Even though I crochet and don't knit, I've been excited for this book to come in, and it is as fun as I expected!
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Even though I crochet and don't knit, I've been excited for this book to come in, and it is as fun as I expected!
Last year, I reviewed Naomi Novik's first book in the Scholomance series, A Deadly Education. I was eager to plunge again into the complex world of a closed-system school for burgeoning wizards, and the second in the series, The Last Graduate, did not disappoint.
A compelling thriller, When the Stars Go Dark by Paula McLain is steeped in ache and trepidation.
Schizophrenia has had a long, torrid history in the world of mental illness. As a disorder that manifests in a wide range of presentations and is only partially understood, it is also a fascinating peek into the complexity of the mind.
From Victorian London horrors to magical realism, here are a few books from Steven Johnson, Shaun Tan, Aimee Bender, Vivian Shaw, Alexander Dumas, Megan Whalen Turner, and Tara Westover that I think are unmissable.
Moody and atmospheric, this is the type of horror book that seeps into your psyche, leaving you wondering who is controlling whom, and how.
Wood burning is an easy and fun way to customize and personalize wooden objects. I have dabbled in it myself and love the low cost entry point, and versatility.
In 1994, the Craft & Hobby Association created National Craft Month to help people rediscover and learn about the benefits of crafting. Dabble in a fun new hobby, or pull out those trusty old needles, hooks, threads, paints, and spatulas for some fresh experimenting. Get started with dozens of crafting ebooks at hoopladigital.com if you prefer physical books try some from the library catalog.
Lois Lowry explores the strange mysteries of humankind, arcing around and around, circling back to the chance crossing of paths.
Wizard schools may seem like an old trope these days, but Naomi Novik's A Deadly Education puts a new twist on the education of the next generation of magic-wielders.
What I love most about this book is how practical it is. You don't have to be a master hand letterer or go buy a bunch of fancy tools - Kiley Bennet shows you how to use multiple art mediums to add personalization and charm to gifts and projects with basic materials and things you already have on hand.
Mom mom Karen and I each read an Anthony Horowitz novel to compare plot details. Of Magpie Murders, my mom says, "It was decent. I would recommend it to someone I knew likes manor house English murder mysteries." I liked the quirky way of telling the story in The Word is Murder, and the development of the narrator's thought processes and opinions. I found the actual rationale for the murder to be a bit disappointing, but enjoyed the red herrings and the storytelling a great deal.
When I was in college for my undergraduate degree, I had an incredibly tough first year. I would go to the park near my dorm, lie on the grass and stare up at the trees and listen Beaucoup Fish by Underworld on repeat, on my discman (remember those??)
Charming animal characters can be a lovely stand-in for the humanity in all of us. Mole, Rat, Badger, and Toad in The Wind and the Willows, our WE ALL READ book selection, express all kinds of human sentiments and behaviors.
Got some time on your hands and always wanted to organize and catalog your book collection?
Harry Potter evokes a breathless magic that captivates fans the world over. Knitting Magic's officially licensed patterns embrace the joy and spirit of the whole series.
Craft books usually focus on a material theme, i.e. knitting, paper, beads - but Sloth Crafts uses the sloth image to explore all kinds of media.
If you have never thought of white as a complex color, think again. Shades of White explores the versatility of this timeless color in the home setting. With breathtaking photos of rooms whose only common denominator is the thoughtful use of the color white, the book is broken out into four styles: rustic, classic, vintage, and modern.
I'm the kind of person who thinks eyes and a smile make any inanimate object instantly adorable and irresistible. If that speaks to you (or your inner child) you will delight in every page of Lauren Espy's Whimsical Stitches: a Modern Makers Book of Amigurumi Crochet Patterns.
Even if you never end up crafting with wood, Woodcraft is one of those books that gets you excited about the possibilities.
Modern Memory Quilts goes beyond a sewing instructional book and looks at the emotional drive behind creating.