The Friday Night Knitting Club

by Kate Jacobs | Women's Fiction |
ISBN: 9780340922194 Global Overview for this book
Registered by starchilli on 11/2/2007
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13 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by starchilli on Friday, November 2, 2007
A bit reminiscent of Ann Hood's The Knitting Circle we are again introduced to a group of women who meet to knit and find that they've stitched strong bonds of friendship. What raises Jacobs's debut novel above the average women-support-women tale is the author's finely crafted prose and a sterling reading by Carrington MacDuffie.

A recording artist and spoken word performer, MacDffie vitalizes a disparate cast of characters from Georgia Walker, a single mom and owner of a yarn ship to daughter, Dakota, to Darwin Chiu, a militant feminist, to shop staffer Peri, to Anita, Georgia's stalwart friend and helper, and more. Her narration ably reflects the different ages, backgrounds, and personalities involved.

The Friday Night Knitting Club is a cozy, warm read peopled with characters we'd like to know. It's easy to lose oneself in the story and feel very much a part of the group, as we hear: "Without ever putting up one sign or announcing the creation of a knitting club, these women began regularly appearing in the evenings and, well, loitering. Chatting with each other, talking to Anita, gathering about the large round table in the center of the room, picking up where they had left things the week before. And then, one Friday last fall, it became official. Well, sort of.

Lucie, a striking woman with short, sandy-colored hair, who favored tortoiseshell glasses over her big, blue eyes and colorful, funky outfits, was an occasional shopper at Walker and Daughter. She came in every few months and was always working on the same piece, a thick cable knit sweater--a man's garment. There were a lot of these types who came in to the store, folks whose knitting ambitions were out of line with either their ability or with whatever mysterious comings and goings kept them from sitting down and getting the job done. "

And so it began. All seems to go smoothly until the reappearance of Dakota's dad who wants to move back into Georgia's life, and unexpected events in the other women's lives.

Jacobs is a deft storyteller and along with the laughter and tears she has surprises in store. The Friday Night Knitting club is an affectionate, engaging story of female friendship and will soon be found on the big screen starring Julia Roberts.

Book ring

6th November the book was sent to owl-music.
9th November the book has arrived with owl-music.

now with brujula - feb 08

owl-music (UK)
perditaxknit (UK)
YowlYY (UK)
Tregossip (UK)
veganknitter (UK)
brujula (France)
icila (France)
QueenSissi (UK)
starflash (UK)
knitternatter (UK)
bonnie0907 (UK)
sunlightbub (UK)

and then back to me please

if you want to participate then PM me with shipping preferences.


Journal Entry 2 by starchilli at BookRing in Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, November 6, 2007

Released 16 yrs ago (11/6/2007 UTC) at BookRing in Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases

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in the post to owl-music, second class. please let me know when it arrives. Thank you :) Enjoy the book.

Journal Entry 3 by wingowl-musicwing from Castleford, West Yorkshire United Kingdom on Friday, November 9, 2007
This was on the hall carpet when I got home last night. I'm really looking forward to reading it and since I finished my last book last night this one is now the current reading. Will let you know what I think of it later and will send to perditaxknit when I finish it. Many thanks for sending it to me.

I have finished it and sent it to perditaxknit on 12 December. The end came as a complete surprise. Loved it and would definitely read it again. It surprised me on several levels, not the least of which was the insight into relationships and how we all influence each other in ways we don't realise or expect.

Journal Entry 4 by perditaxknit from Sheffield, South Yorkshire United Kingdom on Friday, December 21, 2007
Received, and I shall endeavour to read it over Christmas :) x

Journal Entry 5 by perditaxknit from Sheffield, South Yorkshire United Kingdom on Thursday, January 17, 2008
Finished yesterday. A good read, though perhaps a little fluffy for my taste. Thank you oceanripples!

PMing YowlYY now :)

Journal Entry 6 by YowlYY on Friday, January 25, 2008
Arrived just now! I have two rings that arrived before this one, but since this one has the longest queue after me, and the others only one or two readers, I guess it's ok to give it priority. Plus, it looks like an easy and quick read.
Thanks for sharing and a special thanks for shipping it to the other knitting bunnygirl ;-)

Journal Entry 7 by YowlYY on Friday, February 1, 2008
I tend to read a lot of mysteries or historic novels, when not reading non fiction, therefore this one felt quite refreshing. I was surprised by the end, just because this type of book does not usually go for this type of surprise, in my experience, but it was good... and after a few chapters, I felt very comfortable with the characters. It was less cheesy than expected, which is always a bonus for someone who does not do sirupy romance, and although I expected the knitting theme to be more dominant, I was happy with the path taken by the author, and certainly liked the comparisons between the knitter's work at the beginning of the chapters to human behaviour/activity. I cannot say that the book made me want to knit more (I have already more than enough WIPs), but certainly made me wish I had more time to knit. Such a shame that the knitting circles I know of do happen either too far away from me, or at times when I would normally be busy at work :(

The book is leaving Nottinghamshire (very windy and cold today) to visit (sunny??) Cornwall...thanks again for sharing!

Journal Entry 8 by Tregossip from St. Austell, Cornwall United Kingdom on Saturday, February 2, 2008
arrived this morning - and thanks, (not at all sunny and very windy)
Update 5/2/08
An excellent quick read, allbeit you need the tissues.

Have veganknitters address so posting soon

Journal Entry 9 by Tregossip at -- Controlled release in St. Austell, Cornwall United Kingdom on Tuesday, February 5, 2008

Released 16 yrs ago (2/6/2008 UTC) at -- Controlled release in St. Austell, Cornwall United Kingdom

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Journal Entry 10 by veganknitter from Bolton, Greater Manchester United Kingdom on Monday, February 11, 2008
Thank you Tregossip (and everyone)

I got this at the weekend and have already started it so it will soon be on it's travels again.

Journal Entry 11 by veganknitter from Bolton, Greater Manchester United Kingdom on Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Thanks for the opportunity to read this book which I was looking forward to from the reviews I have read.

But oh dear! I had a bad feeling about this book from the first page - I'm afraid it is one of those American feel-good books that just make me want to puke all over myself.

Saying that, I read it in 2 days so I can't have hated it that much but my attention drifted quite a bit in the middle pages. And the ending wasn't a surprise to me having been signposted about 200 pages earlier.

I found the characters and their "issues" irritating rather than heart warming.

The metaphor of the group coming together to help eachother resolve their issues through the act of knitting - knitting themselves into a strong unit, if you will - was clunky and instead of the book being life affirming I found the whole confection sugary and manipulative.

What's wrong with knitting just for the hell of it? Why is it better to knit as therapy rather than just because you enjoy it?

I run a knitting group and thank goodness we are nothing like this lot. See you down the pub, ladies...

Off to brujula en France next and I hope she enjoys it more than I did (which won't be hard)

Journal Entry 12 by veganknitter at To the next participant in By mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Released 16 yrs ago (2/15/2008 UTC) at To the next participant in By mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases

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Sending to Brujula in France - enjoy!

Journal Entry 13 by Brujula from Valenciennes, Nord-Pas-de-Calais France on Tuesday, February 26, 2008
The book arrived safely in France yesterday. (well, the envelope had suffered a little, so the french post had put the package in a huge plastic bag, saying they take care of our mail so we receive it, and so on...)
Thank you so much for the knitting badge, and that delicate knit flower! (how did you know that shade of blue is one of my favorites?)

Journal Entry 14 by Brujula from Valenciennes, Nord-Pas-de-Calais France on Friday, April 11, 2008
Oh well... I'm afraid I agree with veganknitter on most of what she wrote...

It is really sugary, the book could have been signed by Danielle Steel, and it wouldn't have surprised me. Everybody is good, talented, and/or very rich and glamorous, and/or very clever....
It's not that I don't enjoy reading romantic stories that end up well, but....

I felt all along that the knitting was just a pretext for everything happening.

Oh well... a relaxing read. Just a little irritating when you've been knitting all your life, and don't think knitting is about reviving an old tradition, or learning life lessons, or meditating, or philosophy or any of that crap.

I knit because I like touching nice yarns, I cannot watch TV with nothing in my hands (there was a time when I used to watch TV a book on my knees and knitting, all at once!) I also knit because I like making things I or other people will wear and enjoy. For me this is what knitting is about. Having a good time looking over patterns, choosing one, shopping around for the yarn to knit it, knitting it, and giving the finished object away, or wearing it (or... well, let it sit around in a shopping bag for years or months when I find another project that looks more urgent, or more attractive... aheum)

Why do some people have to put "existential meaning" in every thing they do?

Thank you anyway for the opportunity to read this. I had been reading about this book in knitting magazines, and was really curious about it. I guess I expected some more knitting content too, or at least, less vague.
I'll be shipping this to Icila this afternoon (hopefully)

Journal Entry 15 by Brujula from Valenciennes, Nord-Pas-de-Calais France on Friday, April 11, 2008
I mailed this book to Icila a few minutes ago.

Journal Entry 16 by wingIcilawing from Nantes, Pays de la Loire France on Monday, April 28, 2008
Back from holidays in Italy I found the ring in the mail. Thanks a lot.

Journal Entry 17 by wingIcilawing from Nantes, Pays de la Loire France on Monday, June 16, 2008
A good reading for me with the desire to knit again without the time. I'm unable to read or watch the TV while knitting. ;)


19/06/08 : On its way to Portugal.

Journal Entry 18 by QueenSissi from Queluz, Lisboa (distrito) Portugal on Friday, July 4, 2008
Arrived today! Thanks!

Journal Entry 19 by QueenSissi from Queluz, Lisboa (distrito) Portugal on Tuesday, September 2, 2008
I am so sorry for having taken so long. I really enjoyed it, especcially Georgia and Dakota's relationship...

I am sending it forward as soon as possible. starflash asked to be skipped. The nest ne didn't reply so I moved forward to Bonnie. Thanks Oceanripples (updated 22.09)

Bonnie already read the book so pmed sunlightbub.

Journal Entry 20 by QueenSissi from Queluz, Lisboa (distrito) Portugal on Tuesday, October 7, 2008
I've Pmed everybody after me and they didn't reply or have already read the book. Í cannot Pm oceanripples for some reason. Please tell me what to do :)

Journal Entry 21 by QueenSissi from Queluz, Lisboa (distrito) Portugal on Friday, October 10, 2008
Moving on the book as a Bookring:

- krista72 (Canada)
- Deereads (Canada)
- 24-7-365Reader
- NMReader

Thanks Oceanripples

Journal Entry 22 by krista72 from Toronto, Ontario Canada on Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Got them Thanks I'll start it today

Journal Entry 23 by krista72 from Toronto, Ontario Canada on Friday, October 31, 2008
Great read I loved It will being mailing it out tomorrow morning

Journal Entry 24 by deereads from Barrie, Ontario Canada on Sunday, November 16, 2008
Found in my mailbox yesterday. Perfect timing as I just finished reading a book so I will get into this one today!! Thanks

Edit : Nov 20 - almost finished and have PM'd next in line.

Journal Entry 25 by deereads from Barrie, Ontario Canada on Saturday, November 22, 2008
I really liked this book. I enjoyed watching all of the relationships start/grow/change between all of the characters who I thoroughly enjoyed. If you enjoyed this read, I would also recommend "The Jane Austen Bookclub" and "Angry Housewives Eating Bon-Bons" which are similar reads.

Haven't heard from next in line yet - will update when it is going to be on its way again.

Nov 24 - Have addy now so will get it sent on its way!!

Journal Entry 26 by 24-7-365Reader on Saturday, December 6, 2008
Arrived this week, will start asap, thanks for sharing

Journal Entry 27 by 24-7-365Reader on Thursday, January 8, 2009
I have just realised that I have had this book for a month and I haven't even started it, so I will pass it on to the next person so as not to hold up the bookring, if possible please can I be added to the bottom of the list and try again at a later date.

Post out to the next on the list.

Thanks for sharing x

Journal Entry 28 by NMReader from Herndon, Virginia USA on Monday, February 2, 2009
It arrived today - looking forward to reading

Journal Entry 29 by NMReader from Herndon, Virginia USA on Thursday, March 5, 2009
A quick update: I have about 70 pages left and should complete it today or tomorrow morning at the latest.

Journal Entry 30 by NMReader from Herndon, Virginia USA on Thursday, March 5, 2009
Well I finished the book.

It was a good read about women who support and love each other.

I was impressed at Jacob's ability to weave the various women's stories together and make them believeable.

I was expecting a different ending but I think if the book had ended otherwise it would have lost something

Journal Entry 31 by NMReader at on Saturday, March 7, 2009

Released 15 yrs ago (3/7/2009 UTC) at

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Mailed today. Custom Form # LC 076243815US

Thanks for including me in the ring

Edited to say it arrived but was not journaled according to a pm from oceanripples

Journal Entry 32 by starchilli at -- By post or by hand --, West Yorkshire United Kingdom on Tuesday, October 30, 2012
arrived safe and well. Unfortunately disposed of in a skip with many other books due to a very sudden and unexpected house move.

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