It's Time

It's time to share one of my other obsessions with you........BOOKS! When I am not knitting, I am reading. Sometimes I do both at the same time (this last one requires a fairly high degree of co-ordination, and some extremely mindless knitting to be successful).

My latest completed read: "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" by Sherman Alexie. This book recently won the National Book Award for Young Adult Fiction. I will point out, that I am a huge Alexie fan. I think he is brilliant, funny, kind of hot-looking (nice hair Sherman), and a very original voice. He's also a local guy for me, and since I don't share the Pacific Northwest's blind love for Tom Robbins, I have to spread my literary love somewhere.

Where to start with this book. It is painful, funny, sad, joyous and very real. You don't have to be Indian to feel out of place. That is the perspective Alexie writes from, but it is a feeling that almost every teenager experiences at some point. I know I sure did! I read everything that Alexie writes, but this one was a particular standout. Buy it for yourself. Buy it for a teenager you love.

I also received a knitting related goodie from Amazon yesterday: "Son of Stitch 'n' Bitch by Debbie Stoller. I haven't had time to actually knit any of the patterns, yet, but I can testify that they are "guy approved" patterns. My 16 year-old has already put in orders for two hats, and a sweater from the book. I have also found one that is perfect for #1 son, as well. AND there are a couple of good sock patterns (always a plus for me!). The sizing for the sweaters is pretty good, it seems. None of them will fit my XXL hubby without some alteration, but it is much better than some pattern designers I could name (Debbie Bliss). I'm so interested in diving into these patterns that it is taking all my restraint to not ditch my Holiday Knitting for a foray into "Son of Stitch 'n' Bitch." I hope I will soon be able to share a FO from the book with you all.

Is there an "all" out there reading this, yet? Or is it just a "one" so far (not counting #3 son who keeps reading my blog over my shoulder!)