Shrimp and Knits Book Club - Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth - 9/24
Pull up a seat on one of the new couches, and join us for Yarn Shop Book Club — where literary discussion meets extremely justifiable knitting time. Led by our own Arlene, who knows how to guide a lively conversation and appreciate a well-timed “hang on, I just need to finish this row,” this gathering is perfect for readers who like their books discussed alongside yarn, laughter, and a little creative multitasking. September's selection is Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth. Discussion Time: Thursday, September 24th at 11 am. Please provide your email and phone number when you register. There is a minimum of 3 participants for the book club to run. If registration minimum is not met, we will contact you. Bring your knitting, crochet, or any portable fiber project — stitching during discussion isn’t just allowed, it’s practically tradition. Expect good conversation, shared opinions, gentle laughter, and the comforting rhythm of needles clicking as ideas (and projects) take shape together. Because the best discussions happen when everyone’s hands are busy. Book summary: Meet Elsie Mabel Fitzpatrick: eighty-one years old, gloriously grumpy, fiercely independent, and never without a hot cup of tea—or a cutting remark. She minds her own business in her quiet Melbourne suburb, until a neighbor turns up dead and the whispers start flying. Because Elsie hasn’t always been Elsie. Once upon a headline, she was Mad Mabel Waller—Australia’s youngest convicted murderer. But was she really mad, or just misunderstood? Either way, she’s kept her secret buried for decades. Enter seven-year-old Persephone, a relentless little chatterbox who has just moved in across the road (armed with stickers, questions, and no sense of personal boundaries); Joan, who appears to have it in for Elsie; and a healthy dose of public interest—the cops are sniffing around, and the media is circling like seagulls at a picnic. So Mabel does what she’s always done best—she takes matters into her own hands. Is she a cantankerous old lady with a shady past? A cold-blooded killer with arthritis? Or just someone who’s finally ready to tell her side of the story? Sharp, surprising, and wickedly funny, this is the unforgettable story of a woman who’s spent a lifetime being underestimated—and is about to prove everyone wrong. Again.