This novel opens with the most horrifically imaginable scene - a man has burnt to death in the Australian outback, alone, with little shelter other than an old gravestone and no water. Who is he? How did he happen to be there? Why?
Two brothers meet at the Stockman's grave -a remote gravestone literally in the middle of nowhere. The dead man is their brother Cameron. All three are farmers on neighbouring properties, but this being Australia their houses are hours and hundred of miles apart.
The discovery of the body brings grief, anguish and lots of looking back into past history for the remaining family members. As well as the brothers, there is the mother, Cameron's wife and two young daughters.
As the novel progresses we learn more about how harsh and hostile life in the outback can be, the sheer size being incomprehensible to most UK readers. The farms cover many hundreds of thousands of acres - the size of whole counties in the UK. If you do ever visit Australia and drive through parts the endlessness of it all is astounding. Then look on a map and see how miniscule the area is that you have been through.
Life is tough, lonely and dangerous.
No foul play is discovered and as it is mentioned that Cameron had been worried in recent days, the conclusion is that he must have deliberately walked out to kill himself. Everyone agrees that the vastness of the land, loneliness of the lifestyle, lack of interaction with others, the unrelenting heat and dryness must have contributed to a suicidal state of mind.
But Cameron was the golden boy" of the three brothers, Bub (the youngest) seen as a loveable but simple soul and Nathan (the eldest) as the one tormented by his past deeds, divorced and completely alone on his own farm. But was he?
As the novel unfolds and we learn more about the family dynamics, we are led with many twists and turns to a stunning finale.
I have not ever read any books by Jane Harper before, but two previous ones were highly commended with a number of awards, so I think I will definitely be putting these on my (ever increasing) "to read" list.
Sunday, 16 June 2019
SHAWL 1
TRINITAS SHAWL
I was privileged to be a tester for this pattern (https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/trinitas) and what a pleasure it was to work. Lots of chain stitches which meant being very careful about tension to ensure that all the spaces these created were similar sizes when the shawl was finished.
The shawl is symmetrical so counting was vital, but the pattern uses the same basic stitches in different combinations, so once in the rhythm it was straightforward.
The pattern was written by Julie Harris (https://www.ravelry.com/designers/julie-harris) of Watercolours and Lace (https://www.watercoloursandlace.co.uk/#/) and the wonderful hand dyed
4-ply yarn was from her fantastic range.
I used two complementary colours, which I wound into yarn cakes before I started the crochet. This is quite time consuming, but absolutely vital if you are to avoid tangles.
The finished shawl required quite strong blocking to show off the fantastic lace design, but very much worth that extra effort at the end.
Some of the finer details highlighted.
I was privileged to be a tester for this pattern (https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/trinitas) and what a pleasure it was to work. Lots of chain stitches which meant being very careful about tension to ensure that all the spaces these created were similar sizes when the shawl was finished.
The shawl is symmetrical so counting was vital, but the pattern uses the same basic stitches in different combinations, so once in the rhythm it was straightforward.
The pattern was written by Julie Harris (https://www.ravelry.com/designers/julie-harris) of Watercolours and Lace (https://www.watercoloursandlace.co.uk/#/) and the wonderful hand dyed
4-ply yarn was from her fantastic range.
I used two complementary colours, which I wound into yarn cakes before I started the crochet. This is quite time consuming, but absolutely vital if you are to avoid tangles.
The finished shawl required quite strong blocking to show off the fantastic lace design, but very much worth that extra effort at the end.
Some of the finer details highlighted.
BLANKET 3
NAMAQUALAND BLANKET
Another finished WIP. This one I started about 18 months ago and then when I ran out of one of the colours (despite having bought this as a kit), I couldn't be bothered to search out a ball of the colour needed from the many I have in my stash.
However, once I had done this the lap blanket was finished in no time at all.
The pattern is straightforward, though the number of back post trebles is a challenge. The hardest thing about crocheting this blanket was remembering that some rows were worked with the front facing and some with the back.
The pattern is by Dedro Uys (https://www.ravelry.com/designers/dedri-uys) and you can find her website here - http://www.lookatwhatimade.net/. Lots more lovely patterns to choose from.
A great use of vibrant colour and the size works as a lap blanket or a pram/cot blanket.
Another finished WIP. This one I started about 18 months ago and then when I ran out of one of the colours (despite having bought this as a kit), I couldn't be bothered to search out a ball of the colour needed from the many I have in my stash.
However, once I had done this the lap blanket was finished in no time at all.
The pattern is straightforward, though the number of back post trebles is a challenge. The hardest thing about crocheting this blanket was remembering that some rows were worked with the front facing and some with the back.
The pattern is by Dedro Uys (https://www.ravelry.com/designers/dedri-uys) and you can find her website here - http://www.lookatwhatimade.net/. Lots more lovely patterns to choose from.
A great use of vibrant colour and the size works as a lap blanket or a pram/cot blanket.
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