A bit later than everyone else

We work on a different timescale here and long after everyone else has read and raved about The Memory Keepers Daughter, it's the choice of my book group this week.

I find that I am resistant to the Richard and Judy* tide and far from encouraging me to read the titles with that sticker on the front, it actually puts me off. Can I be the only one who has no wish to be a packrat?

*I used the Wikipedia link to R & J because their own site is one of those annoying ones which won't let you go back. Not only that, the "bookclub" page is a sales site. I don't think they need my help in getting more business, do you?

Anyway, I spent much of yesterday engrossed in it and can only say if you haven't, you should.

At home

A day at home and I'm taking a chance to potter around, putting things away, sorting out a pile here and a heap there.

The pile of Christmas books is there on my worktable and I wonder, should I put them away or leave them a while? Which one to start? So many goodies, I think I shall take one at a time and enjoy it before putting it away on a shelf where I'll forget all about it. Once it gets up there with the others, it'll blend into the background, just like my copy of the Vogue Knitting Handbook.

You wouldn't happen to know where I put that, would you? I now have a list of lost things, including my Oyster card, a bank card and my jewellery making tools. I did find the other slipper yesterday though...

Book details on my LibraryThing page, if you're interested.

Couldn't put it down...

I've just finished "The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox" and found it a compelling read. It's been on my bedside table for a couple of months and somehow it's taken a while to find its way into my hands. From the very first page it drew me in completely and the beautifully told story of a tragic life is well paced and very moving.

There's a review here by Jane Gardam, which sums it up far better than I ever could.

Another good read

I'm a sucker for Margaret Forster's novels and eagerly snap them up as soon as I spot a new title. This one snook up on me though - I hadn't seen it in hardback, still having "Keeping the World Away" on my "to read" pile. I was immediately hooked from the first page, as usual and though it's a slow, thoughtful tale, I found it hard to put down.

The pace of the book is considered, the events few. Written in the first person, Lou's point of view was clearly going to be the most persuasive. I sympathised entirely with her from the start and when, three quarters of the way through the book, she was dealt a cruel hand, I fully expected an altogether different turn of events. But family relationships are not straightforward; shared history and experience - and love - create strong bonds and the eventual outcome was not unexpected (or contrived).

Another satisfying read in a week when distractions have been more than welcome.

Satisfying read

I've had a couple of days to myself here and have read more than usual. As I finished The Concert Pianist, late last night, I thought what a rare book it is - intelligent, sensitive and beautifully written. In view of our recent encounters in the world of a classical pianist and subsequent discussions, I found it particularly thought provoking. A really good read and one to recommend.

However, in this review Ying Chang comments: "This is an admixture of ‘chick lit' with ‘classical music explained for the chattering classes.' In the strap lines with which Mr Williams will be familiar, this is Jilly Cooper meets Alain de Botton. It is a book trying to be three things – a philosophical excursus on the relation between Art and mortality, a psychodrama on the life-path of the artist, and a domestic love story. It only partially succeeds in any of these. "

Well, excuse me if I disagree here. Far too well written to be dismissed as "chick-lit", perhaps the plot is somewhat predictable in places. But "classical music explained for the chattering classes"? In my opinion, Conrad Williams manages to explore the psychological effects of such a demanding artform very well indeed, whilst maintaining an intelligent discussion around the musical works concerned. It would surely be unwise to assume any depth of musical knowledge when writing for a mainstream audience; Ying Chang's review patronises the reader far more than the novel he criticises.

I've finished my book

I found this book incredibly moving and rather unusual. Have any of you read it? What did you think?

Good grief! *textile content* !!

Here in Ghent, we've enjoyed our independence and freedom from the constraints of being with a large group. Today, we've pottered around the city, taking time to stroll around and do things at our own pace. That sometimes means doing things more slowly but more often, it means skipping over some bits but luxuriating in the joy of just stopping and standing a while, taking in the atmosphere!




We stumbled upon a small shop with this intriguing window display of merino fleece and of course, I simply had to go inside to take a closer look. In amongst the wonderful collection of art materials was a large book section, and there on top of the pile of inspection copies was a copy of Dutch Felt , such an inspiring and attractive book, it just had to be brought home with me.




I've now had the chance to sit and look more closely at it and find it a most intriguing book. It's written in both English and Dutch and cleverly designed so that each language gets priority and yet as a reader, I don't feel cheated because I have access to only one half! Photography standards and production values are high and there is a good section on "how to" at the back. The first section of the book focuses on the author, Ria van Els-Dubelaar, followed by a good few pages profiling some of her colleagues and friends. In other words, I think the book achieves something that many titles don't - provide inspiration, background information, "recipes" and details of how to get some of the effects, all presented in an attractive and easily read format. Bravo!



As I opened the book for the first time, a card slipped out with details of another title: "Dutch Quilt". Hmmmm.......further investigation needed!

Japanese Craft Books

I promised I'd share pictures of the New York loot sometime soon, and so I shall - but it's likely to come out in dribs and drabs, what with assembling furniture, preparing for guests and generally getting back into "life" again. Anyway, I thought I'd show two Japanese craft books Jordi and I found in Kinokuniya with you to start the ball rolling.



First is a button book, full of ideas for stringing buttons into different arrangements and surely a book I'm going to find useful. Google ISBN 4-579-11063-3 for more details.



Second is a ribbon flower book , the Amazon Japan page describes it beautifully! Google ISBN 4-579-11125-7 for more information.

I'm really pleased to have both of these on my shelf. Even though I can't read Japanese, I can follow the really clear diagrams and be inspired by so many of the designs inside.

Christmas Books

I'm finally finding a spare half hour here and there to look through some of my Christmas Books. In my opinion, the contents and the quality of the production of each one of these titles is remarkable and I can see all three becoming firm favourites.



First off the pile is Sandra Meech's latest title Creative Quilts I think the boundaries between quilting and embroidery are so fuzzy now that it's hard to make a distinction (though I know there will be some traditional quilters out there who will disagree!) There is such an immense wealth of inspiration in this book for anyone working with textile arts and I trust the title will not discourage anyone from taking a closer look. Every page could start a journey towards a new project or bring fresh ideas to enliven an existing one. I can't wait to begin trying some of the suggestions!

Next off the pile is one I didn't feel I needed to look inside before adding to my Amazon wishlist, such is my confidence that any book by Maggie and Val would be full of goodness. I felt I really needed to add Stitch, Dissolve, Distort to my collection and sure enough, it's got all the reliable ideas and technical know-how to refer to time and again. I like the way that this book returns to some of the old favourites such as whip stitch, reminding me that some techniques are so solid that they remain useful and adaptable in spite of the all the new products appearing. The photography in the book is great and the layout follows in the same vein as previous titles by Maggie and Val. Sad to think that once we get the Embellisher title in our hands, we will benefit no more from Val's incredible creative talent. She's sadly missed.

Finally one which I definitely needed to look inside before it found a place on my list. I'm wary of such titles, many of which simply seem to be full of other peoples' journal pages open for copying. I have no use for such books, neither do I want product-heavy "project" ideas. this one is neither. Beginning with some fairly basic principles, Visual Chronicles: The No-Fear Guide to Art Journals, Creative Manifestos and Altered Books by Karen Dinino and Linda Woods goes on to explore several aspects of building these "visual chronicles" - not so much sketchbooks, not really journals, for the ideas in the book are not centred upon recording events in a diary as such but far more about using the medium of a blank page to record creative responses to all manner of "pressed buttons". There's practical advice and encouragement to inspire and though I don't think I need/want to work through this book from beginning to end, there are several things I intend to try as soon as possible, in the hope that I might establish some better journal/sketchbook keeping habits.