Knitting Pearls

Writers Writing About Knitting

By: Ann Hood - editor

Narrated by: William Dufris, Tavia Gilbert

The rhythm, ritual, and pleasure of knitting are celebrated in this new collection for lovers of both knitting and literature. In Knitting Pearls, two dozen writers write about the transformative and healing powers of knitting. Lily King remembers the year her family lived in Italy, and a knitted hat that helped her daughter adjust to her new home. Laura Lippman explores how converting to Judaism changed not only Christmas but also her mother's gift of a knitted stocking. Jodi Picoult remembers her grandmother and how through knitting she felt that everlasting love. And Bill Roorbach remembers his freshman year in college when knitting soothed his broken heart and helped him fall in love again. Other contributors include Steve Almond, Ann Leary, Christina Baker Kline, Lee Woodruff, and knitting rock stars Jared Flood of Brooklyn Tweed and the Yarn Whisperer, Clara Parks. With knitting patterns from renowned stores such as Purl Soho, Hill Country Weavers, and Churchmouse Yarns, Knitting Pearls is by turns delightful and heartbreaking, joyous and wise. These personal stories by award-winning writers celebrate the moments of loss and love intertwined in the rhythm, ritual, and pleasure of knitting.

©2016 Ann Hood (P)2016 Audible, Inc.

Yes, yarn is involved. Yes, some stories were a stretch.

I went into this hoping for good anecdotes but it fell flat. A few stories just didn't feel like they belonged in the collection and the narrated knitting patterns were slightly overkill. I understand they might be helpful for some but it also would have been helpful in a PDF form with the book. The female narrator was not my favorite, her cadence and pitch put me off. Overall, probably wouldn't read it again. it did get me through knitting a jumper so I'm grateful there but I just didn't finish the book feeling like I'd read a lovely thing to share with others.

Remember most of these writers are not knitters.

Once I realized that re essays were from Writers, not Knitters I enjoyed it more than I did at first. Knitting as metaphor, not actual knitting was many authors' point.

Many tortuous moments were spent listening to the narrator reading a knitting pattern. I skipped the rest.

The reader's voice is too smug.

I found myself annoyed in the introduction at the smug tone of the narrator that just didn't match what she was reading. Ugh.

Oh dear.

Oh dear, what to say. I'm not a touchy-feeling knitter or reader, and I have to stop buying knitting books that in the end are about how knitting is like life, or how knitting gets you through it, or how knitting is warm and fuzzy. If you like these sorts of books, you'll appreciate this one.

One obvious problem: it is a waste of time for Audible to read us the 4 knitting patterns in the book. Why not give them to us as a pdf rather than reading them?

Never Grow Tired of This One

Ann Hood has compiled numerous writer’s knitting experiences into this delightful book. I’ve listened to it countless times and enjoy it ever so much! Wasn’t too keen on the narrator reading the knitting patterns out loud, but hey… why not? I may just get around to knitting them why listening again. Ha!

don't like

I dislike this book.. I knit and crochet.. the book is not worth any thing.. has curse words.. its not uplifting at all.. will not recommend this book

Please, just end it

The narrator was not playing to her strengths. She spoke and stopped, her rhythm was bad.

The writers are not knitters. The knitters are not writers. Or something.

The read patterns were terrible.

This should have never been put into an Audible format-- these pieces should be at most put into a blog.
And never spoken about again.