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The Knitting Circle: A Novel Hardcover – January 22, 2007

by Ann Hood (Author)

4.4 1,585 ratings

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In the spirit of How to Make an American Quilt and The Joy Luck Club, a novel about friendship and redemption.

After the sudden loss of her only child, Stella, Mary Baxter joins a knitting circle in Providence, Rhode Island, as a way to fill the empty hours and lonely days, not knowing that it will change her life. Alice, Scarlet, Lulu, Beth, Harriet, and Ellen welcome Mary into their circle despite her reluctance to open her heart to them. Each woman teaches Mary a new knitting technique, and, as they do, they reveal to her their own personal stories of loss, love, and hope. Eventually, through the hours they spend knitting and talking together, Mary is finally able to tell her own story of grief, and in so doing reclaims her love for her husband, faces the hard truths about her relationship with her mother, and finds the spark of life again. By an "engrossing storyteller," this new novel once again "works its magic" (Sue Monk Kidd).

From Publishers Weekly

While mourning the death of her daughter, Hood (An Ornithologist's Guide to Life) learned to knit. In her comeback novel, Mary Baxter, living in Hood's own Providence, R.I., loses her five-year-old daughter to meningitis. Mary and her husband, Dylan, struggle to preserve their marriage, but the memories are too painful, and the healing too difficult. Mary can't focus on her job as a writer for a local newspaper, and she bitterly resents her emotionally and geographically distant mother, who relocated to Mexico years earlier. Still, it's at her mother's urging that Mary joins a knitting circle and discovers that knitting soothes without distracting. The structure of the story quickly becomes obvious: each knitter has a tragedy that she'll reveal to Mary, and if there's pleasure to be had in reading a novel about grief, it's in guessing what each woman's misfortune is and in what order it will be exposed. The strength of the writing is in the painfully realistic portrayal of the stages of mourning, and though there's a lot of knitting, both actual and metaphorical, the terminology's simple enough for nonknitters to follow and doesn't distract from the quick pace of the narrative. (Jan.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Bookmarks Magazine

Ann Hood lost her own young daughter to a rare form of strep, and in this semiautobiographical novel, she reveals the searing pain, the upheaval, and the loss of self that accompany such a heartbreaking event. Critics applauded Hood's intense, unbearably sincere portrayal of grief. However, some felt that the cast of characters was so large and unwieldy that many were caricatures serving merely as vehicles for different steps in the healing process. Those who appreciate the comforting click of knitting needles will find kindred spirits in The Knitting Circle, but it's not necessary to know the difference between casting on and casting off to enjoy this poignant novel.
Copyright © 2004 Phillips & Nelson Media, Inc.

About the Author

Ann Hood is the author of seven novels and a short-story collection, An Ornithologist's Guide to Life. She lives in Providence, Rhode Island.

Print length

384 pages
Language

English
Publisher

W. W. Norton
Publication date

January 22, 2007
Dimensions

6 x 1 x 8.5 inches
ISBN-10

0393059014
ISBN-13

978-0393059014
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Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ W. W. Norton; First Edition (January 22, 2007)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 384 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0393059014
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0393059014
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.13 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1 x 8.5 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #345,759 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #3,378 in Contemporary Literature & Fiction
- #21,301 in American Literature (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.4 1,585 ratings

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Ann Hood

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Ann Hood is the author of over a dozen novels, including the bestsellers The Knitting Circle, The Obituary Writer, The Book That Matters Most, and Somewhere Off the Coast of Maine; and several memoirs, including the bestsellers Kitchen Yarns: Notes on Life, Love and Food and Comfort: A Journey Through Grief, which was named one of the top ten books of 2008 by Entertainment Weekly. Her most recent book, Fly Girl, a memoir about her years as a TWA flight attendant, will be published in May 2022 by WW Norton.

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4.4 out of 5

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Jersey Girl Book Reviews / Jersey Girl Sizzling Book Reviews

A Beautiful and Poignant Story

Reviewed in the United States on November 20, 2011

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What would you do if your five year old daughter, your only child, suddenly dies from meningitis? Would you be able to pick up the pieces of your life, after your whole world has come crashing down? Would you ever be able to have joy, happiness and love again? These are the questions that Mary Baxter had to deal with in The Knitting Circle.

Mary and Dylan Baxter were living the good life, each was successful in their professions, she was a reviewer for a local newspaper and he was an attorney. They had a happy home life that included their cherished only child, five year old Stella. Their happy little world came crashing down with the sudden death of Stella to meningitis. As they struggled with the the pain of their loss and the grieving process, their marriage starts to crumble as Mary sinks into a deep depression, unwilling and unable to allow anyone, including Dylan, to help her move on with her life. Paralyzed by her grief, Mary is unable to work, socialize, or perform normal daily activities. Upon the constant unwanted urging of her estranged mother, Mary joins a local knitting circle, even though she doesn't know how to knit. Mary is warmly welcomed into the Wednesday night knitting circle by Alice, owner of Big Alice's Sit and Knit, and the rest of the members: Scarlet, Lulu, Ellen, Beth and Harriet. At first, Mary is reluctant to share her story with the other ladies, but as each teaches her new knitting techniques, they also share their own personal stories of love, loss, hope and recovery ... for everyone has secrets and a story to tell. Through their mutual love of knitting and comforting companionship, the ladies of the knitting circle form a strong bond of friendship that helps Mary to heal and start living her life again.

The Knitting Circle is a beautifully written and poignant story that pulled at my heartstrings. The author weaves a deeply moving and emotional story about the trauma of loss, the stages of grief, and how through a strong bond of friendship through knitting one stitch at a time, people can recover and learn to live a happy life again. This is a painfully realistic portrayal of the grieving process that every person will experience at some time in their life, but mixed with the interesting concept of learning how to knit, one can find the soothing and comforting peace to help their wounded heart and spirit heal.

This story is semi-autobiographical that mirrors the author's own personal tragic loss of her young daughter to a rare form of strep, and while grieving she learned to knit.

RATING: 5 STARS *****

[...]

7 people found this helpful

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moomooshe

This is a book about grief

Reviewed in the United States on March 25, 2021

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This is a book about grief. It is about almost unbearable loss.
Do not read it if you are just looking for some light literature. Do read it if you want to understand someone who is going through the dark lonely tunnel of grief.

The main character Mary is led to join a knitting circle - which is really more of a therapy group. Some reviewers have questioned the idea of having so many people with tragic tales in one group, but I think that without explicitly stating this in the book, the woman who runs the knitting circle chooses who she brings in. They are 'invited'. It really is therapy.

I don't know if I would recommend the book to someone who has lost a child. That journey is so personal. Some might find some acknowledgement of their pain in its pages. And even hope - as Mary does eventually reach a point where memories of her daughter bring her joy, and not just sorrow. Others may not want to read about so many other tragedies while they are dealing with their own.

There is no mention of God - that might be important for some people.

5 people found this helpful

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Michelaneous by Michele

Expert Craftsmanship

Reviewed in the United States on March 19, 2007

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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

8 people found this helpful

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Barbara

The Title Doesn't Do It Justice

Reviewed in the United States on December 3, 2007

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I must admit the title is a turn off. It almost sounds as if this book is for and about a bunch of old ladies sitting around in a circle, knitting and leading very boring lives. Such is not the case! This novel is very contemporary and very emotional!

Amy Hood is an author extraordinaire! She very eloquently and seamlessly spins the yarn throughout this exceptional book! The author's main character, Mary Baxter looses her daughter. To heal she joins a knitting circle and while there, she encounters a cast of characters each, with their own 'story' to tell. By revealing their individual stories, one by one, to Mary, she is able to heal, albeit a long process.

While reading the book, having a box of tissues nearby would be helpful. I don't want to ruin the book for you by giving away too many details but when you finish it do read the acknowledgements and go on to Ann Hood's website... [...]

Blood, sweat and tears were poured into this book by Ann Hood and the end result was magnificent! Unfortunately, she wrote it all to well from a real life experience of her own. ...more tissues!

A definite MUST READ and my heartfelt kudos to Ann Hood!

5 people found this helpful

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K. SIMPSON

Joy, Grief & Knitting

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 8, 2023

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Being an amateur knitter I curiously opened this book. I could not put it down. Each chapter contained solace and sadness of a group of people who through knitting learnt not only to knit but how knitting wove into their lives & helped them recover from a secret grief.
The protagonist Mary at first I found her to be self absorbed so much so I became antagonistic towards her ..yet gradually the lives of these women open up to her and to the reader. Each women’s
.story held surprising twists Mary’s finds her self unravelling not only the yarn and her knitting ability but how she misconstrues each her idea of what these women are. I the reader too can often be surprised at their secrets. I certainly was.
I found tears in my eyes at sadness but also smiles seeing how very gradually like knitting their group comes slowly together to a beautiful conclusion.
The author has cast a chain of stories some believable some unbelievable. As the book progresses Mary’s own story emerges. The ending was I felt too predictable and not of the standard of the earlier tales. However I shall be re reading I know this uplifting book. Easy to read but memorable. How hope & friendship binds the group together. That however complicated grief is it can be overcome in time.
I shall also use the knitting instructions ! My cast aside knitting just maybe see the light of day again!
Recommend highly.

Franka

Beautiful book...

Reviewed in Germany on December 12, 2017

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I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is sad but also uplifting. Warm and full of emotions without being gooey. And who knew that knitting could bring you such comfort - and new friends too? :)

One person found this helpful

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Julia

It IS amazing and heartwarming.

Reviewed in Australia on May 21, 2019

Verified Purchase

This is a lovely read, it’s not a heart stopper, it’s not racy but it is really great to read. There are a fair few characters that we learn about but they meld together beautifully and the book left me wishing I could find such a circle........

KtMvB

Really enjoyed it

Reviewed in Australia on May 3, 2021

Verified Purchase

This is a moving and heart warming story about a group of women dealing with loss and grief and the struggles of life and how they find support through friendships formed at a knitting circle. I really enjoyed it.

Nicola

A heartbreaking, sympathetic yarn

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 27, 2011

Verified Purchase

I'm a big fan of the (first) Friday Night Knitting Club novel (the second was awful!), and for me this book was very reminiscent of that, in that it is a story about female friendships, comfort, grief and of course, knitting. For me though, this book is a much stronger read, with richly developed characters and interesting back stories that really pull you into the tale. I'd expected chick lit, but this was more comprehensive than I'd anticipated, though it did leave me feeling a little bit sad in parts as you do really get to know the characters and therefore empathise with what happens to them.

The book revolves around individual women of varied backgrounds, ages and lifestyles who meet at the `Sit and Knit' knitting store under the watchful eye of `Big Alice.' As the weeks pass, the reader learns of the individual events happening in their lives and of the heartaches and struggles that each of them is going through. Though this book could have been trite, it genuinely isn't and remains a moving, believable story, though at times I did grow a bit frustrated with some of the characters actions and the book was heavily grief-laden in places which did become overwhelming at times.

Nevertheless, this is recommended if you want a moving piece of women's fiction with characters that you can really get to know- though my advice would be to have the tissues on standby! If you enjoy this, then I would also recommend the first Friday Night Knitting Club novel, which is another beautiful read.

2 people found this helpful

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