Yarn Along

Something else cultural that I managed to experience while in Perth during the school holidays last week was, well, I read a book. These book reading moments have been scarce of late, so I took to the task with relish and read "Burial Rites" by Hannah Kent in three days.

 

It's good. Very good.

 

And there's knitting in it, too which is understandable given that the characters are holed up in Icelandic winters with little to do.... keeping hands from being idle. For very powerful reasons!

 

I loved it, I cried over it, I recommend it. So very, very well written by a talented young Australian writer.

 

 

Next to 'Burial Rites', in the photo, lies my tikkiknits Darwinia dress I am making for Miss M. It's quite a lot further along than this photo indicates as I took the shot in Perth and left the novel behind for Dad to read.

 

 

For my next reading adventure, I have been seduced by the recommendations of @cypressfoss on instagram #book_chat, that 'The Tenant of Wildfell Hall' by Anne Bronte is one of her all-time classic favourites - I have purchased a copy online and am awaiting its arrival. Impatiently!

 

If you are on instagram and love books, #book_chat is a hashtag book club you need to discover - with giveaways!

 

It's so very good to be reading again!

 

 

Joining in with other Yarn Along sharing here.

 

 

xx

Book Chat on Instagram

Last month's bookchat winners - from instagram.com/kimpearsoninteriordesigner#

 

I love a good read, and I love being a part of a book club, but I never thought of starting a book club on instagram.

 

But somebody did!

 

Kim Pearson* thought of it and mentioned it on instagram. Julie Gibbs, Penguin publisher, read Kim's comment, got in contact, and they now run instagrambookchat on their instagram pages as well as on facebook.

 

Check it out - they are announcing the topic for April on Saturday and there are always bookish giveaways to be won!

 

http://www.facebook.com/instagrambookchat

 

Happy reading!!

 

Sam xx

 

 

* Kim Pearson is my talented and very clever sister. You had better believe I have a personal interest in mentioning her!! :)

Clancy and Millie

This beautiful book, Clancy and Millie and the Very Fine House, written by Libby Gleeson and illustrated by Freya Blackwood*, is getting a workout here at the moment. It's a delight - thoughtful text and sensitive, brilliantly executed illustrations, with a poignant and extremely relevant theme; how does a child cope with moving to a new house in a new location?

I have to agree with the main character, Clancy - I would also prefer to stay in the pretty cosy cottage rather than the inner city townhouse with large cavernous rooms that his family have moved to. But that's not the point. As Clancy checks out his new surroundings, clutching to his security toy, he is nervous, anxious, displaced.

 

Just like my little girls have been feeling! Unsettled. For Miss M, it first manifested in her early morning writing session, all over Grandma's new couch. ALL over it. Wow! Completely out of character. And then she spent a week clutching on to her security toy, crying a the drop of a hat as she tried to find her way in this new place.

 

Five weeks on and they are doing better now, and school starts in a week. I'm looking forward to the routine it will provide and I have no doubt that our girls will be more settled when they find new friends. In the meantime, swimming lessons have helped, as have visits with their cousins and, this last weekend, visits from out-of-town grandparents and friends. And cuddles. Lots of cuddles, talks, letters and parcels sent to old friends, phone calls...

 

and Clancy.

 

 

What books have you been reading lately?

 

 

Sam xx

 

* Check out Freya's blog here. She is a very talented lady!