More Knitting Progress

     I don't have any finishes to share this week, but I have been making good progress on my Camp Loopy project and my Fogliame cardigan, so I thought I'd share.

     June 1st, was the first day of Camp Loopy and I cast on the Side Squiggles for Floyd. I finished knitting the bottom border and the pocket flap before calling it a night. 

     I took it outside to knit yesterday after supper. The back of our house faces west so we have lots of sun late in the day. Above you can see the stitches I had to pick up behind the pocket to continue knitting in the round.

A bunny snuck into our yard to eat some of the birdseed the birds drop on the ground.

     By the end of day 2 I had done 8 more rounds. Have over 20 to go before I attach the pocket. That's one of my weekend goals.

     And Fogliame is still addictive but the rows are getting long. I have finished the first wedge section. There are almost 250 stitches. Two wedge sections left to knit. Both will add 90 stitches. That's over 400 stitches by the end. 

Still loving the leaves.

     And if I need a knitting break this weekend, I am currently reading 3 books. The one on top is due back at the library on Sunday, so.... I really should get off the internet.

What I read in September

I kind of lost my reading mojo this month so the books read list is short. Some of my reading mojo left due to editing my novel and my brain didn't want to read and edit different novels. However, it feels like my mojo may be coming back, if only to read graphic novels. 

Surfacing by Margaret Atwood

A reread. One of the many favorite novels I had planned to reread for my birthday month but it's the only one I read. It's less than 200 pages but took me almost 3 weeks to read - with no reading mojo, I really had to force myself to read. This might be the first Atwood novel I read. I think my sister had read it for a university course than gave it to me to read when I was in high school. I can still remember sitting in the school library reading it. It's still great and a little weird. You never know the name of the main character. The novel is about a woman who returns to her childhood home with three friends to try and find her missing father. The home is a rustic cabin on an island. Truths about her past come out and she kind of losses her mind. I still highly recommend it and glad I reread it. I had forgotten enough of the details to make it really interesting to read.

I hope to reread one favourite novel a month and share them here.

Charm by Sarah Pinborough

This is part of a trilogy and is a retelling of the Cinderella story. I had thought this book would make a good selection for our mother-daughter book club but there was too much sex stuff in it. Overall, it was okay. I had another book from the trilogy home from the library, started it and decided I had better things to do and returned it. It was a nice change but it just wasn't my thing. I like the idea of playing with fairytales and changing them up a bit but I didn't love this retelling. Someone else might, just a warning about the sexual content.

Fables: Legends in Exile - Graphic Novel

Keeping with the fairy tale theme, this is the first in a series of graphic novels about fairy tales and the characters being forced to live in our world but wanting to be back in theirs. Some characters are able to blend in, others obviously aren't and live on a "farm" in the country. Some characters were able to pay witches and are made to look human. The Big Bad Wolf is now Bigby, a detective. Snow White is the deputy mayor and basically runs everything. A great, quick read that I really enjoyed. Recommended by my husband to me, and I'd recommend it to you.

Fables: Animal Farm - Graphic Novel

This is the second in the Fables series. Another great, quick read. This one took place on the "farm" where all the fairy tale characters live that couldn't fit into society, think giants, three little pigs, the three bears, etc... Several of them revolt, planning to invade and eventually take back their fairytale lands from the "Adversary" who kicked them out. I don't know much about the Adversary yet and I'm looking forward to learning more. I won't spoil the ending by telling you what happens during the revolt but it's good. 

One thing I really like about the Fables series so far is the strong women. Snow White is in charge in the City. Her sister, Rose Red, becomes a strong character by the end of the second book. And Goldilocks is leader of the revolt (who knew she'd do that). It's nice to see female characters in a graphic novel who aren't toppling over with cleavage. They also have brains and aren't afraid to use them. 

So, what have you been reading? 

What I read in February

Just like January, I didn't read much this month. I actually read a book this week just so I'd have something to blog about today. Here are the two books I read this month. I feel a reading kick coming on so I should have more next month.

Bossypants by Tina Fey

I read Amy Poehler's book last November and really enjoyed it so I thought I'd give Tina Fey's book a try. It was good, not great, but I couldn't put it down once I started and read it in 2 days. Poehler's and Fey's books are different but good in their own ways, each reminding me of their own comedic style. Tina's was more like a real memoir while Amy's was more of a comedy book that happened to tell stories of Amy's life.  I'd recommend both.

Bear by Marian Engel

I had never heard of this book before but I saw it popping up on lists as a Canadian classic and something hotter than Fifty Shades of Grey (which I haven't read). Again, I read this book in 2 days, finishing it yesterday. My thoughts and feelings about this book are still pretty raw. It was written in the 70's and reminds me of Atwood's "Surfacing", which I love. Describing it makes it sound weird so I won't go into much detail but basically a woman spends a summer on an island doing inventory of a house and ends up having a relationship with the former owner's pet bear. Yeah, you read that right. Somehow, it works and makes sense, but still shocking and feels Canadian. I tried to describe to my American friend what Canadian literature felt like but I couldn't find the words. There's just something about it and I can't believe I've never heard of this book before. 

It also seems that people are talking about this book again, especially the old cover. I like the copy I read that has a painting by Tom Thompson on the cover. I figured the book had to be good if both Margaret Atwood and Margaret Laurence, 2 giants of Canadian literature, wrote blurbs for the back of the book. I'd recommend "Bear" for adults only.

Books to Read in November

Since I'm busy writing a novel this month for NaNoWriMo, I won't be reading much fiction. When my sore throat returned a few days ago, I enjoyed a big hot chocolate, some Halls and a book about Ada Lovelace - daughter of Lord Byron and writer of the first computer program. I have less than 100 pages left to read and I can't renew it so I'll definitely be finishing this book. Here are some of the other books I'll probably be looking at this month, they might not get read.

The only novels I'll attempt to read this month. I started "Out of the Dark" by Patrick Modiano and so far it seems good. When I found out he won the Nobel Prize I went to the library website and requested the books they had of his that were translated into English. The other, "First Impressions" by Charlie Lovett, might get returned to be read at a later date. I don't think either of these will influence my writing which is why I'm willing to read them this month.

Onto non-fiction. You can see the book about Ada Lovelace and Amy Poehler's book on the bottom. Neither of these can be renewed. I've skimmed through Amy's book reading bits of it and it looks really good. I definitely want to read it.

I've read several reviews of  "Mighty Ugly" on the internet and decided to request it from the library. I can't renew it, so of the four in this picture it will probably be the one read. Also, I don't think a book about slow writing will be good to read when I'm trying to write a book quickly. 

Crafty books. The Amigurumi book and the "little book of Book Making" on the right, can't be renewed. There are a couple patterns I like in the crochet book that I'll photocopy. The book making book convinced me I need to make a book and caused me to start my book making board on Pinterest that I mentioned on Sunday. The other two I found on the shelves at the library and look interesting. I'll show more of the snowflakes book at a later date.

Not sure what I'll actually be able to read this month. Last November I only read a graphic novel and a book of poetry while doing NaNoWriMo.I've been reaching my target word count everyday, which means I should get off the internet and go write now.

What are you reading this month?

Books to Read in October

October is all about popular books. These are all books that have been recommended by other bloggers or websites. I started "Outlander" and am surprised that I am enjoying it. I am only a few chapters in. I'm nervous about really liking it and then having to read the series (I believe there are 8 books already). I have heard good and bad things about "The Goldfinch". I think I'm going to like it. It's over 700 pages. The top 3 are if I need something lighter to read this month. 

A couple new crochet books from the library. I ended up buying the top book with the gift card my husband gave me for my birthday. The Little Guy loves Hello Kitty and looking at the Hello Kitty crochet book with me. It has instructions for a lot of the characters. Looks like a good book but I'm not sure I'm going to make anything from it.

2 of my kids are little old for Dr. Seuss and the Little Guy is too young for how long the stories are but I wanted to read the "Lost Stories". 

Writing Wednesday : The Atwood Edition

I found out last week, but I kept it a secret since I didn't believe it... I won a signed copy of Margaret Atwood's latest book, Stone Mattress. I was one of five who won via a giveaway on twitter that happened in June, although winners weren't announced until last week. I had totally forgotten about it and was very surprised and delighted when I received an email from the publisher. It arrived at my door on Monday.

Ta-Dah!

It's doubtful this particular book was ever in her hands as the signature is on a book plate instead of the actual book but it's still signed and I'm so happy to have it.

Here is some of my Atwood collection (with some Carol Shields and Margaret Laurence thrown in for good measure). My mom is borrowing some of my Atwood books. Since I first started reading Margaret Atwood, I have kept her books near my bed. There is something comforting about having her close and I like being able to pick them up and look at them, especially her books of poetry. "You Are Happy" and "Power Politics" have some of the best poetry I've ever read and I have read them over and over.

My mom had Atwood's book, Moral Disorder, signed for me several years ago. 

Margaret Atwood is definitely close to my heart. I've shown it before but this is my view when sitting at my very messy desk. And what's that right beside the shelf?

Atwood and I, with the third book I have signed by her, "The Year of the Flood". My awesome husband sent this picture to her and she signed it. My parents got it framed and it was gifted to me for my birthday in 2010. I have treasured it ever since. I have joked with my husband that I have to work Margaret's saying, "Keep on Truckin'" into all my novels.

Thank you Margaret for a great birthday present. I told my husband he doesn't need to get me anything as nothing can top a signed copy of an Atwood book. We'll see if I get anything tomorrow.

Books to Read in September

I think this is the novel edition. I have a lot checked out from the library and need to do some serious reading this month as several of them can't be renewed.

I started "The Wives of Los Alamos" as it is due on Friday. I can't renew either of these so they're up first.

I've never read anything by Jonathan Tropper but after seeing the trailer for a movie based on one of his books that I want to see, I thought I should give his books a try.

These have been posted before. Still on the shelf. Still need to be read.

Not sure how I heard of these ones but they're on the shelf.

Neither of these can be renewed.

And a Jeanette Winterson that's been on the shelf too long. I love her novels. I should read it.

This is a Young Adult book but it's written as poetry and after reading "The Weight of Water" I'm willing to give this one a try.

A full bookshelf. Let's read.