Customer Reviews: Read 172 more reviews...
 Loved it July 26, 2008
I got into my hammock and read away. I just loved it. The perfect book for a summer afternoon or two. Keep them coming. I recommended this to my girlfriends!
 Somewhat less than hoped. . . July 24, 2008
As a knitter, I had high hopes for this book. Perhaps overly high?
I'm not a fan - the whole thing seemed contrived, and I remember thinking at the beginning "I bet she already has the actresses picked out for this to become a movie." Of course Julia Roberts and her red hair are going to play Georgia! It seemed like she picked something "trendy" (knitting) and then wrote a book about it with the whole intent of having a movie about it. (I noticed her other book is on another "trendy" subject - a chef, I think?)
At one point, I even thought to myself "Is she trying to re-write Steel Magnolias for the 21st century?" and then I noticed the quote from a reviewer on the cover! "Steel Magnolias for knitters!" it said! (or something to that effect).
I also didn't think the writing was particularly strong - I remember being confused in the beginning because some of the thoughts and ideas seemed to jump around with no warning. It either got better by the end, or I got used to it, because I thought the middle was relatively engaging, but again contrived (cute old granny in Scotland? Of course that's where all the cool people learn to knit!)
I thought that the ending was very abrupt. It was sort of like the author didn't want it to be a "fairy tale ending" chick-lit book, she wanted it to be "deep," so she had the lead character die. I thought it came off as a cheap and easy way to end the story (especially with the whole Lucie's baby born on the same day Georgia dies thing - too much!)
That said, I think it will actually be a much better movie than a book (or at least I hope so, because I'm sure I'll have to go see it!)
ZZZZzzzzzz July 24, 2008
I didn't enjoy this book. There are too many pages developing the characters but yet I still never really felt I knew them. The premise of the book thrills me, I would love to sit in on a group of women in their Friday night club but this club was a little on the dull side.
Too many cliches, too many things overexplained.
Engaging and surprising July 22, 2008
I finished this book a couple of weeks ago and find that I'm still thinking about it. I was surprised by the turn of events at the end; I usually avoid books that include this particular topic because it's too close to home. Nonetheless I think Ms. Jacobs wrote an interesting story with interesting characters and relationships. I'm looking forward to reading 'Comfort Food' because I like her writing style. I'm a beginning knitter, too, and I drew inspiration from the knitting aspects of the story.
 Could have done without that downer! July 21, 2008
For me the ending ruined this book. It was going along at a 4 star pace, as an enjoyable read, about different woman, all friends, traveling different interesting journeys in life....then the last quarter of the book came along....totally ruined whatever redeeming qualities the book had. I'll say no more, so as not to ruin it for anyone, but if you like an even somewhat "feel good" story, you might not want to read this. Totally a downer ending.
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