Book Review: “The Friday Night Knitting Club”

SHEILA ALEXANDER
Development communications coordinator

“The Friday Night Knitting Club,” by Kate Jacobs, is set in a New York entrepreneur’s knitting shop. This light read tells the story of several women who regularly attend a casual Friday night knitting group.

The story will be especially amusing for those who enjoy knitting, with participants in the club ranging from those who couldn’t knit a pot holder to one who produces a $10,000 knitted dress.

The characters are compelling enough, but the author tries to tell about the lives of too many people without enough depth. The result is not a bad read, but one that leaves you wishing there had been a few more details so that you knew each of them a bit better. It is reminiscent of “How to Make an American Quilt” without the focus.

Our heroine is Georgia Walker, owner of Walker and Daughter knit shop. Her daughter, Dakota, is a 12-year-old wannabe baker who practices her culinary skills on the knitting club.

Dakota’s father has been in absentia since her birth, but suddenly puts in an appearance and sweeps Dakota off her feet — and her mother, too. Dakota is overjoyed to find that she has a father, grandparents and cousins.

Although Georgia harbors some worries about re-creating their biracial family, she is not reluctant for long about James’s return to her life and the pace picks up with few hitches in their newfound relationship.

The finish seems rushed with the author trying to tie up all the loose ends from each woman’s story. Then she throws in a complete surprise ending as well, which is a bit jarring.

Despite the rush, it’s a good read with some interesting messages and you won’t be bored. It might even inspire you to take up knitting.

“The Friday Night Knitting Club” is available in paperback at the Sweet Briar College Book Shop for $11.20.