Knitting

This is a review for Knitting by Anne Bartlett. When I first began this novel I was really excited about it. The premise and plot seemed really interesting. I am currently learning how to knit, but I have been crocheting for about five years, so a book in which its mainly theme is all about knitting and the fabric arts in general was very intriguing. I gave this book four out of five stars because all though storyline and the characters were fascinating to read, the book didn't really pick up pace until I was about halfway into reading it. Once I reached this halfway point the story really kicked into high gear and I couldn't put the book down.
In Knitting by Anne Bartlett we have two main characters who are Martha and Sandra. Martha is a middle aged woman who knits and creates these magnificent pieces of artwork. Sandra is a middle aged woman who is a widow and who is a professor at a local college. I am not use to reading many books that have two women as the main characters. For me at least this created a unique perspective in a book that I have not read in many other books, so far. The two main characters are beautifully written. Anne Bartlett has written these two women who are complete polar opposites. Not only in just the way they dress, but in the way they talk and how they interact with others. The way these characters both meet in the very beginning of the book is in a very ordinary way and I like that. Martha, Sandra and the other characters all go through the daily struggles of life. Some of these struggles are internal and some of these struggles are external.
Knitting is a book about ordinary life. It is a novel about how our choices, emotions and actions cannot only affect others, but they can also affect us. The choices, emotions and actions can impact our present and our future. This book also discusses the characters past and I am not giving away anything here by saying the pasts of Martha and Sandra affected their current lives. I think this book discusses something which has been said many times before. We can't change the past no matter how much we want to. We all have had regrets in our lives, but even though we can't change our past our choices today can help to impact our future. We can think about what we say and what we do. We can ask questions like, is the way I react to a particular situation necessary? Can I help someone today by giving them an ear to listen or a shoulder to cry on?
Overall, I am recommending this book. Knitting by Anne Bartlett although it is a very slow paced book in the beginning, the book really picks up towards about the middle section. This book is a relaxing read, one in which the reader gets to know the characters in depth. The reader may also learn something about themselves in the process of reading this book.