I confess: I didn’t do a whole lot of reading this month. (For me, anyway.) I did a LOT of knitting – four adult hats, two baby hats, a baby bib, miniature hats for Innocent smoothies, and a cowl. (Also three in-progress projects: a scarf and two secret Christmas gifts.) I also did a lot of traveling/hosting people at my house: taking Jeremiah to see U2, hosting my mom and sister for ACU Homecoming, heading down to Kerrville to see the grandparents and the cousins, hosting a girls’ clothes swap on Halloween. And as always, I read lots of blogs, and Real Simple cover to cover…but anyway. Enough justifying. The books.
Casting Off, Nicole R. Dickson
This was an impulse buy at Books-A-Million, and a beautiful story of love, loss and knitting on the Aran Islands. I visited these islands two years ago with my friend Colton, and they are gorgeous and mysterious and full of memory. This story tapped into all of that, plus giving a great deal of fascinating info about the traditional fisherman’s ganseys (sweaters) knitted by the islanders. I hear there’s a sequel in the works; I hope so. Knitting and Ireland, for me, definitely made a magical combination.
A Little Help From My Friends, Anne Dayton and May Vanderbilt
I loved the third book in the Miracle Girls series – couldn’t put it down, literally. Zoe, the main character, is a shy, sweet band geek who reminds me of me in some ways, and the book chronicles her junior year and struggles with faith, boys, family and friends. Anne and May write such authentic, funny, endearing stories about high school – I can’t wait for the fourth book.
Aunt Dimity’s Death, Nancy Atherton
Reader Corrie recommended this series to me, so I checked this, the first one, out from the library. Very fun and fluffy – sort of a fairy-tale mystery, mainly set in an English cottage in the Cotswolds. The main character, Lori, can be exasperating, but she’s likable, as are all the minor characters. And the ending was quite satisfying. Atherton has written a dozen of these books, to which I may return when my reading list is a little shorter.
Heaven to Betsy, Maud Hart Lovelace
HarperCollins has reissued the last six books in the Betsy-Tacy series, in three beautiful volumes with lovely covers, the original artwork, and forewords by Laura Lippman, Meg Cabot and Anna Quindlen. They’re gorgeous! I drooled over them for a month, then finally ordered them on Friday. They came on Saturday and I’ve been reading all weekend. I love these sweet, funny, delicious stories about Betsy Ray’s high school years. A reread, and highly recommended.
I hope to have more books for you next month. For now, happy November to you – and I hope everyone had a happy Halloween!
Thanks for the shout-out! And for reading!
The Aunt Dimity books are cute, aren’t they?! And you’ve inspired me, I have the Betsy-Tacy books on my Amazon wish list! Christmas reading here I come. 🙂 2 other book recommendations coming via email