My aim this year was to read books I wouldn't ordinarily pick up, books recommended by other people, book clubs, bookshop recommendations and so on.
Already only four books in, my success rate of books I have enjoyed is pretty poor. Four read, four not really enjoyed. All I can say is that I am fast pinpointing genres I enjoy and eliminating those I don't!!
John Lanchester is an established author with a big fan base and so when I saw that the Telegraph Book Club had chosen this book as its book of the month for February I felt I could not go far wrong. All the reviews I read beforehand indicated that this book was the Orwell "1984" of its time.
So definitely not the case in my opinion.
This book has at one point in the early stages a long list of words repeated over and over again - particularly the word "concrete". How boring is a list of words you might say? Yes. It is. Very boring. As is the book.
There is really no plot. Nothing really happens. Page after page of boring dialogue about what it is like to guard a concrete wall for hours on end. None of the characters have any substance at all, there is no depth to their feelings or thoughts (maybe that's what the author feels we will all be like in the future), no action, nothing. There is no action. I longed to turn the page and find a mad manic plot twist, a strange course of action to attract my attention. Sorry. That doesn't happen.
I might have enjoyed the book more if the language had been evocative or interesting or visually descriptive. But no. Lots of boring simple sentences, with boring simple words.
I can only think that this novel will appeal to those doom mongers among us - climate change, illegal immigrants coming across the channel to take our livelihoods, low birth rates, a lack of joy in any recreational pursuit, a relentless toil to fund a capitalist economy.
Once again, not a book I would want to read again. I certainly wouldn't recommend it (unless you fall in the category of individual described in the paragraph above!) and sadly, this does not make me want to read any of his other novels.
Thursday, 7 February 2019
Tuesday, 5 February 2019
BOOK 3 - UNSHELTERED (Barbara Kingsolver)
I was intrigued to read this book based on a clip I heard read out on a radio show. The clip centred around a female scientist who was allowing a Venus Flytrap to nibble her finger for hours in order to prove a scientific point of discussion she was having with Charles Darwin.
I have never read any of Barbara Kingsolver books before and based on this one alone, I feel that it may be longer before I read another.
This book has a great plot line - the stories of two families who live in the same house, but at different times (actually it's not exactly the same house as it turns out).
Both stories are set amid political and social upheaval and turmoil, both sets of families are troubled with difficulties in maintaining their house and their families. Unemployment, debt, broken love affairs and troubled marriages. There are parallels in both timelines.
I have to say that some of the story lines that I found most ludicrous were all the historical ones...and it turns out that they were all true. Never was the phrase truth is stranger than fiction more appropriate.
The "Unsheltered" of the title seems to come to mean that love will conquer all, that material things don't matter and community spirit and sharing should be the way to go. This actually brings us back round to the historical story line, where these things were tried and found wanting.
Although I wanted to put the book down on a number of occasions I read through to the end and then was disappointed as I felt there were many questions unanswered - what did happen to Mary Treat and Thatcher Greenwood? And too many neat and tidy endings in the modern story line - why didn't Zeke come back? Or did he? What happened to the family? Did the crumbling demolished house really provide them enough to live on? Was Tig's home with the baby a historical building that saved them all?
I did not find the modern day characters wholly convincing - Tig just a bit too environmentally friendly, Nick far too antagonistic and rude (surely no one of his generation would be quite so bad?), Zeke too selfish - would be really abandon his baby? However, the historical ones were better drawn - maybe because they were in fact (mainly) real people.
Finally, the politics. I love to read, but I do not like to be lectured at. I am not American, but the constant harping on about the inadequacies of medical care, student loans, employment prospects, dying industries, climate change, and so on, made me want to throw the book at a wall on a number of occasions.
I have no doubt that Kingsolver fans will like this novel, but another book this year that is not for me.
I have never read any of Barbara Kingsolver books before and based on this one alone, I feel that it may be longer before I read another.
This book has a great plot line - the stories of two families who live in the same house, but at different times (actually it's not exactly the same house as it turns out).
Both stories are set amid political and social upheaval and turmoil, both sets of families are troubled with difficulties in maintaining their house and their families. Unemployment, debt, broken love affairs and troubled marriages. There are parallels in both timelines.
I have to say that some of the story lines that I found most ludicrous were all the historical ones...and it turns out that they were all true. Never was the phrase truth is stranger than fiction more appropriate.
The "Unsheltered" of the title seems to come to mean that love will conquer all, that material things don't matter and community spirit and sharing should be the way to go. This actually brings us back round to the historical story line, where these things were tried and found wanting.
Although I wanted to put the book down on a number of occasions I read through to the end and then was disappointed as I felt there were many questions unanswered - what did happen to Mary Treat and Thatcher Greenwood? And too many neat and tidy endings in the modern story line - why didn't Zeke come back? Or did he? What happened to the family? Did the crumbling demolished house really provide them enough to live on? Was Tig's home with the baby a historical building that saved them all?
I did not find the modern day characters wholly convincing - Tig just a bit too environmentally friendly, Nick far too antagonistic and rude (surely no one of his generation would be quite so bad?), Zeke too selfish - would be really abandon his baby? However, the historical ones were better drawn - maybe because they were in fact (mainly) real people.
Finally, the politics. I love to read, but I do not like to be lectured at. I am not American, but the constant harping on about the inadequacies of medical care, student loans, employment prospects, dying industries, climate change, and so on, made me want to throw the book at a wall on a number of occasions.
I have no doubt that Kingsolver fans will like this novel, but another book this year that is not for me.
Sunday, 20 January 2019
BLANKET 2
I finished a second blanket this month! I'm not sure that I will continue at this rate for the whole year as I am at the moment choosing all those "just about finished" projects, rather than those that have a long way to go.
There are a few crochet blanket designers who I love to follow and whose patterns I find well written and easy to use.
One of these is Lucy from Attic 24 (https://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/). Her blanket designs are colourful and reflective of the beautiful Yorkshire Dales where she lives (Lucky girl!). Also, and this is most important for those of you who might want to make this blanket, is that the pattern repeats every two rows, so once you have mastered it (and that takes no time at all) you can watch TV or just zone out and crochet at the same time. Lucy also has lots of photo tutorials on her blog and so you can see exactly what you are supposed to be doing.
The blanket I have just finished is the Hydrangea Stripe Blanket and I absolutely love the gorgeous colours. So reminiscent of hydrangeas in the Summer in full bloom and a hint of brighter things to come in the next few seasons of the year. (https://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/hydrangea-stripe-blanket.html).
I am a bit ashamed to admit that this blanket has been languishing in my pile of unfinished objects since I started it in April 2017. I have no idea why or what distracted me, but once I had decided to complete it, there was no going back.
The finished item is soft and cosy and perfect for the Winter chill ahead. Great to snuggle up under on the sofa with a good movie and a hot chocolate.
There are a few crochet blanket designers who I love to follow and whose patterns I find well written and easy to use.
One of these is Lucy from Attic 24 (https://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/). Her blanket designs are colourful and reflective of the beautiful Yorkshire Dales where she lives (Lucky girl!). Also, and this is most important for those of you who might want to make this blanket, is that the pattern repeats every two rows, so once you have mastered it (and that takes no time at all) you can watch TV or just zone out and crochet at the same time. Lucy also has lots of photo tutorials on her blog and so you can see exactly what you are supposed to be doing.
The blanket I have just finished is the Hydrangea Stripe Blanket and I absolutely love the gorgeous colours. So reminiscent of hydrangeas in the Summer in full bloom and a hint of brighter things to come in the next few seasons of the year. (https://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/hydrangea-stripe-blanket.html).
I am a bit ashamed to admit that this blanket has been languishing in my pile of unfinished objects since I started it in April 2017. I have no idea why or what distracted me, but once I had decided to complete it, there was no going back.
The finished item is soft and cosy and perfect for the Winter chill ahead. Great to snuggle up under on the sofa with a good movie and a hot chocolate.
Saturday, 19 January 2019
BOOK 2 - DODGERS (Bill Beverley)
So my second book was definitely not something I would have chosen whilst browsing a bookshop.
This book came from a subscription service called Blind Date with a Book (blinddatewithabook.com). This services costs £54.99 for 6 months and each month you receive a mystery book based upon your stated preferences. I excluded science fiction and horror, but basically left all the other options.
At the beginning of every month you receive a book bound in brown paper and tied with string and a label giving clues to the book inside.
I read the book without reading anything from the back cover so it truly was a blind reading, with no clues to the content other than that on the label.
This book has won many crime awards, but as we are told what the crime is right at the beginning and we know who the perpetrators are, I wouldn't personally have put it in this category. It is much more a story of growing up and potentially maturing away from a difficult start in life.
This book is in essence the tale of American children caught up in the shady world of drug dealing and the crimes associated with such a life, including fraud, money laundering and murder.
The main character, East, starts out as a look out, but then once the drug house he is watching is raided by the police, he is given the task of killing a judge who is about to try some of the drug gang's associates. He is then sent on a road trip of 2000 miles cross country with three associates to carry out the execution. Along the way, the group do some incredibly stupid and unbelievable things (such as trying to go into a high class casino in Vegas, guarded by security guards) before finally arriving at their destination. The book gained more momentum as it reached the end and although not a "happy ever after" ending, it did have some sense of conclusion.
Throughout the book we see East struggling inwardly with his life and watch his actions lead him to some sort of redemption.
The most striking point for me was the sense of futility in the lives of such young children (the youngest, who is already living on the streets and carrying a gun he is not afraid to use, is only 13) and the sense of the perpetual nature of their existence through the generations.
Did I enjoy it? Not really.
Would I read it again? No.
Would I recommend it? Well, it would seem to be the sort of book that would be attractive to young people (late teens and twenties) who are more aware of the kind of world that Bill Beverly writes of.
This book came from a subscription service called Blind Date with a Book (blinddatewithabook.com). This services costs £54.99 for 6 months and each month you receive a mystery book based upon your stated preferences. I excluded science fiction and horror, but basically left all the other options.
At the beginning of every month you receive a book bound in brown paper and tied with string and a label giving clues to the book inside.
I read the book without reading anything from the back cover so it truly was a blind reading, with no clues to the content other than that on the label.
This book has won many crime awards, but as we are told what the crime is right at the beginning and we know who the perpetrators are, I wouldn't personally have put it in this category. It is much more a story of growing up and potentially maturing away from a difficult start in life.
This book is in essence the tale of American children caught up in the shady world of drug dealing and the crimes associated with such a life, including fraud, money laundering and murder.
The main character, East, starts out as a look out, but then once the drug house he is watching is raided by the police, he is given the task of killing a judge who is about to try some of the drug gang's associates. He is then sent on a road trip of 2000 miles cross country with three associates to carry out the execution. Along the way, the group do some incredibly stupid and unbelievable things (such as trying to go into a high class casino in Vegas, guarded by security guards) before finally arriving at their destination. The book gained more momentum as it reached the end and although not a "happy ever after" ending, it did have some sense of conclusion.
Throughout the book we see East struggling inwardly with his life and watch his actions lead him to some sort of redemption.
The most striking point for me was the sense of futility in the lives of such young children (the youngest, who is already living on the streets and carrying a gun he is not afraid to use, is only 13) and the sense of the perpetual nature of their existence through the generations.
Did I enjoy it? Not really.
Would I read it again? No.
Would I recommend it? Well, it would seem to be the sort of book that would be attractive to young people (late teens and twenties) who are more aware of the kind of world that Bill Beverly writes of.
Saturday, 5 January 2019
BLANKET 1
It is very satisfying to finish off a blanket. The sheer size of the project gives the most amazing sense of achievement and at this time of the year, they are a handy project to both do (the weight of the growing blanket keeps you warm) and practical once done. Who doesn't need a blanket to snuggle under on the sofa whilst watching a film or over the top of the duvet on a cold night.
So my first finished WIP this year is the Continuum Blanket by Helen Shrimpton. (https://crystalsandcrochet.com/crochet/continuum/). The pattern is available in Helen's Ravelry store online.
My 21 year old son has a bedroom with light grey painted walls, a black bedstead and bedding in shades of white, grey and black, so a palette with those colours seemed to be appropriate. I chose white and black as the background and contrast colours and three shades of grey. Working with black yarn is very tiring on your eyes (though a good tip is to work with a white pillow case underneath), so my next choice of a project to finish is likely to have brighter colours.
The full details of the shades and amounts I used can be found on my Ravelry page. (https://www.ravelry.com/projects/karen2611/continuum).
BLANKET* CHALLENGE
When I'm not reading I like to spend my time with craftwork. I have always done lots of knitting, but had never tried any crochet up until a couple of years ago. For some reason it had always looked very complicated, even though I could tackle very challenging knitting patterns, such as fair isle and lace work.
However, when it comes down to it, crochet only has one basic stitch - yarn over, pull through. To make variations on this stitch, you can yarn over more than once -so changing a UK double to a treble, double treble and so on depending on how many times you yarn over. Each variation makes a different stitch. Even more variations can be made by combining more than one stitch together.
And the best thing about crochet....it makes up much more quickly than most knitting. Which leads me to the blankets.
I have never knitted a full size blanket, purely down to the time that would be involved, but then one day I came across a website called Crystals and Crochet (https://crystalsandcrochet.com/)with the most amazing crocheted blankets. Never one to shirk a challenge I thought I'd start with one of Helen Shrimpton's designs. They look very complicated and everyone who sees a finished blanket is amazed by their intricacy. But once you get going (and so long as you remember to count, count, count and count again!), they are not that difficult after all.
So, as well as my reading challenge I am embarking on a WIP (Work in Progress) challenge this year. I have more "just started", "part way through", "one sock of a pair" and "almost done apart from sewing in the ends" projects than I care to think about. And I'm not going to bother to count them! And even more yarn tucked away in cupboards or under the stairs to keep me busy for many a year.
This year I am endeavouring NOT to buy any more yarn (well, unless I see the "perfect" yarn that I absolutely must have) and to finish off as many of the WIPs as I can. There are a fair few blankets, some shawls, lots of socks and a few jumpers. The only logic to choosing which one to do will be start with the ones that are almost finished and then move onto the rest.
*And lots of other items!!!
However, when it comes down to it, crochet only has one basic stitch - yarn over, pull through. To make variations on this stitch, you can yarn over more than once -so changing a UK double to a treble, double treble and so on depending on how many times you yarn over. Each variation makes a different stitch. Even more variations can be made by combining more than one stitch together.
And the best thing about crochet....it makes up much more quickly than most knitting. Which leads me to the blankets.
I have never knitted a full size blanket, purely down to the time that would be involved, but then one day I came across a website called Crystals and Crochet (https://crystalsandcrochet.com/)with the most amazing crocheted blankets. Never one to shirk a challenge I thought I'd start with one of Helen Shrimpton's designs. They look very complicated and everyone who sees a finished blanket is amazed by their intricacy. But once you get going (and so long as you remember to count, count, count and count again!), they are not that difficult after all.
So, as well as my reading challenge I am embarking on a WIP (Work in Progress) challenge this year. I have more "just started", "part way through", "one sock of a pair" and "almost done apart from sewing in the ends" projects than I care to think about. And I'm not going to bother to count them! And even more yarn tucked away in cupboards or under the stairs to keep me busy for many a year.
This year I am endeavouring NOT to buy any more yarn (well, unless I see the "perfect" yarn that I absolutely must have) and to finish off as many of the WIPs as I can. There are a fair few blankets, some shawls, lots of socks and a few jumpers. The only logic to choosing which one to do will be start with the ones that are almost finished and then move onto the rest.
*And lots of other items!!!
Thursday, 3 January 2019
READING RESOLUTION 2019
I used to read a lot - an awful lot. Book after book...mostly when I was waiting in the car to pick my children up after football practice, netball practice, hockey practice, gymnastics, dancing, school, the supermarket.
No! That last one is wrong, just wishful thinking. I never sent them to do the shopping for me.
But as they have grown up and gone to University I have barely read at all. Where has all my time gone? Surely I must have the same amount of time. Maybe if I sat in the car by myself I would read more? Maybe not, there's something a little sad (if not downright odd) about sitting in a car reading for hours on end without a reason to be parked wherever it is.
So last year I set myself a personal reading challenge of 26 books (two a month. What can be so difficult about that?) and I failed miserably, managing only 8.
So this year I am setting a harder challenge of 52 - yes, one a week and I'm determined to do it this year.
I have no rules about what I am going to read - fiction, non-fiction, bestseller or classic. I am going to take my inspiration from book club reviews, what my friends and family are reading or recommending, gifts, the library, Kindle free books, whatever happens to fall into my lap.
I will post a review on this blog - good and bad - and I will read to the bitter end of each book I choose (even if I'm not enjoying it).
So, please come along and read with me!
No! That last one is wrong, just wishful thinking. I never sent them to do the shopping for me.
But as they have grown up and gone to University I have barely read at all. Where has all my time gone? Surely I must have the same amount of time. Maybe if I sat in the car by myself I would read more? Maybe not, there's something a little sad (if not downright odd) about sitting in a car reading for hours on end without a reason to be parked wherever it is.
So last year I set myself a personal reading challenge of 26 books (two a month. What can be so difficult about that?) and I failed miserably, managing only 8.
So this year I am setting a harder challenge of 52 - yes, one a week and I'm determined to do it this year.
I have no rules about what I am going to read - fiction, non-fiction, bestseller or classic. I am going to take my inspiration from book club reviews, what my friends and family are reading or recommending, gifts, the library, Kindle free books, whatever happens to fall into my lap.
I will post a review on this blog - good and bad - and I will read to the bitter end of each book I choose (even if I'm not enjoying it).
So, please come along and read with me!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)