Welcome Unravelers! Another week brings more making, and yes – more reading! Sorry for the lateness of the post, but light has been at a premium here lately and so you get knitting with a sprinkling of snow today!
With my illness-fogged brain – I was struggling mightily trying to knit anything on my ADVENTurer wrap – I carefully unknit as much as I knit! Good thing I had this lovely almost mindless knit to keep me company! I am well into the third colorway – a nice blend of pink and green to transition to those final skeins. Although the rows are getting longer, I think I should have this done this week! Then a bit of blocking and weave in the few ends and off it can go to CA for my daughter’s birthday!
It has not been all knitting though – I have spent some time going back and looking at photos from last January – specifically my stitching project. I have been feeling like something is missing and I think stitching is it! And, while I don’t want to necessarily repeat that project but I have been thinking about stitching and even looking at some things on Etsy. There might very well be some small stitching projects in my future! These birds are really calling to me!
This week’s reading was most excellent though!
I feel like I have been on the waitlist forever for Esi Edugyan’s Washington Black but it finally came through! I listened to it and LOVED every word! It is the story of George Washington Black an 11-year-old slave who lives on a plantation in Barbados. After a bit of a rough start in life, Wash ends up with his master’s brother – Christopher Wilde or Titch, as he tells Wash to call him. Theirs is a magical relationship – one where learning is a must, exploring is all, and people are equal. Together they leave Barbados and travel to spectacular places. It is simply a magnificent story, beautifully written and masterfully told. I did not want it to end – and I highly recommend it. It easily gets 5-stars!
I also read the first Vera Stanhope story – A Crow’s Trap. Wow! I have read and enjoyed Ann Cleeves Shetland series, but what she does with Vera is wonderful! The character development is so good! Although, I wish Vera would have arrived in the story sooner than later! This will not be my last Vera mystery – 4-stars and I highly recommend!
Finally, I round out the week with Michael Eric Dyson’s What Truth Sounds Like. Wow. This is one powerful, thought-provoking, damning little book! I will be thinking about it for a very long time. 4-stars!
My current reads are also things that I have waited seemingly forever for – I started Where the Crawdads Sing yesterday and last night, Louise Erdrich’s The Round House came through on Overdrive!
This is truly the perfect start to my year of reading! But, what about you? What is catching your eye this week?
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The shawl for your daughter is just so lovely. And those birds!!! What fun they would be. Thanks for the book recommendations…my TBR list continues to grow (which is not a bad thing). Hoping you are feeling much better Kat!
The colors on your daughter’s shawl just keep getting better! It’s going to be so striking when it’s done.
You must be getting into my self-conscious because lately I’ve had the urge to do some stitching. I probably should get out the fiber friends cross-stitch piece that I started and then abandoned years ago.
Oh my, those Etsy links should have come with a warning! DANGER, DANGER!! So cute… and now thinking of stitching an Advent Calendar for the kiddos. 🙂
That’s a beautiful shot up there! Good to hear your health is moving in the right direction!
Thanks for commenting on my blog! It was fun to read that you do Pilates and also stitch. (I do both as well. Pilates has done wonders for my back and neck.) I, too, need to get back to stitching and sewing, so thanks for the reminder. So glad to hear you are feeling better and hope each coming day brings more improvement!
The colors in that photo are really stunning. Looks like the pneumonia isn’t interfering with your reading at.all!
Adding to my reading list! 🙂
Hope you’re better soon!
Snowy (almost-completed) shawls and birds are both good, and I’m glad you’re regaining your health. Now all I have to do is resist those birds myself …
Glad you’re feeling better! You’re the first person I know who’s had such high praise for Washington Black. (I was pretty disappointed . . . especially after how much I loved her earlier Half Blood Blues.) Ann Cleeves if VERY dependable! 🙂
On your recommendation I just checked “What Truth Sounds Like” out of my library. I agree with Kym. I found WB to be a little fantastical, but see why it deserves your high praise. Her writing takes you away to new places. The birds are fabulous! I hope you stitch them!
truth be told, I miss your stitching too. I have a Vera on my kindle but not sure which one. I’m glad to know the series is good!! Keep feeling better!
Here’s to the return of STITCHING! Wahoo!
Cheers~
I’m on #3 of the Vera series, and agree it took a while for us to meet her in the first one.