I'm joining Kat and fellow Unravelers today with my second Hitch on the Move. I felt compelled to work on it this week and was able to knit more than last week since my vertigo is slowly waning.
I'm knitting it with a slightly larger needle than last time and I do have plenty of yarn (I think), so I hope I can make this one a lot larger than the first.
As for reading, I finished two books last week. Pearl is a brief, sad story about grief and great loss. Siân Hughes tells a tale that begins in childhood, progresses through troubled adolescence, and continues to troubled motherhood. This novel felt more like a series of connected vignettes, and I had trouble with the cheerful voice of narrator Laura Brydon recounting all the pain. For me, this served as a reminder that just because a book has been nominated for the Booker Prize doesn't mean that it will be an enriching or enlightening read. Two and a half stars rounded up.
I also read a pre-publication copy of After Annie. I read several of Anna Quindlen's books ten years ago or so, including Miller's Valley, One True Thing, and Every Last One. They were enjoyable, but Still Life With Bread Crumbs aggravated me so much that I quit reading her novels. I'm happy to say that After Annie was a wonderful read for me, free of any aggravation. I read it in two sittings which rarely happens anymore.
Quindlen tells the compelling story of Annie, her husband, four young children, and her best friend, and what happens to them after Annie literally drops dead on the kitchen floor. They all grieve in their own ways, some of them cope in better ways than others, and some of them grow in good ways. It's heartwarming and honest, but not maudlin. The author has written one of the best stories about death, loss, grief, change, and hope that I've read recently. This book will be published on March 12, 2024.
What are you making and reading this week?
It's a shame when an audiobook narrator doesn't match the tone of the book. Pearl is a strange one, and I can't imagine a cheerful voice reading it.
ReplyDeleteI'm reading The Bee Sting and hoping to find some more time to dig into it because I'm only managing a handful of pages at night before I pass out!
Ooooo! I really like your new Hitch on the Move, Bonny. I hope you can make it as big as you want it to be!!! And I'm so glad to hear that your vertigo is improving -- at least enough to be able to manage some knitting again. I felt much like you do about Anna Quindlen's Still Life With Bread Crumbs, but maybe it's time for me to pick up After Annie (once it comes out in March). XO
ReplyDeleteGlad to read you are feeling better.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you're feeling better! Your Hitch on the Move is looking great!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Debbie! It's nice to be able to walk around without feeling dizzy.
ReplyDeleteYay for feeling better! I love how your Hitch on the Move is coming along ... and ugh for that audio experience with Pearl. I read it with my eyes and enjoyed it so much. The voice we have in our head matters a lot when we read.
ReplyDeleteGlad your feeling better. Love your colors.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteI like this second HotM, Bonny! The colors are great! I want to knit a dk version ... especially after seeing Kym's! I finished My Friends last night and the ending did not disappoint!
ReplyDeleteThat's a great looking Hitch on the Move and I'm really glad your vertigo is getting better - I meant to ask you about it Tuesday night and completely spaced out.
ReplyDeletethose colors are perfect for welcoming in autumn and all it's glory!! Beautiful!! glad you are feeling better.
ReplyDeleteThe colors in your new shawl are very pretty. They look like autumn with a hint of toasted marshmallow. Sometimes books nominated for prize lists or those on the best seller list just aren't for me. Quindlen's book though sounds like one I'd like to read.
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