Book Worm

A little confession…I’m a bit of a book snob.  I love a GOOD read. Something with some meat, depth and that you have to think your way through...a book that keeps your attention rapt until the very end...a book that takes some 'brain work' to get through.  I do read light things from time to time but after something like the "Secret Life of Bees" I have to read a several more books with substance.   Every year when the long list of Man Booker Awards comes out I print it off and start checking out the titles.  Some times it is difficult to get them in the US until they become more popular or the demand is heightened.  “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time” by Mark Haddon was one that I could get right away (from the library) and I read it earlier this year. It was very good and it was a great that both my book clubs chose it for August.  The knitting book club meets at Black Sheep Wool Company the first Thursday of each month. We were all too busy to meet in July, so it was fun to get together again and catch up, discuss a great book, and knit!  (Eating is also involved.)  The book was chosen for Roz Reads book group, another fun book club. We all enjoyed this book and recommend it highly. Now I can read something that isn't book club related.   "The Namesake"  by Jhumpa Lakhri (which is a possibility for the 2004 long list) is my 'now' reading.  Just too much blogging put a damper on my usual reading and now it's time to get back to it once again.

It had been too long since I have had time to visit Black Sheep Wool Company.  It was very nice to be back there again. This is my ‘main’ shop and a very good one it is. Vonnie has the best yarns for a yarn snob, newest books, great classes and wonderful accessories, too.   It’s a fun place to hang out as so many wonderful people work there or stop by.  Friday I had to head back as during book club I spied a couple of things that need further discovery.  This wonderful new basket/bag from Lantern Moon comes with many different colors of linings. (You can click for a bigger picture.)  It can be used as a knitting basket, sitting beside the chair, and then quickly turn into the bag you carry out the door.  It’s well made and very handsome.  They have many new products so check out the link.  Here it is holding a nearly finished sleeve from Sally’s Raglan and sitting on top of a Cast On magazine.  Not being able to stay away, I returned to the shop on Saturday (a friend made me do it!) to pick up the magazine. Cast On has been expanded and has many good projects and interesting articles.  The socks knit from Lorna’s Laces sport weight yarn were the first attraction and there are other good sweater projects, too.

With new yarns arriving for fall there will be many more trips to BSW coming up.  My fall/winter should be full of reading and knitting. Wish I could do both at once like so many of you.  Much to my chagrin, unless I have a book on tape or someone read to me, it cannot happen.

Comments

[Jeni]

I love to read, and love to knit, but like you I couldn't do both at the same time. Then I discovered audible.com. There is a monthly fee, but for the fee you can download 2 books per month and listen to them on your computer, copy them to a CD or listen on an I-pod. I love it. I haven't read so much in such a long time and compared to the books I used to purchase, the cost is actually less. Also, knitting is much easier on my eyes than reading.
Hope this helps
Jeni

[Eilene]

Ohhh! I like the new Lantern Moon basket. Plus the fact that it has a colored lining. I'll have to check it out. I guess I'll have to go get the new Cast On, now that you mentioned that it has a sock pattern in Lorna's laces sport yarn. LOL

[Robbyn]

Have you read Lahiri's collection of ahort stories, "Interpreter of Maladies"? They are wonderful!

[Melissa]

I loved The Namesake and also recommend Interpreter of Maladies. I have been thinking about taking the audible plunge so I can work more novels into my life. I have had it with TV!

[Lauren]

I knit while reading and would suggest using a cookbook holder to keep your book propped up and open. I felt the same way about the quasi-fluff reading and started reading all of the Pulitzer fiction winners. I've finished 17 and have a ton ti gi,

[Annie]

I'm a book snob too. Thank you for the book recommendations. I am going to look into them. Right now I'm hopelessly stalled on Anna Karenina (have you started?). I need a good, meaty book for fall!

Love the basket too! Lucky you, to have such a wonderful yarn store nearby.

[Susan]

Oh, I have the funniest story of my (brief) membership in the "neighborhood" (i.e., Ward) book club. It solidified my reputation in the neighborhood. Remind me to tell you tonight.

[Kathleen]

Lovely new basket. I love Lantern Moon. The Curious Incident is a good depiction of some of the behaviors of autism. I have actually been enjoying a lot of kids books lately--the Newberry Award winners are my favorite. Gracie and I read them together or to Cameron...and then I read ahead on my own. :)

[Mary Beth]

Such a pretty basket, and I love the way Kersti looks hanging over the side! A perfect match!

[Jessica]

I'm a big Booker Prize fan too. I was just looking at the prize winners over the last 34 years and see that I've read a dozen of them. "Oscar and Lucinda" is definitely one of my favorites.

I much preferred "Interpreter of Maladies" to "The Namesake."

[Melanie]

Working in bookstores for most of the last ten years has made me a HUGE book snob.

I never realized how much reading I did while commuting until I started to drive to work. I've also been wanting to make more time for it.

[cynthia]

I am also a book snob. I loved "The Curious Incident". I just finished "The Red Queen" by Margaret Drabble this weekend. Wish I could find a good book club!