What I'm Reading
Reviews:
The Second Rule of Ten, by Gay Hendicks and Tinker Lindsay
Pepperland, by Barry Wightman
Knit Christmas Stockings, ed. Gwen Steege
Ghost Time, by Courtney Eldridge
Free Fall, by Chris Grabenstein
Lace One Skein Wonders, edited by Judith Durant
Weird Detectives: Recent Investigations, edited by Paula Guran
Knit Your Socks on Straight, by Alice Curtis
Stakeout, by Parnell Hall
Crochet One Skein Wonders, by Judith Durant and Edie Eckman
May 21, 2013: The Second Rule of Ten, by Gay Hendicks and Tinker Lindsay
I received this book from NetGalley in return for a review; I was not paid for this review, nor required to post a positive review.
When the second installment of the "Rules of Ten" series opens, ex-Buddhist monk, ex-LAPD officer and almost PI (just waiting for the liability insurance to go through) Tenzing Norbu is reviewing an old case involving a runaway, a Hollywood producer's daughter. His reverie is interrupted by a friend still in the LAPD, calling to tell him that the producer has been found dead. While not officially on the case, Ten is interested, and feels involved since he knew the players, so he proceeds to investigate on his own.
In a second case, he is hired to search for the missing sister of an elderly LA philanthropist. Trouble is, the sister has been missing since World War II. And to add to the complications, Ten receives a frantic letter from one of his friends at the monastery in Tibet. Having received a retainer from the philanthropist, and feeling flush for maybe the first time, Ten books a flight to Tibet to see if he can help his friend.
I was eagerly awaiting this book after having read the first one ("The First Rule of Ten"), and it did not disappoint. The combination of Buddhism and police procedural hit just the right mark for me. I understand that there is a third book in the works, and I'm looking forward to that one as well.
May 18, 2013: Pepperland, by Barry Wightman
I received this book from NetGalley in return for a review; I was not paid for this review, nor required to post a positive review.
Set in Chicago in the 70's, "Pepperland" is the first-person coming-of-age account of "Pepper" Porter, a burgeoning rock star, and his techy girlfriend, Sooz. The big question she asks him is, "Do you want to play your little rock 'n roll songs or change the world?" and his answer is, "Both."
Soon, Sooz (using the alias Grace Slick) is a fugitive, involved with the Weather Underground and on the run from the FBI. When Pepper asks her what her life is like, she answers, "You get used to anything." But also, "I want my life back."
Having lived through that decade, it all rang true to me. Pepperland is part rock-n-roll, part mystery story, part revolutionary treatise, part love story, and all a crazy ride through the tie-died 70's.
April 29, 2013: Knit Christmas Stockings, edited by Gwen Steege
I received this book from NetGalley in return for a review; I was not paid for this review, nor required to post a positive review.
I'm a big fan of Christmas, and was delighted to receive this book to review. The first thing about this book that I loved was the thumbnails in the table of contents. Most of the time, a table of contents will just be a list of pattern names, but by doing it this way, you get a preview of what the pattern is, and what it will look like. I just thought it was a nice touch.
Like most knitting books, this one begins with an overview of knitting. There is a list of items that you might want to have in your knitting bag, how to cast on and bind off, decreases and increases, how to knit in the round, how (and why) to knit a swatch, a table of needle conversions, a glossary of knitting terms, and discussions about types of yarn and needles. There is also a really nice discussion about the anatomy of a sock and the basics of sock knitting. I loved this quote from a passage about turning a heel: "The trick is that you must believe this and follow the directions, even if they seem odd to you!" While I do tend to want to understand what I'm doing and why, the first few times you knit a sock, the heel turning is mysterious and magical.
The first stocking in the book is called "Winter Wonderland," and has stranded colorwork, icord, a knit-in name, bobbles, and little knitted snowman "tassels." It looks pretty advanced for a first project, and I probably wouldn't attempt it unless you already have some experience in those techniques. It's beautiful, though. I love the colors, and I love snowmen, so it's practically perfect!
Probably a better pattern to start with would be the second one in the book, "Rustic Lodge." It is, as the name implies, rustic -- knit in bulky yarn with Size 9 needles, it's knit all in one color except for a contrast heel, toe, and band at the top. It would definitely be a good pattern for beginning sock knitters. One thing I particularly liked about this book, and this pattern in particular, was the way that they presented the instructions in a table. In this case, there are two sizes to make, small and large, and the table shows the number of stitches and measurement for each part. I liked seeing them in a table rather than in the usual manner of having the instructions in prose with changes in parentheses.
The "Christmas Sampler" stocking looks like fun, with bands knit in different stitch techniques, but all in various shades of red. I also loved the "Mix and Match" stockings, which are knit with an afterthought heel. There is an adorable "Jester's Bell" stocking with jester's points and bells, a couple of single-color stockings showcasing cables and textural patterns, a stocking with pockets for tiny gifts or treats, and my favorite, mini stocking ornaments, along with instructions for felting them if you wish.
The book ends with adorable "Ski Sweater Ornaments" that would work equally well on a Christmas tree or as a gift decoration. I found several patterns in this book that I would be interested in knitting, and was favorably impressed with the quality and content of the knitting instructions. Definitely a must-buy for a knitter who loves Christmas.
April 29, 2013: Ghost Time, by Courtney Eldridge
I received this book from NetGalley in return for a review; I was not paid for this review, nor required to post a positive review.
I have had a little bit of difficulty deciding how to review this book without filling it with spoilers. I adored it from the start, right up until the very end. I did a little research and found out that this is the first book in a trilogy, which now makes sense.
This is a young adult book about a teenager, Thea, who is having a hard time believing that her previous math tutor slash new boyfriend Cam really wants to be with her. She's never really had a boyfriend before, and he's older, but it sure seems to be true love. Then he disappears, and some very strange things start happening, including YouTube videos of Thea and Cam making love that she is sure could not possibly exist. And they are impossible to remove.
The FBI gets involved, news vans start showing up, and Thea's live gets much more complicated than it should be. She would like to be able to just go to school and worry about and/or grieve Cam's absence, but she is constantly forced to explain herself. A local police detective becomes an unlikely ally, as does the detective's handicapped daughter, with whom Thea seems to have a psychic bond.
As the books winds to a close, I started getting worried that nothing was going to be explained or resolved, and that turned out to be the case. Still, I loved the book, and it has stuck with me. I hope the second part of the trilogy is published soon so we can find out what happens with Thea and Cam.
April 29, 2013: Free Fall, by Chris Grabenstein
I received this book from NetGalley in return for a review; I was not paid for this review, nor required to post a positive review.
This is the eighth book in Chris Grabenstein's John Ceepak mystery series. John Ceepak and Danny Boyle are police officers in the "Sunny, Funderful" Jersey Shore town of Sea Haven. Ceepak, a former soldier, has a very strict code of ethics and behavior, Danny, not so much. But as the series progresses, Danny sees the wisdom of Ceepak's code, and begins to integrate it into his own life.
This installment starts out with Danny being called to one of the mansions on the beach to mediate an argument between two women, one of whom he knows, but then, he knows pretty much all of the young women in Sea Haven, and has dated most of them at one time or another. The argument, between the lady of the house and a home health care aide, has turned physical, and Danny has to separate the two. The homeowner can't let it go, though, and files charges against the aide.
Ceepak's parents play a large part in this book. Ceepak is now married, living in a small apartment above a bagel shop, and has helped his mother move into a senior retirement complex. His drunken, abusive father also shows up. He resents the fact that his ex-wife, Ceepak's mother, has inherited a couple of million dollars from an aunt and didn't share it with him. He's not going away until he forces her to pay him off, one way or another.
I have read all of the Ceepak books and enjoyed them all. This one was no exception. I confess to not being that crazy about plotlines involving Ceepak's father, and am more interested in the relationship between Ceepak and Danny, and also in the various romantic entanglements that Danny finds himself in. I also very much enjoy the depiction of Sea Haven, a typical beach town, but all in all, this was a great book, and I read it throughout the course of one Sunday, imagining myself in Sea Haven along with Ceepak and Danny.
April 9, 2013: Lace One Skein Wonders, by Judith Durant
I received this book from NetGalley in return for a review; I was not paid for this review, nor required to post a positive review.
I don't knit much lace; I'm much more likely to knit something, like socks, with an easily memorized pattern so I can carry it with me. But this book has so many lovely patterns that I might be convinced to change my mind, especially considering that they are all small, portable projects.
First, I have to change my perception of "lace" as only pertaining to filmy shawls. Lace can be so much more. I'm very drawn to the "Etta Hat," which looks like a quick knit and a nice introduction to lace knitting. It is knit in the round, which is my favorite way to knit, and requires no finishing. I haven't mastered knitting from a chart, so I was pleased to see that this pattern doesn't use one.
There are several more hat patterns, several patterns for mitts (I especially love the "Sweet Pea Mitts" and the "Trellis Mitts", both of which look like they would be really fun to knit). Another really cute idea is the "Spicy Lace Cuffs," which would look wonderful peeking out of the sleeves of a coat, and also keep your wrists warm. There are also quite a few sock patterns. While I probably won't be knitting any of them any time soon, I might try them some time in the future when I have some spare time and some undistracted time.
The book also includes some adorable knits for children, including a beautiful sweater, the "Kaya Baby Sweater," that I am definitely considering knitting for a new baby in my family, and a fun looking raglan "Three-Button Baby Sweater," particularly cute in variegated yarn.
More traditional lace projects such as scarves, shawls and cowls, including the gorgeous "Butterflies are Free" scarf with lace ruffles, and a few knitted jewelry patterns. The book ends with projects for the home like a bath set, a wine bottle cozy, table mats and dishcloths. A pattern for a tiny sachet bag would be another good introduction to lace knitting for someone like me. All in all, a great variety of patterns from excellent designers.
March 1, 2013: Crochet One Skein Wonders, by Judith Durant and Edit Eckman
I received this book from NetGalley in return for a review; I was not paid for this review, nor required to post a positive review.
I haven't done a lot of crochet lately, because it hurts my hands. I've been doing more knitting. But there are patterns in this book that make me want to get out the hooks again. I'm especially happy to see beautiful, up-to-date patterns for thread crochet, something that had been relegated to doily making in recent years.
There are an abundance of patterns using various weights of yarn and thread, something for everyone, I think, from easy dishcloth patterns to more complicated thread crochet, even felted slippers and bags. One thing I particularly liked was that many patterns have both round by round instructions as well as charts. I've never learned to read charts--but may on the strength of this book--so I'm glad to see written out instructions as well.
There are several scarves, doll clothes, jewelry, slippers, a kindle cover, gloves, mittens, hats, toys -- a variety of all kinds of patterns, all of them portable, and taking small amounts of yarn or thread. I tend to get bored with projects, so I love these kinds of books with accessory patterns that can be made quickly and carried with me.
Standout patterns for me were:
Blooming Coaster Set. An adorable set of two coasters, one round and one square, done in cotton. These coasters are reminiscent of granny squares, but are done in all white and achieve a lovely elegance.
Burgundy Lace Hoops. Beautiful, sophisticated earrings done in thread crochet over purchased hoops. I love these! I can see making them for myself and all of my friends. There is also a set of patterns for hair scrunchies crocheted over hair elastics, which seems like it might be easier than crocheting around a hard object like an earring. I'll have to try them both and find out!
Beaded Lariat. A necklace made in slip-stitch crochet with beads, which I have never done, but I love the effect and may give it a try.
Switchback Scarf. A really fun design for a long scarf made from sock yarn, and meant to be wrapped around the neck a few times.
WIP Project Bag. A really cute backpack-style bag meant to carry a small (one skein!) project.
Bangle Bracelets. Another project using sock yarn, this time crocheted around old bracelets or cut-down mailing tubes. There is a version with horizontal stripes, and another done vertically.
Putting on the Glitz. A very cute short shrug/bolero shown in metallic rayon yarn.
Gerbera Flower Pins. Crocheted flowers with a button center and a pin back.
There are patterns for several crocheted stuffed toys--a bunny, a dog, a kitty, an alligator, a lobster and a robot.
Spike and Loopy. Two felted bowls for holding small items.
All in all, this is a great book for a crocheter to have in her library. There are lots of fun, quick projects for the short-attention-span crocheter or anyone who wants to make a quick gift for someone.
February 28, 2013: Stakeout, by Parnell Hall
I received this book from NetGalley in return for a review; I was not paid for this review, nor required to post a positive review.
A new Stanley Hastings novel is like "comfort food" reading for me. They're usually a quick read, and the fact that they're all kind of the same is comforting rather than annoying. Stanley, a failed actor, works for an ambulance-chasing attorney taking photographs to back up their clients' claims of accidental injuries. But Stanley wants to be a "real" detective, and he thinks that means spending hours in a car on stakeout and peeing in a Gatorade bottle. But he doesn't really think about the consequences of his actions, and as a result he's always rushing in and messing up the crime scene. And then, of course, trying to fix things in his own bumbling way.
Stanley has a long-suffering wife, Alice, who he readily admits is a lot smarter than he is, but strangely enough, he never seems to follow her advice.
The murder mystery is secondary to the character study, in my opinion. I enjoy the relationships between Stanley and Alice, Stanley and Richard the attorney, and Stanley and his police detective friend McAuliffe. A very enjoyable read.
February 27, 2013: Weird Detectives: Recent Investigations, edited by Paula Guran.
I received this book from NetGalley in return for a review; I was not paid for this review, nor required to post a positive review.
"Weird Detectives" is an anthology of short paranormal mystery stories. As in most anthologies, some of the stories were great, while there were a few that I wasn't interested in. Also, many of the stories were reprints that have appeared in other anthologies, so if you're buying the book for a particular author's story, check and be sure you haven't already read it.
The standouts for me were:
The Key, by Ilsa J. Bick. A story about a detective trying to figure out who killed a little boy found by a jogger in the park. I loved this one. Full of Jewish mysticism, Kabbalah, demons and angels. I would love to read a whole novel about Jason Saunders, the detective. The story caused me to look for more by Ms. Black, which, for me, is one of the more important reasons for reading an anthology--to discover new authors.
Love Hurts, by Jim Butcher. A story set in Harry Dresden's (The Dresden Files) world. I've read most of The Dresden Files books, so am familiar with the world and the characters. I had read this story before, but it was worth reading again. Harry and Karrin Murphy investigate a case involving three couples, each of whom apparently killed themselves in a suicide pact. And Harry and Murphy almost get caught up in it themselves.
Protective Coloration, by Elizabeth Bear. Three college girls discover that their professor, Dr. Matthew Szczegielniak ("Dr. S.") has another life as a mage. I loved this one, and would like to read more about Dr. S.
Star of David, by Patricia Briggs. Stella Christiansen runs an agency that places foster children. When one of those foster children is accused of wrecking his foster parents' home, Stella thinks there must be something else involved. To find out what, she enlists the help of her estranged father, a werewolf.
Signatures of the Dead, by Faith Hunter. Set in the world of Jane Yellowrock, a Cherokee skin walker, this story has Jane and her friend Molly Everhart Trueblood investigating the killing of a family, apparently by vampires. Also involved in the investigation are Molly's husband Evan and a sheriff's detective.
Imposters, by Sarah Monette. Two detectives with the Bureau of Paranormal Investigation look into a rash of suicides.
Deal Breaker, by Justin Gustainis. A story about a man who sold his soul to the Devil for a decade of good luck. The decade is coming to a close, and he comes to investigator Quincy Morris to find a way to get out of the deal.
Death by Dahlia, by Charlaine Harris. Another reprint that I had read before, this time set in the Sookie Stackhouse "Southern Vampire" universe. A great story about what happens when vampires investigate one of their own. Sookie doesn't appear, but Dahlia has appeared in several of the Sookie books.
Like Part of the Family, by Jonathan Maberry. PI Sam Hunter is hired by a woman who claims that her husband has threatened to kill her. Hunter turns out to be more than he appeared at first glance.
See Me, by Tanya Huff. Tony Foster--the young wizard who first appeared in Huff's "Blood" series, and now in his own series, "Smoke"--and his boyfriend Lee get involved with a prostitute who has been at the scene of two deaths. Tony is one of the directors of a vampire detective television show, and Lee plays the detective on the show. Despite the fact that neither of them are detectives, the wizard and the actor contrive to solve the mystery.
February 19, 2013: Knit Your Socks on Straight, by Alice Curtis.
I received this book from NetGalley in return for a review; I was not paid for this review, nor required to post a positive review.
I am a prolific sock knitter. I am a "process" knitter, which means that I am more interested in the process of knitting than in the final product. Although I do, of course, wear the socks that I knit, I knit more for the pleasure it gives me--I could, of course, purchase socks much less expensively than the premium sock yarn that I buy!
I knit the same plain sock pattern over and over, on double pointed needles, and don't need to refer to a pattern, but I do love looking at and reading more complicated sock patterns. "Knit Your Socks On Straight" is a book of beautiful sock patterns knit on straight needles (or circular needles used as straight). In the past, straight needle sock patterns have been clunky things, more suited to worsted weight slippers than socks meant to be worn inside shoes, or lovely enough to stand on their own. This book shatters that myth, with a multitude of beautiful, intricate socks knit on two needles.
The book contains large, full color photographs of each pattern, with detail photographs as well. The patterns are descriptive, with measurements, yarns used, gauge and needles clearly listed at the beginning of each pattern.
My favorite pattern in this book: "Livin' in Blue Jeans," with contrasting stitch detail that mimics blue jean stitching, and a buttoned cuff. I also liked the worsted weight "Your First Sock." I would definitely suggest knitting this sock to get the hang of the construction before attempting the more complicated intarsia or cabled socks.
My least favorite: "Moccasocks," a pattern for fringed faux moccasins that I can't imagine ever making, or wearing.
A tip I learned from this book: Flat seaming using a crochet hook.
Recommendation: Definitely recommended as an addition to an advanced sock knitter's library, or as an introduction to sock knitting for someone who is intimidated by the thought of knitting on double pointed needles in the round.
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