It's Monday.....what are you reading?

My reading life has suffered greatly lately.  I fall asleep and some nights I've been so tired I haven't even picked up a book which is REALLY rare for me.  I think it's the time change but also maybe coming down from the steroids (I miss them already).......but while I'm working around the house I have been listening to some audio tapes and those I'm making progress on.........I finished this one by Bailey White, a famous NPR personality or at least that's where I first heard her. She's a great storyteller and tells stories about her travels, people she meets, her family and life in the South.  The first story was the worst and they all got better after that or maybe it's getting used to her style and her scratchy, shrill voice and her long run on sentences (like I do all the time..lol!).  Either way, she's a gem and certainly makes the chores fly by listening to her. 

So much for "the classics" and I still have War and Peace to read........Anna Kerenina reads like a soap opera.   Really, it could be Days of Our Lives set in Russia.  Although I have never watched soap operas, I've seen enough in doctor's offices and reception areas to get the gist.  He writes about the mundane and the social and the dramatic, silly lives of this group of people, many of whom are related to one another.  The biggest challenge are the Russian names and keeping everyone straight.  It may have been popular in it's day but now it seems childish and common place.  I'm on page 251 of 817.....slogging through............

Still reading this non-fiction too although almost finished with it.  It's interesting and there are case studies about various "tipping points".  "A tipping point being that magic moment when an idea, trend, or social behavior crosses a threshold, tips, and spreads like wildfire."  This book is very readable and a very interesting topic.  It is a book for marketers, trend forecasters, social scientists, consumers, thinkers and curious people like myself.

My new audio book is Beloved, read by the author Toni Morrison.....I pick these up at garage sales and library sales.  I have since learned though that if Oprah likes it , I probably won't.  Oprah tends to like depressing, victim mentality books laced with cruelty or violence.  I do not understand how people who have been abused then turn around and want to dwell on it by reading books about it?  The same with the wars, my father wouldn't answer any questions about it and would get mad if I brought the subject up yet always had a good old time with his war buddies and was always plopped in front of the t.v. when any war movie was on.  I don't get it?  The only thing I can think of that it might be is that they are trying to understand things that their minds still can't fathom....otherwise it seems to me to be self-flagellation.  So far, it is a sad, woe is me tale and I'm sure I won't enjoy it but Toni does have a great reading style and voice.  I'll let you know when I finish it...hopefully I'll be wrong but I doubt it since Oprah is such a fan of hers.

Since I don't have much to offer you in the reading department this week, I thought I would offer up some recommendations that have been given to me and also some books I am contemplating reading down the road.   I may have to read 3 books at a time as else it will be Spring before I get to chose another non-fiction...lol!  I'm trying to read books I already own but my tastes have changed too and I think there are more good books out there today than there were just a few short years ago.
So here's some titles I've jotted down this week  month...........

The Egyptologist
The Aviator's Wife
The Paris Wife
The Geographer's Library
Foxglove and Hedgehog Days
The Great Christmas Knit-Off
Do Unto Animals
Goodnight June
Lost Lake
On Strike for Christmas
Morning Glory
The Imogene Museum Mystery Series
America's Cheapest Family Gets You Right on the Money
First Frost
The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennesey
The Court and the World
Big Magic
The All Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion
Yes, Chef: A Memoir

and a few movies........and/or t.v.
Benny and Joon
Philomena
127 Hours
Ice Lake Rebels

Actually....there were a few more but this should give you food for thought.  Thank you to all who gave me recommendations.....Diane, Stefanie, Kim, Terra and so many more.  I also get some from magazines I read, NPR and PBS.  So many books....so little time!
Happy Trails!


 

YOP Week #17

Well, not much progress that I can show you but there has been progress........

 

 I've finished block #7 of the 12 knitted blocks for the scrapghan then there are 15 crocheted blocks and 15 wool fabric blocks.  

Here's block #8 that I'm working on.............

This is such a fun and enjoyable project....each block is just big enough to enjoy for awhile but small enough that you don't get bored with it before you're on to another pattern and different colors.
The Corner-to-Corner blanket is awesome, easy and shows off the yarn I'm using to advantage.  It is getting bigger and bigger but I have "miles to go before I sleep" but I have almost used 1 skein so far but there are many, many more to use.  This should take me until Spring 2016 or longer...lol!
There's really no way of guestimating how long it will take either as since it's done on the diagonal each row gets bigger and bigger and until you decide you're halfway and start decreasing who knows how long it will take?
There are 3 other Secret Christmas Projects I'm working on and next week I promise I will have some sort of list to at least let you know my present count and where I stand.  So far, there is 1 present completed.  And less than 50 days to Christmas.....ahhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!  I'd better move it!
Here are some cute and quick ideas for gifts to yourself or others.
 A mood scarf kit............

 some crocheted citrus buttons..............

 Now this is what I need on my walks because cold air makes my nose run............don't laugh...it's true...........

 Love this and so easy really...............

 every home needs a hand knitted clock!

 And this combines 2 of my favorites.....knitting and coloring!

 Check them all out (there are 19 in all) here 
with patterns and websites etc. All you need for your knitting/crocheting pleasure!  
Happy Trails!