And we're off...
Our Summer of Books and Yarn is Go!
It’s an exciting week in our little corner of Substack as we kick off our Summer of Books and Yarn 2024
🔖 Week 1: A book that is more than 300 pages
A nice, easy prompt to get us started with this week. But having said that, the first book I picked off my to-be-read pile weighed in at only 291 pages, so I’ve had to save that one for one of the later prompts.
So tell, me…what have you picked?
I’m going with The Ghost Ship by Kate Mosse, mainly because I have just read the first two in her Joubert Family Chronicles. The first one - The Burning Chambers - I had actually read a few years ago while on holiday in Greece but to be honest I had largely forgotten it. So, it was great to have a re-read and refresh my memory.
And I absolutely love Kate Mosse’s writing style. She has a really good eye for detail and her historical research is so thorough, you really do feel as though you are part of the story, living and breathing so many of the fears and anxieties that the protagonists face. Plus, she writes such strong female lead characters that I can’t help but admire.
Do let me know in the comments what book you have picked and why.
Don’t forget, if you are a paid member of the community here (or would like to be), you can pick up the additional resources for the readalong here: we have a Storygraph reading challenge you can join and a free Notion planner as well as trackers you might like to use as we go along.
🧶 Something Old, Something New craft-along
Also starting today is our ‘Something old, something new’ craft-along which you can interpret in whatever way you like and with whatever craft.
I’ll be knitting - no surprise there then. And I’ll be knitting some BOB socks ready to gift to a friend who has been dropping some very non-subtle hints about receiving a pair of knitted socks.
I don’t know about you but I often get requests to knit socks for people or I get asked if I sell them. My answer is usually no to both. Knitting to order would take all the fun and relaxation out of something that is meant to be my refuge from real life.
Having said that, for loved ones or particularly knitworthy friends I will knit any number of socks as I know they will be really well received and really loved. This friend definitely falls into the knitworthy category and the BOB socks are so nice and simple that I can put The Ghost Ship up on my Kindle and kill two birds with one stone (as it were).
For the craft-along you can either use an old pattern along with a new one, or combine a new pattern with older yarn from your stash (or vica versa). Whatever works best for you and the resources you have available.
We can’t add photos to comments here, more is the pity, but keep an eye out for chat threads during the event where I will invite you to check in and share what you are working on.
Quick links in case you need them:
I am reading The Bee Sting - massive 600 page + so big book for me but rattled through a lot on holiday and it’s a good read. Just need to set aside time each day now I am back home
Originally I was going with Household by Stacey Halls which I had started but I’ve now decided to go with The Authenticity Project by Clare Pooley. I’ve already read The People on Platform 5 and I got How to Age Disgracefully for my birthday yesterday so actually I might change my mind again and go with How to Age Disgracefully as It’s new to me and a character knits - ‘gets revenge in yarn’ I like the sound of that!!