Greetings, dear Unravelers!
Happy Wednesday to you all! Here we are moving quickly through August…how on earth is the the 10th already?
Anyway, I have some knitting to share with you this week. I managed to get the back of my sweater completed and I am working on the front now. The rows go quickly when you are doing short rows, don’t they? I will be well on Sleeve Island next week! Woot!
I also have finished my August Gnome. (and there is a NEW MYSTERY GNOME coming in September!!)
Marly with his Fiddlehead Fern hat and stand out beard!
Marl Meets Gnome FTW! If you are looking for a quick project that is not super fiddly, this is the gnome for you! I am calling him Marly… because he absolutely is that! Eventually, he will sit in my office where I paint and I am hoping that his whimsy inspires me to not take myself too seriously, to lighten up, and remember that painting is fun!
I know that last week was a slim reading week… it happens, right? This week however… I have all the finishes!
The Memoirs of Stockholm Sven by Nathaniel Ian Miller
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I don’t know how this book crossed my radar, but I am so glad it did! I quickly fell in love with Sven. I so enjoyed how this story moves from 1916 through the late 40’s and all of Sven’s adventures!
**Spoiler Alert** Eberhard, the dog, dies and it is heartbreaking.
Yet through all the hard times, Sven’s friends and family remain a constant for him. I love the letters to his sister, Olga. I love that his niece, Helga comes to stay with him with her daughter. But most of all I love the relationship he forges with his great-niece, Skuld. Sven, “Uncle” Tapio, and Skuld become the most lovely little family. And as Sven shares his memories, I could not help but be drawn in to their rich, warm world.
I highly recommend this beautiful story!
Today a Woman Went Mad in the Supermarket: Stories by Hilma Wolitzer
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This book came on my radar thanks to a friend (Bonny)… and I thought that a collection of short stories would be the perfect before bed reading. It was, very much!
I found that I could relate to some of the stories more than others, but Wolitzer’s writing is snappy and on point (even in 2022!)
If you are looking for some “potato chip” reading… this is it!
Build Your House Around My Body by Violet Kupersmith
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I have not stopped thinking about this story since I finished it…. for me, the sign of a very good book!
This book appeared on my radar when I saw that a friend (Margene) had read it… and my library had an audio copy!
It is a mystery. It is a ghost story. It is a revenge story. There is time travel. There is so much folk lore. And so many layers… and Kupersmith unwraps them masterfully! I did not want to stop listening!
I originally gave this book 4-stars, but because I cannot stop thinking about it, I have amended my rating to 5-stars. And really… read this book!
All That She Carried: The Journey of Ashley’s Sack, a Black Family Keepsake by Tiya Miles
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Originally, I struggled to get into this story… I was listening to it and that format just did not work for me. So I got on the list for the ebook and waited.
In between I read The Love Songs of WEB Dubois and I think that was the perfect book to prepare me to settle in to read All That She Carried. They fit well together and the change in format to reading with my eyes worked much better with this book. There are images to see that make the reading more powerful.
I do very much recommend!
The Rising Tide by Ann Cleeves
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Get your wellies on and grab your umbrella and come along with Vera as she and her very able crew work to solve another mystery.
This mystery takes place on Holy Island and, of course, I wanted to know more about this curious place where the tides can obstruct the causeway…either keeping you in, or out.
A weekend with friends and a suicide opens this story for us. Or is it a suicide? Vera has her suspicions!
I love Vera so very much. She is so lovable. Cleeves does a masterful job of drawing the reader into Vera’s team as you all work together to solve the mystery.
I won’t share more and won’t give away the ending… but it is brilliant! I highly recommend this latest installment to the Vera Stanhope series!
I want to thank Netgalley, Martin’s Press, and Minotaur Books for providing this ebook for review.
That is all I have to share with you today! What about you? What are you binging on this week?
As always, if you write a post to share please leave your link below and thank you!
Marly is adorable! I LOVE his Fiddlehead hat. I’m sure he will inspire you when you gaze upon him. Wow! You did finish a lot of books this week! I had taken out The Memoirs of Stockholm Sven several months ago, but just could not get into it. Maybe I should give it another try? And, perhaps, I should give the Vera series a try?!!
I saw that mystery gnome! Your little guy is simply marvelous 🙂 I’m working on a sweater for me, a Christmas stocking and a never ending shawl.
Ah, your gnome is so cute! I love his fiddlehead hat!
You’ve certainly had an excellent week of reading! I have read (I think) all the Shetland books, but for some reason I never thought to check out the Vera series. I must remedy that!
That is my favorite of your gnomes yet! So adorable! 🙂 And I really like your sweater, Kat. I think that’s going to get a lot of wear. And . . . I am eager to dive in to the newest Vera! XO
This may be one of my favorite gnomes so far, but I might say that every time you knit a new one. It’s a big knitting and reading week for you, and I’m glad to read your review of Sven. I started it a while ago and then put it down, but your description of the family he makes sounds enticing. I think I’ll try Sven again!
I think I say this every time but . . . that is your cutest gnome yet!
I love all your marling this week, it’s such a fun technique to make things look really cool. And wow, so many good reads! I will definitely need to add Build Your House Around My Body to my list, it looks super intriguing!!
Your gnome is so cute! Love it! And I’m happy to hear that you enjoyed Build Your House Around My Body — you’ve made me excited to prioritize it 🙂
My brother and I always wanted to know if the dog died. Just too devastating. But even more harrowing is when the dog doesn’t die. Think, The Incredible Journey and I rest my case. Big fan of Vera here. Hope you can get the TV series too
Oh my gosh, I love that little gnome!!
I love the little gnome with his fiddlehead hat. I think he will be great inspiration for your painting. I need to give the Vera Stanhope series another try. You know, sometimes a book just needs to be picked up at the right time. Your reading gives me some new ideas. Thanks.