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January 31, 2005
Greetings from Podunk, Idaho!
Hi ya'll!. Thanks Cara for this, such a wonderful idea! Since I'm just joining, I'll probably start with the next book? Would love to do the January read, but "Houston, we have a problem". Namely, there are no bookstores where I live! Yes, I know...can you believe in 2005, I live in a place where you can't buy books? Our nearest bookstore is 60 miles (one way) from here in Boise, Idaho. I'm probably Amazon.com's biggest customer?
What have I been reading? The Book of Handy Sweater Patterns, Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell and I'm currently re-reading (for the 11th time, I think)The Eight by Katherine Neville. Oh, I am reading Technology and Modern Society, but that's for my writing class in college (so I don't really count that one!).
I'm looking forward to expanding my reading, I'm not a "serious" reader, meaning I tend to read "light" novels. Hopefully, this will encourage me to expand my mind?
Cheers,
Ari
PS-Podunk is really Payette, Idaho!
Posted by Ari at 10:19 AM | Comments (0)
January 25, 2005
'Howdy' from the big D
Hello all and thanks, Cara, for setting this up. Like most of you, I enjoy reading and knitting (and all that life has to offer), but rarely have the time to get it all done. Lately I feel that my reading time has been eaten up by my knitting. So to fight back, I've joined this group - kill two birds with one stone and everyone's happy, right?
To make things a little easier, I'm listening to the e-books when available. (This isn't cheating, is it?) This allows me to knit and "read" simultaneously.
I don't necessarily have a favorite author or book. And my recent reads have mostly been what my husband has just finished reading. (He's a quick reader, and I can't keep up with his pace.) The last three books I have read (during the holidays) are The Princess Bride, The Grim Grotto, and The Stupidest Angel. As you can see, I was in a light and humorous book mood. But fear not, I do like my more serious reading too.
I'll be joining in with the end of February discussion of the Mark Haddon book. I look forward to reading and discussing with you all.
Posted by Nanc at 10:11 AM | Comments (1)
January 23, 2005
a new member
Good Morning All,
After a supportive letter from Cara I tried this again..and here I am..introducing myself to the book club!
While I won't be joining you for Roth's book, I just finshed Haddon's book...my local SEPTA (Special Education Parent Teacher Assoc)is also reading it for a discussion...I am interested in hearing the viewpoints of those with children like Christopher and those who do not. I will share any insights I hear from the SEPTA talk.
I've tried to solve the knitting vs reading dilemma by taking large print books from the library....soemtimes it works....and tapes? the last time I tried to learn Spanish in the car..I got dangerously close to a sidewalk.....so I am not sure I want to subject my knitting projects to my distracted state.......so trying to find the balance....knitting calls more often...but then a yearning for a good book presents itself and can not be ignored.
You all sound like very busy people..that you get to read and knit is impressive!
Thanks Cara!
back to my 'blizzard' knitting!
mj
Posted by MJ at 10:47 AM | Comments (1)
a new member
Good Morning All,
After a supportive letter from Cara I tried this again..and here I am..introducing myself to the book club!
While I won't be joining you for Roth's book, I just finshed Haddon's book...my local SEPTA (Special Education Parent Teacher Assoc)is also reading it for a discussion...I am interested in hearing the viewpoints of those with children like Christopher and those who do not. I will share any insights I hear from the SEPTA talk.
I've tried to solve the knitting vs reading dilemma by taking large print books from the library....soemtimes it works....and tapes? the last time I tried to learn Spanish in the car..I got dangerously close to a sidewalk.....so I am not sure I want to subject my knitting projects to my distracted state.......so trying to find the balance....knitting calls more often...but then a yearning for a good book presents itself and can not be ignored.
You all sound like very busy people..that you get to read and knit is impressive!
Thanks Cara!
back to my 'blizzard' knitting!
mj
Posted by MJ at 10:47 AM | Comments (0)
January 18, 2005
Thanks for starting the group!
I'm yet another one of those who has always wanted to be in a book group, but never found one to fit into my schedule. I work full-time, have 2 kids, do martial arts, knit, cook... not a lot of slots left for social activities, but I certainly do love to read.
I love all different kinds of fiction - Fantasy, Science Fiction, Crime, Mystery (even *shh* romance). One of my favorite recent series was the Tales of the Otori (Across the Nightingale Floor was the first of this series) by Leon Hearn - fantastic imagery and great characters... I also love pretty much anything by David Weber. I really love books with compelling characters - I keep thinking that someday I'd like to write a book myself.
I live in the Santa Cruz (Central Coast of California) area with my 2 kids, 2 cats, 2 dogs and a husband. Looking forward to getting to know all of you even better!
Kirsten
DomestiGirl
Posted by *Kirsten* at 03:47 PM | Comments (0)
January 13, 2005
I read more than I knit - but not by much!
Donna from Knit One, Purl Too here - Knit One, Read Too could have easily been the name of my weblog, so I think it will be great fun to be part of a group that combines two things I like so much.
My favorite author is John Irving - I *love* A Prayer for Owen Meany, and it's been just long enough that it might be time to read it again. I'm also a fan of mysteries, and have been working my way through the Peter Decker/Rina Lazarus mysteries by Faye Kellerman as well as the Number One Ladies' Detective Agency books. My favorite reading these days may be what I refer to as "narrative nonfiction" - gripping stories that are actually true. A Civil Action by Jonathan Harr is a great example of the genre, and on Slate's recommendation, I just finished reading the 9/11 Commission Report - very well written, and an excellent treatment of a complex subject. To balance that out, I'm reading the latest Anna Maxted, Being Committed.
Two things about me: I haven't yet finished a sweater (not for lack of trying) and I check most of my books out of the library, which gives me incentive to finish them quickly!
Posted by Donna at 02:48 PM | Comments (0)
January 12, 2005
Quick Intro
Hi all!
About me: My name's Terri and I'm new to both knitting and blogging. I used to do cross-stitch, but I decided I wanted hobbies I could multitask. I'm 31, finishing my last 6 months of grad school, married, and have a 20 month old son. I'm an avid reader, even though somehow I don't have as much time to read as I used to ( I don't have enough time to do anything as much as I would like!). I just started keeping a knit blog at www.terbyknits.blogspot.com.
About books: I'm currently reading Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell. I read a lot of different genres, but one of my all-time favorite books is If on a winter's night a traveler by Italo Calvino.
Looking forward to reading with you!
Terri
Posted by Terri at 05:30 PM | Comments (0)
January 11, 2005
A Little Bit About Me
I am so excited to be part of this group - thanks so much to Cara for all the work she must be putting in to get it going. I am a Canadian living up in what has been the frozen North for the last 2 weeks - Calgary (wind chill bringing the temperature down to -42 C tonight). I have two wonderful little boys who are 1 1/2 and 2 3/4 and a great husband who does his best to give me time to knit and read. Reading is one of my most favourite things to do and I went a little crazy with the book buying before the holiday season - now to find the time to read everything.
I love knitting and have a tonne of projects on the go ....
In all of this craziness, I practice law with an Oil & Gas Company and am taking English Lit classes. My next project is a knitting blog but I don't even know where to start.
I think this is going to be fantastic and can't wait to "meet" everyone.
Leanne
Posted by at 05:17 PM | Comments (0)
Hello from DC!
Hello everyone! I am much like everyone else here--I love a good book just as much as I love knitting. I'm really looking forward to the discussions and getting to know everyone :)
About me:
I live in the DC suburbs with my husband. We have two dogs, two turtles and are working on starting a family. I work for the Department of Defense and in my free time I like to play cards, knit and read. During graduate school, I go a little burnt out on reading but the zest is definately returning and I'm thrilled to be a part of this group.
My favorite reads:
My all-time favorite book is definately the Count of Monte Cristo. I have probably read that book more than a dozen times and everytime is just as fantastic as the last. I read everything from science fiction (hello, Lord of the Rings) to classics (ahh..Shakespeare) with the random Beach Book thrown in for good measure. I also enjoy nonfiction-histories, science, politics, or whatever is laying around.
Megan
http://fruitychick.com
Posted by Megan at 03:00 PM | Comments (0)
January 10, 2005
A quick intro
Hi all!
Like a lot of you, I've always wanted to join a book group, but my crazy schedule just hasn't allowed me to make it to any of the in-person discussions. I'm so excited about this group and I'm completely intrigued by the first book that we'll be reading.
As for personal info, I'm 33, married, live in the San Francisco Bay area, and have two cats. I'm entering my last semester of school and will then officially be a librarian. (yay!) I have been knitting for four years and blogging since last July.
I can't wait to "meet" everyone!
Nancy
http://goteweinstitches.blogspot.com.
Posted by Nancy at 08:14 PM | Comments (1)
Hello
Just wanted to say hi and introduce myself. My name is Colette and I live in Queens, NY. I love to read and knit and crochet. I have a book blog link on my main blog called Lost in a Good Book. I haven't had much chance to work on it,but once I take the State Boards on the 20th, I will have plenty of time to update both my blogs!
Looking forward to some great book discussions here.
Posted by Colette at 09:45 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
January 08, 2005
New member
Thank you Cara for creating this group. I have been wanting to join a book club for a while, but hadn't found one that worked for my schedule. This is perfect! When I am at home you will either find a book in my hand or my knitting needles. Lately it has mainly been my knitting needles so I have subscribed to Audible.com to catch up on books too. This is enjoyable, but can never take the place of curling up in a chair with a book that takes you away. I love to learn about other cultures, history and current events(reading just for fun is important too). In 2004 I read Something Rotten, Jasper Fforde (wonderful series); Virginia Woolf, Nigel Nicolson; Two Gardeners-A Friendship in Letters, Katherine White and Elizabeth Lawrence; several of Susan Wittig Albert's herbal mysteries; Angels and Demons and The Divinci Code, Dan Brown. I have about 20 books sitting in piles waiting to be attended, but they will have to wait. I am really looking forward to some new suggestions. I live about 5 miles from Powell's Books (hence the large pile of books) so I'll be reading The first book on the list by tomorrow.
You can check out my knitting life at debaccuardi.typepad.com
Posted by Deb at 06:41 PM | Comments (0)
January 07, 2005
Greetings from Beantown
Hi - so I thought I should introduce myself finally! My name's Anne and I'm a law student in Boston. I've been knitting for about three years now (wow, that seems both longer and shorter than I'd expected) and blogging for about six months. I'm currently knitting Clapotis (along with everyone else, it seems!) as well as attempting my first true fair isle project, a Latvian mitten (well, hopefully two), which is really challenging, but really fun, too, now that I've conquered my teeny-tiny DPN phobia.
I've been a reader my whole life, and even during my first year of law school (the second half of which started this week), I've managed to continue reading for pleasure. It's such a great break from the drudgery of reading cases and more cases and oh, hey, how about a few more cases? I love law school, though, which is a bit of a shock to most people, actually.
Anyway, my favorite books of late include The Tipping Point, by Malcolm Gladwell, as well as his follow-up, Blink (which actually isn't out yet - I got an advance copy), plus Life of Pi, by Yann Martel, and The Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, by Michael Chabon, which even though I read it about two years ago has really stuck with me. I also really loved Jhumpa Lahiri's recent book, the Namesake. My favorite book of all time (at least so far) is called the Power of One, by an Aussie author named Bryce Courtenay. It's an incredible book, and I've recommended it for years and years without fail.
Anyway, nice to meet you all and I look forward to reading with you!
Posted by Anne at 07:22 PM | Comments (0)
Hello all
Hi! I'm thrilled to have found this group. I seem to be on a quest to read and knit everything there is to read and knit in the world, so this is pretty ideal. :)
I'm Kelly in New York. My blog is seetooms.blogspot.com. The last book I read, which was wonderful, was "I Should Be Extremely Happy in Your Company", a novel about Lewis and Clark exploring America. Excellent book. Favorites of all time...hmmm...probably "Ada, or Ardor" by Nabokov (I'm trying to read all of his books over time - slowly but surely, I'm getting there) with "Grapes of Wrath" and anything by Toni Morrison as close seconds.
Best wishes to all and happy New Year.
Posted by Kelly at 10:36 AM | Comments (2)
January 04, 2005
Me too, me too!
Hi....I'm Judy, a single mother of two daughters (14 and 11) in North Carolina. If you look, you will find books and knitting in the car, in my bag, all over the house...after all, you can never be sure as to when and where you might have a moment to knit or read.
I normally read lighter fiction---something with sex-crazed vampires and/or werewolves or quirky heroines. But I will occassionally pick up weightier tomes. After all, they say you can't live by chocolate alone. Normally my reading is escape fiction, but the stack of 15 books on my nightstand only has one ripped bodice, so I guess I am not totally a fluff reader.
As it turns out, I am really waiting for next month's book. Our county library system has a read-along for the year and they have picked February's selection. I also have a friend whose son has Asperger's.
Judy
www.knottyneedle.blogspot.com
Posted by Judy H. at 04:21 PM | Comments (1)
January 03, 2005
Greetings from California
Hey everybody!!
My name is Angela. I'm living in So Cal, though I grew up an Iowa girl. And I've been knitting for six years now, and have been reading all my life! And I love combining the two.
As regards knitting books, I recently bought Knitting in the Old Way by Pris Gibson Roberts. And of course my favorite,tried and true knitting book is, Knitting in Plain English by Maggie Righetti.
And the books on my nightstand? Vanity Fair by William M Thackeray, The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck, and Jane Eyre By Charlotte Bronte. Though, I don't know if I should count Jane Eyre, since it is my favorite book and is always within easy reach.
Happy reading everyone!
Posted by Angela at 04:18 AM | Comments (1)
January 02, 2005
Getting to know you
Hello, all--
I'm Diane. I'm an avid reader...mostly of fiction, lately of blogs! Favorite novels that spring to mind are "Angle of Repose" by Wallace Stegner, "The Secret Life of Bees" by Sue Monk Kidd, "The Deptford Trilogy" by Robertson Davies, "Father Melancholy's Daughter" by Gail Godwin...
I used to knit a lot, and haven't for years. I've returned to knitting a bit in the last year as I've been unable to resist the amazingly luscious yarns that are around these days.
My primary creative endeavor is quilting. I make art quilts and contemporary quilts, and am addicted to fabric. I'm also a lawyer (working from home doing litigation -related research and writing), mom of an active, opinionated, horse-crazy 9 year old, and wife of a college psych professor. We all live in Healdsburg, California, which is in Nothern California's wine country.
I'm looking forward to talking books, knitting, and life with you all!
Diane
www.goingtopieces.blogspot.com
Posted by Diane at 11:58 PM | Comments (2)
Hi!
My name is Jenika. I've always loved to read, but just recently realized that I also love to knit! My favorite books are: The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers, To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, The Rapture of Canaan by Sheri Reynolds. Right now I'm reading Crazy in Alabama by Mark Childress and next to my bed is Augusten Burrough's next book Magical Thinking: True Stories.
I'm really looking forward to our future discussions and getting some interesting recommendations from you all!
Posted by Jenika at 08:19 PM | Comments (3)
Hello all!
My name is Amanda and I just joined the group today. I am an avid reader and a relatively new knitter. My husband and I traveled around the US fulltime for two years but since this November we moved back to our cabin in Colorado. I am currently trying to apply for a masters program in English Literature and resettling on what we call a "rooted" lifesytle. It is a bit weird to be in one place for more then two weeks.
I look forward to talking more with all of you!
Amanda
http://ttbookjunkie.blogspot.com/
Posted by Amanda at 06:50 PM | Comments (1)