On Reading

Over on Goodreads they have a reading challenge that starts at the first of the year. Last year my goal was 35 books, I read 52, a book a week, not too shabby. Although I did talk to someone the other day that scoffed at the number before she knew I was proud of it. To call her an avid reader is like saying cats like to sleep.

I'm on track with my reading goal so far. I hit the mid point just as the year hit the mid point. I've been behind a couple of times but have ramped right back up. I'm pretty happy about it.

I've told you before I read the same way I knit. I currently have four books going, one audio, one kindle, and two paper. I have found that the media helps keep stories separate. My two paper books were ill timed since they are the same author just different series. I could have used media to keep them separate.

I really like reading romances on my kindle so I don't have to hide the cover of the book. I never like people knowing I was reading about heaving bosoms. Even when I was not reading about bosoms, it is assumed romance novels are just trashy. Personally I like my books to have a plot, even if it includes a lot of swooning. I just started Desperate Duchesses by Eloisa James. I had started the third book in the series before I realized it was a series.

So tell me if I am the only one, when I find a series of books, I usually do some research and start from the beginning. This can be problematic especially with a long series since hopefully authors hone their skill as they write. The books should steady improve. But how many and how bad to they have to be to stop you from going on with a series? Recently if I had only listened to the first book in a series (Hamish MacBeth by M.C. Beaton) I never would have continued. Since it was a package deal and I was running low on audio books I listened to the slightly better second book. I am still rather torn if I will continue.

What is the harm of starting with the best book first? Well there is really no harm just a big part of me that likes to read them as the author wrote them. By doing this how many good books have I talked myself out of reading? Surely the best book of a series is rarely the first or second book. Why should I struggle through the bad when I could just skip it? Get to the part of the story that I am drawn to, not the endless introductions.

Yeah I have not found the answer to that one yet. I did try skipping ahead in a series to a title I've always been drawn to, I did not like it. (Sticks & Scones by Diane Mott Davidson) Sometimes the author may improve but I still don't want to spend time with the characters they've created.

And the whole never ending love/like triangle? Joanne Fluke, I'm looking at you. Don't even get me started! Pick a dude damn it. Which one will it be? Will she won't she? I certainly know who won't...me.

And speaking of things that annoy me...cliffhangers. (OK this one is directed at a TV show.) A very big part of me views this as a lazy storyteller. If you can not write an ending, I certainly am not going to supply one. I know I am probably in the minority on that issue.

Sometimes I like to read about things that I would never ever do, climbing Mt. Everest (Into Thin Air), hiking the Pacific Coast Trail (Wild), biking cross country (I forget the title). For the most part I enjoyed these books because they were the type of adventure I enjoy...arm chair.

You can lose yourself in a place that you would not normally be. Plus you get to meet people that you would never want to actually spend time with.

Oddly enough books are one of the ways that my sister and I connect even though we have wildly different tastes. I can thank her for getting me into mysteries and detectives again.

Anyways that is what I've been thinking about and reading recently.

Counting Down

I am looking forward to a nice quiet New Year if I can. Gus has been continuing with his problems off and on again. I wish I could figure out what it is about this time of year... other than old age that is.

Just to make myself feel better I put in a picture of a sheep I saw this summer. Is it just me or do sheep with dreadlocks just look more awesome?

I started and finished up doing my socks to leg warmer conversion for my Mother in Law. I was amazed to find it only took me a day or two. Now I just need to get them washed up, measured and sent off. I don't think they will be a miracle cure, but I bet they will make her legs just a bit warmer.

I am happy to tell you that I achieved some goals this year. I try to knit at least 12 pairs of socks a year, this year my final two pairs were underneath the Christmas tree. D and I both got new socks to wear on Christmas. Mom got a pair delivered to her, D got six pairs and my little tootsies got five pairs. I think that is the first time D got more socks than me. We may have to move him into a bigger sock drawer if this continues. 

My sock count was down because I knit myself three sweaters. I know! And they were all different styles too. Once I figured out how I needed to read the patterns in Ann Budd's Top Down Sweater book, my knitting took off. Well that and that I could really do short row shaping and come out with good sleeve caps, there was nothing to hold me back. 

I knit my Christmas tree four sweaters out of my hand spun yarn. Now I don't have to avoid D's eyes when we talk about hand spun yarn. My mind is mulling over some cowl patterns for some of my other hand spun. Plans for the new year, I am making them.

Over on Goodreads I challenged myself to read 35 books this year. I exceeded that goal with 53 books, I may even finish one more before the night is over. 23 of those I read with my eyes and the rest were audiobooks. No I don't listen to the same song playing on the radio anymore, I get immersed in stories instead. I've even been know to listen at work when no one else is around. 

I took some of my bonus from work and donated it to charity and some I gave myself permission to spend on me. I have such a hard time buying fun stuff for me without suffering guilt and angst. My stash of yarn would say otherwise but I really do have a hard time. I guess yarn is Ok because I turn it into something useable. This year I thought long and hard about what I really wanted and finally place the orders last night. It feels good. 

My feet have suffered through just shy of 560 miles of exercise this year. I know! I am pretty darn proud of myself!

All in all it was a pretty good year. I hope I feel this good next year at this time.

Reading sickness?

My reading is off kilter. I can not seem to enjoy and really get into a book right now. I'm still reading them but it is feeling like a slog fest. You know when you're sick and nothing tastes right or even good? I think I may have reading sickness.

It may be due to saturation. I found a couple of series that I jumped into, the problem is they are all similar; strong female character, solving a problem, usually set after one of the World Wars. They're good books don't get me wrong but I think I should take a genre break. 

Then I moved on to a different kind of story, Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline. I enjoyed it for a bit then I made the mistake of reading a few reviews. I should never ever read reviews while I am reading the book. People are pointing out, the overabundance of bad foster moms in this story. Other than the two main characters all the women I've met are really pathetic people. I am hoping I can power through this element but whew, I am finding it hard to continue. 

I'm starting a new book on my Kindle too so maybe that will help my reading sickness. A little fresh food for thought. 

I did happen to come across a discussion online about audiobooks being considered reading or not. I guess you could argue that it is not technically reading since you're not converting words on a page into thoughts and understanding. But I can tell you I'm counting my audiobooks as books read during my 2014 reading challenge on Goodreads. Especially since six of the eight have been audio. I'd be in a bit of a conundrum if I threw out all the audiobooks. I was surprised to find I read 34 books last year. I am having fun tracking my book consumption. What can I say I've always been a book consumer. Now I just have so many more ways of taking them in. 

Books are good even when you're not "in love" with them.

Choosing my next books

I had something happen to me for the first time last week. My audiobook in the car and my lunch time kindle book wrapped up on the same day. Usually my books are more staggered but this time, nope. Now I am floundering around a bit with two decisions to be made. Well sort of, my kindle book had an excerpt of the next book to tide me through lunch today.

Choosing your next book is a bit like choosing your next knitting project. Are you having fun with what you just finished? Did you like the characters/yarn? Was it what you needed at the time, challenging or comfortingly mind numbing? Is it time for something completely different? Is it season appropriate?

You see how these things play into making the decision, right? I would even say knitting and reading cross over each other. Sometimes a book holds your attention and all you can do while reading is mindless garter stitch, the same thing over and over. Sometimes a book is there to keep part of your brain distracted while the majority of it knits complex lace.

The problem is that I am in a transition period now. Twice a week I am driving to my ASL class and spending time away from my knitting. While I enjoy my class, I am missing my knitting. So I am looking for a great audiobook for my drive time something fun but complex. Do I want to continue on with a series or meet new characters?

Currently my first six choices for audio are:

1. Book 7 of the Pink Carnation series Betrayal of the Blood Lily
2. Book 3 of the Lady Julia series Silent on the Moor
3. A choice between the first book of two different series by Charles Todd (A Duty to the Dead or A Lonely Death)
4. First book of a series The Cater Street Hangman by Anne Perry
5. Bossypants by Tina Fey
6. 40+ hours of The Stand by Stephen King

Now my thoughts are:

1. It has been so long since I read book six of the series... maybe I should do a quick refresher, but then that is something I already read.
2. I fell asleep listening to this one on the plane back from So Dak, maybe my subconscious has forgot what happened and I can start over?
3. New books yay, but I don't know if I will like them.
4. Same as number 3.
5. D read this in one day laughing the whole time, he is a very slow reader. But maybe it is to diverting for driving.
6. Now that is a time commitment! Nothing new for two or three months. However, I did love Under the Dome and that book was about the same length.

You know I am just going to end up listening to the next book that starts on the ipod, because I am an indecisive weenie. By default it will be Betrayal of the Blood Lily, which means I will be lost for a time first.

Ok now I just found a program with Audible and Amazon where you can get both versions of the book and use them simultaneously. Crap I knew all my devices would start talking amongst themselves soon, is a revolution to follow? Do you think they're judging me on my reading material? If they are my kindle thinks I am smart because I downloaded free classic literature. We're talking Les Miserables and Don Quixote. Audible has Blood Sucking Fiends and Her Royal Spyness, while I loved both of these books, Audible may think I like to laugh rather than think. I think Audible knows me better.

I went ahead and downloaded The Mysterious Affair at Styles just to see how it works.

If you want to leave a comment on which book I should start, I am all ears. I can not promise not to over ride you vote but I'd love to read the arguments.

Look what followed me home from SD

One of the things that I most enjoy about our visits home is how my sister and I connect over books now. We had to share a room while growing up, and it did not help us to see eye to eye. 

But now she is introducing me to books I never thought to read. And on the plus side she let me take home her duplicate books. She introduced me to Lawrence Block and now I will try Ed McBain. I don't think she will take up my victorian romance novels, but then again I've never offered them to her. Hmm, I wonder? Sis, you want me to send you a sample novel?

My lovely Mother in law was thinking of how I like to wear sweaters when she picked this out for me from her late Mother's jewelry box. This is a local type of jewelry called Black Hills Gold. It is usually three colors of gold (gold, green and pink) containing leaf and grape motifs. I think it is based on a prospector's dream, or at least that was the story I was once told.

I thought it was very nice to pass on a piece of Grandma's jewelry to me. I hope my hand knit sweaters can display it properly. She was such an elegant and lovely lady.

What I'm reading

I've been reading a couple of books that Hubby Gus and Jack got me for Christmas. Hubby Gus and Jack decided it was time for me to try a couple of new books. They decided to pick mysteries since I have enjoyed reading Agatha Christie. They allowed Hubby to wrap them and inscribe them by putting pictures inside the book that each picked. You know how difficult it is to tell whose paw that stamp came from? Trust me pictures are easier.

Jack got me Bitter Harvest by Sheila Connelly, which is set in a New England orchard. I enjoyed reading about her being snowed in. I swear I need to find a cabin for a week in the winter time. Poor D would get the worst case of cabin fever ever, I'd be sipping tea and knitting. Anyways the book is dragging a bit for me. There is a lot of introspection and minutia that I'm not enjoying. I believe the author is trying to build drama bit it's not happening for me. It seems right now to be going no where. But I'll let you know if that changes because we all know I'm going to finish the book. It is what I do. Plus I am enjoying reading about the snow since we do not have any. Who knows it may end up being a nice light read.

Gus went to a Regency mystery set in England instead, The Cocoa Conspiracy by Andrea Penrose. What can I say he must be reading my romance novels too as this setting I am commonly drawn to. Stories of Lords and Ladies get my attention. I think I may even ask him for the first book in the series too. The story is a well written political intrigue. In contrast to the other book the characters are more complex and live less in their heads. I am enjoying a wife and husband team.

What I did notice and appreciate about the boy's choices were strong female characters. I don't like a lady that faints for every reason. I like to see independent thinkers with can do attitudes, just like my kitties. No one ever reached the top of the fridge by fainting.

I finished Fool by Christopher Moore on audio in the car last week. It was an irreverent telling of King Lear. Moore's books make me laugh but they are not for the easily offended. This tale came with a warning in the beginning, I kid you not. I thought about getting another of his books for my new kindle but the audio performance is really the way to experience it. The reader at such flair and atmosphere that I fall in love.

Since I've been with out a "car book" I realized I need to find another audio book soon, the same songs that are played on the radio are driving me crazy. Who decided that the top 20 songs are the only ones that should be on the radio?

I'm also reading Peril at End House by Agatha Christie. I don't think she wrote many bad books, if any. Of course I am avoiding the one that fans call her worst but that is neither here nor there. End House contains my favorite detective (besides Adrian Monk) Hercule Poirot. I just love the way he puts all the evidence together. I still remember reading Murder on the Orient Express on my flight home from London. It seemed so fitting.

Well turns out my knitting is not the only thing I am not monogamous with. I make up for it in the areas of my life that are really important I swear.

Happy knitting and reading.

Ahh Christmas

We had a nice relaxed one here and I still managed to get a bit of a migraine. So more rest and relaxation are on my schedule. We are expecting snow here so who knows what the day will bring.

I did finish my grey alpaca shawl and will be enjoying it soon. Now I am facing a common knitter's dilemma. What to work on now? Do I finally suck it up and find a way to finish the blue sweater so I can finally start another sweater for D without guilt or do I just jump into the lovely green woolliness that will be D's next sweater without thought? So how should I start the new year without guilt or without thought....wait that does not quite sound right.

My library is experiencing its normal post Christmas growth. I love getting books for Christmas. I rarely can decide to buy on my own but for others to buy for me is awesome. I now have Knitter's Book of Yarn to go with my copy of Knitters Book of Wool. I had held off on getting that one but after I checked it out of the library for the 5th time I added it to my amazon wish list. I received two sock knitting books and a mitten book.

I also received a bread book that will probably make D just as happy as me. Hey Kisknit they have a recipe for bialys, you interested? (See comments from post 'Don't Blink) I will be able to try out my new Danish dough whisk and my new dough scraper. I do so love the feel of bread dough in my hands, it makes me feel like I accomplished something with my day, I made bread I can sleep tonight! Yes, I know I am weird, thanks.

Mastering the Art of French Cooking was added to my library by my Mom, Thanks Mom! D is not as happy about that one but I'm sure he will see the light after one of the meals. He is not a big fancy food guy but does not realize that it has basic food too. Although I don't think the aspic chapter will see any use. Aspic is a savory jelly, often made with meat stock, used as a garnish, or to contain pieces of food such as meat, seafood, or eggs, set in a mold; according to my computer's dictionary. I think of it as jello with non marshmallow or fruit items in it, or 'just plain wrong'. Some of us are not adventurous when it comes to eating.

I leave you with the view from my lap on Christmas eve. My now finished shawl is in the foreground, the back of Jack's head is just beyond, and finally my tree.

Merry Christmas!

Rambling

I am a bit under the weather. Don't worry though I am under the watchful gaze of Dr Gus and Dr Jack, aka my kitties. You're right it is not their gaze so much as their actual bodies. Gus supervised a few naps with me and Jack has commandeered my couch time.

As it seems to be a stomach bug Thanksgiving was undertaken cautiously with us. I think when we feel better we may have a couple of turkey weekends here, since turkey was what I craved.

Luckily I had made a trip to the library the day before I got ill so I have been watching Dr Who season 4 and The Closer season 5. I also started a new book by Elizabeth Peters "A Crocodile on the Sandbank." So far I like the two main characters. Which is good since I finished "1st to Die" and decided that I did not like it. It had way too much repetition for me. I ended up fast forwarding a few times. I told D to never let me read that author again as he is simply not my cup of tea. Now I need to find another book for my drive time. I looked while at the library but it is so hard to choose without knowing what I am looking for.

Drive time books can not be sad because I am a cryer and I don't want to have to pull the car over till it is safe for me to drive again. They can not be too complicated as I will be listening in 15 minute increments and it takes me a minute or so to remember what is going on in the story some days. I did listen to "The Count of Monte Cristo" but only after I had read it first and knew many of the characters and plot lines. Some accents and ways of reading may be difficult for me to hear also. I once had to stop a book because the recording was very soft till something dramatic happened then it almost blew me out of the car.

The other difficult thing with getting books from the library is that they seem to start buying when an author gets popular and that may be 3 or 6 books in. Usually I am not able to read that many books before starting an audio book.

Oh I am reknitting these socks since as you can see they need about an inch taken out of them. I've got one done and am working on the toe of the other. They seem to fit better and the yarn is striping instead of pooling. I ripped them back to the heel flap and restarted with 2.25mm needles. The tops will still be loose but it will not bother me, I really only care if the foot does not fit. Soon I will have some new/old socks again.

So that is where I am now convalescing on the couch with lots of yarn and supervised by the cats. It feels good to be loved and to love!

What am I reading?

No, it is not a judgement question just thought you might like to know which books are strewn across the house/my life.

In the car I am listening to 1st to die by James Patterson. It is going OK. This is the first mystery I've read by him. I am a bit creeped out by the thought of a serial killer of newly wed couples. It is a bit different to know who the killer is from the beginning. I am  a "try to figure it out" person so I'm feeling a tad adrift without something to figure out. So I'll let you know how I liked it.

D's influence book: Hands of my Father: A Hearing Boy, His Deaf Parents, and the Language of Love by Myron Uhlberg. It is a memoir, set in the 30's and 40's so far. The son acts as their interpreter from a very young age. He talks of how difficult it is to be treated as an adult one moment then be a kid again the next. I think confusing would be an understatement. I have a tough time with memoirs. I am always afraid that something really bad is going to happen. I don't know why I make the association, maybe because it is not just a book?

In the special reading room aka the toilet. What I read in the bathroom, I like to use my time efficiently, Agatha Christie's After the Funeral. Now this one is a whodunit. No, I don't know who it is yet and I am more than halfway. Yes, I am a little disappointed in myself. Heaven forbid I loose my special talent. How would I be able to annoy D, if I could not call the ending?

By the bed: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by JK Rowling. We were discussing this series the other night and I remember the ending but not that much else. I think I wanted to know how it would all play out so bad that I was supersonic speed reading. So far it is putting me to sleep after a couple of pages. Which is what I want sort of. At this rate it will take me quite a while to reread it. Ah there are worse things in life, like way too expensive yarn that you want.

There is also a romance novel by the bed but I must be really tired lately, because that did not grab my attention either. I put it down to read Harry Potter.

Has anyone read Anne of Green Gables? I ran across the PBS airing of the mini series and fell in love. Now I want to read the books. It reminded me of the Little House on the Prairie series by Laura Ingalls Wilder. I loved those books so much.

I don't even have any books at work for lunch time reading. I guess I am too busy knitting instead?

Book Troubles

I was driving home tonight thinking about my current book on CD playing in the car, Life with Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse. It was written in the 20's by a Brit and is held up as true British humor. I can not wait for it to be done. It is not like it did not have its moments but if I have to hear about one more whiney useless relative I may cry.

I knew I was in trouble when I considered quitting on the 4th CD. I talked myself out of it because there were only two more CDs to go. For some reason I hate leaving a book unfinished. I have finally learned to do it but it still takes and act of congress. (I have to really hate it in order to quit reading.)

I cannot stand useless, sponging, air headed, self absorbed characters. I wanted to smack the cousins in the book quite a few times. I'm sure it was written to make you dislike them, but I think I went a bit to the personal side.

The ironic thing is, I have two other books on CD riding around in the car with me. It is not like I don't have anything else to listen to. My personality even makes me go Hmmm.

I hear-by promise myself: if the next book I start to listen to is not satisfactory I may ditch it early. You all are my witnesses.

One up, one down

I forgot to tell you the meds are working for Gus. No barfs and we have his appetite and personality back. I can not tell you how happy that makes me. I do think it makes him happier. After one bad day he has been taking his pills like a champ. He does not like them but he takes them. I knew chances were good that he would forgive me for being "the evil pill chucker" when he brought me his favorite rat.

I would be the down one. We helped clean up the grounds at church on Saturday and boy am I feeling it. I think my right hamstring is 2 inches shorter. My walk looks a bit like Frankenstein's, minus the arms and the ughhhhs.

I must be feeling pained because I decided today that I would read Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy this summer. Of course I promptly went to the library on my way home and picked up a bunch of books that were not that one. Denial is not just a river in Egypt!

I have discovered my library has books on blogging, so I checked out half them. Sometimes it is like I think the knowledge will seep into me if I bring them home with me. I forget to actually sit down and read them. I'm hoping to pick up some tips and suggestions that will help me here. Maybe I will even learn how to use HTML. Boy do I sound ambitious.

We were at the bookstore this weekend and I still have a gift card from my birthday burning a hole in my purse. Who knew free money is even hard for me to spend. I find things that I like but then think I should check at the library to see if they have it first. Why spend money on something I can get for free.

Do you ever see people in bookstores buying big stacks of books? That would never be me. I love books but I know my tastes are way too eclectic. It is a case of my eyes being bigger than my attention span. I always feel bad when I spend money on a book that I don't like. Seems like such a waste to me. Add to that I am not what I would call an intellectual and we have a case of book buyer's remorse.

Have you ever read a page of a novel several times trying to figure out what they are talking about, when all they are doing is going to the store? Seriously a whole page telling me that, in words that I assume even you had to look up in the dictionary and thesaurus? I get it you're smarter than me can you just tell the story? I've learned to read book reviews and synopsis the way I read wine bottles. The word tannin on a bottle of wine will get my attention, if it is not preceded by the words soft or well rounded, that bottle is back on the shelf. The words satire and literary do the same for me with books.

What can I say I am a simple girl. One that has read Crime and Punishment and The Count of Monte Cristo but simple non the less.

Three Things

I've been listening to a audio book for a while now in my car. Turns out those things take a while when your commute is about a half hour, round trip. It is the fourth book in a series. I hate it! I have vowed today to never read another book in this series. Which if you know me, you know that is a 50/50 chance of happening.

I've been trying to analyze what bothers me so much about this book as opposed to the first three. I will say I thought I enjoyed the first three, but this one may have killed that for me.

First identifiable issue: the characters have not grown at all. They're still complaining about the same things as the first book. They're making the same stupid decisions and mistakes as they made in the first book. Now it seems I've had enough of the "let's run away so they can easily kidnap us" thought process.

Second identifiable issue: I don't want to be in the situation I'm in regardless of how bad I wanted this situation 4 pages ago. Does not matter if I'm rich, I want to be poor. I'm a independent working person, I want to be a lady of leisure. I want to be on my own, You come get me out of this mess I've created for myself. Indecision drives me crazy! D stop laughing at me!

Third issue: I love him, I don't love him, does love me? I am a firm believer in LOVE THE ONE YOU'RE WITH. Half of happiness comes from choosing to be happy. If that is your mate stop looking at others! Grass is always greener on the other side, especially when you just left that grass. Put your blinders on and chew on the cud in front of you.

So there are the 3 major reasons why I will not be getting the next book in the series. I'm sure there are more reasons but that third issue took all the thunder out of me. I really hate it when people are married and still looking for their soulmate. I just don't get it, obviously.

I blame my sister

Well it had to be somebody and I've already blamed the Hubby before. Ok not for this but for something.

When I was home for Christmas my sister and I started talking books. She loves Robert B Parker. He does a couple of characters but the one I remember from TV is Spenser. Spenser for Hire was a show that I now remember little of, except for the fact that I liked it.

So when we got home I thought what the heck I will give him a try, but I did not go to the library. Then I read the author had passed away suddenly and thought how sad I will read one of his books out of respect for his passing.

When you find an author who is advanced in their career, in what order do you read the books? Do you go back and start where they started and read them in chronological order? Or do you pick the most recognizable title? Or do you just pick one at random.

I went through the same thing when I started reading Agatha Christie. I choose books based on what audio books the library had available. I picked at random, mostly. Once I researched the order in which they were written, I've been trying to stick to that. I don't really know why I do it that way, most of her books are not dependent on the previous books. Well that is not true, some of the books reference previous cases for the detectives. Since she is no longer a contemporary author it is not like I will be confused or missing out on current events story lines.

With Robert B Parker it is a different story, so to speak. He was a contemporary author. I'm not experienced with him enough to know if it is important to read them in the order they were written.

I did end up doing a combo book choice method. I picked the oldest audio title they had available, back story. It is very different from what I usually listen to, but I really like it.

Now I am faced with a different dilemma. Finding a great author later in their career is a double edged sword. Because you have access to so many it is easy to go into author hangover. You know like when you open a big bottle of wine. You think to yourself I'll just have a glass, then boom you've had the whole bottle and the world looks so lovely. But then the next day you don't remember anything specific about the night before except you think you enjoyed it.

New author overload works the same way you read a story and like it so you naturally move on to the next story and the next and the next. Then you start to realize you don't really remember anything about a specific book. You remember that you liked it but not why.

I think it is better to consume both wine and new found authors slowly. Savor them and enjoy them.

Little bit of this, little bit of that

I hate sitting down to the computer getting ready to post and as soon as the screen pops up my brain empties. Happens more than I am willing to admit. What have I not talked about in a while?

Books! I finished Agatha Christie's The Mysterious Mr. Quin a while back. Loved it! I love books that have mysterious benevolent characters in them. This one is a collection of short stories that feature the same two main characters. I was pleasantly surprised in the stories. I'm not a huge fan of short stories. In this case I was not able to figure out who and why but I enjoyed the story telling.

I'm one of those people that try to figure out the endings. My Mother trained me to pick up the clues. Well, trained is not how it started, she continually frustrated me by knowing the ending all the time. How could she do that? So I begged to be let in on the secret and finally she started pointing out little clues. I'm pretty good at it now, not as good as the original but still good. Sometimes it leads to my husband's frustration so I try to be quiet. Other times I let him in on the clues too, but only if he asks. Not many things in this life are as frustrating as living with a know it all.

On a totally unrelated note I use pictures of my yarn purchases as my desktop at work. You know looking at yarn all day is a good thing for me. I find I am calmer if I can sneak a yarnie peek. The bad thing is I constantly have the urge to cast on projects at work.

I think I found a pattern for a shawl for the grey alpaca yarn I bought at Saratoga Fiber Festival this year. It is in The Knitter's Book of Wool. I wonder if the yarn will be too dark to show the pattern. It is a lovely charcoal grey. I had to ball up the yarn the other day because Gus tried to bring it to me in my sleep again. Do you think he's trying to tell me to knit faster? But he sort of mangled the yarn a bit while dragging it out of the bag. Not enough to hurt it but enough to make me go argh. So now it is all neat and tidy and ready to knit from. I currently have three projects on the needles so I don't think I will be casting on any time soon. But you know how the yarn and needles like to gang up on me.

D's sweater is moving right along. I had him try it on the other day to make sure what I had so far would work. His comment about the sweater that at this stage resembles a very short football jersey, "I think it needs to be longer". Really honey? Ya think! You know it made me laugh when he said that even though I knew something was coming.

I think it will be ready by Christmas but I don't think it will meet the record set by his first sweater. I had that one done in a month. Can you see how proud of that I am?

I will just keep on knitting, it is bound to be long enough one of these days.

Reading list Update

Poor Crime and Punishment, I apparently do not want to know you.  I keep telling myself it is because I am listening to a book on CD in the car and that is where I want to read you.  Just keep telling yourself only 2 more CDs to go and don't let me wander off to the library.

I went to the used book sale at the library last weekend.  Two whole rooms of potential staring me in the face. I ended up only getting a few and am sorely disappointed in myself for not finding more. (There was not more that I wanted, but disappointment is disappointment) I picked up Galileo's Daughter, the Constant Princess and Pillars of the Earth. 

I started a book at home here that I am struggling with, The Princess Bride.  I always try to read the book before seeing the movie, because what ever is impressed on the brain first I always regress to being the real version.  Does not matter which came first on the time line, it is always my first impression that stays with me. I love the movie The Princess Bride, the book not as much yet. I'm finding his writing style difficult.  Lots of asides and things to pull you off the point. That should work for me but it doesn't.

I still love the line, "I don't think that word means what you think it means." 

Summer reading

Summer always makes me want to read, outside in the sunshine.  I really am affected by the changing of seasons.  My huge battle is always what to read, classics, romance, mystery or biography. 

I love romance novels set in England.  Shh don't tell others.  I always feel like it is a dirty little secret. I will own it now.  I don't like trashy romances, I like stories of English lords and ladies. Maybe it is because I am so far removed from all that or maybe it is because I must have a happy ending. Love happy endings to stories I don't understand why you would have anything else.

I also like historical fiction along the same lines. I recently read The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory, and was like what is all the hype? Half way into it and I realized I was enjoying it. One of those books you're glad you slugged through to the end, because the end made it all worth while. Of course this one did not have a happy ending. That one was one I meant to read since it came out.  

I have a long list of things I would like to read and a list of things I think I should read. I want to read classics more than I do. I think to me books hold potential. In the back of my mind I think they can make you a better person. Or a worse person, but I choose to see the potential. The next classic book I am hyping myself up to read is Crime and Punishment by Dostoevsky. I have started that one twice now. It seems to be an internal, mental book. Just finding it tough to slug into it. Seems very depressing. But I want to try because two very trusted individuals say it is a redemption book. If I hate injustice, I love redemption twice as much. We will see how it goes.

My favorite book is The Count of Monte Cristo by Dumas. It was the original revenge story. Around chapter five it seemed like the book dropped my story and picked up a non related one, I wanted to stop but Hubby promised me it would be worth it. Man was he correct. I love that story.   just finished listening to it on CD. I read an abridged version and wanted to see how it differed. I am sorry to say I had forgotten much. I enjoyed it as much the second go around.

I discovered Agatha Christie's writing last fall and have been soaking it in. I have listed all the books she wrote and am trying to read them in order. Maybe I do not need to read them exclusive to other writers. A book by another author in between may keep her fresher longer. One fond memory I have is reading Murder on the Orient Express on the plane ride back from London. It just seemed so fitting reading a travel novel while traveling.

So to kick off the summer reading I will start Crime and Punishment, finish Poirot Investigates by AC and find a "fun" book to read also. Sound like a plan to you too?