I'm happy to join Kat and fellow Unravelers for Unraveled Wednesday, with what I hope is a photo that shows the end may be approaching soon for the current Hitchhiker.
I've added in a second skein but it looked like it was a bit brighter than the original one so I'm alternating them. I'm working on the 45th tooth and I'm going to do at least three more. I've ordered some peach yarn and if it matches, I might do a solid peach section at the end. We'll see ...
I finished the pre-publication copy of The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer, and as I mentioned last week I found it quite compelling. This poignant and engaging novel is a worthwhile read if only to learn what a death doula is and what they do. Clover Brooks has been around death for most of her life, beginning in kindergarten when her teacher dropped dead while reading Peter Rabbit. Clover has often felt a closer connection to the dying than the living, and this continues through the death of her parents and the beloved grandfather that raised her. Because of these feelings, Clover becomes a death doula, holding the hands of the dying, helping them to deal with unresolved feelings and regrets, and recording their last words in one of three journals: “Regrets,” “Advice,” or “Confessions". One of her clients leads Clover towards romance, which felt a little jarring to me, but it is all in the name of Clover learning that "the secret to a beautiful death is to live a beautiful life". This may sound cliché, but that doesn't make it any less true. Ms. Brammer has written a lovely novel about a vulnerable woman and managed to do so without sentimentality. This novel will be published on May 9.
I read another book that surprised me. I didn't expect to like Pineapple Street because it's about a fairly clueless family whose members are definitely in the wealthy 1%. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I looked forward to listening to the book each night. The 1% may be annoying and clueless, but Pineapple Street shows that money can't solve all problems. It was three and a half stars for me and I liked it enough that I rounded up.
I'm still reading The Covenant of Water, but to be honest, it's becoming a bit of a slog and I find that I have to make myself read it. I'm hoping it gets better!
What are you making and reading this week?
Your Hitchhiker is so gorgeous! One might think that "three teeth" is hardly any knitting, but so not true on the LONG ROWS bits of Hitchhikers!
ReplyDeleteThe book about the death doula sounds fascinating! (and I could not agree more on The Covenant of Water... slog, slog, slog... it needs some drastic editing imo!)
I love the perfectly-springy Hitchhiker, Bonny. It's such happy yarn! And, yeah. The Covenant of Water just goes on. . . and on. . . and on. (The end does bring things together, but still. A slog.) I had to force myself to read-like-it-was-a-job since it was my first ARC, and I wanted to make a good impression. . . ;-)
ReplyDeletebeautiful spring time knit and I love how that pattern gets longer and longer rows :)
ReplyDeleteI love that Hitchhiker and those rows of eyelet really pop nicely. I'm glad to hear you enjoyed Pineapple Street, I've been debating that one.
ReplyDelete(This is Sarah posting -- for some reason, even though I'm signed in, Blogger won't recognize me!)
ReplyDeleteI think a bright peach stripe at the end of this current Hitchhiker would be a lot of fun. I'm very intrigued with the idea of a death doula. I suppose it must be a real job, and it seems like someone who would be useful to have around because even though we all experience death, most of us probably don't know about all the related paperwork and whatnot is connected with it until we have to deal with it the first time.
Yours is the first somewhat positive review I've seen of Pineapple Street; thank you! and I'm fascinated by the idea of a death doula (but maybe not sure I want to read about that right now). Love how much your hitchhiker has grown in a week ... are you scouting locales for the FO?
ReplyDeleteThis current hitchhiker is such a pretty mix of colors. I was wondering how many teeth you knit on your hitchhikers and so you have answered my question. The novel about the death doula interests me both for her role in helping a person to the end of life and also it features an older woman character. Years ago women helped out at births and deaths so maybe a death doula is a return to those practices?
ReplyDeletePretty shawl, and looks cosy.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much, Cathy!
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