Do you think May is moving at warp speed, or is it just me? It feels like it is flying by and its going too darned fast! I need to find the brake and slow this month down!
However, I do have a Finished Object to share – The TRAVEL Socks are done! That’s right – the socks I started for Steve last October are now on his feet. Good thing the weather has been decidedly sock-ish the past few days. I got a thumbs up on them – despite them not matching perfectly. Now, some notes from the knitter – I used this pattern, but I cast on 72 stitches instead of the what the pattern called for. Steve does not like “tall socks” so I knit to a height of 4 inches on the leg… and then that foot. Size 14 feet take forever to knit, just saying. The bonus to these socks is that they have been knit on in almost all the drinking establishments in Northern Michigan, including the Empire Hops Festival, much to Steve’s dismay – he actually thinks that I am the only person who knits in public. I know – I think that is so hilarious.
This week I should have been hanging out on Sleeve Island with my Marsa Alam – but I have not knit one stitch on it. I was advised on Sunday by the person who asked me to do some charity knitting that she told me the wrong date – it is not the end of June, but the end of May that they need the shawl I am knitting. So, in my brief moments to myself on Sunday – I got just past the halfway point. I should be able to get further tomorrow thanks to some stunningly amazing news we got on Monday during our “Annual AC Check Up” on Monday. The electric panel has become “unraveled” and will be replaced Tuesday (fingers crossed it just just Tuesday!!)
Thus – I will spend a good bit of Tuesday without power. (I am writing this post on Monday as insurance just in case their 10-hour estimate is somehow extended – because that would be just our luck! LOL)
Thank goodness for reading for always being the best escape ever and I have some amazing finishes this week!
There was more John Boyne, and each was so incredible: First up – Noah Barleywater Runs Away. This is an amazing, yet poignant tale. The story revolves around the title character – who has run away from home. He ends up in a simply magical place where he is able to unpack what has caused him to run away (no spoilers here). Boyne is a master of bringing you into the story and he delivers things in such an incredible way that you gasp as you take in the words. He is hands down my favorite writer – ever.
My second Boyne finish is Stay Where You Are and Then Leave. This is another WWI story – and delightedly it has some of the same characters as The Absolutist. This story, however, is told from the perspective of a boy whose father goes off to war. I would suggest reading this before you read The Absolutist – I think the flow will be a bit better. Both books got 5-stars from me and I highly recommend each of them!
The Tattooist of Auschwitz: This book was everything I hoped it would be and more. It is the story of Lale Sokolov, the Tätowierer of Auschwitz and Birkenau. The humanity that is miraculously maintained by the prisoners in the midst of the sea of hatred surrounding them is incredible. I highly recommend this beautifully retold story – 5-stars.
Ghost Wall: A Novel: this was a short, gritty read. Down and dirty with no wasted words – the ending… oh man…it was so unexpected!! 4-stars and I enjoyed this on a very visceral reading level!
Finally, The Girl with Seven Names: I started this Tuesday and finished it Tuesday! (I am updating this at 8:30 PM, yes that would be 12 hours after the power was shut off!! AND, it is back on and they are finished!! YAY!!!) This book grabbed me from the beginning sentence: “My name is Hyeonseo Lee. It is not the name I was born with, nor one of the names forced on me, at different times, by different circumstances. But it is the one I gave myself, once I’d reached freedom.” This is an amazing story of one woman’s escape from North Korea. I was moved, I was on pins and needles for Hyeonseo in her journey, and I was elated with the ending. 5-stars and I highly recommend! (P.S. Thanks to Hyeonseo, I did not knit a single stitch on Tuesday… I am correcting that problem today! Ha!!)
That is all I have this week! And, the weather is supposed to be sort of nice – and at least not raining! And maybe even with a bit of sunshine!
What about you? What are you reading this week?
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As always, thank you all so much!
ooooh, nice finish on the socks! and all those books! Marc read Tattooist and loved it … it’s also our November bookclub pick, so I’m waiting a little bit longer to read it.
Great finish on the socks (size 14!!!!!) and I agree May is just speeding along a bit too quickly. Wow! You’ve read a ton of books – great reviews and I’m off to see if some are available at one of my libraries.
Steve’s socks look great, and I’m laughing about his kip thoughts! I knit at the Newark DE train station and at Friday’s restaurant, and that was just yesterday. I am going to have to look for more John Boyne novels. I’ve only read The Heart’s Invisible Furies, but he is clearly a favorite author of yours and has written so many more great books!
Clearly I have to get some John Boyne on my TBR list after all these rave reviews you’ve been posting! I’ll admit I was a bit disappointed with The Tattooist of Auschwitz. It was getting such buzz, but I found it really lacking in description. Having read afterward that the author was previously a screenwriter, it makes more sense, because it really is mostly dialogue. It’s an interesting story, but I’m someone who really likes more than just dialogue.
Great job on Steve’s socks (and he shouldn’t be complaining about you knitting in public when you’re working on something for him!). I guess with feet that long you should be glad he prefers shorter legs!
Right – socks for men with large+larger feet take a long time, unfortunately my men do like long tall socks so . . .
May has been hurried, though to me, May is always busy.
Books – the Ghost Wall was very interesting and unusual in an odd way. I did like it.
Your book review is so nicely revealing of concise thoughts, thanks.
Oh, wow! I have book club tonight and you’ve given me some fodder… THANKS!!
Oh my goodness – so glad you have the AC fixed before the heat rolls in. That was a lot of reading time. The socks look great and I am glad you husband likes them. I love the phrase about the sockish weather.
We have “sockish” weather here, too; those a re neat … delighted the AC is fixed and ready to roll come summer’s heat! A friend of mine just finished the Tattooist and gave it a rave review…adding to the list. Also, Girl with Seven Names.
Knit on with the shawl; I’m sure you’ll make the deadline!
Cheers~
Size 14 socks are QUITE the commitment! Nicely done, Kat!
Those are great looking socks. All I can say is thank goodness he doesn’t like a long leg because the size 14 foot is pretty daunting! Bring on the sunshine, I’m so tired of rain.
I like that we share books–adding to my TBR!
I knit the Close To You and love it.
May is going at warp speed! Love your socks – now to try to slow down June as it approaches!! I know when the heat and humidity arrives, then the late summer will be a crawl as I wish for fall 🙂