The Knitting Circle

by Ann Hood

Book Overview

Grieving over the sudden loss of her only child, Mary Baxter joins a knitting circle in Providence, Rhode Island, whose members not only teach her a variety of knitting techniques but also valuable lessons about friendship, love and redemption.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0393059014
• ISBN13: 9780393059014
• Release Date: January 2007
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
• Length: 346 Pages
• Weight: 1.08 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 5.8" x 8.6"

Customer Reviews

Knit together by Knitting

Loved the book about knitting and the friendships that it knit together.

The Knitting Circle by Ann Hood

It's been a tough one to walk away from. This book left me numb (extremely close to the feeling left after reading The Kindness of Strangers by Katrina Kittle). The Knitting Circle by Ann Hood is a self written autobiographical novel about a young couple, more so the mother, coping with the loss of their only child, their daughter, after a quick battle with Meningitis. This book was penned by Ann Hood after the loss of her own child after dealing with viral strep. The story in The Knitting Circle is painful and yet full of slow healing. Mary, the mother spends her days in a complete fog, unable to grip the change that has come into her life so suddenly. Mary used to be a reviewer for books, restaurants and movies, but now spends her days in baggy overalls watching TV and crying or sleeping. Mary has a non-existent relationship with her mother; former alcoholic. But her mother, calls, persists and irritates Mary to the point that she finally shows up at a knitting studio an hour from her house. Mary struggles to fit in with the circle, complaining about the littlest knitting task. She looks around the room to each Wednesday night slowly learning about the people in this group. This group is not ordinary, for each member has a horrid story of pain, loss and suffering... but the truth is where they are now. Because of Alice, the store owner. Mary finally starts to open up to her grief, finds time to learn about each other with her mother and finds life again... In my humble opinion, I know this book could be better based upon reading about the author. However, the basis behind this book.... the quality of writing through a desperate, heartfelt struggle is amazing. This book is such a lesson in learning just how to live and breath; one step at a time... (in the words of knitting... one stitch at a time...) So, based on all of the above, this book should be picked up and enjoyed in both tears and laughter!

Beautiful, beautiful book...

My first Ann Hood novel proved to be for the lovers of deeply moving and emotional reading material that grabs through the pages and squeezes the heart until tears come out. This semi autobiographical work, mirroring her personal loss and her way back into the world of living is a magnificent journey, best savored late at night with a hot cup of cocoa and a box of tissues nearby. At first the book grabbed my attention because I love to knit, but when I read the dust jacket I knew this book could appeal to pretty much anyone who loves to read. The Knitting Circle followed the life of Mary Baxter, a Rhode Island resident who lived a pleasant life with her husband Dylan and five year old daughter Stella. She wrote reviews for the local alternative newspaper, following her own schedule, living to her own beat immersed in the world of books and restaurants, pink tutus and happy family days spend grilling outdoors and making fresh lemonade. Her life was so good she would often stop everything and cry from sheer joy until one day those tears turned dark and swallowed up her whole world, the day her beloved little girl died. Unable to go on after her loss, Mary was urged by her mother to join a knitting circle in Providence. The idea seemed absurd to her since she didn't even know how to knit, but she decided to go, unsure of what to do next once she was there. Welcomed by Alice, Harriet, Scarlett, Lulu, Beth and Ellen, she quickly found a spot for herself trying to live her day one moment and one knot at a time. The therapeutic qualities of focusing on knitting those tiny little knots relived her mind and heard for her devastating loss. Instead of slowly losing herself in the inky depths of the black hole her heart felt she found purpose in knitting and talking to the women. Each one as it turned out had her own dramatic tale, reminding Mary that people are more similar than different. As she cracked her hard shell exterior to these women their tales of sorrow made her heart come to life, she felt the need to be there for them even if her own life was slowly unraveling, her work being difficult to do, her hair and clothes no longer important, her husband coming home later and later... The story had a very smooth flow, the writing ornate in details of the scents and tastes of fresh baked lemon cake and espresso, the scent of the wooden cottage, fresh falling snow, the painted porcelain at Alice's shop and the colorful and moving stories the women shared melted my heart and made me care for the characters more than I have in a long time with a book. Mary's journey was long; her transformation was not happening overnight and with her efforts to be there for her friends who dealt with death, divorce, betrayal, heart breaks and dark secrets she slowly found the first step on the ladder of her own salvation. The Knitting Circle was a beautiful book that touched me deeply; I wish that I could have spent the rest of my life getting to know all the wonderful

Expert Craftsmanship

I enjoyed every minute spent reading The Knitting Circle by Ann Hood. Knitting is far more than just a device in this well-crafted tale. It provides the warmth and the intimacy, and is the central focus for a group of people (mostly women) who are in various stages of emotional distress. The writing is straightforward and easy to read, and I can't offer enough praise about the expert craftsmanship used to propel the story. It's as though the author follows a pattern as simple as Knit One, Purl One (K-1, P-1) as she weaves together this unlikely group of people who form the Wednesday night knitting circle at Big Alice's shop, the "Sit and Knit." The main character is Mary, and we follow her as she grieves over the sudden death of her five-year-old daughter, Stella. In addition, there is a relatively large cast of characters. Hood allows the reader to get to know each one as Mary gets to know them. Mary learns not only about a new stitch or a new pattern or project, but she also builds friendships through listening to stories illustrating a vast array of the human condition and various forms of grief. I was riveted to each tale told via memory from the characters, who had credited Big Alice, a knitting mentor to all, and in the case of Mary's mother, Mamie, an AA Sponsor as well, as they engaged in the craft of knitting to get through the difficult days as life goes marching on, indifferent to pain and suffering. They knit to save their lives. The story comes full circle without being the least bit corny as Hood expertly "casts off." I was left thoroughly satisfied. Highly recommend. Michele Cozzens is the author of It's Not Your Mother's Bridge Club

A beautiful read

I was caught up in the life of Mary and Dylan. They had suffered a heartache that no parent should have to experience--the death of their young daughter. This is the story of how they handle this and their growing apart and the eventual ache they feel for each other. It is also the story how no one goes through life without some drama or incident in their life. Knitting is Mary's way of awakening and coming to realize that she can go on with her life. The other characters reveal how knitting has helped save them in times of heartache. I can relate as I am a knitter and it was my salvation when I was confronted with a health situation in my life.

Amazing

Only someone who has gone through this experience could have possibly written this novel. It was amazing and thoughtful and real.