I'm joining Kat and fellow Unravelers with the Funfetti Hitchhiker, but in an effort to keep from boring you with a photo that looks much the same as the previous week, this one is slightly different. While I've been knitting, I've wondered what it might look like if I laced ribbon through the yarnover rows.
I spent my reading time last week on two NetGalley books. The first one is The Alternatives by That great sheep on the cover piqued my interest, and the book didn't disappoint. Caoilinn Hughes has written a lovely tale of sisterhood in which three of the orphaned Flattery sisters come together to find their oldest sister Olwen who has disappeared without a word to anyone. Each of the sisters is different and has a distinctive personality and story. Olwen is a fervent geology professor and Maeve is a caterer and cookbook writer. (The descriptions of her food are wonderful!) Rhona is a high-powered political science professor and poor Nell has cobbled together a living from adjunct positions in the United States. I enjoyed reading about several of the sisters more than others, but they each have their ideas of what is important to care about, whether it is environmental cataclysm, sustainability, citizens' assemblies, or philosophy as a way to reach meaningful goals. Each of the sisters has a Ph.D., but Maeve is quick to tell people that hers is an honorary degree. One of the things that I appreciated the most was that each woman and their interactions are written with very few male characters. I don't have anything against the male gender but it's delightfully refreshing to read about four women finding their paths with very little interference or influence from men. This book will be published on April 16, 2024.
Books that reveal medical research and information through families are interesting, informative, and heartbreaking at the same time. A Fatal Inheritance by Lawrence Ingrassia is no exception. We learn about the research of Dr. Frederick Pei Li and Dr. Joseph Fraumeni, beginning in the 1960s when cancer was considered to be caused by very bad luck but very little was known about real causes. Through their research, the doctors discovered Li-Fraumeni syndrome, an alteration in the TP53 gene. This gene provides instructions to make tumor protein 53, which when properly functioning acts to suppress tumors. The author, Lawrence Ingrassia experienced things in a much more personal way. Cancer killed his mother, brother, and sisters, in terrible and tragic ways. Many of the family members had multiple types of cancer, with some of them beginning at very young ages. After genetic testing, the author was found to be one of the few members of his family that did not have the abnormal gene. When Ingrassia's brother Paul (also a fellow journalist) died after having lung, prostate, and pancreatic cancer, Lawrence felt compelled to tell their family's painful story in parallel with that of Drs. Li and Fraumeni.
This is a difficult book to read, mainly because of the incredibly painful family history of the Ingrassia family. But it may also be the best way to learn about genes and cancer so we can always remember that there are real people behind genetic research. It will be published on May 14, 2024.
What are you making and reading this week?
You are nearing the end of your Hitchhiker (though I know from experience those last 10 teeth can take a bit of time!!). I like the Hitchhiker better without ribbons (but, then, ribbons are not my thing). I'm making socks and still working my way through "Heaven and Earth."
ReplyDeleteI think the ribbons are an interesting addition -- but I think maybe just an "accent" ribbon in a brighter color here and there might work better? I also think it will be a fun Hitchhiker . . . without any ribbon-distraction. I continue to be enamored by the Funfetti-ness of it, just as it is. XO
ReplyDeleteOh Bonny! Those ribbons might not work... but what about doing some weaving of yarns (my guess is that you probably have lots of bits of colors that would work!) Your books this week look so interesting (especially A Fatal Inheritance) Thank you so much for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThose ribbons (perhaps just because of the colors you chose) make me think of one of my baby blankets, which is not an entirely negative association but perhaps not what you're going for. I think ribbons would jazz up an otherwise plain Hitchhiker, but perhaps they're a bit too busy for this yarn?
ReplyDeleteI've just pulled out a WIP from last year (trying to finish off everything still lingering from 2023) and am working on getting through The Poisonwood Bible.
I love the ribbon woven in the eyelets. I guess I would block then weave then tuck ends just to make sure it's as even as the finished knitted garment. I never tire of your hitchhikers :)
ReplyDeleteHmm...I'm on the fence. I think it'd be fun to see it in a brighter color (the pastels also reminded me of a baby blanket I gifted.) And I liked your idea of just tacking them down at the ends. Nice to be able to play around with options without being committed -- if you don't like it, it's easy to undo!
ReplyDeleteThe Ingrassia story sure is an intense one. Your description alone was quite gripping. Have you read The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot?
Looking at the pictures I took, I think I like it better without the ribbons. Ribbons aren't really my thing and then there is the whole baby blanket thing!
DeleteI did read the Henrietta Lacks book and it was quite an interesting story. I have a book about the discovery of cystic fibrosis in my pile but I think I need to wait for a while.
I like the ribbon, but wonder if it will look odd over the end. I would stick with just the blue/pink or just light colors. I think bright colors would be jarring.
ReplyDeleteI think the HH is perfect without the ribbons, but you do you, Bonny. I have lots of books to read for a change, but find I am trying to read too many at once. That is always a problem when all the books come in at the same time at the library. I decided when I had no books that it would be interesting to read some classics, and now I have fallen down the rabbit hole of Victorian literature. So many books, so little time!
ReplyDeleteI used to make lacy matinee jackets and booties for newborns with ribbon threaded through the yarn overs. I think it's so sweet. I do cringe when I think back to the time when I thought it would be a good idea to make one for my nephew in blue.
ReplyDeleteI have saved several pairs of booties and sweaters that were knit and crocheted for my sons when they were babies. I will probably never have grandchildren but I can't part with those sweet little items with ribbons laced through the yarnovers.
DeleteI think I like the hitchhiker better without the ribbons, it reminds me of a baby blanket with them. But I am intrigued by Kym's suggestion of brightly colored ribbon here and there.
ReplyDeleteI thought the ribbon might be a message about an upcoming baby! if that's not it, I agree it doesn't add anything necessary to the Sprinkles. I'm still knitting Bousta, and reading Vanity Fair (a first for me, and I'm loving it).
ReplyDeleteI think The Alternatives sounds like a great novel. I'll look forward to it being published. I'm wondering how the ribbon would hold up over time and with washing. I'm knitting on the same shawl, sweater, and now a cowl. I have a tongue-in-cheek mystery/thriller coming up for my local bookgroup. Otherwise I am enjoying Enchanting.
ReplyDeleteI meant to type "Enchantment."
ReplyDelete