Posted on August 19, 2007 in Knitting & Crafting
Ballband Dishcloth, started August 9th, 2007, finished August 17th, 2007
Pattern: Ballband Dishcloth from Mason-Dixon Knitting
Made for: Steph
Yarn: Bernat Handicrafter Yarn in Hot Green and Hot Purple – less than one skein each
Needles: #7/4.5mm (Aero DPNs)
Lessons Learned: Surprisingly, my first time having to actually to switch between two balls of yarn.
Cost of Project: $4 for yarn.
Would I knit it again? Yes, it’s very fun, quick, and nice. Good for gifting.
Posted on August 16, 2007 in Books
One book at a time? Or more than one? If more, are they different types/genres? Or similar?
(We’re talking recreational reading, here—books for work or school don’t really count since they’re not optional.) – BTT
I am a book monogamous. I have tried to do the multi book reading, but I prefer to read one book and move onto another one. While I multi task most things in my life, but for certain things like books and sometimes knitting, I am monogamous. I like to finish one thing quickly and move onto another. I can bring my full attention to the book while I read it. I can also not be distracted about where I am in X number of books.
Posted on August 15, 2007 in Photography
Posted on August 14, 2007 in Books, Movies
Things are slowly going to get busier from here on out so I have less time to do the things I like which include blogging so I’ve decided to rec books and movies I’ve seen previously, but not formally reviewed on this blog. I’m not going to write full reviews because t’s usually been some time since I’ve read them. I am also going to aim to reccommend books and films that are relatively under rated.
I did review both of these on allconsuming.net, so I’ve included them which I wrote over a year ago.
The Leopard by Giuseppe di Lampedusa and film directed by Luchino Visconti
“I learned about the movie and book from Roger Ebert’s Great Movies II. I read the novel first, and I enjoyed that. This adaptation does the book justice. Both of them have the same maudlin and sad nostalgia that everyone may not appreciate, but they are lovely. The movie is a beautiful period piece. Burt Lancaster said this was his best work, and he captures the character very well. If you like sentimental, beautiful, historical, foreign movies, I’d recommend this.”
A Complete Maus: A Survivor’s Tale by Art Spiegelman
“I tried to find this before I went to Poland, but I’m glad I read this after I came back. Having seen Auschwitz and other camps, and met Holocaust survivors, I’m able to visualize this book more. It’s very powerful in its understated imagery. I love the personal and meta commentary. It’s deeply reflective and introspective.
Posted on August 11, 2007 in Books, Movies
Once upon a time, I use to read a lot more books a year than I do now, and honestly do not think that I can complete all my reading challenges for 2007 because my life will start getting hectic again beginning next month. Though, what Nymeth says is right, it’s not the end of the world if I don’t complete them. So here are choices for the Book to Movie challenges which I couldn’t resist because this is the sort of thing that I do often enough that I even keep track of it seen in the previous post.
The challenge is to select three books that were made into movies. It runs from September 1 to December 1. I plan on doing book and movie comparisons for at least two of the below.
1. Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. I’ve already seen the film, but I’ve been meaning to read this for awhile. Also being read for the Something About Me Challenge. – Completed
2. Little Children by Tom Perrotta. – Completed
3. Running with Scissors: A Memoir by Augusten Burroughs. – Completed
Alternates:
Not because I’ll have free time, but in the case I don’t manage a copy of one of the above, and I like alternates.
Minority Report by Philip K. Dick.
Mary Poppins by P. L. Travers.
Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montogomery.
Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas.
Friday Night Lights by Buzz Bissinger. Most unlikely, but I love the TV show and have yet to read the book or see the film.
Posted on August 10, 2007 in Knitting & Crafting, Photography
Shedir, started July 22nd, 2007, finished August 9th, 2007
Pattern: Shedir from Knitty.com Special Fall 2004
Yarn: Rowan Felted Tweed (50% Merino Wool – 25% Alpaca – 25% Rayon/Viscose [50g / 191 yards]) – #153 Phantom – 1 ball
Needles: US3/3.25mm 16″ circ and DPNs (Boyle)
Modifcations: 4 repeats instead of 5, knit stitch through the back of the loop for stitch definition
Lessons Learned: Cabling without a cable needle (mini-cables with slip stitch method)
Cost of Project: $13 yarn + $7 for the circs + $6 for the DPNs = $26
Would I knit it again? Yes, but with yarn in a lighter colour and I may graft the top rather than cinch it next time.
Pattern Notes and Comments: One of the reasons I took up knitting was to make a hat for myself because I’ve had trouble finding a winter hat to fit my slightly larger than average head and cover most of my ears. This hat doesn’t protect the ears as well as I’d like, but I think it will stay put rather than slip up on my head as the store bought ones have done. A lot of knit bloggers do only three repeats before decreasing since this hat is long, but I felt safer going with four due to aforementioned reasons. Five would have been too long for me. This hat may be too thin for the upcoming winter, but definitely will look good in autumn with all that tweed.
The yarn is very nice. I liked it right away; I’m partial to DK, and I’ve grown fond of tweed as well. It is also quite stretchy, and I always like alpaca and merino. Rowan wool is expensive around here, but the Felted Tweed is actually less expensive than the patterns’ recommended Rowan Calmer. Still, the most expensive yarn I’ve bought yet. The other gripe is that the wool may be a little scratchy for some people, but I’m usually not bothered by this in the long term. The Phantom colourway may have been too dark, but the cables still pop out. I’m glad I knitted tbl for this as I tried the first repeat with a DPN (lost my small cable needle) and most of the stitches not tbl, and it does look a tad better with the tbl.
Speaking of the cables, it’s almost necessary to know how to cable without a cable needle to make this hat move along faster. It did not take me a long time to actually make this piece, but it felt like it did when I was doing all those mini cables. I don’t frog or rip back things so my decrease cables are a little sloppy, but overall, I’m pleased. The ladies at the LYS were very impressed since I’ve only been knitting for less than 1 1/2 years. Won’t knit this again for awhile, but I like the result.
Posted on August 9, 2007 in Books, Movies
This book reminded me a bit of To Kill a Mockingbird in its setting and main characters. Both books takes place in the south. While the core themes of it differ, both are essentially stories about growing up. Katherine Paterson seems to capture childhood so well. When Jess and Leslie create and explore Terabithia, I remember my own childhood of imagining other worlds, fantastic creatures and adventures. They even refer to Narnia. I remember reading that series, and trying desperately to find a wardrobe. I’m sure I hid in a wardrobe once, but alas, not gateways. The only thing that bothered me about this book is that I predicted the ending early on, and initially found it a bit contrite. I do not blame the book because if I had read it when I was 10, I probably would not have found it contrived since now I’m marred by years of books, movies and television. It’s hard for me to review very well written books, especially children’s ones such as this because it just comes down to the writer’s ability to write prose and experiences that capture readers. Paterson allowed me to be nostalgic, and I only wish I had read this when I was younger because I know I would have loved it and understood it even more than I do now.
The movie was adapted by Disney this year. Overall, I think they did a decent job. It could have been a lot worse, and while they changed some things such as the time setting of the book (present day instead of the 1970s in the book) and other little details, I found they kept the important things and tried to accentuate certain details the book was subtle yet important on (Jess’s father and their relationship). I do not think the movie is a replacement is for the very well written book about growing up and the values of imagination and friendship. I liked the movie well enough, and considering what I’ve heard of other films in this demographic, it probably is good as a stand alone film and more worth kids’ (and adults too) time.
Posted on August 9, 2007 in Books
Do you have multiple copies of any of your books?
If so, why? Absent-mindedness? You love them that much? First Editions for the shelf, but paperbacks to read?
If not, why not? Not enough space? Not enough money? Too sensible to do something so foolish? – BTT
I think I only have one book that has more than one copy: Captain Corelli’s Mandolin. I received my first copy through BookCrossing, and I’ve been meaning to release it for a couple of years now considering last November, I just bought a second copy for me to keep.
In general, I do not buy a lot of books because I have limited financial resources, and I don’t reread books very much. I do buy used books at this annual book fair which allows me to buy books I have read before or get classics I need or want to read. I also don’t have much space at present. In the end, my dream house would also have a dream study where I would have shelves of books on the walls.
Posted on August 8, 2007 in Photography
Posted on August 6, 2007 in Books
When I started this novel reading about Becky Brandon (nee Bloomwood) coveting Dior baby items, I wondered why I was still reading this series. Becky is still the consummate consumer, lies to her husband Luke a tad too much about it, and as much I personally like fashion and designer clothing, I can not imagine buying myself that many luxury items for a baby, let alone for myself. Then, as usual, Sophie Kinsella’s amusing and outlandish story-lines and dialogue started to suck me in. I quite enjoy a good chicklit novel, but I only really read and follow the works of a few authors such as Kinsella, Emily Griffin, and Meghan McCaffrey. There is something so relaxing about reading these novels; I love how fast the story moves along. I also really like how in the end, the mean people do get what’s coming to them, all the loose ends are tied and the female protagonist has her man, family, friends, and in this case, baby with her happily. It may not be substantial, but it’s rather nice to get away with. Kinsella always makes me laugh out loud at least once in her books. I do think my favourite has to be Can You Keep a Secret?, but I have been reading the Shopaholic series for years now. I always try to finish and continue the series if it’s tolerable enough. Yes, they are rather predictable, but that’s part of the fun with established storylines and characters. It’s frivolous and fun reading at its best, distracting and relaxing.
Posted on August 4, 2007 in Books
Many people who have read Beowulf are rather turned off by its old style, slow story, and almost complete lack of characterization among other things. I never studied this in school, but I think I would have liked it more if a passionate English teacher had done so especially with this translation of the story. I am not going to lie; I found the story rather long and ardurous. My mind wandered quite a bit while reading this text. It was not the most enjoyable thing I’ve read in awhile. On the other hand, I really appreciated the translation by Irish poet Seamus Heaney. There were some margin notes and the original text on the left page to guide you through the book. There is something in the prose of the translation and the arrangement of the text that makes me aware that Heaney is a poet, and this work has been well thought out.
I love a good translation; it really can make or break the story. When I was 13, I read a very old translation of The Iliad and The Odyssey, but in my last year of high school, I found the best translation in Robert Fagles’s version. I highly recommend his translations if you are undertaking the two Greek texts.
Even with a good translation, this is still Beowulf. I think part of the problem is that these stories are so different from present conventions and not created originally for a literary text form or modern prose. I would have much rather listened to this story as it is meant to be. These stories are meant to be recounted by a talented storyteller with a booming bard voice. I’m pleased to say that Seamus Heaney has recorded an audiobook, and exerpts from it can be heard at Northon Anthology.
In the end, I’m still glad I read this classic as it does give me more ideas of the Dark Ages and the literary traditions that have derived from this era. I doubt I’ll read
Read for the Book Awards Challenge. Text won the Costa/Whitbread award and Seamus Heaney received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1995.
