I realise that I’ve been very blog negligent and, for that, I apologise. Yes, I’m fine and thank you to those of you who have checked up on me just in case! What sweetie’s knitting bloggers are. I won’t go into a detailed list of reasons why I’ve been away from the blog but some of it has to do with Christmas holidays and ‘holing’ up for two weeks with DH during the holidays so we could really enjoy doing family stuff, as well as feeling very, very tired most of the time because wee Iain is up at 5:00 AM each morning go, go, GOING!
For somebody who averages reading five books a month, you don’t hear about it too much on this blog. I’m really low on knitting fodder (that means I have none to share with you – sob!) so here is another book review for your reading pleasure. You can pass right onto my next post if you’re not interested, I really don’t mind. I note in advance that the following may be a little opinionated but, hey, this is my blog and I’ve given myself permission to get up on my soap box when I want to.
My first two books for discussion are of the fantasy genre, Eragon and Eldest by Chris Paolini. I had been waiting for the third book to come out in soft cover so that I could have this set given to me as a complete trilogy. However, this year I got impatient and put them on my wish list. Luckily, I was very spoiled by DH over the holidays and these two books were waiting for me on Christmas morning. I saw Eragon in its movie format before reading the book and, if you do it in that order, assume that the movie was ‘gently flavoured’ by the idea behind the book and you’ll do fine. In other words, there is a huge difference in the storyline. Rather than call them discrepancies and make myself crazy about why screen writers are unable to pull the written word that worked so well in a novel and present it to us cinematically, I will simply say that Eragon the book and Eragon the movie are two entities to be enjoyed onto themselves. I loved these books and now can’t wait for Brisingr to come out in softcover so I can complete my set! The fact that these books were started when the author was 15 years old (Eragon was published when he was 19) is also very inspiring.
Before I review my next selection, I want to preface it with a bias of mine: I tend to avoid books written by celebrities (e.g. actors, musicians). Now, when I think about it, that’s a ridiculous form of censorship. Celebrities, after all, are artistic people. Why it unreasonable for me to accept that a celebrity can shine in areas other than acting and/or music and branch out into, say, writing? There is really no basis for my narrow-mindedness but there it is. I have been trying to get over it ever since I picked up Yakov and the Seven Thieves by Madonna (yes, the Madonna). You see, I bought Yakov and the Seven Thieves because I loved the story and the illustrations so much that it had to be mine, in hardcover even. It wasn’t until I had it home that I noticed who the author was and I have admit that my first thought was “Oh. Madonna wrote this”, combined with a sinking feeling in my stomach. Completely unrealistic considering that I love Madonna’s music so why couldn’t I like a book she’d written? I gave myself a little pep talk.
I wonder how many other great books out there am I depriving myself of because of my prejudgements? Anyway, my next book for review is Deceptively Delicious by Jessica Seinfeld. This is another book whose idea I was smitten by before realising that the author is married to Jerry Seinfeld. Not that I have anything against the Seinfeld’s themselves, I’m sure they are lovely people but, reread one paragraph up and you’ll understand my reticence. This cookbook was another addition to my Christmas wish list and I just started using it today. Iain doesn’t know it but he’s having cauliflower in the homemade mozzarella sticks (why, yes, I am a Mommy goddess now that you mention it…) that he’s having for lunch. Go me! I’m really enjoying the book and I have high hopes of getting a greater variety of vegetables into our little boy than he is currently eating by using a few new recipes. If you have fussy eaters and are worried about their vegetable and healthy food intake, look no further!
Naturally, I can’t do a book review without mentioning a couple of children’s books too. These two were also under the Christmas tree and have rated a ‘read several times a day’ since then.
Jamberry by Chris Degen. This is a lovely, rhythmic read with great illustrations. We signed this one out from the library some time ago and it came with the CD version like the one I linked to above (ours is a board book). I would highly recommend that option as I thought the actor did a wonderful job!
Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson. I purchased this book through Scholastic Canada for Iain's Christmas book pile after having enjoyed it with Iain through another library sign out. DH, in particular, is very impressed with this book and it’s already been read over and over since Christmas morning. We love this book and highly recommend it in your home or as a gift. The illustrations are stunning!
Perhaps I will get a post with pictures ready for later this week? Send good knitting thoughts this way and stay tuned!
Showing posts with label books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label books. Show all posts
Monday, January 12, 2009
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
More Knitting Books (And Another Contest!)
Egads, two blog posts in a row! Here are my thoughts on the other knitting books that I purchased from Knitpicks recently.
A Second Treasury of Magical Knitting by Cat Bordhi is a bit of a liberating book. I’ve spent all this time trying not to get a twist in my yarn when joining and working in the round. This book is all about Moebius magic – that twist that you usually try and avoid. It is also all about fulling which I am becoming more and more interested in. There are some pretty cool projects in this book. If you like cats (are there any knitting bloggers that don’t like cats? I guess some people may be allergic…), there are cat beds and some fine cat beds they are. Some of the projects I’m most interested in are her felted bowls – there’s a Tri-fold Knitters Bowl that I’m dying to make. She has also added a chapter or two on some really pretty sling bags. I’m really pleased with this purchase too.
Now, before the rumours start flying, let’s talk about Expectant Little Knits: Chic Designs for Moms to Be by Suzanne J.E. Tourtillott. I am not pregnant therefore it is a bit of a mystery as to how this particular book made it to my book shelf. However, like I remember maternity clothes from the 1970s (aka the tents my mother wore), I was keen to see the types of maternity knitting that is available. This is a great book if you knit faster than, say, a nine month (yes, I know, it’s actually ten months) gestation period. The styles range from clingy and sexy to lovely, draped fabric. I particularly like the Goddess Tank (it's the first one on the right pages 1 - 4 if you click the 'view more images' tab from the book link above), the Cowl-Neck Nursing Sweater (aha! That could be one of the reasons I bought this book!), and Anne’s Tunic (top right pages 9 - 12 if you click the 'view more images' tab from the book link above). Any of these could be knit for the not-s0-pregnant knitter.
Check out Darcy's blog over at Darcy's Knotty Knitter. She has a gorgeous cable knitting necklace up for a contest prize (and they are also for sale if you don't win) and the deadline isn't until August 28th so you still have plenty of time to enter! And, please, send her some 'get well' thoughts. Darcy is feeling a little under the weather.
Today was another giant leap in my motherhood journey. Today was the first day that I had to fish a ‘what the hell is making that noise?’ out of the washing machine. My darling boy had added a plastic bowl to the mix…
A Second Treasury of Magical Knitting by Cat Bordhi is a bit of a liberating book. I’ve spent all this time trying not to get a twist in my yarn when joining and working in the round. This book is all about Moebius magic – that twist that you usually try and avoid. It is also all about fulling which I am becoming more and more interested in. There are some pretty cool projects in this book. If you like cats (are there any knitting bloggers that don’t like cats? I guess some people may be allergic…), there are cat beds and some fine cat beds they are. Some of the projects I’m most interested in are her felted bowls – there’s a Tri-fold Knitters Bowl that I’m dying to make. She has also added a chapter or two on some really pretty sling bags. I’m really pleased with this purchase too.
Now, before the rumours start flying, let’s talk about Expectant Little Knits: Chic Designs for Moms to Be by Suzanne J.E. Tourtillott. I am not pregnant therefore it is a bit of a mystery as to how this particular book made it to my book shelf. However, like I remember maternity clothes from the 1970s (aka the tents my mother wore), I was keen to see the types of maternity knitting that is available. This is a great book if you knit faster than, say, a nine month (yes, I know, it’s actually ten months) gestation period. The styles range from clingy and sexy to lovely, draped fabric. I particularly like the Goddess Tank (it's the first one on the right pages 1 - 4 if you click the 'view more images' tab from the book link above), the Cowl-Neck Nursing Sweater (aha! That could be one of the reasons I bought this book!), and Anne’s Tunic (top right pages 9 - 12 if you click the 'view more images' tab from the book link above). Any of these could be knit for the not-s0-pregnant knitter.
Check out Darcy's blog over at Darcy's Knotty Knitter. She has a gorgeous cable knitting necklace up for a contest prize (and they are also for sale if you don't win) and the deadline isn't until August 28th so you still have plenty of time to enter! And, please, send her some 'get well' thoughts. Darcy is feeling a little under the weather.
Today was another giant leap in my motherhood journey. Today was the first day that I had to fish a ‘what the hell is making that noise?’ out of the washing machine. My darling boy had added a plastic bowl to the mix…
Monday, August 18, 2008
Just Another Manic Monday
Don’t forget to add a comment to enter my 2nd blogiversary contest! See this post for details…
I mentioned that I’m really enjoying knitting the Celtic scarf, right? There’s something about cables that just makes me feel like ‘I can cable, therefore, I am’. It is very empowering.
I may not have been doing a lot of knitting over the past several months, I have been doing some knitting shopping. For example, I did take advantage of Knitpicks’ book sale recently. Into my hot little mail box came the following:
Inspired to Knit by Michele Rose Orne
A Second Treasury of Magical Knitting by Cat Bordhi and
Expectant Little Knits: Chic Designs for Moms to Be by Suzanne J. E. Tourtillott
I love them all. I am particularly enthralled with the Inspired to Knit book right now. All of the designs are gorgeous and many, many of them I would like to knit someday. And you, my fellow knitting bloggers, will be asked to help remind me of that every now and then.
Two sweaters in particular really speak to me. The Winter Wonderland sweater is, simply, divine. It is way more complicated than anything I’ve tried before. The yarn called for is Blue Sky Alapca’s 50% alpaca 50% merino hand dye. I haven’t felt it yet but it sounds as though you’d be wearing a cloud. This sweater will become a goal for me over the next couple of years. The other sweater that I adore is the Snowdrift cardigan. Although I would knit it longer (the pattern sits at about waist length), I adore the heavy, heavy cables in the sleeves and on the collar coupled with the smooth texture of stockinette stitch. Wow. This book has really blown me away. And those two patterns are just the start.
Yes, I really like the other two books as well. I’ll rave about them later this week, ‘K?
I’ve been knitting at the kitchen table as Iain naps. The window was open behind me (it’s got up to 27 degrees Celsius here today!) and I could hear the dry maple leaves blowing around behind me on the back deck. This sound always reminds me of Rivendell from The Lord of the Rings movies. In the scenes in The Two Towers when Arwen and Aragon are separated, there are lovely dry leaves blow around the Rivendell scenes, to intensify the metaphor of the ‘Fall (as in the season) of the Elves’ in Middle Earth. I would love to have a house where one wall opened up so that the leaves could blow through. I love that sound. I also love the fact that I’m able to knit a Celtic cable that reminds me of those movies. Yeah me!
I mentioned that I’m really enjoying knitting the Celtic scarf, right? There’s something about cables that just makes me feel like ‘I can cable, therefore, I am’. It is very empowering.
I may not have been doing a lot of knitting over the past several months, I have been doing some knitting shopping. For example, I did take advantage of Knitpicks’ book sale recently. Into my hot little mail box came the following:
Inspired to Knit by Michele Rose Orne
A Second Treasury of Magical Knitting by Cat Bordhi and
Expectant Little Knits: Chic Designs for Moms to Be by Suzanne J. E. Tourtillott
I love them all. I am particularly enthralled with the Inspired to Knit book right now. All of the designs are gorgeous and many, many of them I would like to knit someday. And you, my fellow knitting bloggers, will be asked to help remind me of that every now and then.
Two sweaters in particular really speak to me. The Winter Wonderland sweater is, simply, divine. It is way more complicated than anything I’ve tried before. The yarn called for is Blue Sky Alapca’s 50% alpaca 50% merino hand dye. I haven’t felt it yet but it sounds as though you’d be wearing a cloud. This sweater will become a goal for me over the next couple of years. The other sweater that I adore is the Snowdrift cardigan. Although I would knit it longer (the pattern sits at about waist length), I adore the heavy, heavy cables in the sleeves and on the collar coupled with the smooth texture of stockinette stitch. Wow. This book has really blown me away. And those two patterns are just the start.
Yes, I really like the other two books as well. I’ll rave about them later this week, ‘K?
I’ve been knitting at the kitchen table as Iain naps. The window was open behind me (it’s got up to 27 degrees Celsius here today!) and I could hear the dry maple leaves blowing around behind me on the back deck. This sound always reminds me of Rivendell from The Lord of the Rings movies. In the scenes in The Two Towers when Arwen and Aragon are separated, there are lovely dry leaves blow around the Rivendell scenes, to intensify the metaphor of the ‘Fall (as in the season) of the Elves’ in Middle Earth. I would love to have a house where one wall opened up so that the leaves could blow through. I love that sound. I also love the fact that I’m able to knit a Celtic cable that reminds me of those movies. Yeah me!
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