The Friday Night Knitting Club
New York City is the setting for Kate Jacobs' warm and intimate book "The Friday Night Knitting Club." It promotes the ideas of loyalty, friendship and support that can develop when a group of women share their stories and their lives with each other on a regular basis.
Georgia is a single mother of a teenage daughter. She is also the owner of a knitting shop called "Walker and Daughter", a place where women come to purchase supplies and learn how to create crafts. Over time, a group of women begin meeting at the same time each week and eventually form the Friday Night Knitting Club. They help each other with the projects that each is making but also, despite their differences, become bonded together into a strong sisterhood.
The six women in the club not only share the secrets of become master knitters but also share secrets and struggles that they experience in their personal lives during their Friday meetings. At times, they offer advice to each other but at other times all they can do is be there to walk through the troubles without being able to provide solutions to the problems that have arisen.
Georgia's parenting issues began when she first discovered she was in an unplanned pregnancy. The emotions that she feels towards James, the father of the child, are powerful. When she least expects it, he returns to tell her that he has decided that he wants to have a role in their daughter's life. Georgia is upset, angry and worried about what kind of relationship the teenager and her father might have - and how she will be able to handle having him as part of their lives. She had been so hurt by him in the past and didn't want this to occur again for herself or for her daughter.
But Georgia isn't the only woman who is struggling with life. Issues the others face include dating, love, death, parenting and career challenges. But, like knitting projects, everything takes time and patience. Errors need to be examined and then adjustments can be made. As the women talk each week about their own life situations, they offer and consider ideas that lead to positive change.
Kate Jacobs, has written this number one New York Times best seller in an interesting and unique manner. She intersperses pages focussed on knitting concepts between the narrative in order to demonstrate the parallels between creating a life and creating a project. A Reading Guide is included at the end of the book as well as the muffin recipe that Georgia's daughter made to the delight of the other characters.
I enjoyed this book as it was a reminder of the importance personal growth, friendship and having hobbies that will calm the soul. The stories of the individuals involved reflect those that each of us faces at times. We can easily laugh, cry, and celebrate with each new turn of events always cheering for good outcomes.
I like this folksy and heartwarming tale!