The Store on Blossom Avenue (A Blossom Avenue Novel Guide 1)

Knitting Our Lives Together
Debbie Macomber has written a novel that will reverberate with her audience in unexpected ways. Her prose, while not completely lyrical, provides her characters and their themes of love, loss, betrayal, and forgiveness poetically descriptive. Macomber’s is not simply a story about knitting; it exudes a hidden charm and warm reward. Ms. Macomber is trying to capture the nuances of young people as well as adults in a seamless manner that makes you certain these characters are real.It is true that few writers can manipulate a plot with such grace and compassion on a subject like knitting that many writers might not even attempt, but Debbie manages to do just that, illuminating real life as we puzzle over the characters’ choices as if they were ours to make. Knitting is of course the cover for many issues that each character brings to the core of the novel.Its hard to imagine such a diverse group of people who would likely never even deign to speak to one another without the backdrop of learning to knit; each participant brings in her own strange mixture of reasons for wanting to learn, but we find these are merely a cover for what eventually is created from this unique storyline.This book will deliver and if you’re like me, you’ll put yourself in the place of Lydia Hoffman and ask yourself how you would keep your life together and what decisions would you make if this tragedy was to be visited upon you. And, I hope you’ll cheer for Lydia, as she seems to make the only decision that can save her and her family. The novel is rich with complex characters and a compelling plot that will haunt you long after you finish the book.This is a graphic novel that should provoke discussions among its readers. It may have you arguing over the meaning of loyalty and forgiveness and it certainly begs the question of whether our past deeds should be used to judge our present lives. Certainly they should inform our future and adjust our decisions but at what point should they continue to be used against us?Macomber has given us a book full of characters that will take hold of your heart, show you what it means to be human, and leave you wanting more. It’s always a great disappointment when a good book is over. I highly recommend this book, buy it, savor it and take time to reflect on the topic.

great uplifting read
This is a well written book about trials of life and unlikely friendships that can develop when given the chance.

I laughed, I cried, it was fun.
I purchased this book because I’m a knitter, and know what kind of friendships can be forged through the craft. I thought it would be fun to shee what an author would do with this topic.This was not even remotely challenging for reading. Yes, it’s very lighthearted for the most parts. You go into the story having an idea that things will be resolved in one way or another. And they are. There are some ups and downs, and I think that there could have been more information on the character interactions than there were, but I’m hoping that happens in her next books. It was more like a story of 4 people’s lives that happen separately, and happen to cross at certain points. I suppose this is more realistic at this point in their meeting than to have them totally involved with each other. In any case, it was fun to read.I did have one HUGE problem with the author’s writing style. She has the tendency to remind you every other time she mentions someone exactly who they are in relationship to everyone else (every time she mentions a maid’s name, she points out that this is the maid). I find it almost insulting, as though as a reader I can’t be expected to remember who the sister, the boyfriend, his son, etc. are from one section to the next. It was still a fun book to read, pure entertainment. Don’t expect anything deep to come out of it, but it’s great for when you just want to read about someone else’s lives for a while.

Heart Warming
A poignant and entertaining read. Characters were believable and real. Touched my heart how they all turned out. A true to life story.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Sad, happy, funny, reflective- it’s all there. Loved all the characters. I’m off to look up Book 2.

4人のあまり共通点のなさそうな人間がうまく絡み合って仲良くなっていく過程が面白かったです。そんなにうまくいく訳ないだろ。。。とか思いながら、最初は読み進んでいたのですが、いつの間にか惹きこまれた感じです。評価が良かったので買ってみましたが、英語も理解し易く良かった。