reading trees

penny on June 19, 2006

I did a LOT of reading this past week. I didn’t start Dune again, nor choose my 500+ book to read but I did finish quite a few other things… I wonder how many trees 1264 pages are… In reality I have finished a bit more, but I am tired and unable to write about the others.

Note: I do plan to read up on “proper” book reviews and work on polishing what I write. I am tried of sounding like a illiterate four year old who can’t string two coherent sentences together. We’ll see if I follow through. I’d rather focus on reading and knitting, but know that practicing writing will help me both here and elsewhere (where I get paid).

  • Folk Socks: The History and Techniques of Handknitted Footwear by Bush, Nancy on 13th Jun 2006
    (112 pages)
    Where to begin? History, knitting, patterns, explanation of various toes and heels. I did read every page (twice)
  • A Wizard Abroad: The Fourth Book in the Young Wizards Series by Duane, Diane on 17th Jun 2006
    (368 pages)
    This was cute. One learns about Aunt Annie (why are all my good mentors/teachers named Ann*?). I think it was good I took this and book Five out together. When read immediately in sequence the actions of this book make five all the more vibrant and living and difficult.
  • The Wizard’s Dilemma: The Fifth Book in the Young Wizards Series by Diane Duane on 17th Jun 2006
    (432 pages)
    This book alone makes me wish I had read the series years ago. This deeper darker work spoke to me more than the others. Especially more than volume four which was a fun play on some other stories I’ve read recently (someone please explain why I love Irish mythology?) I’m not sure how to write without giving things away, but trust I read it, I cried, I held my breath. Yes. For this work. It spoke to me — childhood fears and feelings of helplessness yet of finding a way to help and find some time to do what needs to be done … which is to live life.
  • Slow River by Griffith, Nicola on 17th Jun 2006
    (352 pages)
    Nebula Award and the Lambda Literary Award winner. Lore is an amazing woman looking to find herself. but it doesn’t read as sappy as I’m making it sound. this was a really great read and what I appreciated most was the reminder by Ms Griffith that “This is not autobiography”. So many writers who write anything which reads so personal of the characters one often wrongly assumes that they have drawn from their own lives. Remember     please that this is not always the case!!

(Written later than the rest of post)
I also found a paperback copy of Dune at the library, but not hardback. I’ll keep looking. I also am trying to choose that 500+ book. Options include: a) finishing Always Coming Home (525 pages), b) A Gentle Madness (668 pages) c) Empire Express (816 pages) or d) Ulysses (783 pages). Note page counts are off of amazon, I’m too lazy at the moment to yank ’em all or provide the proper amazon links. ;)