The Knitting Circle by Ann Hood
Release date: 2007 / 344 pages
First line: “Mary showed up empty handed.”
Synopsis (from jacket cover): In this poignant and powerfully uplifting novel, a mother turns to knitting to help deal with the loss of her child and discovers, beyond simple recovery, a whole new realm of friendship and understanding.
Review: I simply loved this novel. The title was one that seemed to come up again and again, so I requested it from the library with very little background knowledge. I realized almost immediately that the protagonist had lost her daughter very suddenly and that the novel would be her journey through grief toward recovery, through the use of knitting.
The sad premise did not scare me. As I’ve mentioned before, I lost my brother very suddenly a few years ago and I am interested in how others survive loss. The knitting angle did not appeal to me on a personal level since I’ve never knitted and so far do not have the desire to learn (yet). However, my mother and sister both enjoy it and after reading this novel, I can see why.
The novel highlights the stories of each member of the knitting circle and each character is somehow more compelling than the last. I found myself carrying the novel around all weekend, into Arby’s, while pumping gas, and even asked my husband if I could shirk my co-piloting duties and read all the way home from Iowa. (Thankfully he agreed, since it was due back to the library asap!).
Mary’s journey is so authentic, I was not surprised to learn that the author also lost her daughter at a very young age (5) and in a similar manner. What is surprising is how well Hood manages to transform her grief into a life-giving, reassuring, nourishing novel that is compelling and moving.
I strongly recommend it — whether knitting or grief is or has been a part of your life or not…
Sounds like a good book. I will check it out!
Here is my SS post
I’m going to have to read this book. I recently read Ann Hood’s memoir Comfort about the loss of her daughter. It’s a great read, you might want to check it out.
Thank you for the recommendation! I’ll be sure to check it out…
I enjoyed this book. My review is on your Mr. Linky! That’s a great idea!
Thanks, Small World! I look forward to checking out your review, too
Thanks for the review! I loved this book, too. I picked it up because as a knitter, I was interested in checking out books with knitting as one of the themes, but this book is about so much more than that.
Thanks, Anna! It really is about so many things, isn’t it… Although reading it has now made me want to take up knitting, too!
Thanks for stopping by!
Pingback: Sunday Salon -- Keeper and Kid | BOOK CLUB CLASSICS!