aquatique – Page 53 – mostly about books

Posted on March 22, 2013 in Knitting & Crafting

This project used the frogged yarn from Paris. I wanted something with positive ease for this yarn with lots of nice drape. I also wanted something with a good neckline. I must admit my neckline is a bit bigger than in the pattern, but it’s within reason and I can wear a tank top underneath. It is warm and light.

Buttercup, started January 24th 2013, finished March 13th 2013.
Pattern: Buttercup by Heidi Kirrmaier
Size: Small.
Measurements:
Sleeves: 17cm/7”
Underarm to hem: 42cm/16”
Bust: 40cm/15.5”
Neckline: 22cm/8.5” W x 15.5cm/6”
Yarn: Inca Gold Baby Alpaca by Susan Andrew Collection – 100% baby alpaca – 200yds/50grams – used 175g or about 4 skeins out of my 6
Needles: #4/3.5mm long circ for body and #3/3.25mm long circ and DPNs for sideways garter rib and neck
Modifications & Notes:

Cast on front piece with Cable Cast-On
No waist increases.
As PiPiBird’s variation on Ravelry: Knit “k4, k2tog” in the penultimate round of body. Knit another round and then did sideways garter rib: CO 14 sts on 3.25mm and knit last stitch with one stitch from the body.
Lengthen sleeves to about 36 rows and knit “k2, k2tog” for penultimate row. CO 12 st 3.25mm for sideways garter border for sleeves.

Lessons Learned: Sideways garter rib.
Cost of Project: Around $20-25 for the 4 skeins I think.
Would I knit it again? Doubtful that I would need 2 of these, but this pattern is easy, attractive and appealing especially as written as the sideways garter was fiddly. I recommend it.

Have a good weekend! For more FOs, go to Tami’s Amis.

alpaca, FOs, knitting, sweater [Top]

Booking Through Thursday – Spring 4 Replies

Posted on March 21, 2013 in Books

Happy Spring Equinox, everyone! What book are YOU choosing to celebrate with? – BTT

Actually, I’m still on Walden by Henry David Thoreau which is quite natural. I haven’t had a lot of time to read lately. I did finish Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver this week and that is also very springy.

What is everyone reading this first week of spring?

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Booking Through Thursday – Mood Reading 7 Replies

Posted on March 14, 2013 in Books

Does your current mood affect your reading? Affect your choices? I know there are plenty of books I enjoy, but only if I’m in a particular kind of mood–or books that can lift me out of a bad mood without fail. Surely I’m not alone? – BTT

Sure, my mood can affect my reading choices. I’m quite an emotional person at times. I think most people are this way as we don’t always want to read textbooks or big long chunky books (and I love my 1000 page novels). My reading choices are less affected by my mood than my film choices though. In general, I’m less persnickety about what to read next if it’s already in library or TBR pile. It’s just a matter of due dates, authors, reading challenges, etc more than anything.

How about you?

booking-through-thursday [Top]

Hark A Vagrant by Kate Beaton Leave a reply

Posted on March 11, 2013 in Books

Regular readers of Beaton’s blog Hark! A Vagrant will be familiar with the content in this book, and if you haven’t seen the blog, please check it out. If you like what you see, you can read this lovely book containing comics about literature, comics, history, and often times, Canadian history! In sub categories, there is a fair amount of Feminism and Political History. A few times, her comics are just random out there humor which I also love.

Beaton and I have the same interests in all the above. I get and understand almost all of comics in the book and their allusions. It is funny and apt. Here are the subjects she tackles in her comics in this book: Jane Austen, the Bronte sisters, Crime & Punishment, Nancy Drew, Batman, various works of Shakespeare, The Great Gatsby, Sherlock Holmes and Watson, and much more.

Her commentary is very insightful and intelligent not only in the comics, but in the few times she explains her work. You learn things such as the following:

H. G. Wells allegedly called Jules Verne an “old fusspot”
General Montcalm was very romantic
Brahms fell asleep at a Liszt concert

It is whimsical, fun and educational!

Read February 26th to March 5th 2013.

2013 books, graphic-novel [Top]

Sunday Salon: Spring has sprung 6 Replies

Posted on March 10, 2013 in Books

Hello, everyone!

This week I posted my review of The Driver’s Seat by Muriel Spark, finished reading Let’s Talk About Love: A Journey to the End of Taste by Carl Wilson, and Kate Beaton’s Hark! A Vagrant (review up tomorrow).

The snow has really begun to melt, and I can already begin to feel the warmth of the sun. I went on a 5-6k run yesterday for the first time in a long time. I don’t remember the last time I ran that much. As a result, my legs are a bit sore today. I am going to try to run once a week if not a couple of times a week. I’ve done yoga again too, and I got some of the Jillian Michaels exercise DVDs. It wouldn’t hurt to lose a couple of pounds and inches. The warmer weather is when I get motivated to exercise and not any new year.

Even though I am reading more books, I do feel I am falling behind in my giant library book stack and I have not touched Walden at all since I started it. It’s going to be a busy week too so I doubt I’ll have much time for reading.

How is spring in everyone’s neck of the words?

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Let’s Talk About Love: A Journey to the End of Taste by Carl Wilson Leave a reply

Posted on March 8, 2013 in Books

Let’s Talk About Love: A Journey to the End of Taste by Carl Wilson

This little book is more than a book about Céline Dion. It is a discourse and meditation on art, aesthetics, taste, and culture generally. It covers much ground in such a small package, and I really would read it again. I recommend it for those of us who question why we like the things we do and why others do the same or not. It’s a book about being open and about being human in culture. It’s about perception, sociology and individuality.

This was another book from Nick Hornby’s column, and I love that we love the same things. Anyway, the premise is that Wilson, a Canadian music critic, wanted to explore the fame of and backlash against Céline Dion. Doing so, he explored how we feel about our art, cultural assumptions and personal taste.

Personally, I am mostly indifferent Céline. I do not really like her English music, and I had one of the worse experiences with restaurant service at her Nickels chain, but I have nothing else against her really. Her existence does not perturb me as a human being so much as war criminals or intolerant people do. I have never really liked how much people have hated her. It seems over the top. As Wilson described, a lot people could not stand her and she became this a symbol of trite and overproduced music. People disliked her without really knowing her and articulating why they disliked her.

As a Canadian like Wilson, I have grown up with Céline in the media, but not being Québécois, I have not been as exposed to her as they are. I do admit my Dad loves the Titanic soundtrack and to my knowledge does play the album at least once a year just for “My Heart Will Go On” which is not fun. I have seen her on Quebec TV singing to Montreal concert goers in French. Her voice and songs are completely different in French. She is much more soulful and that is the

I do think the author understands why Céline is successful. He also how her success is largely attributed to the smart business sense of catering to various cultures: singing their languages, being open, and generally being Canadian abroad. She and Shania Twain seem to share this view of wanting their music to be enjoyed by others, but not putting too much of themselves in it. Still, Céline’s work is full of raw sentimentality and it makes us wonder how that viewed down upon by society . Wilson also conducts interviews with some of her fans which were somewhat interesting, but the core of the novel is the wider discussion of taste.

While writing about Céline’s career, Wilson also discussed musical genres, history, philosophy and more. This part feels a little more dense and serious, but I think he brings up many different perspectives about taste and aesthetics. It was provocative, and I enjoyed this book’s scope.

Read March 2nd-4th 2013.

2013 books, nonfiction [Top]

Booking Through Thursday – Spring Forward 8 Replies

Posted on March 7, 2013 in Books

Clocks change this weekend here in the US, which means one less hour to read … does anybody else begrudge that hour like I do? Wish the Powers That Be would just pick a time-frame and stick to it instead of inflicting clock-driven jet lag on an innocent public twice a year?
(Yeah, so not a question so much about reading … except, of course, you do need to use your electric light to be able to read, so the hour it gets dark IS relevant!) – BTT

Time, how I want more of thee! Of course, we technically get the hour back in the autumn. I have too many hobbies these days, and I’m sad that I must manage my time between them, work, and being generally social. I do look forward to summer and it’s longer days. June 21st is one of my favourite days of the year.

I do read a lot in the evenings which is not great, but my new Otto Lamp helps. Still, there is a reason why I read much more in the summer. Not only out of habit, but all that daylight!

I’ll try to get to bed earlier on Saturday so I can save as much as that missing as I can.

booking-through-thursday [Top]

The Driver’s Seat by Muriel Spark 1 Reply

Posted on March 5, 2013 in Books

This was a different and strange short novel. Nick Hornby was reading more Muriel Spark in his last compilation noting her ability satisfy with her short novels. Having read The Prime of Miss Brodie, I decided why not.

I started this in the queue to get my passport renewed and it was appropriate because it is about a woman who takes a journey to Italy on a mission. Early on in this story, the reader knows the outcome of Lise the protagonist so there is a certain amount of mystery, suspense and tension on how she gets to the ending.

The story was published in 1970 and the events and even Lise reflect the 1960’s. The book has a dark, violent and cruel ending. It is not precise and does not give you a sense of closure, but it’s memorable with its unique protagonist and Spark’s writing.

I was quite surprised by how dark it was. I was less surprised by the derangement exhibited by the protagonist because I am learning that delusion is a feature of Spark’s characters. Characters in the novel seem to talk at each other than with each other.

This is a story where I didn’t relate to anyone or any concept, but I did like the writing and found the plot provocative and the characters odd. I won’t likely forget Lise for awhile. I’m not surprised this was shortlisted for the Lost Booker Prize as it seems like a Booker story too.

Read March 1st-2nd 2013.

2013 books [Top]

Monthly Movies – February 2013 Leave a reply

Posted on March 4, 2013 in Monthly Movies

The Bodyguard (10 02 13) – Kevin Costner is good looking in this though I was not of fan of those high waisted trousers. Oh, the 90’s. It is a sad movie to watch because of Whitney Houston. She looked wonderful in this movie and I was reminded by her beautiful voice. The plot was melodramatic. I actually found myself a tad bored of it, but kept at it because of the actors and to see the ending. Rachel was very annoying. This is an utter cheese fest. I read that this was panned, but Roger Ebert, like me, believed there was some chemistry between the actors. Costner’s character and in a lot of roles I see him, is very restrained, but that does not mean he is cold.

Game of Thrones: The First Season (11-12 02 13) – Review here.

Notably Rewatched

Inception (04 02 2013) – I primarily rewatched for the suit porn of JGL and Tom Hardy. Then I followed it up with a “BBC Horizon” documentary on dreams. Good themed viewing. I don’t list documentaries as much anymore because in general I forget. I don’t watch that many docs. Anyway, Inception is great even if you just watch for the visuals. It may be my favourite Nolan film.

2013 movies, monthly-movies [Top]

Sunday Salon: A book everywhere I go 3 Replies

Posted on March 3, 2013 in Books

Hello, everyone!

This week, I posted my review of Bringing Up Bébé by Pamela Druckerman, detailed what I read for BTT, featured a newly made pair of socks, and discussed why I love Jane Austen for the Classics Club Meme.

It was a busy week as I started five books this week at five different different places:
Hark a Vagrant by Kate Beaton is my work break read.
Walden by Henry David Thoreau was started one night before bed.
The Driver’s Seat by Muriel Spark was started on Friday while I was waiting to get my passport renewed. I finished it yesterday while at the second job, and I started Let’s Talk About Love by Carl Wilson which I may read a bit more today with some Walden.

When you have a book, you’re never bored that’s for sure.

Today, I’ll run some errands, read, and maybe play the fiddle for the first time in weeks. I usually don’t like St. Patrick’s Day, but its approach this year seems to make me guilty for the fact that I haven’t been practicing Irish fiddle music.

Knitting the Buttercup top is very slow going because of the garter sideways hem. I also did Bikram yoga this week, and it’s been years since I did hot yoga, but it felt very good to really sweat it out as the winter doesn’t really allow for that.

Off to really start my precious Sunday as this is the only day off now.

Have a good week!

SundaySalon [Top]

The Classics Club Monthly Meme – March 2013 10 Replies

Posted on March 2, 2013 in Books

Do you love Jane Austen or want to “dig her up and beat her over the skull with her own shin-bone”? (Phrase borrowed from Mark Twain).

Why? (for either answer)?
Favorite and/or least favorite Austen novel? – Classics Club March Meme

I love Jane Austen. Here are a few reasons:

Characters and character development. Most of her lead characters well rounded, flawed, and engaging. Furthermore, they learn things and grow with the progression of the novel.
Her subtle social commentary especially in regards to gender and societal norms as it applies to Regency England. Even now, I can relate to some of the things she wrote two hundred years ago. Austen understands women and writes about women in an intelligent manner.
Following up on that, her proto-feminist and strong female protagonists. Elizabeth Bennet rejects two marriage proposals, Elinor Dashwood has sense and is realistic about money, and while Anne Elliot falls prey to other people’s influence at first, she develops her own sense of worth by the end of the novel. Quora has an answer on Austen’s heroines with feminist ideals.
As a result of her strong female leads, the romances in her books are believable, touching and intelligent. All the couples have realistic conflicts such as timing and misunderstanding, but they overcome them in the end and are better people for it. Emma and Anne both knew their partners when the novel began, but neither would have would have become entangled if they didn’t learn a thing or two in the process.
Austen’s writing style is witty, humorous, and perceptive. She is immensely rereadable and clever without being heavy. She was a one of the first to use first indirect discourse which is discussed on another Quora answer about what makes her a great author (love Quora).

As for favourites, I’ve enjoyed all of her novels, but Pride and Prejudice and Persuasion are the ones I read first and have reread most, followed by Sense and Sensibility, Emma, and Northanger Abbey. I wouldn’t be against rereading Mansfield Park, but I’m not itching for it; I just read it last year. I do think her characters in that lacked the character development that I liked so much in the other novels.

I understand Austen is not everyone’s cup of tea for many a reason, but the above summarizes why I like her. I definitely don’t force her on anyone, but reading her books have been rewarding for me.

Happy March, everyone!

classics club [Top]

FO Fridays: Vertizags 2 Replies

Posted on March 1, 2013 in Knitting & Crafting

These were my first pair of socks in 14 months. I have a lot of handknit socks. I can churn a pair of my own socks in 2-3 weeks while working since I knit them two at time. I have over two dozen pairs of handknit socks so I stopped making them for awhile. Of course, I started up again because I have to knit more for my two scrap sock yarn blankets. Also, I do enjoy sock knitting. These were for two Ravelry groups: Sock Knitters Anonymous Sockdown February 2013: Underappreciated Patterns & Solid Socks Feb 2013: Mountain/Forest.

Vertizags, started February 1st 2013, finished February 21st 2013.
Pattern: Vertizags by Megan S. Wright
Size: My size: US 6.5/UK 4/EUR 37 with 4″ leg.
Yarn: Cascade Yarns Heritage Solids & Quatro Colors – Moss 5612 – 100g/ 437yds – Have heard some good things about this yarn and knits up well for a sock yarn. Yarn bled green yellow water, but not too bad. It’s affordable so I hope it wears and washes well since I just bought more to make a cardigan.
Needles: 2.25mm/US#1 – 100cm/40″ long HH circs
Modifications & Notes:

Two at a time on ML
Toe increases made with La-Link and La-Rink from Cat Bordhi’s: k1, La-Link, knit to last stitch, La-Rink, K1. Repeat on second needle.
Note to self: Start gusset when feel at 6.5″ next time as 6.75″ is too long in a stretchy sock pattern. It’s been awhile since I’ve knit socks so I forgot about when to stop for my foot length.
Used Cat Bordhi’s W&T technique where you lift the wrap over the stitch and ktbl.
Bind off with JSSBO

Lessons Learned: It was my first time doing heel flap socks from the toe-up: Heel flap was alright, but the short rows didn’t work out as cleanly based on how it is written. Also, I wouldn’t use KFB on gusset next time as it leaves a small hole. Will stick to gusset style heels for toe-up socks from now on.
Cost of Project: $8 for yarn.
Would I knit it again? No, but it’s a cute pattern and a good way to learn a new toe-up heel.
Helpful Links: See Notes.

Have a good weekend! For more FOs, go to Tami’s Amis.

FOs, socks [Top]

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