The Classics Club – November 2012 Meme 4 Replies

Posted on November 13, 2012 in Books

The Classics Club November 2012 Meme Question:

What classic piece of literature most intimidates you, and why? (Or, are you intimidated by the classics, and why? And has your view changed at all since you joined our club?)

Since I grew up with classics, they are not really intimidating to me. I think it was a bit daunting when I first started in my adolescence with the serious reads, but since then, it’s been natural to read the classics.

I think the classic I am closest to being intimidated with is Marcel Proust’s In Search of Lost Time. I don’t really get scared by long reads, but this is the longest novel in literature with 1.5 million words. Secondly, I rarely hear of other people actually reading this work. People will go on about how long Ulysses and War and Peace are, but rarely do I read about people willing to read Proust’s magnum opus. It makes me a bit a curious to read it for the challenge. Also, since it’s in French, I’d also be tempted to read at least part of it in the native language to since from all I can gather, Proust was a great writer. The novel doesn’t seem particularly exciting though, but I do like some modernist works so there is a good chance that I’d like at least one volume of it.

How about you? What’s an intimidating classic for you?

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Sunday Salon: Changing Routines 4 Replies

Posted on November 11, 2012 in Books

Sunday Salon

Hello, everyone!

It’s Remembrance Day and I hope everyone has taken some time to reflect on that. Out of tradition, I tend to read or recite In Flanders Fields by John McCrae.

My review for Gone with the Wind was posted this week.

I have more free time now, but I haven’t really made a dent in my big pile of books. I will today though. Maybe read a chapter or two of Bel-Ami and start Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell.

This weekend, I’ve just been watching movies, knitting, and took a few of photos. A friend and I are doing a 20 week photo challenge with our respective new DSLRs. It’s been a good way to set some time each week to thinking about photography and also getting out there.

Today, I will read, maybe start making some lime marmalade, play the fiddle, and watch some more movies. What are you doing this Sunday?

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Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell 6 Replies

Posted on November 8, 2012 in Books

Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell

This book was epic. Once again, I was conflicted about giving it a 4 or a 5 on Good Reads. As with before, the deciding factor was if I would reread it again. I wouldn’t be against reading it, but then again, I’m not planning on it. It was frustrating and very long at times, but there is no doubt that this is a well written book in many ways and a classic.

I started reading this book September 20th, but I really didn’t read much of it until the last weekend of September wherein I read 70% of the book from Saturday to Tuesday October 2nd.

The Beginning: Not that bad, easy going, lots of exposition, lots of idyllic life of the antebellum South.

The Middle: Gripping, dark, and compelling. This was when I started to really hit my next page button.

The End: Scarlett gets more and more cruel, ridiculous and unbearable. Book just ends a bit abruptly.

Continue reading →

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Sunday Salon: November Blues 6 Replies

Posted on November 4, 2012 in Books, Food

Sunday Salon

Hello everyone!

Sadly, I did not read at all this week. Work has been hectic, but it’s my last day this Wednesday. Even though I will miss the income and don’t want to job search, I really need the break from working.

Today, I may read a bit, but I have been particularly tired from my weeks. The weather has been dark and gloomy all week. While Sandy didn’t really hit us around here, we got the tail end rain of it.

Brownies

In good news, I baked brownies yesterday. They were a bit too sweet for me, but I used over 10 ounces of chocolate (I had a lot of leftover dark chocolate). Also very crumbly and buttery. Hmmm. I think I am really a blondies girl at heart.

What are you reading and eating this weekend?

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Monthly Movies – October 2012 Leave a reply

Posted on November 2, 2012 in Monthly Movies

The AvengersThe Avengers (October 28th 2012) – Finally got around to watching this. I even had a dream about this movie last month. In the dream, I was tempted to side with Loki and I kinda was during the movie if only because Tom Hiddleston is very charismatic and really steals all his scenes. The only other person to rival him in the cast charisma was Robert Downey Jr. I liked the other actors OK, but they really didn’t hold up to RDJ and TH. Otherwise, it was a decent action flick and Whedon’s script made sure all the Avengers had a vital role in the climactic scene. It wasn’t as funny as I thought it would be, and I felt the team was good, but perhaps needed another member to balance it out. Colbie Smulders impressed as well, and I wish she got more roles than just being in “How I met your mother”. She needs a get a bigger role in the next Avengers movie; I’d be willing to ship Maria Hill/Captain America. All in all, very few directors could have done as well with this movie than Joss Whedon and the supporting character death count was low for Joss too so yay. Fun stuff.

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Lime Frozen Yogurt – Canning for a New Generation by Liana Krissoff Leave a reply

Posted on October 30, 2012 in Books, Food

Lime frozen yogurt canning for a new generation

Cookbook Review: This cookbook was one of three new cookbooks I bought last Boxing Day. I have about eight cookbooks now, seven I got in the past year. Of all these, I’ve used this one the most. The main reason being is that right now, I don’t really cook or bake that much, but in the summer, I did canning, but this book doesn’t just have recipes for canning.

First off, this book is good value for money. It has 200 recipes and it’s seasonal based. While this doesn’t always apply since I live in Canada and the author lives in California, the layout of the book does apply to most places i.e. berry recipes follow berry recipes.

Additionally, it’s not all just canning, but it includes various clever ways of using leftover or excess fruit such as in the recipe below. The book is a great resource for any novice or seasoned canner, and most of the recipes are from scratch. There are no packets of pectin around here.

Some of the canning recipes I liked included: “Strawberry and lemon preserves”, “Blueberry Apple Jam” and “Concord Grape Jelly with Green Apples”. I wasn’t a big fan of her “Do Chau” (pickled carrot and daikon) recipe, but all in all, this book is incredibly useful for the casual and serious canner and cook.

There are also recipes on how to use your canned goods (for pies, savoury dishes, etc) and other ideas for preservation like the Lime Frozen Yogurt recipe below.

All in all, I recommend this book for canners and those who just like fruit.

Canning for a new generation

Continue reading →

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Sunday Salon: Food & Meditation 4 Replies

Posted on October 28, 2012 in Books

Sunday Salon

Hello everyone! How is your Sunday going?

This week, I read Lost Laysen by Margaret Mitchell and continued to read Bel-Ami. I may read a bit of it today, but I also want to fiddle. I like the writing in the book, but it requires more concentration because of the French.

Last week, I made Lime Frozen Yogurt from Canning for a New Generation and I am writing up a review of the cookbook. The yogurt turned out ok, but it’s going to take me awhile to eat it!

Skipped badminton again this week, but still love yoga. I’ve been thinking I should meditate again. I use to do it once a week back in graduate school, and I really think it helped me get through that year. Does anyone else meditate?

It’s colder, and I like to stay indoors more. I am a homebody at heart.

Have a good week, everyone!

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Lost Laysen by Margaret Mitchell 2 Replies

Posted on October 26, 2012 in Books

Lost Laysen Margaret Mitchell

This is the ‘lost’ romantic novella Mitchell wrote for one of her beaus when she was fifteen (going on sixteen). Mitchell probably didn’t want this published since she dictated that all her personal artifacts, writings and original manuscripts be burned after her death. Furthermore, this was seemingly a gift between young friends and lovers.

This story is melodramatic. Three men are in lust/love with the main female character named Courtenay Ross. Billy Duncan, the hard fighting sailor and narrator/protagonist, is ardently in love with Courtenay. I’m not sure why, but I guess Courtenay has Scarlett O’Hara level of attractiveness that make men want to marry, love, or rape her in this story.

Reading this and Gone with the Wind reminds me how sheltered Mitchell’s life seemed to be. I often wondered when reading what her exposure to other ethnicities and non-Caucasian people were. There is some derogatory remarks about the Japanese in this story. Did she even meet a Japanese person when she wrote this? The antagonist and would-be rapist of the story is a “half-breed” who is half Spanish and half Japanese, but receives no dialogue in this story at all.

It is a bit unfair to critcise this novella too much since she didn’t intend for many people to see it. I do think it shows her promise as a writer. It is definitely much better than most high school short stories. I enjoyed the book not just for the novella, but mostly for the insight about Mitchell’s life in the early twentieth century.

Read October 23-24th 2012.

My Gone With the Wind review will be up on Margaret Mitchell’s birthday November 8th.

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Booking Through Thursday: Cover Story part 2 7 Replies

Posted on October 25, 2012 in Books

This week on BTT:

Are there any good books that you read IN SPITE OF the cover and ended up wondering what on earth the artist and publisher were thinking to pair up a cover that so badly represented a perfectly good book?

And … if you didn’t like the cover, what made you pick up the book? The author? Assigned reading from school? A recommendation from a friend?

As I said last week, most times, I don’t really see that many bad covers. If I do, I don’t notice it as much as the book for itself. I do notice that French publishers keep their covers much simpler than those in the anglophone publishing world. I was French book browsing this weekend and noticed again how many of their books lack a lot of colour and intrigue. They focus less on advertising to be sure.

Usually, I pick up books for a plethora of reasons, including, but not limited to: author that I have read before, it is a classic/award winner, part of a series, or a recommendation from a friend/blog/or other source. I use to read for school, but it doesn’t apply now that I am out of it.

How about you?

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Sunday Salon: October Clouds 8 Replies

Posted on October 21, 2012 in Books

Sunday Salon

Hello, everyone!

I am still reading Bel-Ami. I am nearly halfway through it, but I won’t be able to read it by the time the book is due on Tuesday. I’ll have to continue by downloading a copy. I have to find a French one for the Kindle though. I’m enjoying reading it in French, but it’s one of those books where none of the characters are likable so I’m not really rooting for anyone. The writing is good though; I do love French.

No reading today as a friend is visiting from out of town so I am out and about. It’ll be a good way to test my new camera out.

In an effort to curb my hobbies, I’ll probably drop badminton after Christmas. I am no longer looking forward to it like I use to. I even skipped it to this week because I was tired and I rather play fiddle instead. I’m really getting into my music. It’s been six weeks, and I’ve learned three tunes. I find it meditatively and boosts my confidence since I’ve never been particularly musical.

Next month, I’ll have more time to read (yay!), but also look for jobs (boo!).

What is everyone reading this weekend? Have a good week!

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FO Fridays: Taska 6 Replies

Posted on October 19, 2012 in Knitting & Crafting

Taska This knit purse was a stashbusting project from yarn from the first sweater I ever made: Aftur (Ravelry link). I had several left over balls from the main sweater and the fair isle. The designer probably foresaw this and designed this companion purse to go with it. Taska It is doubtful that I will use it often because I tend to like bigger bags. I don’t really wear the sweater often either, but only for outdoors activities such as skating and hiking which I don’t very often in general. I love this sweater though. It is very itchy so I always have to wear turtleneck underneath it, but it is very warm and it almost feels like I am wearing protective chain mail with it on. I love lopi wool.

Taska, started September 10th, finished October 3rd 2012. Ravelry Project Page
Pattern: Taska by Védís Jónsdóttir from Ístex Lopi No. 25 Ravelry Pattern Page
Size: Blocked W 9.5″/25cm x H 10.5″/28cm
Yarn: Ístex Létt-Lopi. Leftovers from my Aftur sweater. Here the original amounts I started with, and all leftovers from the original 12 bought for the sweater, save the last brown one. I only used up the brown and the orange one. Still have a fair amount of the others left:

  • Oatmeal: 32g+34g
  • Black Heather: 21g
  • White: 35g
  • Mustard: 41g
  • Crimson Red: 42g
  • Orange: 48g – Even though I had a full skein of this, ran out of this in the lining and had to finish with the Mustard.
  • Brown: 23g – I had little of the the black to start off, but I used leftover brown (23 g) from another lopi project to replace it. I also used this brown for the strap.

Needles: HiyaHiya #7/4.5mm and #6/4.0mm 40″/100cm metal circulars. The latter only for the strap. Also a 4.0mm crochet hook for the loop.
Modifications & Notes:

  • Judy’s Magic Cast-On for the start so I wouldn’t need to sew the bottom closed
  • Used a tutorial for the crochet loop tutorial. I am not a good crocheter so I did my best and it’s not neat, but it’s rather sturdy.
  • Slipped first stitch of every row the strap. Knit until I ran out of yarn which was around 115cm.
  • Blocked the strap and the bag before sewing them and the button on.
  • The strap is too long though, I would make it about 30cm shorter for someone of average height. I sewed it deep down into the bag for the result.

Tools/Notions: One button.
Cost of Project: Whatever the small fraction from the original 12 skeins I bought from the sweater ($65CAD) + the brown + the button.
Would I knit it again? No, but I do like this pattern as a stashbuster.

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

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Booking Through Thursday – Cover Story 8 Replies

Posted on October 18, 2012 in Books

This week on BTT:

They say you can’t judge a book by its cover, but there’s no question that it can make a difference!

What book(s) have your favorite covers? Something that’s perfect for the story, the tone, the colors, the mood…

And did you pick up the book BECAUSE of the cover? Or were you going to read it anyway, and the cover was just serendipitous?

I have picked up books based on the cover, but I haven’t done it in a long time. I now usually pick the book based on reviews or word of mouth. I do like a good cover though.

Since I have read a lot of classics, I like a lot of the publishers of classic book sellers. My favourite edition of classic books is the hard cover Everyman’s Editions. I also really love the Penguin covers as they always pick out the right design and photo. I like the new prints they have for the Austen and Bronte books too.

Some of the best covers I’ve seen are, unsurprisingly, from graphic novels like Blankets or Neil Gaiman’s Sandman series.

Most of the time, books have good or OK covers and there aren’t many that I dislike really or find off putting for books. Publishers must sell books so they are much more careful about book covers than say, people who make movies. You’re more likely to see bad movie posters than bad book covers I think.

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