Carole Knits

october zinnia
october zinnia
martinis with a view
martinis with a view
gettysburg fence for
gettysburg fence for
germinate shawl on rocks
germinate shawl on rocks
field of flags 2
field of flags 2
color affection with edge
color affection with edge
cedar leaf shawlette 2
cedar leaf shawlette 2
3_27_2014
3_27_2014
3_18_13
3_18_13
2_24_2014
2_24_2014
1_11_13
1_11_13

For the Love of Reading: September and October

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My reading has slowed down lately although I can’t pinpoint exactly why. I did meet my goal of 75 books for the year a week or so ago and I am still reading, of course. Today I am sharing the books I’ve read since September 11th.

The Home for Unwanted GirlsThe Home for Unwanted Girls by Joanna Goodman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this story but the writing was lacking depth. There was lots of detail given about certain time periods and then whole years were skipped over without any real information. The ending felt rushed and was not the pay off I had hoped to get. Recommended because of the plot and historic accuracy.

 

Girl, Wash Your Face: Stop Believing the Lies about Who You Are So You Can Become Who You Were Meant to BeGirl, Wash Your Face: Stop Believing the Lies about Who You Are So You Can Become Who You Were Meant to Be by Rachel Hollis
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Self-absorbed and preachy, this book was just not for me. I like Rachel Hollis as a motivational speaker and admire what she has done building her company, I enjoyed Girl Stop Apologizing but this one is repetitive and contradictory and tone deaf. Girl, don’t bother.

 

On Being Human: A Memoir of Waking Up, Living Real, and Listening HardOn Being Human: A Memoir of Waking Up, Living Real, and Listening Hard by Jennifer Pastiloff
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

I thought this book had great potential and that the author would use the things that happened to her and the way she dealt with them to offer practical and inspirational help for the rest of us. That just never happened for me, it felt tedious and repetitive and I only finished for the sake of finishing. Maybe I’m just not the audience for this one.

Where the Crawdads SingWhere the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really loved this book. Do you have to suspend belief a bit to enjoy it? Yes. Is it worth it, though? Yes. To me the plot, a bit of a romance with some mystery thrown is, was secondary to the setting and it’s the setting that made me love this book. I could taste the grits and cornbread, I could smell the saltwater and mud, see the gulls and heron and other wildlife that permeated each chapter, I felt completely immersed in the marsh and it’s wild beauty.

Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and RedemptionJust Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Bryan Stevenson is doing important and difficult work, securing justice for those we deserve it most but rarely receive it. There is much to learn and consider from the stories he tells in this book, they will stay with me for a long time.

 

The Dutch HouseThe Dutch House by Ann Patchett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is truly a masterpiece of a novel, made even better by listening to the audio version narrated by Tom Hanks. The story is incredibly well told, with a timeline that’s fluid but never confusing; the characters are beautifully created and real, full of flaws, loving and living and holding grudges; and the gorgeous Dutch house, which is really a mansion, is at the center of it all. Do yourself a favor and start listening to this one immediately, you will be enthralled.

The Water DancerThe Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The parts of this book that are good are very good . . . the beginning pulled me right in, the descriptions of the brutality and hopelessness of slavery, the plans of escape and the use of a bit of magical realism. And yet I did not love this book and found that I had to force myself to pick it up and finish it. It’s a difficult subject and that made it hard to read but it’s also that I never really connected with the characters and I also felt like it went on too long. Coates has written some amazing non-fiction and this is his first foray into fiction. I think he’s got great potential to write a fantastic novel, this just wasn’t it for me.

The Second Mrs. HockadayThe Second Mrs. Hockaday by Susan Rivers
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A good historical fiction with an underlying mystery told in the epistolary format through not just letters but also diary entries and court records. I enjoyed it for a fast and easy read and found the story quite compelling.

 

And there you have it, the latest books I’ve read. Hope you enjoyed the reviews and found something that appeals to you.

Don’t forget that today is the first day of discussion about Just Mercy over on Kym’s blog. I hope you’ll participate!

Read With Us: Some Discussion Details

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This week it’s my turn to promote the Read With Us Collaboration going on between Kym, Bonny, me and . . . well . . . hopefully many of YOU. In case you need a refresher, we are currently reading the book Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson. I actually finished it last week and I’m eager to discuss it but that will have to wait because our timeline is that we all read it in October and then we all discuss it in November. You know what that means, right? You’ve still got plenty of time to read the book and join us because our first week of discussion isn’t until November 5th.

Speaking of the discussion end of things, here’s how it going to work: we’ve divided the book into thirds so that each of us can host the discussion one week. On November 5th it will be Kym and she will cover the 1st third of the book. On November 12th it will be Bonny and she will cover the 2nd third of the book. On November 19th (I bet you know what’s coming!) it will be me and I will cover the final third of the book. Finally, on November 26th, we will do a wrap up and summary of the journey we all took with this book. For this time that’s going to be done by Kym because, frankly, this whole thing was her idea but going forward (assuming this works and we do it again) we will take turns with the summary and wrap up.

Each week of discussion will include some questions in the blog post to get us all talking. And, for now anyway, the talking will happen in the comments. You know I’m a big proponent of answering every comment you leave with an email but for the sake of this project, and so that it feels like an actual conversation, I’m going to try and answer your comments in . . . the comments. We’ll just have to see how I do with that!

So. Keep reading if you haven’t finished. Start reading if you haven’t started. And sit back and ponder if, like me, you’re already done. There’s a lot to unpack from this book and I’m very excited about diving into it with all of you.

Unraveled Wednesday

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I finally finished the Peace Cowl! It needs to be blocked and then photographed but it’s done! And also, I don’t really love it . . . which might be why it hasn’t been blocked and photographed yet.

But we’re moving on.

I have two projects I am currently working on:

On the left is the Chevron Love Slouch Hat from Knitterly Things. I bought the Toasty Warm kit from Julia last winter and finally cast on last week. On the right is Geek Socks from Knitty, also with yarn from Knitterly Things. This is sock number two, I finished the first sock at the conference last week. Well, I sort of finished it. The pattern calls for an afterthought heel, which I’ve never done before, and I haven’t attempted it yet. Both the hat and socks are gifts.

I’m currently reading Just Mercy for Read With Us, our online book group, and I’m really enjoying it. I hope to be finished later today. At the same time I’m listening to  The Dutch House, Ann Patchett’s newest book. The story is wonderful and the narration is by Tom Hanks which is making it even more wonderful!

What are you knitting and reading this week? Be sure and visit Kat and let us all know!

Introducing Read With Us

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I have a truly fun and unique collaboration to share with you today. Kym and Bonny and I are starting an online book club and we want all of our readers to be part of it! I can’t take credit for the idea (it was Kym’s) but I’m happy to join my two friends who are, like me, avid readers who also love to share the joy of reading with others. In all honesty, these two women read things that are way harder than most of the books I read. I think they included me because I’m a librarian and they figure that means I know something about running a book club. The joke’s on them when it comes to that, though, because the book club at my library is run by the Assistant Director, Amy, and not me!

We have a plan for how this is going to work but it’s pretty fluid and we will adjust accordingly as we go along. For now there are just a few things you need to know (other than the book we will be reading but I’ll get to that in a hot minute) . . . first of all, there is nothing to sign up for or download or do except the obvious: read the book. Second of all, let’s talk schedule. Over the month of October we will each take a Tuesday to discuss the book, how to participate, and what to expect in terms of questions. In November we will each take a Tuesday to host the book discussion. The first Tuesday we will discuss the first third of the book, the second Tuesday will be for the second third, etc. I would suggest being done reading it by November 5th, the first Tuesday that discussion begins, but since discussion will continue on Tuesdays until November 19th, you do have some flexibility on when you need to finish. For this first go round the discussion will take place in the comments on our blogs. This could evolve into something more interactive at some time but logistically it seems simpler to stick with the format we all know well for now. Finally, we want to be very clear that this is a beta run of our online book club. We will be seeking your feedback and input and will use that as we go forward.

Are you dying to know what book we have chosen? It’s Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson. From GoodReads:

New York Times Bestseller | Named one of the Best Books of the Year by The New York Times • The Washington Post • The Boston Globe • The Seattle Times • Esquire • Time

Winner of the NAACP Image Award for Nonfiction | Winner of a Books for a Better Life Award | Finalist for the Los Angeles Book Prize | An American Library Association Notable Book

A powerful true story about the potential for mercy to redeem us, and a clarion call to fix our broken system of justice—from one of the most brilliant and influential lawyers of our time

Bryan Stevenson was a young lawyer when he founded the Equal Justice Initiative, a legal practice dedicated to defending those most desperate and in need: the poor, the wrongly condemned, and women and children trapped in the farthest reaches of our criminal justice system. One of his first cases was that of Walter McMillian, a young man who was sentenced to die for a notorious murder he insisted he didn’t commit. The case drew Bryan into a tangle of conspiracy, political machination, and legal brinksmanship—and transformed his understanding of mercy and justice forever.

Just Mercy is at once an unforgettable account of an idealistic, gifted young lawyer’s coming of age, a moving window into the lives of those he has defended, and an inspiring argument for compassion in the pursuit of true justice.

Now, you know you can buy this book at a local book store or on Amazon but don’t forget about your public library where you can borrow it for free. You can also see if it’s available on Libby or hoopla if your library uses those platforms. Just do whatever you can to get it into your hot little hands and read with us!

P.S. I didn’t forget that the last Tuesday of the month is a time to discuss my progress with my One Little Word, story. I’m taking full advantage of my word, though, and deciding that creating an online book club is now part of my story. So there.

 

For The Love of Reading: Late August & Early September

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I’ve been reading a lot. As in, finishing books in a day or two. That’s mostly because I’ve been reading some pretty short and easy books but it’s also because I’ve had a fair amount of time to myself to just sit and read. It’s glorious and I love it!

Here’s what I’ve read since August 9th:

The Lager Queen of Minnesota

The Lager Queen of Minnesota by J. Ryan Stradal
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I loved this book and if I could have read it in one sitting I would have done just that. The characters are warm and real, the Minnesota setting feels truly authentic, there’s enough family drama to keep it interesting, and there’s plenty of beer!

 

The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland

The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland by Jim DeFede
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is a heart warming story that would have made a great magazine article but goes on just a tad too long and becomes dull. Still, it’s good to think about people treating each other with generosity, love and kindness in the face of tragic and difficult circumstances.

 

The RiverThe River by Peter Heller
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Fast paced, just like the river itself, I couldn’t put this one down for the plot. I found the writing style to be a bit choppy but overall I really enjoyed it

 

The ChainThe Chain by Adrian McKinty
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A fast paced and easy read, perfect for a day at the beach. It drags a bit in the middle but the ending is very satisfying.

 

 

Girl, Stop Apologizing: A Shame-Free Plan for Embracing and Achieving Your GoalsGirl, Stop Apologizing: A Shame-Free Plan for Embracing and Achieving Your Goals by Rachel Hollis
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Motivational and inspirational, particularly for women who have a dream they want to pursue.

 

 

The Strangers on Montagu Street (Tradd Street, #3)The Strangers on Montagu Street by Karen White
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Despite the fact that the characters are incredibly dense and unable to simply communicate with each other and resolve their issues . . . I really do enjoy reading this series. The Charleston setting brings back great memories of my trip there and the supernatural element adds just enough creepiness to keep me reading. The inability of Melanie and Jack to express their feelings is feeling very contrived at this point but I’m hoping it will get resolved in the next one.

Return to Tradd Street (Tradd Street, #4)Return to Tradd Street by Karen White
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I’m still enjoying this series but I have to admit to being frustrated with the repetition of the same plot devices and contrivances that don’t really serve the characters well. I still feel compelled to keep reading but at this point it’s mostly to see how things turn out and I’m rolling my eyes a lot.

 

The Guests on South Battery (Tradd Street, #5)The Guests on South Battery by Karen White
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Even though the lack of character development and repetition of plot devices is getting tiresome, I actually enjoyed this one more than the previous one. The Charleston setting makes it truly enjoyable and the spooky supernatural elements add a fun element.

 

LannyLanny by Max Porter
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is an amazing piece of literature that I’m finding very hard to describe and review. The words that come to mind are: unique, magical, and creepy, it’s a literary fairy tale complete with a bogey man and plenty of stream of consciousness. Highly recommended.

 

Women, Food and God: An Unexpected Path to Almost EverythingWomen, Food and God: An Unexpected Path to Almost Everything by Geneen Roth
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I’ve put off reading this book because of the title, I thought it would be preachy and religious. It’s not at all, it’s about mindfulness and feeling our feelings rather than pushing them away with food. I highlighted 30 passages and I’m pretty sure that says it all.

 

I hope you are reading great things these days, too. I’d love to hear about it if you are.

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