Thursday, June 21, 2007

YARN! And an FO!

Wow, sorry it's been a while... I was waiting for my shipment from Yarnmarket to come in and come in it has! My last three skeins of Noro for Lizard Ridge and my Debbie Bliss!



While I was waiting for that, I started a Calorimetry, but was nearly done when I realized it was too small and decided that I was too lazy to frog. Instead I did a headband that Mom found on Knitpicks

It's made from leftover Di Ve Teseo, from which I made my best friend a ribbed hat last Christmas. I really like it, and it's a great stash buster. There's not much else, knitting-wise. I plan to spend the next few days listening to podcasts and Ingrid Michaelson (wish I had money, I'd get her shirt :-( ) and finishing my afghan.

Book review time.

I finished this one last week, but didn't want to post a review without a real post. So next post will have another review.


Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen

This book is almost purely satire, and yet still has the classic ending. Catherine is not, as Jane Austen points out, really anything special that would make her a heroine. True to this, nothing in the story that could lead to a great Gothic adventure becomes one. Naive, but well-read, Catherine expects a mystery around every corner when she goes with her new friend Eleanor Tilney to her Abbey (and not, as the back of the book suggests with Eleanor's brother, Henry who is just there with them). But, each time there could be a great mystery there is a mundane explanation.

Instead, the mystery comes when Catherine is suddenly sent away from the abbey by Eleanor and Henry's father.

Overall, I liked the book. I like Henry even more than Darcy (blasphemous, I know!) and the stereotype and satire were fantastic and even laughing-out-loud funny. However, I think Austen's point would have been made even if she had not pointed out that Catherine did not have this or that quality of an accomplished lady, as she so often does. Elizabeth Bennett cannot play the pianoforte; Catherine cannot draw.

I did like how adamant and accurate Austen was about Catherine's seventeen-year-old naiveté. There was significantly less plot than in Pride and Prejudice, but it made very a very good light novel.

1 comment:

Figtree Handspinners & Weavers said...

Hey Chelsey, just wanted you to know that I am a huge fan of LR as well, but alas am not as hardcore as you are (I've only finished four squares in two months!!!) I work in a yarn store in Sydney, Australia and fortunately we DO stock Kureyon, so I have put some aside. Love your blog. You are a very smart little cookie! I like your fresh writing style. Thanks for the cheer.