I also loved Remarkably Bright Creatures. One of my favorites from last year, too. I look forward to reading where “calm” takes you next year. I have to think deeply about what my word will be as I am also feeling quite unsettled about the upcoming year. Crafting (knitting and quilting right now) is helping center me, so I look forward to hearing what you are knitting up next.
I loved Remarkably Bright Creatures, too! Loved everything about it, the friends and settings and just the newness of the story theme. Looking forward to more books by Shelby Van Pelt.
It looks like Remarkably Bright Creatures is her first (and, so far, only) novel, but Shelby Van Pelt does have a Substack. https://shelbyvanpelt.substack.com
Unsettled is a good description for the beginning of 2025. Fortunately, you already know that knitting and quilting remove the un-. Lean into those comforts!
Have you ever tried the app Goodreads to keep track of your books? I have used it for many years and it’s very helpful to keep me up-to-date on what I’ve read and what I want to read and helpfulsuggestions for new reads. You can take as much or little time as you want to set it up, but it’s very very helpful and you can also set reading goals for yourself. I usually Give myself 100 books to read in a year since I’ve been retired the last couple years. I’ve gone past that, but most of my reads are audiobooks.
I am aware of Goodreads, but have never tried it. It's owned by Amazon, who frankly already has way too much data about me. I also prefer the simplicity of a freeform list. And I don't actually want to set reading goals. The last thing I need in my life is another deadline!
My word is "letting go". I'm working on letting go of all the "shoulds" in my life: I should take care of everyone, I should be a better parent/grandparent/aunt/friend, I should clean the house more, I should work harder, and the list goes on. For me it's the expectations that I place on myself and I believe the people around me aren't as judgmental as I am of myself...so just let go.
Along those lines, I'm only designing things I really want to make. All the designs that live in my head and I didn't do because of the limitations of magazines, yarn companies, book publishers, etc. Now it's just for me, yes, letting go of expectations.
My favorite book this past year is "Bad Actors", #8 in the Slow Horses series by Mick Herron. It's not a book series for everyone but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Letting of of the "should" sounds like a wonderful goal. I haven't read (or watched) any of the Slow Horses series, but I'e heard it's terrific, so I'm adding it to my list.
I spent several years listening to books on tape (remember those!) and then audio books while working. I can appreciate how one can burn through them! I had a sort of a love/hate relationship with my favorite authors because I was always waiting for their next book to drop and then hating myself for zipping through it, only to be left waiting for their next book. I guess age has calmed my need for such a pattern. Thank goodness! These days I usually have a fiction ebook going at night and a non-fiction audio book, as I work. There are still some real books being added to my library when they are nice to have like gardening books. I have swore off any more cookbooks!!! I honestly do not need another one. (I hope I am listening to myself!)
One of my favorite books this year was The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie by Rachel Linden. It all takes place in Seattle about the same time when I was growing up there and has many of my favorite landmarks and feel for the place, as well as an unusual and magical story.
Knitting and handwork has always been a way to sooth the savage beast in me! Especially true when I am trying something new that demands my attention. To this end, I have decided to crochet a cardigan of my own design. It will be of a sock weight burgundy merino and based on a store bought cardigan that I like the fit of. I have spent the holiday drawing-up the pattern and making measurements, as well as converting the skeins to cakes of yarn. Wish me luck in keeping this project going! :-) And thanks for you terrific book reviews!
Sandi, I forgot to include a word in my earlier post and I can't come up with a better one than your word, calm. I thought you and your readers might like to know about this reading challenge for 2025 put together by Susan Wittig Albert that includes a video of Heather Cox Richardson introducing her new book Democracy Awakening.
Calm is a good word. We (my husband and I) are trying to practice keeping calm, limiting our exposure to the rants and ravings of the incoming regime. We spent yesterday (New Year’s Day) bicycling at a nearby wildlife refuge. It was a beautiful, cool day, perfect for a 12-mile ride. Unfortunately there were still midges and mosquitoes around, and I have several itchy bites on my neck 🙄 Well, if you want to enjoy the wild, you sometimes have to suffer a bit 😉
I’m still working on the Elvan (intarsia) shawl, and I’ll be so glad when it’s done! I’m feeling anxious about weaving in the ends and having the wrong side look nice enough to be exposed. I want to gift the shawl to a friend but I don’t know if I can do that if the wrong side looks funky. Oh, well. She lives in another state so if she never wears it, I’ll never know 😆
I also loved Remarkably Bright Creatures. One of my favorites from last year, too. I look forward to reading where “calm” takes you next year. I have to think deeply about what my word will be as I am also feeling quite unsettled about the upcoming year. Crafting (knitting and quilting right now) is helping center me, so I look forward to hearing what you are knitting up next.
I loved Remarkably Bright Creatures, too! Loved everything about it, the friends and settings and just the newness of the story theme. Looking forward to more books by Shelby Van Pelt.
It looks like Remarkably Bright Creatures is her first (and, so far, only) novel, but Shelby Van Pelt does have a Substack. https://shelbyvanpelt.substack.com
Cool! Thanks for the link!
Unsettled is a good description for the beginning of 2025. Fortunately, you already know that knitting and quilting remove the un-. Lean into those comforts!
Have you ever tried the app Goodreads to keep track of your books? I have used it for many years and it’s very helpful to keep me up-to-date on what I’ve read and what I want to read and helpfulsuggestions for new reads. You can take as much or little time as you want to set it up, but it’s very very helpful and you can also set reading goals for yourself. I usually Give myself 100 books to read in a year since I’ve been retired the last couple years. I’ve gone past that, but most of my reads are audiobooks.
I am aware of Goodreads, but have never tried it. It's owned by Amazon, who frankly already has way too much data about me. I also prefer the simplicity of a freeform list. And I don't actually want to set reading goals. The last thing I need in my life is another deadline!
But I'm glad Goodreads is helpful to you.
I don’t have a word but an intention: choose joy
2025 is the year I choose the joy in my life and not the things I think I “should” choose
I fully support that intention!
And, I also loved "The Frozen River".
My word is "letting go". I'm working on letting go of all the "shoulds" in my life: I should take care of everyone, I should be a better parent/grandparent/aunt/friend, I should clean the house more, I should work harder, and the list goes on. For me it's the expectations that I place on myself and I believe the people around me aren't as judgmental as I am of myself...so just let go.
Along those lines, I'm only designing things I really want to make. All the designs that live in my head and I didn't do because of the limitations of magazines, yarn companies, book publishers, etc. Now it's just for me, yes, letting go of expectations.
My favorite book this past year is "Bad Actors", #8 in the Slow Horses series by Mick Herron. It's not a book series for everyone but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Letting of of the "should" sounds like a wonderful goal. I haven't read (or watched) any of the Slow Horses series, but I'e heard it's terrific, so I'm adding it to my list.
Happy New Year Sandi! Love your word choice. 🤍
Happy New Year to you!
I spent several years listening to books on tape (remember those!) and then audio books while working. I can appreciate how one can burn through them! I had a sort of a love/hate relationship with my favorite authors because I was always waiting for their next book to drop and then hating myself for zipping through it, only to be left waiting for their next book. I guess age has calmed my need for such a pattern. Thank goodness! These days I usually have a fiction ebook going at night and a non-fiction audio book, as I work. There are still some real books being added to my library when they are nice to have like gardening books. I have swore off any more cookbooks!!! I honestly do not need another one. (I hope I am listening to myself!)
One of my favorite books this year was The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie by Rachel Linden. It all takes place in Seattle about the same time when I was growing up there and has many of my favorite landmarks and feel for the place, as well as an unusual and magical story.
Knitting and handwork has always been a way to sooth the savage beast in me! Especially true when I am trying something new that demands my attention. To this end, I have decided to crochet a cardigan of my own design. It will be of a sock weight burgundy merino and based on a store bought cardigan that I like the fit of. I have spent the holiday drawing-up the pattern and making measurements, as well as converting the skeins to cakes of yarn. Wish me luck in keeping this project going! :-) And thanks for you terrific book reviews!
That cardigan sounds lovely! Best of luck bringing to fruition.
Please correct your sentence about a tough year to read 2024.
Thank you! It's done.
Sandi, I forgot to include a word in my earlier post and I can't come up with a better one than your word, calm. I thought you and your readers might like to know about this reading challenge for 2025 put together by Susan Wittig Albert that includes a video of Heather Cox Richardson introducing her new book Democracy Awakening.
https://open.substack.com/pub/susanwittigalbert/p/guerrilla-readers-january-2025?r=2l04ge&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false
Calm is a good word. We (my husband and I) are trying to practice keeping calm, limiting our exposure to the rants and ravings of the incoming regime. We spent yesterday (New Year’s Day) bicycling at a nearby wildlife refuge. It was a beautiful, cool day, perfect for a 12-mile ride. Unfortunately there were still midges and mosquitoes around, and I have several itchy bites on my neck 🙄 Well, if you want to enjoy the wild, you sometimes have to suffer a bit 😉
I’m still working on the Elvan (intarsia) shawl, and I’ll be so glad when it’s done! I’m feeling anxious about weaving in the ends and having the wrong side look nice enough to be exposed. I want to gift the shawl to a friend but I don’t know if I can do that if the wrong side looks funky. Oh, well. She lives in another state so if she never wears it, I’ll never know 😆