Hello and Welcome Unravelers! Happy Wednesday!
I have lots to share with you today!
First up, a book review:
I finished my first book for NetGalley and, sadly, I did not choose well. I selected The Mountain in My Shoe by Louise Beech because the title intrigued me but, for me, the book did not live up to its name! This book is set in England and it is supposed to be a mystery. I made sure I did not read any reviews before I began reading the book. However, in reading reviews upon finishing the book, I am left wondering if I somehow read a different. While I only gave it 2 stars, it has an average rating of 4.26 on Goodreads. The book starts out with a woman who is packing to leave her abusive husband – in her packing, she discovers that a book is missing. Her husband, who is never late, is late arriving home from work, and she gets a call from a friend who shares that a boy (Conor) is missing. Perhaps, it is just me – but at this point in the reading, I figured that the husband had the book and the boy. The remainder of the book is divided between “the book” (which gives background on Conor who is in foster care), the woman (Bernadette), and the husband (Richard). Outside of Conor, I found the characters extremely shallow and they did little to endear themselves to me. I wish I could say that the ending surprised me, but it did not at all. I found it a slow and difficult read as it never really engaged me.
My next book from NetGalley is a much better choice: The Lake by Lotte and Soren Hammer. Okay, I am about half way through this, and from the first chapter it has been riveting! Nordic Noir FTW! (I think you can see here the pattern of what I like to read – I do not like being able to figure out the story until the end, if I can I am so disappointed in the writer!)
Now on to knitting!
I am almost done with the Settler Shawl and I really love it. The crossed stitches are an interesting detail (which I goofed up on the second set, but I like the goof up I made, so I will repeat that error! My error? I crossed the stitches on the wrong side the second time as I miscounted the garter repeats, but I like how they go different ways – so I am going with this mistake!)
I am still moving along as well on my Air Soft Shawl and I am still loving it so much. I am not quite at the half way point, but I am close! My plan for the remainder of the week is to catch up on what is on the DVR and get some knitting done!
Oh, and I ordered the kit for the next AYOT project from those bad enablers over at MDK. But, I managed restraint until seeing what the project is! A certain special someone I know has a birthday coming up, and this is too cute! However, casting on won’t happen until both of these things are done! (famous last words!)
What are you knitting and reading? Or crafting and reading! Or just crafting? Or maybe only reading? Really, share whatever you are doing!
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Famous last words indeed. I really must finish something this month or I might run out of needles!
Your iced coffee and settler shawl look lovely together! I really like the alternate crossings (a better design, not an error!) and am glad your second Netgalley book is more enjoyable!
Love the shawl and that iced coffee looks delicious and refreshing. I am (still) knitting that effing Peace Cowl. And I’m reading Moonglow by Michael Chabon and listening to Dept. of Speculation by Jenny Offill. Both are great!
lovely knitting and the crossed stitches look interesting and give the project some texture and movement. My reading has been a bit slow but hopefully it will pick up later today!!
I agree with the MDK being enablers! (I must resist, I must resist.)
The Settler shawl looks so pretty, and that mistake — my Mom always said, “any mistake (in a craft) is just your signature”. There.
Why do Nordic novels tend to be murder mysteries?
I agree about books that obviously give away the plot, and am sometimes amazed at GoodReads ratings . I’m reading Underground Railroad – just started- and trying to decide what to knit / bring with me while traveling for work this week. Possibly a new Short Beach Shawl .
Ps I like your mixed crossovers . Happy accident for sure.
Well, you got me sucked into the Year of Techniques, and the kit for this one. Thank you?
I couldn’t decide which color to get for the MDK mouse. Then I remembered that my granddaughter NEEDS a mouse, as does her unborn cousin who NEEDS one too! So, I got one of each. 😉
I am LOVING your unconventional crosses. Definitely a happy accident!
I think I need a vacation so that I can knit all of the things. This full time job really gets in my way. LOL
Enjoyed your review of the book—appreciate the honesty…and the change in the garment you’re knitting is indeed a keeper…like drawing a mandala: make a mistake? Make it part of the design! Cool!
Knit and read on!
Great book review and I agree with you on figuring out a story before the reveal at the end. I’m slowly, slowly reading and also knitting. Now that I’ve written that line I wonder if I really am knitting!
I really like the way those cross overs look YOUR way too!
I rather like the “design feature” you made on your shawl — it speaks to my preference for being symmetrical (if things are crossed one way, I often like them to cross the other way to even things out, so to speak).
I get so annoyed when I figure out where a book is going long before the end. But, on the flip side, I really like it when you think it’s going one way and the author throws you for a loop with a surprise, provided it’s done well.
I’ve started a new book in the past week, “Commonwealth” by Ann Patchett. I like the writing, but I’m not sure if I like the book yet. I’ll reserve judgment until I’m done.
Nordic Noir… it’s a THING! 😉 We’ve been watching some.
I love those crossed stitches!! My dad’s nickname for me since birth was “mouse,” so I imagine I’ll have to knit one at some point!!
I’m getting into Nordic Noir. Nordic anything, really.
I think the design element is meant to be. Visually interesting.
You have a good thing going with those crossed stitches – a very happy accident indeed! I think I am a Nordic Noir newbie (I did read the first two Dragon Tattoo books, and enjoyed them – but that was years ago), but I love mysteries. Thinking that’s a genre I definitely need to try – would welcome a “start here” recommendation 🙂
Love the mistake in your knitting, think it suits it well. I have finished one project, started 2 more, bought 2 lots of fabric, so maybe not managing to get through the stuff I already have!
How did I not know you were doing this????
Thank you! I’ll be joining up next week.