Week 6 of Summer of Books and Yarn

Where did the time go

I can’t quite believe we are at Week 6 of our summer reading challenge and staring September in the face but here we are.

I’m feeling reasonably pleased with myself for keeping up with the weekly prompts, although I have to confess I’m only two thirds of the way through my Week 5 read - No. 23 Burlington Square by Jennie Keer. It’s not a traditional mystery in the ‘who dunnit’ sense but more of a ‘what if?’

It reflects on how different life decisions and seemingly small interactions have the potential to dramatically shift one’s life course. It’s beautifully written and the author really brings the characters to life, so much so that I already know it’s going to be one of those books that I miss when I finish it.

How are you doing? Do let me know in the comments, along with what your pick is for our final week together?

📖 Week 6: Part of a series

It’s a good, adaptable prompt for our final week together. Whether it’s a re-read, picking up a series that you are partway through or starting out on a brand new reading adventure to last you into the autumn. There’s something quite compelling about a series of books - especially when you are really engaged with the characters through their journey.

I’ve picked a brand new (to me) series to start - with The Book That Wouldn’t Burn by Mark Lawrence.

It’s the first in The Library Trilogy - described as a fantasy fiction series set within a vast and mysterious library. So naturally I can’t wait to dive in. It has cosy, autumnal reading written all over it.

My sock knitting has been slow but methodical this week as my sock mojo gradually returns. And of course the Paralympics starts soon which will ensure plenty of time for sofa knitting and cheering. I am hoping to finish up the second sock of this pair and get some self striping socks knit too.

Funnily enough this is one of my oldest designs - Hardknott (from 2012) which I am reknitting and revamping a little, ready for a bit of a relaunch in September. Some of my oldest sock designs were knit before I had my website (or any social media outside of Ravelry) and so they are long overdue a bit of an overhaul.

The readalong follow up

Although we are approaching the end of the Readalong I don’t want it to just fizzle out. I thought it would be nice to collate all the different books that we have read between us, into a collective reading resource. A kind of pick-n-mix if you will. A list of potential good reads that you can squirrel away for later. For those moments when you don’t know what to read next.

To make that happen I would be really grateful if you could take a few moments to fill out the attached Google Form. Just to let me know which book you read for each week. I’ll then collate these into a master list and keep them in a permanent place on my Substack for folks to refer to.

So watch this space and I’ll be back shortly with a (hopefully) a list of reading suggestions that will see you into the new year and beyond.