Sonderbooks Book Review of A Good Yarn

Reviewed July 13, 2005.
MIRA Books, Ontario, Canada, 2005. 345 pages.
Available at Sembach Library (F MAC).
Sonderbooks Stand-out 2005 (#3, Light-hearted Fiction)

A Good Yarn is a sequel to the wonderful book The Shop on Blossom Street, and is even better.

Once again, the basic format of the story is to tell about Lydia Hoffman, the owner of a yarn shop in Seattle called “A Good Yarn.” Lydia decides to start another class. Once again, the members of the class, even though from hugely different ages and backgrounds, become friends and make a difference in each other’s lives.

The old friends from the earlier book make cameo appearances. The three new knitters are Bethanne Hamlin, Elise Beaumont, and Courtney Pulanski. Bethanne is feeling insecure and worried as her husband recently left her to live with his lover. Her teenage daughter is acting out her anger against her father’s mistress, and she doesn’t know what to do.

Elise is also divorced, and has been for thirty-five years. She’s temporarily living with her daughter while her retirement funds are tied up in a lawsuit. So she’s horrified to learn that her daughter has invited her Dad, Elise’s ex-husband, to stay with them for awhile.

Courtney is ready to start her Senior year in Seattle. She’s staying with her grandma for a year after the death of her mother while her Dad works in Brazil. She doesn’t know anyone, so her grandma signs her up for a knitting class.

Meanwhile, Lydia is falling more and more for Brad, a divorced father. Then suddenly, Brad’s ex-wife tries to make up with him, and he feels he owes it to his son to give it a try. Lydia’s sister also works in the shop, and her husband has lost his job, making her not sure they can keep their house.

All these lives, each with their own problems, their own joys and sorrows, come together over knitting. And their lives begin to knit together and make something beautiful.

This book is an uplifting read, including pleasant people with whom to spend your time. With all the different threads, the book stays interesting and even manages to include some good insights into life. This book left me smiling and encouraged.

Reviews of other books by Debbie Macomber:
The Shop on Blossom Street
Summer on Blossom Street
The Christmas Basket
There's Something About Christmas
Christmas Letters

Reviews of other novels about knitting:
Knitting, by Anne Bartlett
The Shop on Blossom Street, by Debbie Macomber
Died in the Wool, by Mary Kruger

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Book Reviews by Sondra Eklund

*****A Good Yarn*

by Debbie Macomber