It has adolescent angst and midlife crisis; it has senior moments. It has adventures! It has sadness. It has happiness. Above all, it features the power and perseverance of female friendship.
3.5 rounded to 4 stars
September 14, 2014
What a wonderful sequel to The Friday Night Knitting Club. It was wonderful to pick up 5 years later and check in with the gals of the club. KC, Peri, Dakota, Anita, Darwin, Lucie, and Catherine.
Weddings, babies, promotions, Italy, and good old fashioned girl gossip brings this book together and makes for the perfect followup to our old friends. Perfect chick lit book.
Weddings, babies, promotions, Italy, and good old fashioned girl gossip brings this book together and makes for the perfect followup to our old friends. Perfect chick lit book.
November 13, 2008
Knit Two by Kate Jacobs was like meeting up with old friends again. In short it was wonderful and I loved it! I've been a fan of Kate Jacobs since I first read The Friday Night Knitting Club which was an awesome book. This past year I read Comfort Food which I also really enjoyed. However, to find out there was a sequel to The Friday Night Knitting Club was the best news ever for me and it didn't disappoint in the least.
Again, Kate Jacobs draws you into all the characters lives and this time because you already know them it's even better. This novel finds us five years after after the passing of Georgia and this time we get to spend time with Dakota who is 18 years old, Anita, Peri, KC, Lucie and her now little girl Ginger, Catherine and of course Darwin. This time we also heard a little more from the men throughout the novel-James, Marty and others.
This time around everyone is struggling with their own issues. Dakota is torn between what everyone in the Knitting Club wants for her including her father to what she wants for herself. Peri, who has been running the shop mainly for the last five years with some help from Dakota, is wondering if this is all there really is for her. Lucie is torn between her little girl, her mother and her career. KC is KC-she's funny and witty-I always liked her; she is just who she is without any apologies. Anita-who didn't love Anita. She is the same loveable character and this time she is struggling with her grown up children not approving of her life choices and other personal issues. Last is Darwin who I always liked. She has had troubles having children and is terrified of anything going wrong now that it looks like she may have some. I think one of the things I liked most was the character of Catherine. I had really wanted to know more about her in the last novel and this time her character was much more developed.
The story takes us again through the lives of these women and their love and friendship for and with each other. Woven into the story is little notes on their knitting and how it and Georgia brought them together. I really missed Georgia throughout the novel but at the same time you can feel her spirit within all the members of The Friday Night Knitting Club in the things they say and do and in the ways they continue to celebrate her life.
So, I've managed to write this review without giving away anything that you can't find out about the book online other than my personal feelings. As with reading the first novel, this one too left me craving the kind of love and friendship these women share. I'm a knitter myself and would absolutely love to find myself a wonderful group of women like this to build such a lifelong friendship with.
Knit Two will be released on November 25 and for those who've read The Friday Night Knitting Club I have to say that reading this one is a must. For those who haven't this book can stand on it's own. It tracks back enough not to leave you lost but reading both leaves you much more fulfilled with the story. Oh, and also, I do believe that Kate Jacobs has left this story wide open for yet another sequel-at least I hope so!
http://peekingbetweenthepages.blogspo...
Again, Kate Jacobs draws you into all the characters lives and this time because you already know them it's even better. This novel finds us five years after after the passing of Georgia and this time we get to spend time with Dakota who is 18 years old, Anita, Peri, KC, Lucie and her now little girl Ginger, Catherine and of course Darwin. This time we also heard a little more from the men throughout the novel-James, Marty and others.
This time around everyone is struggling with their own issues. Dakota is torn between what everyone in the Knitting Club wants for her including her father to what she wants for herself. Peri, who has been running the shop mainly for the last five years with some help from Dakota, is wondering if this is all there really is for her. Lucie is torn between her little girl, her mother and her career. KC is KC-she's funny and witty-I always liked her; she is just who she is without any apologies. Anita-who didn't love Anita. She is the same loveable character and this time she is struggling with her grown up children not approving of her life choices and other personal issues. Last is Darwin who I always liked. She has had troubles having children and is terrified of anything going wrong now that it looks like she may have some. I think one of the things I liked most was the character of Catherine. I had really wanted to know more about her in the last novel and this time her character was much more developed.
The story takes us again through the lives of these women and their love and friendship for and with each other. Woven into the story is little notes on their knitting and how it and Georgia brought them together. I really missed Georgia throughout the novel but at the same time you can feel her spirit within all the members of The Friday Night Knitting Club in the things they say and do and in the ways they continue to celebrate her life.
So, I've managed to write this review without giving away anything that you can't find out about the book online other than my personal feelings. As with reading the first novel, this one too left me craving the kind of love and friendship these women share. I'm a knitter myself and would absolutely love to find myself a wonderful group of women like this to build such a lifelong friendship with.
Knit Two will be released on November 25 and for those who've read The Friday Night Knitting Club I have to say that reading this one is a must. For those who haven't this book can stand on it's own. It tracks back enough not to leave you lost but reading both leaves you much more fulfilled with the story. Oh, and also, I do believe that Kate Jacobs has left this story wide open for yet another sequel-at least I hope so!
http://peekingbetweenthepages.blogspo...
December 31, 2009
I expected a lot more from this book. The first one was so good I shared it with everyone. This one is set 5 yrs after the first one and they are still bemoaning the loss of their common friend. They also raised the child in this moaning, groaning, "we miss your mom" manner. At what point do you realize she's gone, you're living in the present, and the child should be raised to live in the moment, not bemoaning the fact that her mother died and no matter what they all do to keep everything "the same" she's not coming back to life. Where is the support to raise the kid to look to the future, maybe modeling her life after her mother but not trying to do everything the same? When is the dad going to snap out of it and decide to move forward instead of continuing the "oh I wish she was here, I'd change everything" line of thinking. That's 5 years of their fictional lives, and a week of my life, wasted.
March 8, 2017
4.5 stars
Another wonderful story told by Kate Jacobs. Knit Two is the second book in the Friday Night Knitting Club series. Fast Forward five years and the knitting club members are still continuing their weekly get-togethers minus Georgia who is terribly missed. The members are still grieving the loss of Georgia 5 years after her death which seems reasonable to me, I quite enjoyed the fact that she remained a significant part of the story throughout the book. Readers also learn more about the lives of each club member which was fantastic. I enjoyed every section of this book and loved how the members not only met at the knitting store but socialised outside of the knitting club.
Half of the club members flew to Italy so part of the book was set in Rome, it was a lovely change of scenery and made the story come alive to a greater extent. Love Marco, a beautiful character, and hope to read more of him in Knit the Season.
After the unbelievably sad ending of the first novel I wasn't sure how I'd feel about this story, well, it exceeded my expectations, I absolutely loved it and maybe a tad more than the first book. I found the storyline to be believable and the characters well developed. Each one had a definite personality. The change in Dakota was refreshing, she became a lovely independent young woman. At first I wasn't too keen on Catherine but I ended up loving her story. And Anita's hidden secret was fascinating. I even adored Rosie but sad about her condition. Many minor characters in the book also made the story interesting.
Looking forward to reading Knit the Season.
Another wonderful story told by Kate Jacobs. Knit Two is the second book in the Friday Night Knitting Club series. Fast Forward five years and the knitting club members are still continuing their weekly get-togethers minus Georgia who is terribly missed. The members are still grieving the loss of Georgia 5 years after her death which seems reasonable to me, I quite enjoyed the fact that she remained a significant part of the story throughout the book. Readers also learn more about the lives of each club member which was fantastic. I enjoyed every section of this book and loved how the members not only met at the knitting store but socialised outside of the knitting club.
Half of the club members flew to Italy so part of the book was set in Rome, it was a lovely change of scenery and made the story come alive to a greater extent. Love Marco, a beautiful character, and hope to read more of him in Knit the Season.
After the unbelievably sad ending of the first novel I wasn't sure how I'd feel about this story, well, it exceeded my expectations, I absolutely loved it and maybe a tad more than the first book. I found the storyline to be believable and the characters well developed. Each one had a definite personality. The change in Dakota was refreshing, she became a lovely independent young woman. At first I wasn't too keen on Catherine but I ended up loving her story. And Anita's hidden secret was fascinating. I even adored Rosie but sad about her condition. Many minor characters in the book also made the story interesting.
Looking forward to reading Knit the Season.
March 2, 2009
I read the Friday Night Knitting club about a year ago. It was a fun, quick read and I really enjoyed it. I felt especially close to the plot line since I am a knitter, and the story sort of centers around how knitting binds this interesting group of women together. So, fast forward to Knit Two, the sequel. It just wasn’t the same. I mean, yes, I really wanted to know what had happened to the group and I got some answers in that area, but…
It was slow to take off. I felt like I had to relive the whole first book again just to get to the good stuff. Then, the plot went way off center. It focused more on outside characters that I didn’t care so much about in the first book, and totally ignored others. And the last reason I was disappointed, there wasn’t any focus on knitting! They did sort of discuss knitting a little, but it wasn’t as much of a core issue as it was in the first book. The characters didn’t even spend any time knitting together in this book.
So, read it if you were really in love with the first book. Don’t even try to read it if you haven’t read the original. You will be terribly confused and it won’t be worth it. Just read the original and check out some other better knitting fiction books (like Debbie Macomber’s Blossom Street series) to give you inspiration.
It was slow to take off. I felt like I had to relive the whole first book again just to get to the good stuff. Then, the plot went way off center. It focused more on outside characters that I didn’t care so much about in the first book, and totally ignored others. And the last reason I was disappointed, there wasn’t any focus on knitting! They did sort of discuss knitting a little, but it wasn’t as much of a core issue as it was in the first book. The characters didn’t even spend any time knitting together in this book.
So, read it if you were really in love with the first book. Don’t even try to read it if you haven’t read the original. You will be terribly confused and it won’t be worth it. Just read the original and check out some other better knitting fiction books (like Debbie Macomber’s Blossom Street series) to give you inspiration.
November 24, 2008
It took me a bit longer to get into Knit Two. I really missed Georgia Walker for a while. She was such a huge part of the first book. However, there are so many other interesting things happening to the other characters that I finally got over it and began to enjoy the story.
My favorite character this time around was Georgia's friend Catherine. She definitely had the most issues to deal with. I really came to sympathize with her and I couldn't wait to see what was going to happen to her next. I also enjoyed the whole side story with Anita and trying to find her long lost loved one. Her story kept me entertained and really made me think a lot about forgiveness.
While I didn't enjoy this one as much as first, the stories were still emotionally charged and thought provoking. It looks like their might be another sequel coming along. This series has some of my favorite characters in it so I really hope that there will be another book coming along soon!
I would recommend this book in a heart beat! You don't have to read The Friday Night Knitting club first but, you should!
My favorite character this time around was Georgia's friend Catherine. She definitely had the most issues to deal with. I really came to sympathize with her and I couldn't wait to see what was going to happen to her next. I also enjoyed the whole side story with Anita and trying to find her long lost loved one. Her story kept me entertained and really made me think a lot about forgiveness.
While I didn't enjoy this one as much as first, the stories were still emotionally charged and thought provoking. It looks like their might be another sequel coming along. This series has some of my favorite characters in it so I really hope that there will be another book coming along soon!
I would recommend this book in a heart beat! You don't have to read The Friday Night Knitting club first but, you should!
August 12, 2020
I wish I could have given it 3.5 stars cuz it was a little better than 3 but not quite 4. It was definitely not as good as the first one, which often is the case. This one focused on life after Georgia and it was a lot of sadness. The friends carried on and so did her daughter but it wasn’t the same without her. Meh.
September 26, 2010
I would've given this 1 star, but I know my main problem with this book was that I listened to it on audio. (Had I read it, I probably would've given it 2 stars.) Listen up, any audio readers: DO NOT listen to this one. The reader was Terrible. She had a different "voice" for each character, which is fine, except that she dug deep into her big-obnoxious-over-the-top bag for her voices.
One character sounded like a dead ringer for Kim Catrall on Sex in the City (and acted like her too.) One, who was only supposed to be 30 sounded like Claire Huxtable. Then there was Phyllis Diller. A "suave architect that sounded like a ghetto thug (?). A five you old who sounded like Elmo and apparently all 19 year olds, um, like, SHOUT when they talk.
I can't describe how annoying the voices were.
But, besides the audio, I did have some problems with the book. SPOILER ALERT IF YOU HAVEN"T READ THE FIRST BOOK!!!!!!....
The story takes place 5 years after Georgia has died and the characters are still acting like she died last week. I mean, even Marty, the guy who owns the downstairs deli breaks down at one point because he misses Georgia. Come on! And don't even get me started on the fact that half of the charcters in the "group" fly off to spend the summer in Italy. Yeah, cause THAT happens.
The best mistake on the audio book? Lucy's mother, who comes from Italy, spoke with a very distinct IRISH accent. Huh? What? At first I thought I had heard wrong and that they had really said she was from Ireland, but they said it again a bit later when talking about the Italian dishes Rosie grew up making. Now far be it from me to dispute geography, but pretty darn sure Ireland is not near Italy. And correct me if I'm wrong, but Italians don't speak English (with an Irish accent, especially!)
The book was pretty far-fetched and because of that, pretty annoying.
But, I did get a huge laugh from listening to the book because of the very end. (I'll share it with you so you can spare yourself the torture of doing this one on audio. This is not a spoiler.) After the story ends, there is a recipe for muffins and also directions on how to make "Georgia Afghans". A knitting pattern is read out loud. The funniest part was that the reader actually READ the pattern. "Knit two, purl two. Knit two, purl two. Knit two, purl two. Knit two, purl two. Knit two, purl two..." Do you get the picture? She literally read every single stitch, instead of just saying "Knit two, purl two 18 times." I literally laughed out loud. People driving by me probably thought I was insane. Worth listening to for that one laugh at the very end?? Quite possibly.
One character sounded like a dead ringer for Kim Catrall on Sex in the City (and acted like her too.) One, who was only supposed to be 30 sounded like Claire Huxtable. Then there was Phyllis Diller. A "suave architect that sounded like a ghetto thug (?). A five you old who sounded like Elmo and apparently all 19 year olds, um, like, SHOUT when they talk.
I can't describe how annoying the voices were.
But, besides the audio, I did have some problems with the book. SPOILER ALERT IF YOU HAVEN"T READ THE FIRST BOOK!!!!!!....
The story takes place 5 years after Georgia has died and the characters are still acting like she died last week. I mean, even Marty, the guy who owns the downstairs deli breaks down at one point because he misses Georgia. Come on! And don't even get me started on the fact that half of the charcters in the "group" fly off to spend the summer in Italy. Yeah, cause THAT happens.
The best mistake on the audio book? Lucy's mother, who comes from Italy, spoke with a very distinct IRISH accent. Huh? What? At first I thought I had heard wrong and that they had really said she was from Ireland, but they said it again a bit later when talking about the Italian dishes Rosie grew up making. Now far be it from me to dispute geography, but pretty darn sure Ireland is not near Italy. And correct me if I'm wrong, but Italians don't speak English (with an Irish accent, especially!)
The book was pretty far-fetched and because of that, pretty annoying.
But, I did get a huge laugh from listening to the book because of the very end. (I'll share it with you so you can spare yourself the torture of doing this one on audio. This is not a spoiler.) After the story ends, there is a recipe for muffins and also directions on how to make "Georgia Afghans". A knitting pattern is read out loud. The funniest part was that the reader actually READ the pattern. "Knit two, purl two. Knit two, purl two. Knit two, purl two. Knit two, purl two. Knit two, purl two..." Do you get the picture? She literally read every single stitch, instead of just saying "Knit two, purl two 18 times." I literally laughed out loud. People driving by me probably thought I was insane. Worth listening to for that one laugh at the very end?? Quite possibly.
April 30, 2018
I hate leaving negative reviews, as it seems like cultivating bad karma, since I'm a writer myself. But, talk about suspense of disbelief being blown to smithereens!
Every now and then, I like to read something lighter, and I thought I'd remembered enjoying the first Friday Night Knitting Club, but based on this experience and the reviews I've read for the first, I wonder if I had it mixed up with something else.
It's hard to pinpoint where this book went wrong, but I can tell you it completely implodes in the final chapters. Unless you like your endings wrapped up in a completely unrealistic, maudlin, everyone's-related-to-everyone bow, this one will have you rolling your eyes so hard it hurts.
It's also difficult to know who to like or root for: the self-righteous know-it-all? The selfish one who can't stand her own daughter and who abandons her ailing mother? The young woman who thinks she knows better than everyone else? The vain middle-aged woman who can't survive without a man and whose major triumph in the novel isn't immediately bedding the latest one? The other self-righteous one who's always feeling sorry for herself? The lawyer who starts smoking but whom we really don't know anything about, apart from her knitting skills or lack thereof?
Oy vey. Most of the book is a rambling slice of life, with part of it set in Italy for some reason and then the saccharine ending. Not really sure what story Jacobs wanted to tell, but whatever it was, it didn't resonate with me. Maybe diehard knitters would get more out of it.
This genre--call it chicklit or women's fiction--seems the most difficult to do well.
Every now and then, I like to read something lighter, and I thought I'd remembered enjoying the first Friday Night Knitting Club, but based on this experience and the reviews I've read for the first, I wonder if I had it mixed up with something else.
It's hard to pinpoint where this book went wrong, but I can tell you it completely implodes in the final chapters. Unless you like your endings wrapped up in a completely unrealistic, maudlin, everyone's-related-to-everyone bow, this one will have you rolling your eyes so hard it hurts.
It's also difficult to know who to like or root for: the self-righteous know-it-all? The selfish one who can't stand her own daughter and who abandons her ailing mother? The young woman who thinks she knows better than everyone else? The vain middle-aged woman who can't survive without a man and whose major triumph in the novel isn't immediately bedding the latest one? The other self-righteous one who's always feeling sorry for herself? The lawyer who starts smoking but whom we really don't know anything about, apart from her knitting skills or lack thereof?
Oy vey. Most of the book is a rambling slice of life, with part of it set in Italy for some reason and then the saccharine ending. Not really sure what story Jacobs wanted to tell, but whatever it was, it didn't resonate with me. Maybe diehard knitters would get more out of it.
This genre--call it chicklit or women's fiction--seems the most difficult to do well.
December 29, 2010
I haven't finished reading this book yet, but nearly halfway through it...I'm just sick of it. I have just realized that I'm not reading this book out of enjoyment at all, but just to finish it. The sad thing is I've already downloaded to audiobook for Knit the Season.
The most annoying thing about this book (so far, since I'm not done) is that for, I kid you not, the first EIGHT chapters all you hear about is Georgia. Georgia Georgia Georgia. I miss Georgia, she was my best friend, she was a great mother, she ran the store so well and this and that and blah blah blah. I felt like screaming at the characters "She's been dead for five years! Move on with your lives!"
At least with the first book there was an interesting plot and some action going on, Georgia's long lost best friend and long lost baby-daddy arrive and around the same time and she has to cope with the emotional joys and stresses and at the same time Catherine is dealing with her pending divorce with Adam. Nothing like that in this book. Just a boring book about the boring lives of far too many characters that continue to mope and whine for 320 pages.
UPDATE: I was unable to finish this book. I couldn't read it anymore after the lewd sex scene between Catherine and Nathan. As a Christian I need to protect my eyes from obscenity and I didn't appreciate it being hidden in a seemingly harmless book. I have now bumped now my rating to a one as I seriously regret purchasing this book rather than checking it out at the library.
The most annoying thing about this book (so far, since I'm not done) is that for, I kid you not, the first EIGHT chapters all you hear about is Georgia. Georgia Georgia Georgia. I miss Georgia, she was my best friend, she was a great mother, she ran the store so well and this and that and blah blah blah. I felt like screaming at the characters "She's been dead for five years! Move on with your lives!"
At least with the first book there was an interesting plot and some action going on, Georgia's long lost best friend and long lost baby-daddy arrive and around the same time and she has to cope with the emotional joys and stresses and at the same time Catherine is dealing with her pending divorce with Adam. Nothing like that in this book. Just a boring book about the boring lives of far too many characters that continue to mope and whine for 320 pages.
UPDATE: I was unable to finish this book. I couldn't read it anymore after the lewd sex scene between Catherine and Nathan. As a Christian I need to protect my eyes from obscenity and I didn't appreciate it being hidden in a seemingly harmless book. I have now bumped now my rating to a one as I seriously regret purchasing this book rather than checking it out at the library.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 7, 2009
This is the sequel to "The Friday Night Knitting Club"--which I loved. I vacillated between really not being able to get into this one and then just liking it. It picks up five years after the other one left off. I felt that it took almost 100 pages of review before the story really started to move. I get trying to put the read back up to speed--but all the retelling seemed rather prolonged.
The storyline was still good--but I missed it having very much to do with the actual knitting and their club. It was just more about the people. And I do love the characters. However, the storyline seemed a little too cheesy in this one.
The storyline was still good--but I missed it having very much to do with the actual knitting and their club. It was just more about the people. And I do love the characters. However, the storyline seemed a little too cheesy in this one.
May 27, 2009
I read the first Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs and didn't love it. But this book left me absolutely cold. TOO MUCH BACKSTORY and not enough action -- tons of telling but no showing. Yes, I want to know what's happened to the characters in the last few years, but not at the expense of interest! I gave up after 100 pages. I kept waiting for the theme of the book to emerge, or for something to happen, but nothing did. Too bad.
Reminiscent of Comfort Food, so if you liked that (I didn't), you'll probably like this.
Reminiscent of Comfort Food, so if you liked that (I didn't), you'll probably like this.
December 28, 2024
What a great second book in this series, I enjoyed it as much as the first one. I fell in love with all the characters and I can't wait to read book three.
April 22, 2025
It would be more accurate as a 3.65 rating. There was more content in this one than the other though the ending was well wrapped up and it’s a good sequel. Kept me guessing most of it.
February 25, 2024
Not a book I can recommend. I found it so boring at the beginning, but did continue as I hate to give up on a book, it did improve a bit then flagged off again at the end.
August 7, 2013
shelfnotes.com
Dear Reader,
I am not sure that I would have read this book had it not been available as a free audiobook through my library's Overdrive subscription. I often stumble across books there and will pick up ones that I might not otherwise read, which is sometimes a great thing. I chose this one only because I had read the first book in the series, years ago - right around when it first came out, because someone (my sister?) gave it to me as a gift. I thought it was all right, but pretty indistinguishable from all of the "knitting circle" books that came out around that time: chick lit, about women who bond over knitting. I thought this was an interesting series, though, because not all of the women actually knit - there was more to the story than that. In fact, it was much more about the women's lives than their knitting. So I figured this sequel would be all right for a light summer read. And, it was! I enjoyed the easy prose and relatively simple story line.
I am still kind of recovering from the final part of the audiobook--a knitting pattern and two recipes which followed the actual novel. I couldn't believe that the narrator was reading "knit two, purl five, knit two, purl five, knit two, purl five, knit two, purl five," ad nauseam! Who in the world is going to sit there pausing their audiobook every few seconds to knit or purl, then pressing "play" again?! So, that kind of threw me off when I was just beginning to consider this review.
I think I would have enjoyed this book a lot more if I remembered the story and characters better from the first novel; I feel like there were a lot of references to the prequel which I have long since forgotten. However, I think the book stands well enough on its own, as I was still able to understand what was going on. I did like that the main characters are a range of ages, from eighteen to seventy-eight, all struggling to figure out who they are. It gave a sense of trueness to the book. However, it wouldn't have hurt to have added a male knitter into the story! I certainly know of several; they're not mythical, haha.
Some - well, one - of the stories seemed a bit implausible, but at least the author gives a nod to its unbelievability (is that a word?). And she explains it away as being a part of the magic that is the strong, female friendship that is formed over a knitting group. This is something I've sort of experienced; I still keep in contact with my lovely girls from my former Boston knitting group, and so I do feel that sometimes knitting can bring people together. This book lent a bit too much saccharine dreaminess to the idea, but hey - it's a knitting group novel, what do you expect?
Overall, this was a fun summer novel. Great to take up some time while I sat around and knit up a pair of wedding gloves for a friend, and a sweater for myself.
Happy reading (and knitting!),
Arianna
Dear Reader,
I am not sure that I would have read this book had it not been available as a free audiobook through my library's Overdrive subscription. I often stumble across books there and will pick up ones that I might not otherwise read, which is sometimes a great thing. I chose this one only because I had read the first book in the series, years ago - right around when it first came out, because someone (my sister?) gave it to me as a gift. I thought it was all right, but pretty indistinguishable from all of the "knitting circle" books that came out around that time: chick lit, about women who bond over knitting. I thought this was an interesting series, though, because not all of the women actually knit - there was more to the story than that. In fact, it was much more about the women's lives than their knitting. So I figured this sequel would be all right for a light summer read. And, it was! I enjoyed the easy prose and relatively simple story line.
I am still kind of recovering from the final part of the audiobook--a knitting pattern and two recipes which followed the actual novel. I couldn't believe that the narrator was reading "knit two, purl five, knit two, purl five, knit two, purl five, knit two, purl five," ad nauseam! Who in the world is going to sit there pausing their audiobook every few seconds to knit or purl, then pressing "play" again?! So, that kind of threw me off when I was just beginning to consider this review.
I think I would have enjoyed this book a lot more if I remembered the story and characters better from the first novel; I feel like there were a lot of references to the prequel which I have long since forgotten. However, I think the book stands well enough on its own, as I was still able to understand what was going on. I did like that the main characters are a range of ages, from eighteen to seventy-eight, all struggling to figure out who they are. It gave a sense of trueness to the book. However, it wouldn't have hurt to have added a male knitter into the story! I certainly know of several; they're not mythical, haha.
Some - well, one - of the stories seemed a bit implausible, but at least the author gives a nod to its unbelievability (is that a word?). And she explains it away as being a part of the magic that is the strong, female friendship that is formed over a knitting group. This is something I've sort of experienced; I still keep in contact with my lovely girls from my former Boston knitting group, and so I do feel that sometimes knitting can bring people together. This book lent a bit too much saccharine dreaminess to the idea, but hey - it's a knitting group novel, what do you expect?
Overall, this was a fun summer novel. Great to take up some time while I sat around and knit up a pair of wedding gloves for a friend, and a sweater for myself.
Happy reading (and knitting!),
Arianna
July 26, 2011
I really don't get all the 4- and 5-star reviews for this book. I really did not enjoy it. While the original book was enjoyable enough, even with its flaws, I really didn't find much to like about this book. Many of the events and scenarios were completely ridiculous, and totally contrived. I also didn't find it very realistic the way most of the characters were still heavily mourning their friend Georgia. I don't mean to sound callous but, with the exception of her daughter, I would think most of the others would have 'moved on' a little more in the five years since her death. I feel like the author could have written a more interesting follow up if she worried more about the characters who were still alive, and less about the one who died.
Having said all that, the worst part of this book for me was the narration. Many of her accents changed from the first book. And if I'm not mistaken, she gave an Irish accent to a minor character who was supposedly born in Italy. But perhaps I was just not paying close enough attention.
Having said all that, the worst part of this book for me was the narration. Many of her accents changed from the first book. And if I'm not mistaken, she gave an Irish accent to a minor character who was supposedly born in Italy. But perhaps I was just not paying close enough attention.
November 23, 2008
This is a book to sit and read in the afternoon, curled up on a chair with a cup of tea. It is about ordinary people and their lives coming together in companionship. It is both sad and heart-warming. It is a story with substance.
August 29, 2016
After reading Friday Night Knitting Club, I had to read this sequel. I was a little disappointed with some of the characters and their life choices. Yet, in the end I thought it was a great sequel and answered some of the questions that were left from the first book.
October 9, 2009
Predictable, unbelievable, poorly written. Poor excuse for a sequel.
April 30, 2014
simplemente es un libro muy lindo, de lectura fácil pero que de alguna u otra manera te puedes relacionar. Me hacía falta leer algo así. Es como leer a las amigas que siempre he querido tener.
June 14, 2019
This was nice to listen to in my car. I struggled with several of the characters and decisions they made and I did not love the ending. However, I was engaged with the story from start to finish. Loved that a major part of the story was set in Italy and how many of the characters' story lines intertwined.
August 29, 2021
When I began reading this, I thought it was just a quick chick lit but I found the writing and story to be sensitive and descriptive. I found myself entrenched in Rome and with the lives of these people.
Although this follows the lives of several women and their husbands or fathers, it included ages from teens through 80s and the subsequent issues that may women encounter.
I will look forward to reading the next book. I never read the first book and it didn't seem to make much difference, if anyone is wondering if you need to read them in order.
Although this follows the lives of several women and their husbands or fathers, it included ages from teens through 80s and the subsequent issues that may women encounter.
I will look forward to reading the next book. I never read the first book and it didn't seem to make much difference, if anyone is wondering if you need to read them in order.
January 23, 2018
This book was a good sequel to the Friday Night knitting Club. It was a little slow to get going but the last 1-3 of the book really picked up. I didn't realize there was a 3rd book in the series! I will be reading that one soon.
January 20, 2020
I know that the previous book was bad and it didn't have a central plot, but rather it was a series of mini stories of several characters, well this was something like things that happened to the characters but without getting anywhere, so without more, I don't know if I explain myself but I think it was disconcerting and sad because I feel that it wasn't advanced and it didn't get anywhere either, so for me it was like a lot of shit stuffing that leads to... nothing.
For example, Anita spends the entire book organizing her wedding and never marries.
I only give 2 stars because nobody dies in this one.
For example, Anita spends the entire book organizing her wedding and never marries.
I only give 2 stars because nobody dies in this one.
December 9, 2018
A good read.
May 25, 2020
Enjoyed this book, maybe not as much as the first one, in that I'm not as compelled to read it again. It was interesting to see how further the characters developed though.
April 20, 2021
Not quite as good as the first book. Definitely some hits and misses, but overall, still empowering women to do what is right for them.
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