I love a good book. When I get into a book, I read non stop until I finish. May’s book club book is Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs. I had heard of the book and even thought about buying it a few times, but my “want to read” reading list expands much faster than I can keep up with!
I started reading it and immediately was drawn into the story; Kate did a great job creating the characters and making you feel like you were right there in the Walker Daughter knitting shop. You felt their pain and struggles and rooted for them. I was on team Georgia and wanted her to be happy…finally…because she deserved it.
And then I got to the end. What I thought was one of the best books I’d read in awhile turned out to be one of the worst. (Spoiler alert…if you haven’t read it and for some reason want to waste a bunch of time, stop reading now.) Now, I understand that every story can’t – and shouldn’t – have a happy ending, but dear God, why on earth would someone want to read about a senseless tragedy? Just as poor Georgia Walker is finding true happiness and having things fall into place, she not only gets cancer but she dies. And she dies so unexpectedly…I thought she was getting better!!!!
Ok, so yes, this kind of sad, devastating chain of events happens all of the time…but I don’t need to depress myself through a book. I read to escape and get lost in other people’s worlds. There are sad endings to stories that are good and make sense, and this one just completely pissed me off. Kate Jacobs you are an idiot.
I’m serious. I’m the kind of reader that once I get sucked into a good – or even decent – story or character, if there’s a sequel or other related books, I RACE to the bookstore to buy them and start reading right away. I saw that there was a sequel to this book at the end, and I have no desire to even read the preview to find out what it’s about.
Thanks Kate Jacobs….for taking a really great story and wonderful characters and totally ruining it. You could have created a sad tragedy-type ending without killing Georgia.
I can’t wait for book club 
4 responses so far ↓
Megan // May 13, 2009 at 7:11 pm |
I completely agree with you — without a doubt! Georgia’s death was so senseless, ridiculous and heart-wrenching… and I was so extremely pissed off about it, I wasn’t even really upset! Just shocked! I mean, seriously?! Georgia couldn’t just finally, finally be happy?
And I was right there with you, too — great character development; excellent sense of place; falling in love with the characters.
And then I was blindsided. Pointlessly.
Like you, I’m skipping the sequel… the whole thing left such a bad taste in my mouth, I couldn’t care less! I don’t know how the book has gotten so popular! If I wanted to hear about awful, tragic and needless deaths, I would just turn on the freaking news!
WHEW. Okay. Okay, I’m fine. Really. I’m good.
Good luck at book club
Nora // May 13, 2009 at 7:15 pm |
Oooh.. Good thing our book club is so much fun anyways! At least I don’t have to rush to finish the book now
Adele // May 13, 2009 at 8:14 pm |
Phew. At least that’s one I can scratch off my “to read” list. Thanks for the review.
I recently read “The Flying Troutmans” by Miriam Toews.
http://www.powells.com/biblio/1-9781135919856-2
I really loved it. Her writing made me spit coffee out my nose at some points and try not to cry in others.
Warning: I recommended it to a friend who wasn’t quite as smitten as I was, especially with the ending.
Katie // May 15, 2009 at 2:12 pm |
Your blog reminded me of when my mom and I saw Cold Mountain…she kept saying, “If he dies, I will HATE this movie!” We all know how that ended! I am in complete agreement with you on this one. What is the sequel? Everyone moping and crying about how Georgia was the heart and soul of everything they did? No thanks!