EATEN BY YARN GUYZ!!!

Tomorrow Mom and I are going to Tallahassee for the day and spending the night because she has a meeting (dinner with my best friend!). I'm the type of person who likes to have everything done so that all I have to do in the morning is make coffee, pull on my clothes, toss my toothbrush in my bag and style my bangs (give me a break, they're new) before going. Tonight this involved winding my LAST BALL OF KUREYON.

Usually I just keep it in the ball it comes in, but it was particularly loose and I could see it exploding all over the car. So, I decided to wind it.

It had to have more tangles than any Kureyon ball I've EVER seen (and considering it's the 23rd, and they're famous for tangles....) I seriously thought I would go crazy. I am not patient with tangles, and tend to make them worse. And it was eleven o'clock at night.

And did I mention I'm NOT patient with tangles?

But, I did it! With little loss of life!

Casualties of the tangle war:











Finished ball:









Book review, because hopefully my next post will be of finished blocks and such.


The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

I've wanted to read this for a while, because of a mention in the fanfics of a great Harry Potter fic author, Sam (his works Stealing Harry and Lacoon's Children are amazing alternate universes) and the Liz Phair song H.W.C. (NOT WORK SAFE)

It's obviously Wilde's first novel. It also happens to be his only novel. The story is good, very original, and yet.... There is plenty of detail in the beginning, and when Dorian first finds out that his portrait ages and he does not, but his decent into darkness once he has eternal youth is sadly unfleshed out. At first I understand Wilde's intent, he wishes for this to seem shadowy, for readers to not know exactly what he knows about people or who he is, but all of this is such a sudden character change for the usually philanthropic man, and cannot all come from the influence of Henry.... I just have difficulty accepting it.

The little bits of vulnerability that are still visible even in the more devious Dorian are good, for instance his nervousness after the murder he commits.... and his naiveté early on is good, his youth well-portrayed. I think Wilde copped out a bit with the death of the man stalking Gray, but obviously he wanted Dorian's demise at his own hand.

Overall, a good read, dripping with classic Wilde satire, but more actual detail and perhaps a little less heavy philosophy would be good in a novel.

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.

Addiction

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I think I'm addicted to Lizard Ridge.

Seriously.

As in "knitting when my wrist hurts, binding one off casting on another two seconds later" addicted. But it's because I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Four blocks from now I'll be done. As little as a week if I get the yarn. DONE. As in block and sew and have afghan and be able to knit other things and have a beautiful piece of knitting.

It's mind-boggling.

But, due to said 'Lizard Ridge only kniting' and 'wrist hurts' (just a little, from overuse) and my camera still not having batteries all I have for you is a book review:



Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
I have two things to say before the actual review. First of all that cover is new. I liked the old one well enough, but particularly like this one as the girl's expression is very Ella-ish. She looks young, but then again Ella is only fifteen. Second, I don't recommend reading this book the first time you're exposed to it; I recommend listening to it. Audible link You should look at the book, to admire Carson Levine's great made-up languages and the glossary and extra scene in the paperback, but Eden Riegel's performance and the music in the audiobook is too good to miss. (And great for knitting to!)

I had only ever listened to the book, but had listened to it many times since middle school. I had it on cassette, and now on my iPod and it's been my comfort listen for ages and ages. I have often said that if I can write as wonderful a book one day I will be happy. Having read it in print now, I am more amazed by Carson Levine's made-up languages, but annoyed at her short paragraphs. In the audio that isn't a problem.

Before now, though, I just saw a delightful story of a willful girl, with a wonderful romance. It is all that, but in Ella Enchanted a wonderfully detailed world is set up, for a bit of an Austen-esque social commentary. Every one around Ella after her mother's death, save the fairy cook Mandy, is obssessed with society and money. Her merchant father sees her as a mere pocession, her stepsisters are obssessed, one with power and one with money (because she knows she should be), and her stepmother marries for money. Ella is not concerned with that, nor does she see her friendship with the prince as a way to gain power.

But, because of the curse upon her to be obediant Ella becomes what the society wants: an accomplished girl. This is where Carson Levine deviates from Austen. Austen's girls are pointedly not accomplished. Elizabeth Bennett is horrible at the piano and her mother never put much effort into her education. Catherine, of Northanger Abbey, cannot draw and Austen points this out. Ella can sing, dance and stitch. But she is obedient not docile. She is not society's puppet. She can write well, and has a nack for language. Her impertinence and spunk cause Char, a prince who cares for all his subjects (if he cares less for anyone it's the peerage), to fall in love with her.

Although the story is, at the core, a fleshed-out Cinderella, Ella Enchanted is so much more than that. It is a wonderfully detailed universe, a fairy-tale, a coming-of-age story and a wonderful social commentary. Definitely worth a read, or better yet a listen.

Yarn Haul, Knitty and Book Review

So, Mom and I had to go to Niceville today; and thus stopped by Unwind. Before that, though, we had gone by Amy's (King's Sewing and Knitting) and I picked up three skeins of Kureyon. (40, 33 (which is gorgeous and I think discontinued) and 180 (which is prettier in person than it ever is online)). At Unwind I got 194 which is brilliantly gorgeous. So, that's two more to go that I want: 102 and I think 207 or 214. Probably going to order tonight if Mom'll let me.

33 has lots of greens and browns in it which reminds me of the Shrek milkshakes that L&V were talking about. I would put in pictures; but my camera is being ridiculous

The Summer Knitty is up, and after Fetching last summer I was very exited, but I've got to say that nothing in this issue really excites me. Chapeau Mariner is cute and I might make Wisp, but can't say that I'd wear it. There seem to be a lot of sock patterns. I like socks, but do we really need so many patterns in the summer issue? Ah well, I guess I'm not very into knitting summery things anyway, and it's not like i really need more on the to-knit list.

Book review then. Non-knitting related. Which is a perfect time to remind you all to sign up for the Official Knitter's Bookswap!

Review:

Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov.

Lolita is one of those books that you hear about as a classic, but never read. I picked it up partially because of the Sting and the Police song ("Just like the old man in/the book by Nabakov) and the fact that the editor of the litmag at my school's computer wallpaper was a comic of two dinosaurs, who were portraying characters in Lolita. As bookish as I am, I found that I could not read this book for very long sittings at a time. Partially because the book has very long paragraphs and very small spacing; but also because you have to read carefully or you might miss something.

It is not what I was expecting. All I knew of Nabokov was that he was an old Russian guy. I was expecting something set in the nineteenth century à laCrime and Punishment. That's not what I got. I got a fascinating look at the contrast between pre-WWII Europe and post-WWII America; and the changes within. It's also a wonderful psychological study. It's not told by a third person narrator, but by the subject himself. Humbert, the man fascinated with the average teenage girl Dolores Haze ("Lolita") and thus you cannot trust the narrator. Although, it seems to be an unbiased account and he tries to see both sides, the simple fact is it is written as his defense in trial for murder and paedophilia. You forget, though, until the end how untrustworthy he may be.

Nabokov makes sure that the reader is not able to place all blame on Humbert; at least in old Hum's eyes. Lolita is now the term for a fairly sexual promiscuous young girl; and for good reason. You can imagine, though, the psychological effect on her that Humbert doesn't describe.

The literary elements and allusions within the novel are absolutely fantastic; particularly the running parallel to Poe's work: Annabel Lee. Lolita's a work I plan on rereading in the next five or ten years; after I've had more education in literature.

It's definitely worth the read; and don't let the subject turn you off. It's a brilliant novel.

Right now I'm reading Northanger Abbey)by Jane Austen and will review that as well as Ella Enchanted as I'm rereading it for a Livejournal book circle I'm a part of.

That's all. Pictures when my camera stops hating its batteries. Still no Ravelry invite.

Musing on Yarn Stores and Other Thoughts

My titles sound a bit like titles of Panic! At the Disco songs....

So, I'm down in South FL visiting my dad. He's been working down here, so Mom and I brought Jacob (my brother) and Adam (my nephew) aka the two hyenas to visit. I wasn't wanting to come, but yarn crawls were promised, and crawl we did!

Details and pictures of the yarns later, but for now some musings on stores.

We went to three places, The Knit and Stitch in Cocoa, Stitchworm in St. Petersburg and Knit 'n' Knibble in Tampa.

Some had better stock than others; Stitchworm didn't have Noro which I was after, but they did have some nice pretty yarn.

One thing that struck me in all of them was something I've seen in all Florida yarn stores. Older proprietors and customers (in general, although some young employees), all of whom sit around at a table talking. Very nice, but people in browsing aren't brought into the conversation which could seem a little stand-off-ish. At the same time, I don't like it when a proprietor shoves yarn in my face. I know what I like, and I don't need you to tell me without me asking a question.

The locations of stores is also interesting to me. In Atlanta Why Knot Knit is in a little house smushed up between wearhouses, and Knitch is in a conberted firehouse. Both unique, charming and adding to the display of wonderful yarns. In Florida they're mostly in strip centers, even my LYS, which isn't bad, just more generic leading to a fairly generic feel inside.

Not all the stores can support the designer yarns, understood, although one yarn store in FL that I didn't go to, but saw online seemed to have mostly Lion Brand. Fiber snob I may be, but, seriously? Notsomuch.

Overall, though, most stores have basically the same thing, so it really is the display and the atmosphere that makes or breaks a store. Knit 'n' Knibble (which, unfortuately, I continually read as Knit 'n' Kibble) is really good as far as selection, lots of Cascade, Noro and so on. Their idea is good, coffee and such, but I wouldn't so much say that have a café as they serve coffee, similarly to Knitch. Not bad, though.

I think, though, my favorite store would have to be the Knit and Stitch, because while they are small they are very nice, entertained the hynenas while my mom and I were shopping and were just generally a good store.

A lot of Florida yarn stores don't have websites, which makes it difficult to decide which to visit. They seem to be the only Florida enterprise not aimed specifically at tourists....

I need to review A History of Hand Knitting, but before I do that; I read a fantastic book that my dad bought me at Barnes and Noble last night entitled When I Was a Soldier

It's a memoir of a girl, Valèrie Zenatti, who was born in France but lives in Israel from the age of thirteen and is thus drafted into the army. The book very expertly juxtaposes her pre-army life with her experiences in the service. I saw myself and my friends in her, and had to imagine what our pampered, in college selves would do were we forced into military service. Not fare well, I think.

The book is very well written, jumping between diary entries and narrative, but all first person. It is well-translated from the French. My one complaint is that the end comes fast, but overall it's a very well written book. Definitely worth the read and a good reminder that the American way isn't the only way people grow up.

Mkay, massive picture post when I get home!

Charms and Color!

Ladies and Gentlemen, presenting my first colorwork! It's a washcloth/display piece for my best friend's eighteenth birthday, knit in cable cotton and it needs to be blocked, but it's done!

I got the letters from the Knitter's Alphabet and I probably could have just as easily duplicate stitched it, but I felt the need to try stranded colorwork, and it went pretty well!

Next up will be the twelfth Lizard Ridge square.







Today, before my follow-up eye appointment my mom and I stopped by Books-A-Million, where I picked up a copy of Alison Hansel's Charmed Knits


I've wanted it for ages, and it was between that and The Yarn Harlot's Stephanie Pearl-McPhee Casts Off! I really wanted both, but since the Potter Premieres are in July, I decided that Charmed Knits was more time-sensitive.


I really like most of the patterns in it; and the Hip House Scarf is going directly on my To-Knit list, and will be knit after the Lizard Ridge block, as I have yarn left over from the Gryfindor scarf I knit last year. After that will eventually be Hermione's Magical Knitting Bag, Hermione's Cable and Bobble Hat, the Quidditch socks and the Invisability Shawl. Also, probably, the Snitch tree ornament and Errol for my friends for Christmas. Also, eventually and ambitiously the Clock Blanket.

Some of the projects are a little out there for me, like Molly's Amazing Technicolor Housecoat, and of course I haven't any kids to knit for (my brother and nephew live in Florida. Not so much on the sweaters, although maybe an elf-hat at some point), but I think that's what makes the book well rounded.

I also really like that the yarns are mostly common and affordable; some from Knitpicks and a lot of Cascade 220, which is readily available at my LYS.

Overall, I'm VERY impressed!!!!!

We're heading off to south Florida on Friday, and I'm really hoping to make a couple of yarn crawls with my mom, and shall update then, of course!