Book Review

Book:Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
















Finished: September 2011
Pages: 352

Oh my goodness, I loved this book. It was just creepy enough to be delicious and not give me nightmares. I signed up for Carl's RIP challenge and put together a list of choices I had sitting around my shelves. Then I made the mistake of looking at other people's lists and saw this one on several. I decided to treat myself to a copy on my Kindle.

From Amazon:
As a kid, Jacob formed a special bond with his grandfather over his bizarre tales and photos of levitating girls and invisible boys. Now at 16, he is reeling from the old man's unexpected death. Then Jacob is given a mysterious letter that propels him on a journey to the remote Welsh island where his grandfather grew up. There, he finds the children from the photographs--alive and well--despite the islanders’ assertion that all were killed decades ago. As Jacob begins to unravel more about his grandfather’s childhood, he suspects he is being trailed by a monster only he can see. A haunting and out-of-the-ordinary read, debut author Ransom Rigg’s first-person narration is convincing and absorbing, and every detail he draws our eye to is deftly woven into an unforgettable whole. Interspersed with photos throughout, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children is a truly atmospheric novel with plot twists, turns, and surprises that will delight readers of any age.

From Me:
This is most definitely a young adult novel, and very much a first time book by Riggs. That being said, it is still a great read. The book grabbed me with the first sentence and I found myself cheering Jacob on at every turn. This book reminds me of a much gentler version of a book I read many years ago--The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly. This book has monsters, mystery, heroes and some fantasy and time travel thrown in. One of the main complaints I have seen for this book is that some people did not appreciate the whole idea of the pictures being interspersed throughout the book. They felt it was distracting and not beneficial to the story. My thoughts are that the photos are what helped make this book different and unique and added to the creepiness. The only complaint I have is in regards to the Kindle version-in a couple of instances there are copies of handwritten letters included and they were extremely difficult to read on the Kindle--the pictures at times could be a bit dark and hard to see also-especially when I was reading in bed at night. But that is all I think of to complain about. This is not my usual genre, so maybe I don't have really high expectations? Anyway, I adored it and will be sure to read the sequel when it is released-and that is a fact you should keep in mind while reading, if you don't like cliffhangers, it might not be for you.

Year of Projects: week 12

Sunday again?
Really?
Happy Fall to all my northern hemisphere readers, and Happy Spring to all you in the Southern part of the world. There is just something special to me when the seasons change--especially when Autumn arrives as it is my favorite time of the year.

As far as knitting goes, I have found myself on a shawl kick. After showing you my little shawlette last week, and then finishing Adelaide's pumpkin hat (photos to follow) I found myself really wanting to knit another, bigger shawl. The thought of wrapping one around me as the weather continues to cool down here is a delightful one.

I won a skein of Zitron Unisono sport weight yarn earlier this summer, and I had no idea what to do with it. I started searching through shawl patterns that matched the stats of this yarn and found this pattern, Shaelyn Shawl. (For none Ravelry members, you can see my project page, here.)

It is a wonderfully easy pattern, and knits up very quickly. I started it on Tuesday night and am probably at least 75% of the way done. This yarn is super nice to work with too---no fuzzies, no pilling, no splitting. It is knitting up into a soft, squishy shawl. I am just hoping I have enough yarn to finish it--it will be close!

I finished Adelaide's pumpkin hat--and here are some photos of her modeling it for me! You can see a few more of the sweetness on my project page--just click the link above.

Happily I can report that I am finally feeling much better after my nasty bout with an equally nasty virus. My lungs are healing and my asthma meds are finally enough to control the symptoms--no more codeine cough syrup for me! Thank you so much to everyone who left me a comment full of well wishes--it truly meant a lot to me.

Happy creating wishes to you all for the coming week!
*smiles*

Weekending

Grandgirls: Adelaide & Amelia
Pumpkin hats
Grilled hamburgers and hot dogs
Fresh produce from fruit stand
Laundry
The finishing of a deliciously creepy book
First rain storm of the Fall
Phone conversation with the University boy
Lunch out with our new Pastor and his wife
Peace from the Lord
Tears over a pending good-bye and the reality of how much I hate change in my life

I saw this weekend feature over on Cloudberry's blog

Weekending.....

The house - less 1 noisy boy
Tears....
Western Washington University & town of Bellingham
Starbucks
Rain
Cough Syrup
Knitting of a pumpkin hat
Completed Shawl
Reading

I saw this weekend feature over on Cloudberry's blog

Year of Projects: week 11

Another week has flown by, and along with going back to work way before I was well enough to have done, and lots and lots of coughing and asthma, and a visit to urgent care on the way home from taking my son to University, and a stronger cough syrup being prescribed along with an antibiotic (just in case you see), a wee bit of knitting did get done and I do have a finished object to show you!!

I present my Little Colonnades shawlette---


















Overall, I am very pleased with this project--it was my first attempt at a shawl and lacework like this, so my sensed of accomplishment is quite high. The one thing I wish I had done, been brave enough actually, is to have done another 8 rows of the lacework to make it a bit bigger. Looking at my left over ball of yarn I think there would have been enough, but at the time I wasn't willing to play yarn chicken. I think I will be adding a full size shawl to my yop list in the very near future.

I have been laying quite low today, due to a little reaction to my cough syrup last night, and it has been a perfect day for it--last weekend as I layed in bed with a fever it was in the upper 80's outside, today, it is barely in 60's --quite gray, gloomy and fallish out--a perfect day for knitting!

And I have been knitting! I finally started my little pumpkin hat for my Grandy-Girl, Lyddie. I finally picked the pattern--my project page is here.

That is all the knitting news from me today--hopefully next weekend I will have a finished hat to show you!

uNiVeRsItY

Getting ready to leave to take the middle son (both in age and in the photo) to University, yesterday morning.
Bittersweet
Melancholy
Bright Hope For the Future


More Saturday Snapshot can be seen over at Alyse's home!

The Girl Who Would Speak For The Dead

The Girl Who Would Speak For the Dead by Paul Elwork
Pages: 308
Finished: September 2011


From Publisher's Weekly:
Loosely based on true events from the early 20th century, Elwork's first novel poignantly depicts the desperate need of people to believe in life after death. In 1925, at her family's suburban Philadelphia estate, 13-year-old Emily Stewart discovers she can make a loud rapping noise with her ankle. With her sly twin brother, Michael, Emily entertains gullible schoolmates with "knockings" that spirits purportedly make to answer questions about the afterlife. When adults who have suffered the loss of loved ones start consulting her as a spirit medium, her efforts to give them consolation begin to seem increasingly like cruel deceptions. Interweaving Emily's experiences with those of several generations of family and friends devastated by tragic loss, Elwork paints an unforgettable portrait of individuals traumatized by death and unhinged by grief. The subtle and moving portrayal of people in the grip of powerful emotions that overwhelm rational thinking will haunt readers long after they put the book down.

From Me:
This was a very atmospheric & haunting read for me. It was quite perfect for one of my RIP 6 reads.

What I liked most were the supporting characters, each with their own stories we learn of through Emily's visits with them. I liked that Emily truly was trying to help people move through their grief and gain some peace--even in the midst of knowing that what she was doing was wrong. I also enjoyed learning the back story of Emily's ancestors as those stories were weaved throughout the present. Without giving anything away, I just want to say that the ending is just perfect also!

What I liked least about the book was the slowness at the beginning. I might have been put off a bit by this as I started it while laying in bed sick and it might not have been the best book to pick up then--but the good news is that I never considered putting it down for good. After the first 1/3 of the book, the pacing picks up and constantly moves towards the climax and resolution.

I received this from Amy Einhorn for review, and as always I thank her for the opportunity to read her books. The Amy Einhorn imprint is committed to excellence and this is another fine offering.

Year of Projects: week 10

What do:

• Sore Throat
• Chronic Coughing
• Fever over 100* (Fahrenheit)
• Throwing up
• Migraine

....have to do with knitting?

Nothing.
Absolutely nothing--which is why I have no exciting update to share with you. I do know that losing 7 pounds in 4 days is a sign that you have been very ill--and very ill I have been...since last Tuesday.

I had such high hopes last Sunday that I would have photos of my shawl all completed and blocked. Alas--that is not to be.

I did manage to knit a bit on it though--and actually only have 2 rows and the bind off left to do.

So today, I am off to the doctor, and once again, I have high hopes for next weekend's post. If I am able to see through my tears to even update--you see, this Friday we take child #3 (son #2) up to college, and I am already a tad weepy thinking of this.

Ta Ta for now----

Autumn Challenges

Seattle weather hasn't clued in yet (we are getting our hottest weather of the summer this week!), but Autumn is 17 days away!
I know!
Shocking!
There are a couple of reading challenges that have been staples in the book blogging world for many years--and they are both back again this year.

The first one is the RIP 6 hosted by Carl. I posted briefly about it the other day, but this will by my formal post--
I guess I am choosing Peril the 2nd--requiring the reading of 2 books. In actuality I am choosing 4 and hoping to finish at least 3 of them.

• The Girl Who Would Speak For the Dead--finished
• The Haunting of Hill House
  
• Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children--finished
  
• 666 Park Avenue-finished

The second challenge is the Fall into Reading Challenge hosted by Calapidder Days. This is one of the first challenges I ever signed up for, many moons ago.


My book choices for this one include the ones I read for the above challenge and these:

• Swimming With Maya
• The Year is '42
• With This Ring, I'm Confused
• Fidelity
• Hannah Coulter
• Nightengale Wood
• Prayer's For Sale--finished
• Undomestic Goddess--finished
  
• Quality of Life Report--finished
• Knitting: a novel
• Dreams of Joy--finished
• Room

Are any of you up to these two challenges? Go check out the challenge pages for them!

Yarn Along...a little bit Autumnish

Ginny from Small Things, hosts a weekly event called Yarn Along. Here she encourages us to share what we are knitting and what we are reading all together in a tidy little post. Quite often, knitters are readers!

Fall is nipping at the heels of Summer here in the Pacific Northwest, and there is that Fallish feeling and smell in the air. I am happy to report that my Little Colonnades shawlette, pictured below, is coming right along. I conquered the part of the pattern that was giving me fits, and I only have 11 more rows to do before binding off! It has sure been nice to not be a frequent visitor to the "Frog Pond"!

See those lovely purple and red lifelines? Umm, yeah. They are doing their job for me this week.

As for the reading part of my life, I am reading a book called: The Girl Who Would Speak For the Dead by Paul Elwork. This too is indicative of that feeling of Fall-I don't usually read spooky or Gothic stories but sometimes they appeal to me, and this season of the year definitely lends itself to those kinds of reads. I chose this book and 3 others as my choice reads for the RIP 6 Challenge hosted yearly by Carl.

So, has the Autumn bug bit you yet? I am sure ready for full fledged Fall, even though I am facing several events regarding my adult children, that while exciting for them, is leaving me wondering where the years have flown off to!

Year of Projects: week 9

Happy Sunday greetings to you all! My hope is that you all are having the same glorious kind of day I am having...a day full of warm bright sunshine, and the knowledge that I have tomorrow off from work, due to the Labor Day holiday!

Now, all that cheerfulness aside, I must admit that all was not cheerful in my knitting world this week.
Nope!
Not cheerful at all.
In fact, I spent so much time floundering and flapping around in the "frog" pond, I near to died from drowning!

The culprit was my beautiful Little Colonnades shawlette.


I wrote last week about a little problem I had noticed in the lace pattern and would need to make a decision if it really was there and whether or not it would need to be corrected.
Whelp!

Indeed, I had made a serious mistake and because of it my lace columns in places would not be lined up in a row. And you know, the word colonnade does evoke the image of straight rows of columns, right?

That was not going to work for me. So, I frogged back to the lifeline, ripping out 8 rows of lacework. And then after that it was one problem after another. Getting past row 2 was not happening and I was getting extremely frustrated. Really, the pattern is not that difficult. I frogged those first 2 rows back at least 3 more times.

Happily, yesterday I got my act together and have managed to get over that hurdle in order to finish those 8 rows again. So, my pictures today, look very similar to the ones I posted last week.

In these you can see my purple lifeline and beneath it, those pesky problem-some 8 rows. Guess what I am doing next, before starting the 8 row lace pattern again?

Putting in a new lifeline!

As far as the pumpkin hat I discussed last week goes--there is nothing new to report, except every one who gave me their opinion on which ball of orange to use agreed on the larger, darker skein. And I agree. Maybe this week I will cast it on.

One last question for all my fibre friends... I have a very small knitting budget, but I like nice, upper end quality yarns to knit with. I have a copy of Knit Picks catalogue and it appears their yarn is very reasonable priced. My dilemma is that the lys's around here do not stock that brand and I am a touchy feeley yarn purchaser. Have any of you used this brand and do you love it? Anything I should know before taking the plunge and ordering some?

Until next time--happy knitting thoughts sent to you all!

sAtUrDaY sNaPsHoT

August in Review

(as always, click to enlarge)

More Saturday Snapshot can be seen over at Alyse's home!

Daybook: randomness and a reading challenge!

Outside my window: A breeze is gently blowing and I hear a lawn mower off in the distance.

I am thinking: I can't believe it is Labor Day weekend--summer is really over as school started this week.

I am listening to: Norah Jones (Pandora)

I am grateful for: The news that my daughter and son-in-law are finally able to purchase a house and actually had the house inspection today.

I am reading: Not sure--I finished The Three Weissmanns of Westport yesterday and am trying to decide what next. I may join Carl's RIP 6 challenge. I had earlier picked out a few books for a Gothic challenge this year--books I really want to read, but never get around to!










Carl has the best graphics!
The books I am considering are: The Sister, The Haunting of Hill House, The Girl Who Would Speak for the Dead, and 666 Park Avenue.

I am photographing: Who else? Family!







































































I am listing: The items we need to still purchase for Austen, before he leaves for college in 2 weeks. Oh wow! Typing "2 weeks" really hit me just now....oh how I love my boys, and oh how I will miss this one when he is gone. This is #3 to leave for college, and don't let anyone tell you it gets easier. They are lying.

I am creating: I am totally immersed in my Little Colonnades shawlette. There has been a few set backs this week on it, but I am determined to finish it very soon!

To live my faith: We have taken a very drastic step here in our family regarding our faith. After attending the same church for 22 years, we have left. We are so excited about our new little church, and leave service every Sunday excited about being a Christian! Getting to this point has been a long time in coming, and during this waiting time we have agonized over what to do. But now? The time to leave just seemed to have appeared and we are at peace--for the first time in several years.

I am hoping and praying: That our last child at home, Sam, finds his place in this new church youth group. He will still attend events at the old church with the friends he has there. I am really praying he finds some great guys at our new church home though.

Around the house: Getting ready for the bedroom change around again in a couple of weeks when child #3 leaves. I am thinking we need to start packing the room up this weekend!

From the kitchen: I am going to try this recipe over the weekend---Puffed Rice Breakfast Bar.

One of my favorite things this week: Hearing the pep band rehearsing Monday night when we picked Sam up from rehearsal. He is playing right now at the first football game of the season.

The child this week: Started school this week--he was a bit grumpy about it too. The great thing for him is that his band director checked in with him to make sure he is getting stuff together to try out for All State Band.

Fun Links:
I found a great blog, devoted to photos of books! It is called A Pretty Book, if you are a book lover, I think you will find this blog quite exquisite!

This girl is solving the problem of banned books at her school, all by herself! Brilliant and gutsy. I was a tad surprised at a few of the titles on that list.

Must read books of the Fall.

Well--the 3 day weekend is here, and the dear husband and I are headed to the movies!
*smiles*