Wednesday, September 17, 2008

The Sweetgum Knit Lit Society: Book Review & Giveaway!

Recently I was contacted by a company called Glass Road Public Relations. They offer public relations for Christian authors. This company arranges blog tours for authors and their most recent book on tour is by Beth Patillo and titled The Sweetgum Knit Lit Society. Below is my review, also I will be giving my copy away! Stay tuned for details at the end of this post!

On the Front Cover:


On the Back Cover:

"On the third Friday of each month, Eugenie, Ruth, Esther, Merry, and Camille meet at the Sweetgum Christian Church to enjoy the two things that connect them: a love of knitting and a passion for books. Their camaraderie remains unthreatened until Eugenie, the town librarian, introduces an angry teenager into their midst. Eugenie also gives them a new reading list: the classic novels of girlhood that young Hannah has never read. Little Women. Pollyanna. Heidi.

With each click of their needles, the ladies of the Knit Lit Society unravel their secrets: A shadow from Eugenie's past haunts the controlled order of her life. Merry's perfect little family is growing again - but will she continue to feel her identity slip away? Camille dreams of leaving town but is bound by ties of love. And the sisters, Ruth and Esther, must confront a lie they have lived with for more than thirty years.

As Hannah is reluctantly stitched into their lives, the women discover the possibility that even in sleepy Sweetgum, Tennessee, they can still be the heroines of their own stories."

My thoughts:

I will admit this book is not one I would typically pick up to read, but I ended up enjoying it. It was an easy read and I found myself wondering about what might happen next in the lives of these ladies. As far as Christian Literature goes, it was not very preachy. I suppose that would be a plus for some and a minus for others. For me, it was a plus.

I related most to the character of Merry, a busy wife and Mom. I was most effected by a line the author wrote to voice Merry's thoughts on being available to help Hannah, the troubled teen. It said, "She didn't have the capacity to add any more people to the lengthy list of those she cared for and prayed for." Unfortunately, I relate to that thought process more than I care to admit.

All in all, I enjoyed the book. The story was engaging and I appreciated the idea of a community of women (all flawed) ultimately coming together to redeem the life of this young girl.

The Giveaway:

If you would like a chance to win this book, you may enter the giveaway by simply leaving a comment! Please enter by midnight on Thursday, September 18 (central time). I will post the winner sometime on Friday, September 19th! If you are not a blogger you can still enter the drawing, just leave a comment with your email so I can contact you if you win!

25 comments:

Roxanna P said...

I'd like to have a chance. Sounds like something I would love to read!!!!!!!!! :)

Pennies In My Pocket said...

Count me in on this giveaway! I'm always open to new books and this one looks interesting. :)

~melody~

Lynn said...

What was that you said....book...giveaway...in the same post....

Count me in!

Susan said...

Sounds like a fun read :)

DeWeese Fam of Four said...

Sounds great Alana, can I be included as well? Thanks!

Melissa said...

This was on my list of "to reads"...so I'd love to be counted in on the drawing!

Abigail (aka Mamatouille) said...

It doesn't look like one I would normally pick up to read either, but I also thought that about the Mitford series and ended up really loving it!

Xandra@Heart-of-Service said...

Whoo hoo! A giveaway!! Count me in....

Xandra

Denise said...

there is agroup of ladies at my church that get together weekly to knit prayer shawls for people we as a church pray for. i bet they would enjoy this book.

Brenda said...

I would love to have a chance.

Teresa said...

Pick me, Pick me!! :)

Bev Brandon @ The Fray said...

uh-lay-nuh
I am always thrilled when I see your bloggy face. Thanks for the comment! How did I get on your blogs to follow??? I thought I had to do it. Some of this widget stuff is over my bloggy head.

Karin said...

Sounds good---Count me in! Thanks.

Janelle said...

You have officially hit the big time. You are right up there with Big Mama and Boo Mama. Publishing companies contacting you!!

I knew you when...

Jackie said...

Janelle's comment made me laugh. :)

Sounds great, Alana! I'd love to read this!

Bev Brandon @ The Fray said...

I hear your heart in wanting to deal with your old nature so to speak. I hear a new heart.

That line about the busy life, busy wife. Oohh! For what am I doing all this for? God said the other day (in reading the Bible---no i am not hearing voices) why are you even fasting? Is it for you or for Me? I have so dealt with wanting to be connected to so many people --- for what? Myself. My needs.

Love you and what you are al about! Bev

Carissa said...

seriously...you are a blogging big wig. and i am a girl who loves a free book. : )

Anonymous said...

Janelle stole my thoughts exactly.

If anyone can handle all this fame it will be you Alana. :)

Really does sound like a good book. I would love to win.

Darlene R. said...

I love a good book!

Have a great Thurday!

Darlene

trishtheconqueror said...

Thanks for having this giveaway! This sounds like a good read.
trishtheconqueror at hotmail dot com

Jamie said...

I love to read. Bring on the book!! By the way, it was great to see you (in person) the other night.

Heather C said...

I'm in! I'm in! Love to knit AND read... :) Sounds like a good book!

Unknown said...

Oooooo, count me in! :)

Kelly N said...

OHHH, my mom would love this book! Ever since having cancer, she has really gotten back into knitting for good causes. She reads whatever books she can get her hands on that have a story around knitting. This is fun Alana!

Anonymous said...

Please inlcude me. Thanks for the offer!