Amazingly, I've managed to blog again when I said I would! I have some real treats for you today. Sue at Diss Wool and Craft shop gave me some lovely things to share with you when I was at Yarn Shop Day this weekend. There's a fun sheepy scarf and a skein of Rowan Fine Art Aran yarn. The yarn is a luscious mix of wool, mohair, alpaca and silk and one skein is enough to knit a hat or cowl. Thanks so much Sue! I've added a bag of Maltesers to the prize because chocolate is always good, right?! To be in with a chance of winning, leave me a comment recommending a good book to me as I'm desperate to get back into reading. The giveaway will be open until midnight on May 31st and I'll use a random number generator to pick the winner after that date. Please make sure it's easy for me to contact you by leaving your Ravelry or Instagram name, or leave some other way for me to get in touch. If I haven't heard from the winner within a week, I'll pick another name. I'm happy to post world-wide, so do please enter! Good luck! xxx
49 comments:
I'd recommend choosing a book you read as a child and enjoyed. They often can be read in an afternoon and have shorter chapters if you are struggling with concentration (or Flo climbs onto your lap, like my felines do). A handmade blanket, a large mug of tea and some maltesers complete the picture.
Hey Josie!
Good to see you blogging again lovely lady...!
Just in case you do pull my name out of the proverbial hat... I shall add something to the pile, and then offer it up again...
Although, saying that, the Maltesers may go awry :P
Big Love!
Sarah xXx
P.S I am Babylonglegs just about everywhere, except IG, there I am m_a_m_a_l_o_n_g_l_e_g_s
I'd highly recommend Elantris if you are into fantasy.
Instagram name is chthonias
My favourite book is English Weather by Neil Ferguson. It's written in an interesting way and I find it incredibly inspiring. You can get it for about £2 on Amazon. I'd suggest you get it now even if you don't plan on reading it yet. annabeljung@gmail.com
Anything by Terry Pratchett is a wonderful way to spend a few hours and get a good laugh into the bargain. His Discworld series is unbeatable.
My Ravelry name is FallenMadonna
My favourite book is A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini. So moving.
My Ravelry name is Harryharp.
A Court of thorns and roses. Sarah j Maas
Great trilogy
janey_kent
What a fantastic giveaway. I'd recommend my current book 'Hidden Nature' by Alys Fowler. She buys an inflatable dinghy and paddles round the canals of Birmingham and, in doing so, discovers as much about herself as the environment. xx
Hmm, depending on what you are in the mood to read. If you like Cozy mysteries, I'd suggest Betty Hechtman's Yarn Retreat Mystery series. If you are more in the mood for a little knitting and a little romance, then read some Rachel Herron. I'm suziknits on Ravelry.
Hi Josie. That wool is lovely! Very sweet of you to offer it up in a giveaway. I haven't been doing much reading myself...I just finished Life of Pi (FINALLY). I'm very behind now that I spend most of my free time playing with yarn. Lately when I do read, it's graphic novels. I just finished the series "Rachel Rising" by the very talented Terry Moore. Hope you find a book that HOOKS you :) Alison
I'd recommend any of the books by Lucy Dillon. There is a common thread running through them but it doesn't matter where you join. I think I have read four now and look forward to he next one. The characters have become like old friends. Julie
I highly recommend the Vorkosigan series by Lois McMaster Bujold. Really well-written, character-driven scifi. First book is Shards of Honor. It's not absolutely necessary to read these in order, but I think it's better if you do. SheilaOKeefe on Rav
One of the best books I have r ad this year is The Watchmaker of Filigree Street by Natasha Pulley. A beautifully written story set in Victorian London. Not sure what genre this is. Possibly magic realism? Anyway if you like beautiful writing give it a go.
My Ravelry name is CathP53.
I'm going to recommend any/all of the discworld books by Terry Pratchett - they're fun, dry humoured, not too serious (though the later stuff does get more serious) and not too long either. They're also easy to pick up and put down.
My Ravelry name is Foxymitts
I'm reading a Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon .. Loving it .. Especially if you like the Outlander stories! What a fan giveaway .. Especially the beautiful yarn, would be thrilled to win the gift! My IG name is sunshinepatti
If you like crime /murder/mystery books, then the Womens Murder Club series by James Patterson are a must-read!
I'm craftymummy on ravelry xx
It's me sarah35 here, during my whole need new glasses thing I stopped reading too and when I finally picked a book back up I was glad I did so my recommendation is the Robert Galbraith series - the first one is The cuckoo's calling and I found it a real page turner! I do know that it's actually written by JK Rowling and it is nothing like the HP series (which personally I love) and thankfully nothing like The casual Vacancy which I didn't enjoy at all. I have read all 3 in this series and they are all equally good and kept me turning the pages far too quickly, hence my suggestion to you. Please share your reading adventures with us as it is always lovely to hear what others are reading 😃 x
Whenever I reach a point where I want to read but have no idea what I reach for either The Hobbit or The Lord of the Rings. Total escapism and as comfortable as an ancient hand knitted cardigan. Quite soon I find that my mind clears of the fog and I know exactly what genre I want to dip into. You can find me on my blog, all comments are moderated.
Hi Helen
Please don't enter me in the giveaway as I am hoping that the prize you have just sent will be waiting for me when I get back from work tonight (I am working away from home for a couple of days).
However, I did want to make a book recommendation (of a sort) having just got back into reading myself. I have rejoined my local library, and it is the best thing I have done for ages! It is great to be able to walk out with a handful of books and take some back that I haven't read, it allows me to give things a try that I wouldn't otherwise read. They also sometimes have books in brown envelopes with just the first line showing. I ended up reading a book by Colin Bateman called Paper Cuts which I would not have looked at twice - but which I thoroughly enjoyed. The best book that I have read recently is 'Small Island' by Andrea Levy - an amazing book which I thoroughly recommend. Take care Jane
Hi,
Having mainly been into Terry Pratchett's books for years (but not really any other fantasy or science fiction), I recently joined our WI's Book Club and have discovered other genres. Although I have struggled to finish some of the books, I did find that there were some that I couldn't put down. My favourites have been:
- The Light Between Oceans - M L Stedman
- The Secret Wife - Gill Paul
- The Secret Life of Bees - Sue Monk Kidd
- Lion - Saroo Brierley
My Ravelry ID is trishrapleygiles.
I'm loving this post as I'm picking up some good book recommendations myself from the comments. My recommendations would be Me Before You by Jojo Moyes, I loved this book when I read it last year. I'm currently working my way through all of Agatha Christie's murder mystery novels in chronological order and my favourite so far is And Then There Were None, I'd recommend that if your into these type of books. A great giveaway, my Ravelry name is jo9919.
HI,
My Fav book of last year is "The Night Circus" by Erin Morganstern. So magical and captivated me from page one. I hope you find a book you like. x
I thoroughly recommend the Amelia Peabody series, by Elizabeth Peters. The first one is called Crocodile on the Sandbank and they feature the adventures of Miss Amelia Peabody, who is, quite frankly, amazing!
I hope you find something you enjoy reading!
(My ravelry name is Luthaisea :D)
I was gripped by The trouble with sheep and goats by Joanna Cannon. Set in the hot summer of 1977. Or was it 1976? Brought that time back to life. Now to check out the other recommendations... I made a resolution this year to read more. Ravelry Kirstenisabella
What pretty yarn! Have you read the Harry Potter series? My daughter is reading it now, so I'm rereading it as well.
Rav ID is slawson
sarah.m.lawson at gmail dot com
Glad to hear you're looking for book recommendations. You might like to read "The Sewing Machine" by fellow knitter and dyer Natalie Fergie (The YarnYard). It was published just after Easter this year and is available as a paperback and on Kindle. The old Singer sewing machine features in the generations of a family through the 20th century, beginning with a strike at the Singer factory in Glasgow. I'm melindaj on Ravelry.
Para evadirte y no acordarte ni de comer, la serie de John Verdon, novela negra, te engancha de verdad. De momento son cinco libros a cual mejor:
Think of a Number
Shut Your Eyes Tight
Let the Devil Sleep
Peter Pan Must Die
Wolf Lake
Un libro que me impactó mucho y que no tiene nada que ver con lo anterior fue "Follow Your Heart" de Susana Tamaro, si puedes léelo.
Mi nombre en Ravelry es MPBH
Ánimo y suerte en tu nueva etapa
Lo siento, he puesto los nombres de los libros en inglés pero al publicarse el comentario se han traducido al español (mal por cierto), pero si buscas por los autores podrás saber de qué libros te hablo
I love a good Dick Francis x
Claire@homesweethome2015
Lately I've been bouncing back and forth between mysteries and more recent books. For mysteries it has been Magdalen Nabb (the first one is Death of an Englishman). For more recent books it was The Mothers by Brit Bennett, my favorite book in a few years. I cannot recommend it highly enough, and am wondering if I have time to reread before it is due back at the library. No renewals since the waitlist is long.
I can be found on Ravelry as scientist.
I always enjoy anything by Kate Morton. I enjoy crime novels so highly recommend Alex Gray
Hello! I have just found your blog and I am loving it already! I love reading autobiographies recently the likes of Dawn French, Jennifer Saunders, Mary Berry & Vivienne Westwood have been my favourites! I also enjoyed reading Oh Dear Silvia by Dawn French, great for a long train journey! I am @jenniferbayley on instagram!
Hi, I am enjoying at the moment a set of Colin Dexter's Inspector Morse novels. They are beautifully crafted stories. X
kathy.loveday@tesco.net
Callanish by William Horwood
- I'm paulz66 on ravelry
Hi,
Lovely to hear you had such a great time at the shop in Diss I would love to start on socks again I made one in a class a long while ago and enjoyed it but sad to say I didn't make the second one so that was naughty.
What a great idea to ask for book recommendations I have just seen one I think would be good about the sewing machine my prized possession is my mum's old singer machine so I will be looking for that book my recommendation is The Shepherd's Life which is a tale of the Lake District telling how sheep are sheared very interesting for a yarn lover.
Hope you have good weekend.
Jane
Dear JK, I just found your blog for the first time tonight. I read backward quite a ways, and now strangely feel I know you though, of course, I don't. I'm so sorry that you are grieving the passing of Mr JK. I've never entered a blog contest, and initially skipped this post as I was reading. I therefore didn't know you were asking for book suggestions. As I read your older posts however, I kept thinking of the book "The Year of Magical Thinking" by Joan Didion. It is all about the loss of her beloved husband. When I came back to this post (even though it was the only book on my mind) I thought I couldn't suggest it, as it is rather raw. Reviews from lovely people on Amazon who were on their own grieving journeys have convinced me otherwise. I read it after I lost my mom, and found it healing. I hope you will as well. Sending wishes of peace and comfort to you. Missifish on ravelry.
I read anything, currently a novel about the Brontes because I'm going through a Bronte phase living so close to Haworth. But, you have reminded me that I need to buy maltesers to take to Italy, I always forget how much I like them and never normally buy them.
Oh somehow I missed this post! Borrow from my library! ;-) xx
the Ruby Slippers,Hotel at the corner of ....,The Ballroom,The Book Thief,I have never,ever won anything!!!My fingers are crossed!
I'd second the recommendation for Colin Dexter's Inspector Morse novels. They always get me reading again when I haven't picked up a book for too long.
My other suggestion is the British Library Crime Classics. As well as being detective stories they're very evocative of their era and setting. Try 'Death on the Riviera' for some continental sunshine or 'The Z Murders' for some 'The 39 Steps' style mystery.
I'm knittingowltoo on ravelry
Hi Josie, when I need reading to totally absorb me, I look for a series set in a place I would like to visit, with excellent writing, and keen insights into human nature, all folded into a reasonably good mystery. One such series for me is Louise Penneu's Inspector Gamache mysteries. It is set in a village in south eastern Quebec, just north of the US-Canadian border near Vermont, where the tensions of the ethnically French and ethnically english form just one interesting thread.
I am also a huge fan of audio books, to be listened to whilst knitting, and this series is wonderfully read by Ralph Coshen.
You have already received many wonderful suggestions,enough to keep me reading for quite some time.
-pascoaggirl
Julie O'B
I'm loving anything by Cathy Bramley. A really lovely English author, easy to read, therefore more time to knit or crochet! Lol
Ig :Emjoyner
The Sweetgum Ladies Knit Lit by Beth Pattillo and the Knit For Love Sequel - comment left by Catherine Kirby. Ravelry name: Catherinekirby
If you want something light I have been reading the Evans series by Rhys Bowen. Have been going through chemo and can't always concentrate but these have been fun to read. Enjoy. Ravelry = dotjg.
hello! you've been on my mind - good to see a post. i like these light kitty cat mysteries: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0451232496/ref=mp_s_a_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1495510833&sr=8-1-fkmr0&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=Curiosity+Thrilled+the+Cat+by+Sofie+Kelly+https%3A%2F%2Fitun.es%2Fus%2FkD1Sy.l
lately, my mind can only handle simple mysteries lol
torre/campingknitter on ravelry
Ditto for the Inspector Morse books and any of the Rhys Bowen books. I've just recently discovered C.J. Sansom's Matthew Shardlake mysteries (Dissolution is the first in the series and, although not necessary, it does work best to read them in order).
Rav ID: wee
I can recommend Meadowland by John Lewis-Stempel, I love my nature books and this one follows the wildlife in a field for one year, through all the seasons.
Rav ID: EbonyHebbie
Recently I found a replacement copy of The Herb of Grace by Elizabeth Goudge, set in a world 70 years ago and so different from ours but the message is relevant today.
Also, have you read Suem's blog, Significant Truths? Her husband died suddenly last year too and she writes with poignancy about her new life.
On Rav I'm Knellergal from where details of my Wordpress blog can be found.
I've been enjoying His Bloody Project by Graeme Macrae Burnet - it's a collection of memoirs, court transcripts, witness statements, medical reports and newspaper articles surrounding an 1869 murder in a remote Scottish community. If you like social history, it's very well-researched and a fascinating insight into life at that time.
Anyway, thank you for the giveaway! My Ravelry name is miss-kittens
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