I almost wrote off Knitting Under the Influence by Claire LaZebnik as a flimsy chick lit book without enough substance to hold up its cover. It took a few pages, but I'm glad I stuck with it because I got to enjoy a heartwarming story about the work and relationship struggles of three friends. Single girls Kathleen, Lucy and Sari meet without fail every Sunday for their knitting circle where they eat, drink a lot, talk, and of course knit. The depth in the story comes from Sari, whose experience growing up with an autistic brother propels her daily work as an autistic counselor, helping kids develop language skills and coping techniques, something her brother never had the opportunity to do. Her budding relationship with Jason, the father of one of her patients, creates internal conflict, for she remembers Jason humilitating her brother in high school. The other women's stories are less substantive, but somewhat amusing--Lucy's story centers on her relationship with James, for whom she starts kntting a sweater (hasn't she ever heard about not making anything for her man until she gets the ring?). Her boyfriend James is a jerk, who the reader has to deal with until Lucy comes to her senses. Kathleen decides to marry for money after she is kicked out of her movie star twin sisters' house and loses her job with them as their publicist's assistant. Overall, an entertaining, lighthearted read.
K
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