Lately I've had too much time on my hands while waiting for all kinds of stuff to happen. And then I finally happened upon the perfect combination of activities for passing some of these long hours: sewing napkins for a friend and listening to a new audio book. "Red Rising" by Pierce Brown is turning out to be a great listen and, while set on Mars, sounds all the world to me like an allegory of the history between the Irish and the English...
"Red Rising" by Pierce Brown--whoa, quite a book
While in Japan in March/April, I bought a smattering of gorgeous Japanese fabrics. I was determined to try my hand at making a dress when I got home. A and I bought a "simple" McCall's pattern down at Pacific Fabrics, and I got to work. First, I managed to make Version B for myself, with different colors back and front. Armed with my new "expertise," I managed to do an even better job on the dress for A: she got Version A, complete with pockets that I added in. That was good fun!
Seattle, Washington
"Death and the Gardener" by Georgi Gospodinov is a fantastic read. I saw a review in the New Yorker a few weeks ago and knew I must read it. 1) I LOVED his earlier book "Time Shelter," and 2) my mother passed away last summer.
Wow.
Although, this is barely a novel in the traditional sense, the writing and and storytelling are amazing. When Mom died, I was not interested in reading any kind of "grief book." But somehow THIS was the book that made me think deeply and clearly about my mother's passing.
Read it.