Both book and current WIP came off shelves where they have lived for much too long. I bought A Million Little Pieces by James Frey at a library book sale frenzy years ago...it had received great reviews; it was an Oprah Book Club choice and I knew nothing about it.
I don't know about you, but I have to be in a certain mood for certain kinds of books. Sometimes I want a mindless thriller, sometimes I yearn for a classic, sometimes I totally judge a book by its cover, sometimes I want more historical background on a place I might visit. But I can't think of a time when I'd ever say....gee, I'm in a mood to read about someone's struggle with drug addiction. So there it sat. For years. I was rearranging books on the shelves this week, and when I started to move this one, I opened it, read a couple of pages....and I've been hooked. (Probably a very poor choice of words there and please don't think I'm making light of the addiction topic, but I'm not the writer that James Frey is!) "Gripping...A great story....You can't help but cheer his victory" (LA Times Book Review), and while I'm not quite finished, the fact that he WROTE this book is proof that there will be a happy ending. I highly recommend this one.
Queen Street Mitts has been hiding on a shelf since shortly after Christmas. ??????? Beats me. I think it simply got lost in the shuffle, was buried deep among the UFOs (there IS quite a pile of them) and was forgotten. Too bad, too, because they are pretty darn wonderful--- knit from Miss Bab's cashmere, in a happy lime green, and not big and hot and cumbersome like the last couple things I've been dragging around. The best part is I stopped knitting on the FIRST mitt, had carefully marked where I was so I had an easy restart to the pattern (this does NOT always happen!), and I have a whole other mitt to look forward to.
joining Ginny for yarnalong. Check her out for more book/yarny inspiration!!!
Oh, and to think there could be more Miss Babs wonderful yarn this weekend!!
Posted by: valerie | 07/14/2015 at 10:49 PM
Well, that is quite a grand review of a book so I will definitely have to read it.
What to say about those mittens that you don't already know? Not much since they are gorgeous, color and design. I want them on my needles! :)
Posted by: Tracey | 07/15/2015 at 07:03 AM
I heard that you are doing an addition to your house. That sounds like fun! Hope they work when it is cooler!
Posted by: Ann Denton | 07/15/2015 at 07:34 AM
Enjoy your second mitt, the first one is looking great.
Posted by: emma | 07/15/2015 at 08:07 AM
Your mitt is great and I am a wreck about the color. Yum!!!
Posted by: laura | 07/15/2015 at 08:26 AM
You and I seem to chose our books the same way Steph. It really depends on my mood. Your mitts are looking good - now is the time to get those things done so we can use them in a few months (I shutter to think about summer coming to an end)
Posted by: Donna | 07/15/2015 at 09:01 AM
That's my big fear with putting down a WIP is that I'll forget where I was at. Heck I forget where I'm at when there only one WIP on the go let alone a pile of them!!!
Posted by: Martina | 07/15/2015 at 10:08 AM
Glad you're enjoying your new book as well as your knitting. :) My WIPs are abundant and scattered throughout the house. So glad there's Ravelry to keep track of them!
Posted by: Lisa | 07/15/2015 at 10:34 AM
I absolutely love the color of that yarn-the mitts are looking great so far!
Posted by: Kat | 07/15/2015 at 11:18 AM
Ooh, pretty!!!
Posted by: thecrazysheeplady | 07/15/2015 at 12:06 PM
Love. Those. Mitts. In cashmere, I doubt you'll take then off all winter long.
Posted by: Brandy | 07/15/2015 at 12:08 PM
It is a shame that so much of James Frey's book was fabricated and false. He wrote a book about redemption from addiction that touched many lives. However, they were bitterly disappointed and disillusioned to find out that so much of it was lies. Oprah had him back on her program where he apologized, but she said she felt "duped" and disappointed.
Posted by: JuJu | 07/15/2015 at 02:03 PM
That yarn!!! I mean, what can be said? Gorgeous!
Posted by: Sarah | 07/15/2015 at 02:12 PM
oh, my....that IS a shame. (I didn't know!) I feel cheated...sort of like Three Cups of Tea.
Posted by: steph@woolythyme | 07/15/2015 at 03:34 PM
I definitely have to be in the right mood to read a given book, which is why I struggle with book groups. The Frey book caused quite a bit of controversy and ended up being reclassified as fiction; in short, he lied. But he is a great writer and it's a gripping book.
I hate it when I set aside a project and then can't figure out where to start when I next pick it up. I'm glad the mittens are going smoothly for youl
Posted by: Caffeine Girl | 07/15/2015 at 07:39 PM
The cables on those mitts are gorgeous!
Posted by: autumngeisha | 07/15/2015 at 09:20 PM
Yeah, I heard that it was not a true book a long time ago but I cannot remember exactly! I guess if it is a good book it's a good book no matter what, right? Lovely bright green!!!
Posted by: karen | 07/16/2015 at 06:52 AM
It actually was a really good book, and if even 1/4 of it is true, it makes a compelling statement.
Posted by: steph@woolythyme | 07/16/2015 at 07:19 AM
I managed to sit with my book and some knitting last weekend when we were camping. Just a sock, with a few mistakes. What I really, really need to be doing is weeding my vegetable garden!
Posted by: Laura | 07/16/2015 at 07:23 AM
Those mitts are fantastic! They make me want to cast some on.
I had read A Million Little Pieces a very long time ago and despite the whole controversy found it to be a great read.
Hehe...you were hooked. You are one funny lady. :)
Posted by: Andi | 07/16/2015 at 10:23 AM
and i'm usually ready to cast on everything you make....we're rather dangerous company, I think!!!
Posted by: steph@woolythyme | 07/16/2015 at 10:40 AM