slowly catching up
I’m still slowly catching up on reading. While I still do not have my everyday glasses (I cannot blame my optometrist, they are stuck in the lab, but it is very frustrating) I am slowly catching up on all the books that I’ve been slowly reading for the past few months. Thus, not much was completed this week.
I held today’s post in the hope that I’d find the March issue of Analog and be able to complete Wake by Robert J Sawyer. That did indeed happen (thank you Westbury Borders) and my first draft review is up for the internets to read and digest and mark me as a complete moron for. (The writing is terrible I’m a bit embarrassed but it’s too late now.) Go pre-order this book. Go subscribe to Analog. It’ll be worth it. Now I just have to try to find patience and wait for the next two books of this trilogy to come out.
I read the Analog serialized version.
Oh where to begin? I’ll put this review here for now until I’ve fully digested the work and can write something that is more coherent. It’s also difficult because I read this over several months (given it was serialized). That was the most difficult part. This is a book you’ll want to block a chunk of time for to enjoy. It’s impossible to put down.
Wake is a novel where maths, sciences, information processing and technology coexist with a smart and strong young woman who loves those same maths and sciences and isn’t afraid to try technology. Woven in with this is are two other threads which may or may not completely braid together by the conclusion.
Caitlin is a character who has inspired me, and I wish she was my friend when I was in high school all those years ago. It would’ve been nice to compete in math with another girl, instead of only the boys. I am inspired by her saga and the many technologies now available that I could only dream of when I was turning 16. I’m more familiar with cochlear implants than what is available for vision but I’m now quite interested and may go off to do some research.
My favourite quote: “But her results were clearly third order. She must have done something wrong. She noodled around, looking for the source of her error. Of course, she could ask her father or Dr K where she’d screwed up, but figuring that out was half the fun!” (Ch 40).
This was my first experience reading Sawyer and I will now go back and read more of his work while I impatiently await the next two books of this trilogy.
It’s a very well written story that keeps moving forward and I really do
want to see what happens next in Watch.
After a few mishaps with Pages mis-shelving my hold request, I finally had a chance to read:
Knitted Lace of Estonia: Techniques, Patterns, and Traditions
by Nancy Bush
Nancy Bush always does a nice job with her books. I love that Knitted Lace of Estonia is a very well researched and documented history of a technique and cottage industry that is in danger of disappearing. I love that there are instructions and techniques for adapting the included stitch dictionary to your own designs. I love that while square shawls are the most traditional, both triangle and rectangular shawls are also included. I love that we’re reminded of the difference between knitted lace (all rows have the pattern knitted) and lace knitting (only right side rows are lace, wrong side are straight purls). (So my question is: why is this book not titled Lace Knitting of Estonia, since that would be technically correct?)
There are photos, diagrams, drawings of technique execution, and errata.
What will I knit? I have my eye on Miralda’s Triangular Shawl.
In conclusion, for a really good review, please go read grumperina‘s review I’ve died and gone to nupp heaven. I know I didn’t do this book justice.
I also read:
????????????handmade ZAKKA
by ?? ??
The Worthing Saga
by Orson Scott Card
Seventh Son (Alvin Maker)
by Orson Scott Card
