Reviewed

• The Pesthouse by Jim Crace--this is a quite enjoyable read.  A vision of an apocalyptic (in the non-religious sense) America whose inhabitants are eager leave the barren, gang-riven land for the shores of Europe where the pigs are eager to be food and allow one to strip meat for food from their sides as they (the pigs) walk along.  Machinery and its metal workings are a story of a distant past, of one's great-great-great-great-to-the-nth-degree grandparents, and are considered the work of the devil by a new religious group, the Finger Baptists.  Beautiful tale, not the best dystopic story ever, but a good read.

• Marathon Woman by Kathrine Switzer--I loved this book and the honesty with which Kathrine tells her life story.  Although she wasn't the first actual woman to run the Boston Marathon (that title belongs to Roberta Gibb), she was the first woman to register to run it and was nearly kicked physically out of the race.  Marathon Woman really opened my eyes to the issues and barriers woman had to face in the sports arena prior to Title IX, as well as the issues faced less openly after its passing.  I guess when it comes to feminism, I wasn't all that interested in sports issues, rather I was more intrigued/infuriated by things such as the non-passage of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) and the fact that a woman could not get a credit card on her own prior to 1975.  Also interesting was to read about the lack of amenities--water or porta-potties--during marathons and other races till the mid-to-early 1980's.

• Knitting Rules by the Yarn Harlot--This one was in the shelves at my library and I was kind of hesitant to pick it up because I didn't enjoy her book At Knit's End: Meditations for Women Who Knit to Much as it seemed to dwell too much and too gleefully on overtly-excessive yarn consumption which I am trying to avoid (see The Overspent American: Why We Want What We Don't Need by Juliet B. Schor).  Nevertheless,  I enjoyed reading this book and think it would make a good book for a knitting gift for someone who is in the beginning to intermediate stages of learning to knit and could use some great tips and tricks, as well as overall reference.

• Notes on a Scandal--with Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett.  This is marvelously strange movie; a bit off-setting and disturbing, but wonderfully acted.

• Frontline's The Meth Epidemic--Whoah! Scary shit!  I had only read about what meth did to its addicts and actually seeing the visual destruction of addicts and their families was horrifying.  I used to complain about having to buy psuedophedrine from pharmacists (for my massive, chronic sinus problems) but--after seeing this program--I am committed to never complaining again!

• The Good Shepherd--hmmm...I'd have to honestly classify this one as boring and way too long for its own good.  Too bad, because I love me a good spy, thriller, CIA-type of movie.

• Mocean Worker, song "Tickle It"--this sounds like good subway music to me, perfect for watching the madness of the 5 o'clock commute and knitting away like a madwoman.  I am thinking of getting the entire album.

• Destash--Sell your yarn stash for cash.  Wondermous!  I bought some sock yarn--Trekking XXL colors #185 & #186 (pics below)--off of the site for $13 a skein including shipping.  Wa-hoo!  I do believe I have finally caught the sock bug and am currently infected with a feverish addiction to sock knitting.

 

Comments

[Robyn]

I saw your comment on the KAL blog (I just ordered the book!) and, I have the yarn from Webs to make a sweater. Now, I dont have the one you bought, you linked 100% wool. I have the 100% extra fine merino (valley superwash) one. Now, do you think it'll also be pretty yucky for sweater knitting? Why do you feel it was yucky? I'm very curious your opinion.

[Carrie K]

The Pesthouse is on my list of books to read, being post apocalyptic fic and all but hmmm.

The length of time is why I didn't go see The Good Shepherd in the theater. Too many movies run too long.