Well, here we are, safely arrived on Martha’s Vineyard.

Allowing for some road work-related traffic on I-95 through Connecticut, the drive was pretty uneventful. Chappy was looking pretty queasy at one point, though, licking his lips . . . so we pulled off the highway just long enough for me to get into the backseat with him. He seems to do a little better with company back there–reassuring pats and someone to help buffer the bumps and turns. (Sadly, he appears to be backsliding in the carsickness stakes, since we went to visit Liz last year. Not that I’m blaming her or the roads in Maryland, you understand. Really, it’s I-95 in Philadelphia that I hold responsible. But that’s another story.)

Anyway, the important thing is that we’re here and did NOT need to use the carsickness kit. (That would be a ziploc bag with paper towels, a smaller ziploc with Clorox wipes, a garbage bag, and moist towelettes. At least, I do plan ahead.)

Here’s some Vineyard Sky for you–a lovely blue over Edgartown Harbor. That’s Chappy’s namesake, Chappaquiddick in the distance.

Really, we’re all pretty tired. We left the house at 8:00 and caught the 2:30 ferry out of Woods Hole. We spent an hour at Mystic, Connecticut for lunch, and for Chappy to stretch his legs. Our timing was excellent–they were having a puppy-training session in the center of Olde Mistic Village, so he got to see lots of dogs and dog lovers. He was gushed over by slews of friendly people who were dying to know what kind of dog he was. He even met a rescue St. Bernard who had been deserted, chained under a deck, and was about 30 lbs underweight, but a real sweetheart.

Basically, all the attention and adoration, on top of no-breakfast and feeling carsick took a lot out of him, and now he’s completely zonked out on the living room floor. We stay at the Island Inn, and our favorite room is really a suite. Two bedrooms–one of which we sleep in and the other which we use as a staging area, a living room and a kitchenette. Which came in handy since Chappy’s supper was still frozen solid when we got here, so that the microwave was very much appreciated.

But mostly? He’s just glad to be out of the car!

Tags: Family, Martha's Vineyard by Deb
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I don’t have much time tonight to post because I’ve been busy packing.

But here, let me remind you where I’m going.

I’ve got my suitcase packed. My knitting is ready to go–I’m leaving Tatami at home, but bringing my Celtic Icon and Mom’s socks–which hopefully will be done by Sunday. I’m not bringing my spinning. I thought about it, but there’s just not that much room in the trunk, and really, sitting with a book or my knitting sounds more relaxing than all that treadling (grin–I did put a spindle in my bag, though, just in case). The hardest part, as always, was picking out the books to bring along. Good thing there are bookstores up there.

Okay . . . gotta go!

Tags: Martha's Vineyard by Deb
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Mom bought these grapes today and they just looked so, so beautiful . . . and, what with Mom, Chappy, and I heading for Martha’s Vineyard tomorrow, that much more appropriate to show for today’s Eye Candy, don’t you think?

Frankly, just scrolling through the pictures is making my mouth water….

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Tags: Eye-Candy Friday by Deb
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Unfortunately, it was this baby. The one with the really expensive taste in shoes. (Do you know how many shoes I could buy for what hers cost?)

I only bought her one pair–the other two are in still good enough shape to wait a while. Interestingly though, the two tires with the most wear were both on the passenger side. If it had been both front tires or both back tires, that would have made sense to me, but how odd that it would be two on the side?

But, anyway, Dad and I had a fun game of Musical Cars today. Although, really, he’s got his radio tuned to all-talk radio, so his car’s not that musical. First, he sort of followed me over to the mechanic on my way to work this morning. I say “sort of” because I left first, but we each took different routes and he got there first. I dropped off the keys with Frank and then Dad gave me a lift to the office.

About 10:00, he drove me back over, and as we walked in, Frank (on the phone) glanced up and said, “She needs new tires,” and Dad said, “This is going to be an expensive vacation check-up.” Ouch. No kidding! Frank showed me the wearing treads, we picked out the tires, and opted for two instead of four. But, of course, they didn’t have the tires there, so my car wouldn’t be ready until the afternoon. Except that Dad and Frank were going to be golfing this afternoon, so I wouldn’t have a ride . . .

What they decided was that Dad would drive me back to the office, and then come home until 11:30, when they’d be leaving. Then he picked up our neighbor across the street, drove with him to the garage, where Walter got into Frank’s car, and then they trekked sedately back to the office, where Dad parked, handed me his keys and went off to golf. I drove his car (a Cadillac, nonetheless) home for lunch, and then drove it back to the garage at the end of the day, leaving his in their parking lot and driving my Volvo home.

I know. Confusing, huh? But isn’t it handy that my Dad is best friends and golfing buddies with our mechanic? And, as a thank you for all the extra trips he made, I filled his gas tank up for him before I dropped off the car . . . you know, despite being $300 poorer for the new tires and maintenance.

To add insult to injury, in amongst my travels today–the house, my car, the garage, Dad’s car, the parking lot, the office, Dad’s car, the garage, the car bays, Dad’s car, the office, lunchtime walk with Chappy, etcetera–I lost an earring. The second to this tiny precious little seedpod of an earring. I don’t wear them very often because they don’t show well in amongst my curls, but I love them . . . Or, well, it. Because its partner has left us. I have no idea when. I noticed halfway through our lunchtime walk, when I had pretty much covered the maximum amount of ground for the day. Poor thing. It looks so lonely. I don’t think even my Grandfather can help with this one.

Hmmm …. I wonder if I could turn it into a stitch marker?

Hey, fiber-wise, this is pretty interesting.

Tags: General by Deb
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So, judging by last week’s answers, apparently the question I should have been asking was:

Where DON’T you read??

Well, let’s see . . . I don’t read while driving, while showering, or while at work. I don’t read when I’m in a restaurant (unless I’m by myself). I don’t read when I’m out for walks with Chappy or with friends
. I don’t read in the dark, or when I’m sleeping. I don’t read at (most) parties or social events. I don’t read when I’m spinning and hardly ever when I’m knitting.

Really, it’ll probably be faster to show you . . .

Not while playing in the snow, either.

But, otherwise? Basically, so long as my hands are dry and I’m not doing something that requires full concentration for safety reasons or for other reasons, or that requires two hands, and I’m awake, I’m reading. Yes, I read while . . . .

Eating. Brushing my teeth. Lying in bed. In front of the television. During lunch. While stirring things on the stove. While waiting for webpages to load. In the bathroom. Between answering emails. While out in public. Waiting for airplanes. During any spare five minutes I can find. Hey, I’ve even read in dark-ish movie theaters while waiting for the film to begin.

(Really, this was rather a silly question. I mean, I might as well have asked when I am or am not breathing, or some other entirely necessary-for-life activity….)

Tags: Reading by Deb
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I’m trying so hard to find fibery things to talk about.

I mean, my Tatami sweater seems to be permanently stuck at the halfway point. The sleeves for my Celtic Icon–which I’m working on every night–don’t seem to be making noticeable progress. An inch a night. Maybe. If I’m lucky.

On the plus side, Mom’s socks are at least moving. I’m trying very hard to get them done for Mother’s Day for her. I started them, you’ll remember, the weekend after her birthday. Which makes sense, since they’re her birthday present. We went out to buy the yarn together and everything . . . but of course, it’s been three months now, and Mother’s Day here in the U.S. is on Sunday, so . . . that’s my new goal.

The progress report? The feet are done. The heels are done. And I’ve got about half of the length of the leg done . . . so at least progress is being made.

There’s always the time in the car on Saturday to catch up, too. We spend about 5 hours in the car on the way up to Martha’s Vineyard, of which we each drive half. So I should have about two and a half hours of passengering, some of which will be spent reading aloud, but some of which can certainly be spent knitting.

I’m planning ahead, though. I’ve wound (optimistically) two more skeins of Silky Wool for my sleeves on the fairly remote chance that I’ll get to a point on the sleeves where I need more yarn. (Yeah. Like I said. Optimist.) But I also wound some more sock yarn–the two skeins of Claudia Handpaint “Walk in the Woods” that I won from Kim in March. I’m not entirely sure that this will be the next sock yarn I use. I’m sorely tempted by the Seawool, too. The Claudia Handpaint actually has more blue in it than appears in this photo–which makes it very “beachy,” I think, and of course, the Seawool has SeaCell in it, which also makes it “beachy,” so really, either would do wonderfully on Martha’s Vineyard, don’t you think?

Oh–and the book from yesterday? I returned it today and am thinking I won’t bother with the English version. (Not unless whoever recommended it in the first place–I’d pre-ordered it at least a couple months ago–can remind me of WHY I ordered it to begin with.) But–when choosing my “Reason for Return” at Amazon’s site, I was seriously tempted to select “Product is not fully compatible with my existing system.” Because, of course, it’s not since my “system” doesn’t speak or read Spanish, but . . . I figured they wouldn’t get the joke . . .

Tags: Knitting/Spinning by Deb
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One, tiny, little step and this, my Mystery Project is completely done.

You can’t really tell, but yes, all the seams are sewn, all the ends are woven, there’s just one thing left to do, all in good time before Birthday Season starts on Friday.

My sister’s family, you’ll remember, all have birthdays within four weeks of each other, between May 11th and June 7th. Add in not one, but two graduations on June 8th and it’s a busy gift-giving season here at Chappy’s.

I still have a couple things to pick up for Birthday Season, but pretty much have it under control. Knowing that this, my mystery project, is (almost) done is quite a comfort.

Okay, now about other little things?

I got an order from Amazon today, including this book–Shantaram. I don’t remember now if it was recommended, or if I came across it on my own, but it was getting fabulous reviews, so I ordered it.

Well, it came today, and there’s one little problem.

This edition is in Spanish.

Now, as soon as I got the order, I went back and looked at that order page. (Go ahead, I’ll wait.)

There’s one little reference to “Spanish Edition” in there, but everything else on the order page is in English. The excerpt is in English. The comments are all in English. Judging by the comments, I’m not the only one this happened to. I’ve been ordering from Amazon since something like 1996 and NEVER had this happen before. I’ve never done a search for a book (outside the Foreign Language category) and had anything come up that wasn’t in English. Maybe I should have seen that it said “Spanish,” but really . . . why would I have even thought to look??

So, now the question is–do I return it? Exchange it for the English edition? Or just give up?

Tags: General, Knitting/Spinning, Reading by Deb
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It’s been a relaxing kind of Sunday, so even if I don’t have bags of new wool to play with like some other people I know, at least I’m refreshed to start the work week tomorrow.

The exciting events here at Chappy’s house today? Let’s see. I got up this morning, and while my oatmeal simmered on the stove, mixed up a pound cake–which took about 40 minutes to assemble and an hour and a quarter to bake. (Thanks, Amy!)

I did some seaming on my Mystery Project, which is now 98% finished. But still, I can’t show you pictures.

Mom and I took Chappy for a nice, long, Sunday walk. The weather was beautiful–closer to 60 degrees than 70, so a little too cool to sit outside, but perfect for walking.

I finished my book du jour and started a new one . . . I’m currently on a Dick Francis kick. He writes a decent mystery, but my favorite part of almost all of his books is the hero. All the ones I can think of are told in first person, and his main character is always just such a great guy. Regardless of the age or background, they seem remarkably alike, if only because they always come across as smart, resourceful, decent, helpful men. (Frankly, I would love to meet a man who embodied a Dick Francis hero–having someone like Kit Fielding in my life would be so, so nice.) They’re not the most challenging reads, mind you, which is why I’ve been going through them like water this weekend, and there’s a limit to how many I can read in any given jag, but still. They’re entirely enjoyable while they last.

And, pretty much, that’s about it.

We did have an awfully pretty sunset last night, though.

Oh, and for the record, I’m exactly forty and a half years old today. It’s my “half-birthday.” When we were little, Mom always made a point of wishing my sister and me a happy half-birthday. And, of course, when you’re little being able to say you’re five and a half is just so much better than a measly five…. I mean, it’s not like there were gifts or anything, although she’d usually make a point to make something the “half-birthday-girl” liked for supper, and there was one year when she gave me half a birthday card . . . but anyway, for whatever reason, the date “stuck” and it’s something I always think of on May 6th–that I’m half a year older than I was…. funny, though, how that’s not quite such a comfort as it was when I was five!

Tags: Baking, General, Sky by Deb
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Well, while so many of the rest of you are off gallivanting to the MDSW festival, I threw myself my own little festival.

A small pot of tea, a good book, a hat of fiber, a spinning wheel, a comfy chair, and my adoring Chappy, all out on the deck on a lovely Spring afternoon.

No crowds. Beautiful fiber. Good refreshments . . . as alternatives go, it wasn’t awful.

Quiet, well, yes. And did I spare a thought or two for all you fibery-friends out fondling the fiber, spending your money on woolly goodness without me? Well, also yes.

But still, look at that beautiful blue Saturday sky, seen though the lacy puffs of new green leaves on the trees. (Not to mention Chappy doing his best Vanna White impression, to show it off.) How can you complain about that?

And, for the rest of you who are NOT in Maryland today? I hope your day is going as well as mine!

In other “news,” I started the day with my haircut at 9:30–which I really can’t comment on until tomorrow, after I’ve washed it myself and slept on it so that it looks like “me.” It seems like a decent cut . . . although, really, clearly she needs a ruler, because there’s a lot more gone that one inch. Not that I’m complaining. I knew when I said “one inch” that she’d take off more than that–and that the lighter weight would also let my hair curl up a little tighter so that it looks even shorter. It’s just that should I really need to be that circuitous about instructions to get the haircut I want? Because, again, she definitely took off more than an inch…. But then, since I like to stretch my haircuts as long as possible, it’s okay–just so long as it looks good in the morning.

We also took Chappy into town today. We got refreshments and then sat outside of Starbucks while Chappy did his best to charm passersby into stopping to pet him. He even did all his tricks for one little girl named Cynthia who just adored him . . . So, you know, he’s gotten his quota of adoration for the day. He even got to see his favorite mail-carrier, and everything. (Luckily, I think this means he’s forgiven me for having gone out without him this morning.)

Oh yes, and after my haircut, I stopped at the bookstore and bought a stack. It occured to me the other day that I didn’t have anything “new” to bring on vacation next week, and well, that won’t do. Browsing on Amazon wasn’t helping . . . sometimes, you’ve just GOT to go to a bookstore in person. So I browsed the “new releases” table and around the stacks and came home with a pretty nice assortment–fiction and fantasy, a history book, a couple travel books, and two books about reading/spelling.

Hey, a girl’s got to keep herself entertained, you know. Especially when so many friends are off having fun without her . . .

Tags: General, Hair, Reading, Sky by Deb
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So, to give you an idea how slowly my sweater is still going, well, slowly.

Here are the two sleeves. They’re about 12.5″ right now, and need to be 18″ before starting to shape the raglan sleeve cap. Or maybe 17″, to make the sleeves fit better. But still . . . I’m only 2/3 to the point where I get to start the decreases.

I figure it’s got at least a month of knitting to go.

And then there’s the hood to go.

I’m starting to feel that this sweater is going to take me eight or nine months . . . I mean, I started it in October, for heaven’s sake. But, really . . . 9 months just to knit a sweater? Why? Why? (grin)

I got a letter in the mail today, though, which is nice. You’ll remember (or maybe you don’t) that I signed up for Domesticat‘s Knitter’s Letter Writing exchange. I thought this was such a nifty idea, that when she asked for some letter angels to be pals to some last minute joiners, I volunteered. Because, who doesn’t love getting a nice letter?

Well, to date, I’ve mailed out two letters to my recipient-pals. I’ve gotten two letters from pals of my own, both of which I’ve answered and mailed responses back to. And today, I got one reply from one of the women I originally wrote to. I love letters. I’m a little disappointed that I haven’t heard back from my original pal, but haven’t given up on her. But I wrote her letter the very first day, and she lives in the same country, but I’ve heard back from my second pal in England already–and she nicely apologized for having taken so long. I don’t care, though–this was such a fun idea. And really, I just love getting mail.

I saw this nifty little photographer’s tip for making a string tripod. I haven’t tried it, but it sounded pretty cool.

Now, I hope everyone flocking to Maryland this weekend has a fabulous time. Me? I’ve got a haircut scheduled in the morning, my first since December. I’m a little nervous about it, as always, which is probably silly, but . . . can’t help it! It is needed, though. I love my hair long, but it’s just on the edge of being “too” long, so . . . it’s time!

Tags: General, Knitting/Spinning by Deb
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Eep. I almost forgot!

Since I took pictures of my desk for you last week, I guess the best I can do today is show you where I actually AM. (In fact, if you squint, you can just about see my car parked in front of the building.)

Do you see me waving??

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Tags: Eye-Candy Friday by Deb
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Nice things in today’s mail, helping to soften my most recent dentist visit. (And, gosh, a whole four weeks to relax before the next one. Sigh.)

But, really, we’re talking about the good stuff!

Like the most recent (and, I believe, my last) installment of Sundara Yarn‘s Petals Collection–Dahlia. How to describe this color? It’s like a deep, intense, coral. Sort of. Too yellow to be pink. Too pink to be red. But not at all pastely, like “coral” usually is.

Really, it’s just lovely.

Not only that, but it brought a very-well coordinated friend along in the mail stream. The latest copy of Interweave Knits. I mean really, look how well it looks next to that sweater on the cover, huh?

I like the Notre Dame pullover quite a lot–it looks very comfy and very wearable. The Summertime Tunic camisole is pretty, even if not something I’d be likely to wear–but, you know, I like it anyway. The Spiral Boot socks are pretty, the motorcycle gloves kind of nifty . . . some nice things in there, even if it’s not an issue I’m wowed by. Not overwhelmed, not underwhelmed, just . . . whelmed. It’s nice.

(Anybody else remember this Broadway lyric? “You’re so nice. You’re not good, you’re not bad, you’re just … nice. I’m not good, I’m not nice, I’m just right….”)

Hey–technical question for you: If you’re sewing two knit pieces together, in two completely different colors, which one do you use for the seaming yarn? The light one, or the dark one? Opinions??

Oh yes. I’ve joined a KAL for the summer–Jessica’s Summer of Socks. I’m not exactly going to be winning any speed prizes, but I WILL be knitting socks during the summer, this I know, so . . . why not join? I figure I’ve already met the requirements . . . that of working on socks between June 21st and September 21st, so why not play with others, huh? Come join us!

And, oh, as a reader, this is just sad….

Although I’m delighted to see one of my favorites on this list.

No, not THAT kind of  R.I.P.

Reading. In. Public.

Do you do it? Why or why not?

Gee, good question, Deb!

I used to ALL the time, but not so much anymore. When I was younger, I never went anywhere without a book. When I was old enough to start carrying purses, I always bought one that would be big enough for a paperback. I’d read at the movies before they dimmed the lights. In school while waiting for classes to start. While out on errands with Mom. It’s possible I even sneaked a peek at Church once or twice, waiting for services to start. (There, it helped that our minister was as big a fan of fantasy/sci-fi as I was–we even traded books every Sunday.)

Then, of course, there was college, when it was pretty much my responsibility as a good student to crack books open at every opportunity . . . whether they supported class credits or not. I think I spent almost as much time at the Rose Library reading novels for a break as I did actually doing, you know, studying. I’ve also read in restaurants over solitary meals while on vacation. Or, of course, while waiting at a doctor’s office, or in an airport, or some such thing.

But while, still, I DO read in public from time to time, my opportunities have dwindled greatly. I drive myself to work, and of course, that’s not exactly public-minded of me, to read while driving. I mostly go straight to work and come straight home, so on weekdays, there’s really no opportunity to read in public. On Saturdays, we’ll run errands, go to the park, go shopping, hang out over coffee . . . but it’s kind of rude to read while out for coffee with someone (unless you specifically planned to study or work or something). So for the most part, these days, if I’ve got a few free minutes while I’m out somewhere–I’ll usually pull out my knitting, which isn’t as rude to whomever I’m with.

Unless, of course, I’m out on my own. In which case, well, of course!!

Tags: General, Knitting/Spinning, Reading by Deb
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I’m really nowhere near ready to sew the zipper into my Celtic Icon, but you know me. I like to plan ahead.

So, this weekend, I ordered some zippers, crossing my fingers all the while that the color of at least one of them would match.

This is the hard part about ordering without having a color card–but even if I’d wanted to buy one, I couldn’t for the life of me figure out which one I’d need . . . the “Outerwear,” I think, but am not sure.

Anyway, it doesn’t matter that much. In direct sunlight, it doesn’t really look like any of them are a match. (For the record, that’s Cranberry, Mocca and Mustang.)

But, for that matter, the sweater doesn’t normally look quite so vividly purple, either–although that sun sure brought out the cable pattern, huh??

In more “normal” light, though, I could be satisfied with either of two of them, with the Cranberry in the lead, I think.

(And no, I don’t really know why I didn’t order the “Shadows,” which is the only one on my computer screen that looks remotely plum-like.)

As I said though, I’m still fooling myself. The sleeves aren’t even to the halfway point yet, and there’s still the hood to go. It’s not like the matter of the zipper is all that urgent, you know? But a girl can dream.

Hey, Trek is looking for ideas of fun things to do with her kid for the summer. She’s trying to reach 145 comments and is having a contest. (To enter, you must comment on this entry, but check out some of the ideas she listed in that other link–who knew you could make your own sidewalk chalk? Anyone? Show of hands??)

Is it just me? Or are other people thrilling to the way Ruth plays with color? Like when she took these colors and did this? This entire Playing With Color series is fascinating.

Abby’s explanation on how to make a tweed blend for spinning is interesting, too, though I don’t think I’ll get much use out of it, not having a drum carder, but that doesn’t matter–her explanation and illustrative pictures are brilliant all on their own.

Oh, and the Mystery Project Seaming project?

Moving right along….

(Knitting shown in black and white to protect the innocent.)

[Read more →]

Tags: General, Knitting/Spinning by Deb
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Here are the books I read in April:

1. WORLD WITHOUT END by Sean Russell (606 p.) One of my absolute favorites. Taking place in a world similar to our 18th century, Tristam Flattery, a dedicated “empiricist” heads off for a voyage of scientific discovery, yet mysterious things keep happening . . . the author has said the idea behind this book was what if Darwin had gone exploring and discovered magic instead? An intriguing premise, but the best part is that he does this so, so well. I love the story, love the characters, love the writing…. Don’t just take my word for it–here’s what Roger Turner had to say: “Have you ever found a book that you don’t want to end?  Ever?  I’ve discovered a few
in almost forty years of reading science fiction and fantasy.  This is one.  I wish I could
explain why it held me in such thrall.  Characters?  Plot?  Prose?  Setting?  Yeah, I suppose
so but that’s not it.  I just remember each time I picked it up there was a languid ache knowing
that, with each page, I’d have less to read.  Finishing it was like the day I knew for
certain that it was time to leave school and go out into the world.  I could only sigh, look
back and remember.”

2. SEA WITHOUT A SHORE by Sean Russell (598 p.) The second book, which tells the end of Tristam’s voyage. They arrive at the south-pacific-type island of Varua and get sucked into a web of plots and taboos centering around the herb Tristam has been pledged to find . . . These are boring descriptions, really, but the books are wonderful. The writing is fabulous, the world is very distinct and real  . . . they are the first two of the books I’ve read by this author (who writes all too slowly for my taste), and they remain my favorites. As in, I’ve read the two of them twelve times now, and enjoy them just as much, ever single time.

3. KNITTING by Anne Bartlett (270 p.) An Australian book telling of two very different women who meet by accident and build a friendship based on knitting . . . the one woman is an emotionally-shaky master knitter, the other is an emotionally-shaky academic who focuses on fiber arts . . . A nice story of two women who have almost nothing in common . . . this is not a book about knitting, it’s about emotional healing.

4. SHATTERED SILK by Barbara Michaels (306 p.) An oldish, “fluff” kind of mystery-ish story . . . (nice and clear, huh?) Karen has just left her cheating husband and is staying with her aunt and uncle in Washington DC, where she gets swept up in plans to start her own vintage clothing store . . . but first, she has to deal with whomever keeps breaking into the house, attacking her, making threats . . . and, oh yes, there’s the old boyfriend to deal with . . . Fun.

5. WRAPT IN CRYSTAL by Sharon Shinn (324 p.) A very religious kind of sci-fi mystery. On Semay, someone is murdering priestesses from the two main religions–basically opposite sides of the same goddess–and Cowen Drake has been sent to figure out why. I’ve said many, many times how much I love Sharon Shinn’s writing, and this book is no exception. There’s a little more heartache than in some of her other books, but oh, there’s redemption, too, as Drake explores the two sects, trying to piece together the reason that anyone would be killing these women  . . .

6. HOUSEKEEPING by Marilynne Robinson (213 p.) A misty, dreamy kind of book with the clearest and most distinct descriptions . . . I do love a book with great, descriptive passages, and this book is wonderfully evocative, telling the story of the two orphaned sisters, Lorrette and Ruthie, being raised by their aunt Sylvie, a drifter at heart, but doing her best to stay put for the two girls . . .

7. MASQUE OF THE BLACK TULIP by Lauren Willig (425 p.) Another fluff kind of book, but also great fun–the sequel to the “Secret of the Pink Carnation,” it tells the story of the spies that followed the Scarlet Pimpernel, bracketed by the story of Eloise, the modern-day grad student studying the archives for her dissertation. Silly and fun, but highly readable.

8. THREE MEN IN A BOAT (TO SAY NOTHING ABOUT THE DOG) by Jerome K. Jerome (250 p.). Speaking of silly and fun . . . I’ve heard Jerome Jerome compared to PG Wodehouse (or, the other way around, really), but hadn’t realized why before . . . now I understand, having read this story of three friends taking a “relaxing” trip down the Thames as a way to recover from the stresses of their daily life . . . or, at least, that’s the idea. Taking place approximately 1888, obviously, these are the grandparents of Bertie Wooster and the others from the Drones Club . . . it explains a lot, actually . . .

10. EPITAPH FOR A PEACH by David Mas Masumoto (233 p.) This book was a gift. Beautiful. Elegiac. Poetic. Wistful. Evocative. Just . . . a beautiful read. In fact, I stretched this book out over a month, just to be able to savor it. It is a memoir of a year on the author’s farm as he struggles to save his heirloom peaches in a marketplace more interested in durability than in taste. Not only does he write beautiful prose, but I could almost taste those Sun Crest peaches. Absolutely wonderful memoir.

11. TO SAY NOTHING OF THE DOG by Connie Willis (493 p.) I love this wacky book. It’s got everything. A unique premise, time-travel, love, comedy, a dog . . . and quite a complicated little plot. The idea is that time-travel is possible and in the not-too-distant future, historians are busily travelling around for research–driven by Mrs. Schrapnell who is insisting on rebuilding Coventry Cathedral exactly as it was before being destroyed in WWII. So naturally, Ned Henry ends up in Victorian England, floating down the Thames. Makes no sense? That’s okay, poor Ned is so “time-lagged” at the beginning, it doesn’t make sense to him, either. And frankly, that’s part of the fun.

12. MR. DARCY’S DIARY by Amanda Grange (329 p.) The story of Pride & Prejudice as told from Mr. Darcy’s diary . . . It was okay, but no comparison to Pamela Aidan‘s trilogy (which, while not perfect, was much better). Still, this had it’s moments and it wasn’t awful, and I do love the story, so . . . this was okay.

13. NINETEEN MINUTES by Jodi Picoult (455 p.) Considering the events in Virginia on the 16th, it probably seems strange that I would pick now to read a novel about school shootings–which is what this is. Picoult’s latest explores the causes and after-effects of a high school massacre, telling it from the points of view of the shooter, a girl who was his best friend before she became one of the “cool” kids, and her mother, who becomes judge on the case. She did a great job putting the pieces together, although I wasn’t impressed with her patented surprise twist at the end. (Do any of her books end without a twist at the last minute??) I thought the ending was actually kind of lame, but it’s hard to imagine a way she could have ended it that would have been more satisfying. Or at least, nothing I can say here without spoiling it for anyone. (Like, “Why couldn’t so-and-so- have kept his/her job?” “Why did the author have to make so-and-so basically an accomplice after the fact?” Stuff like that.)

(But still–the reason I chose to read this book now? Sometimes reading a fictional account that’s a variation on something real and tragic that’s all over the airwaves helps cut the agony a little. The week after Katrina hit, I read “Isaac’s Storm” about the 1900 Galveston hurricane–reading the tragedy of all those long-lost lives helped take the edge off the real, current suffering of all the people along the Gulf coast. On the first anniversary of 9/11, I read “The Day the World Came to Town”–which was about as inspiring and happy a story of that day as you can manage, yet still met my own, internal need to honor the anniversary. It’s like the hair of the dog to address a hangover. Or squinting through your fingers during a horror movie. It doesn’t make what’s really happening any less horrific, but dilutes it just enough to be bearable. For me, anyway.)

14. LIADEN UNIVERSE COMPANION #1 by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller (300 p.) 12 short stories about the Liaden world. While not usually a fan of short stories, I enjoyed these. Mostly because I’m happy for any “fix” for these characters and this story. I like these authors!

15. TRUTH MACHINE by James Halperin (378 p.) A reread. This book was written around 1995, and tells the story of the near-future, when a 100%-accurate truth machine is invented, and changes everything . . . I do love a good “what if” story, and this is a good one . .. although the author was perhaps a little optimistic about how far along we’d be by now in terms of things like curing cancer and such . . . And the little too-clever asides from the narrator (like, “Back then, most people still ate three meals a day before it was discovered that grazing was healthier….”) got a little distracting. But those are minor quibbles–all in all, an entertaining look into what the world could be….

16. TEACH YOURSELF VISUALLY: HANDSPINNING by Judith MacKenzie McCuin (202 p.) Yes, as expected, a thoroughly excellent guide to handspinning. Great pictures to demonstrate all the techniques–which, of course, you’d expect in this book.

17. CONSUELO AND ALVA VANDERBILT by Amanda MacKenzie Stuart (509 p.) Biography on a seriously unhappy mother and daughter. Alva, married to Cornelius Vanderbilt’s grandson, has serious plans to marry her daugher Consuelo to a British Duke. And to achieve women’s suffrage. And, basically, have everything her own way . . . A decent biography, well-researched, even if a trifle “breathless” in its tone from time to time. Both women had happiness in their lives, but also so much sadness, stuck in roles defined by their money.

18. LORD VALENTINE’S CASTLE by Robert Silverberg (447 p.) Classic sci-fi. Valentine becomes a juggler on the huge world of Majipoor, but is haunted by strange dreams, until he comes to realize that he is, in fact Lord Valentine, one of the planet’s rulers, displaced by some strange power . . . huge, detailed, epic kind of a story. And, really, how can you not be enticed by a book that begins with the words “And then….”

19. BLINK by Malcolm Gladwell (276 p.) A look at how our minds make instantaneous decisions, based on subconscious, “thin-slices” of information. Fascinating to read. Really interesting points, and very readable.

20. JENNA STARBORN by Sharon Shinn (381 p.) A sci-fi rendition of the story of Jane Eyre. Better than that description sounds (grin). Jenna was born from a “gen tank” but unloved by the woman who had wanted her. She ends up at a charity school, studying to be a nuclear technician. After graduating, she takes a job on a small, terraformed world called Fieldstar . . . basically, you know the story already, but told from a fresh point of view, and with dazzling imagery. There’s a reason that Sharon Shinn is one of my favorite authors.

21. CRYSTAL SOLDIER by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller. (321 p.) The pre-history of the Liaden series, this book (first of a two-part series) tells the story of M. Jela Granthor’s Guard and Cantra yos Phelium–the precursers to the Korval clan. It’s a far different world these two live in, tha the one the Liaden series inhabits. Frankly, I don’t find it nearly as readable, but that’s because the world is SO alien to our own–and, rather than being a reflection on the authors’ skills, I think it actually says a lot FOR them, that they’ve created a world so very different . . . and then, since I love knowing the “beginnings” of stories, it’s a treat to know the source of the famous “I Dare” creed….

22. WATER: TALES OF ELEMENTAL SPIRITS by Robin McKinley and Peter Dickinson (266 p) A fantasy book of short stories, all with a magical-water element. Merpeople, for example, appear in several. Perfectly nice stories, but still . . . as always . . . short stories never quite satisfy me. I always want more! At least they were decent short stories….

Tags: Monthly Reading List, Reading by Deb
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