Beth Patillo first introduced the six ladies of the Sweetgum Knit Lit Society in her book The Sweetgum Knit Lit Society. The story of this strong women continues in Patillo's newest book The Sweetgum Ladies Knit for Love.
Storyline of the Book
Eugenie Carson is the leader of the Knit Lit Society. Other members of the Knit Lit Society are Merry, Camille, Esther, Hannah, and Maria. The theme for the year is classic romance. The ladies read books that fit the theme and do sewing projects to correspond to the stories.
Eugenie is newly married to Paul, the pastor of the Sweetgum Christian Church, and is the town librarian. She is trying hard to live up to the expectations some of the citizens of Sweetgum have for a pastor's wife. She must deal with the small minded people who feel that a pastor's wife should be at all church events no matter what. She works hard to find balance in her life.
The other members have problems in their lives as well. Merry is married to a lawyer and has four small children. Finances are not good, and she must get a job. Camille has to choose between following her dream to college or staying in Sweetgum with the man she loves. Esther life and that of her family is changed due to finances and she finds a good friend in an expected way. Hannah is a young girl who has recently moved in with Eugenie and her husband and is looking to belong somewhere. Maria is forced to sell her family's home and meets an unusual man.
The ladies knit their way through the year, ultimately solving problems that arise and drawing strength from each other.
Characterization in the Book
The characters in this book are complex. Each is facing her own problems over the course of the book, but they still have time to help each other with problems that arise. Many of the problems are resolved nicely, but a couple are left unanswered or solved in less than the perfect manner. The book as a result is relateable to most readers whose lives don't always turn out in the perfect manner.
Eugenie is the main character, however, the other 5 women are written with as much depth as she is. The characters are real people that the reader becomes involved with on a personal level.
This is the perfect book for beach or by the fire reading. It not only gives the reader a glimpse into the lives of the women in the story but introduces the reader to the classic romances the ladies are reading throughout the story. It is Christian fiction which tells its story without preaching at the reader.
It is a perfect book for moms and their teenage daughters to read together. The readers can then discuss the characters and gain a better understanding of themselves and each other through the story.
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