I continued my hunt for knitting inspiration into February, but the death of Thich Nhat Hanh inspired me to seek out some of his writings. I also wasted precious hours reading one fo the worst mysteries I've ever read. From sublime to terrible, what a roller coaster.
The Best of Jane Austen Knits by Amy Clarke Moore There were several Jane Austen-inspired knitting books published in the early 2000s. This book, published by Interweave Press, presents 28 Regency-inspired shawls, sweaters, baby knits, and gloves. The styles are classic enough that they add a sense of romance to modern fashion without looking like costumes.
The Long Road Turns to Joy by Thich Nhat Hanh I first found Thich Nhat Hanh and his walking meditation and mindfulness essays several years ago. His death, and the perilous times we live in--a worldwide pandemic that has been going on for two years and the naked aggression exhibited by Russia's invasion of Ukraine this month--pushed my overly stressed life and constant worrying to the limit. The teacher's gentle prose and clear guidance provided a welcome interlude of peace and rejuvenation. I have been trying to incorporate more of this in all my daily activities, not just my walks, because now more than ever we need this clarity.
Bear Witness by Lark Jensen I began this book with great anticipation when the author revealed that her protagonist, Stacie Calder, Alaskan tour guide, had a degree in wildlife conservation management from the University of Arizona (full disclosure--I have two graduate degrees from the University of Arizona, have taught at the University of Arizona, and am currently employed in academic administration at the University of Arizona). I also loved the husky depicted on the cover and was looking forward to a vicarious vacation in Alaska. Unfortunately, this is one of the worst books I've read in years. This book really needed an editor for so many reasons: style, plot, character development. The writing is juvenile, indeed, downright odd: Liam had "...deep brown eyes that appeared to want to dive right into my skull and check out my brain." Huh? That makes Liam sound like a psychopath, not a handsome romantic lead. While the author repeatedly (ad nauseam) tells us that Stacie has to investigate the murder because it involves her bosses and her livelihood, she doesn't come across as particularly likable when "I answered the questions he asked me honestly but briefly without saying what I felt or disclosing anything I'd learned about Trust." Well, that means she lied to the Liam, so no, that's not honestly answering his questions, and no, that doesn't make me like her or think she's clever. It makes me think she's an annoying twit. She alludes in several chapters to prizes that she gives, presumably to the passengers on the tour boat, but we never see her distribute them nor are we told how and these prizes are awarded. An entire paragraph is wasted on Chapter 10 describing how Stacie was amused by how different the employees all look while wearing the same uniform, which comes in only 2 colors. That level of detail (only 2 colors) is not needed, and that internal musing makes Stacie sound shallow, and these are just two examples of where an editor was greatly needed. But worst of all is how Stacie's participation in the investigation of Truitt's murder is handled: the state police tell her to investigate this murder (that would never happen), tell her certain privileged details (that would never happen), invite her to be present at interrogations (that would never happen), discuss privileged case information in a crowded bar (that would never happen), and investigator Liam sleeps with Stacie, who is technically a suspect and part of an ongoing investigation even if she is not a main suspect (that would really never happen). The level of annoyance at these large plot failures is exacerbated by many plot failures and poor writing, e.g., the author's use of the full name of the tour company, ClemTours, every time she needed to mention where Stacie works, one of the tour boats, one of her employers--I would wager that name appears 150 times throughout the book. I desperately wanted to stop reading by Chapter 4 and only continued because I was reading an advanced reader's copy from Net Galley and was responsible to them for a review. Had it been a library book, I'd have given it the heave ho. The romance with Liam is described in juvenile terms, and I admit I was surprised Ms. Jensen had the two sleep together (dry and clinical, so people who like steamy romances will not be satisfied and those who are ultra conservative will find the rapidity with which they have sex so soon after meeting to be disgusting--was this the author's attempt to show that her main character is a 'modern career gal' and that her book was 'of the moment?') I don't really care if characters in the books I read have a sex life, and I admit I prefer few details about said encounters. But I do hate it when the professionalism of the investigator is thrown out the window by his sleeping with a suspect-that's just wrong, wrong, wrong. Do these people not watch any of the thousands of murder shows on TV? Everyone knows that means the investigation is tainted and the case could get thrown out of court. All in all, a terrible book. I think I've only advised people to avoid a book a handful of times since I started reviewing books for Net Galley, but sadly, this is one of them. Steer clear, matey--this tour is terrible.
Cottagecore Galore by Katie Vaz Adorable adult coloring book with charming cottage themes. The images aren't sophisticated, but are cute. Interiors, plants, bugs, crafts--all are represented. Cottagecore was a new term to me with his book, and it is indeed a romanticized, idealized set of images that are cozy and calming and sure to delight anyone yearning for a simpler or more traditional life. No outhouses, though. Sorry, I couldn't resist.
No comments:
Post a Comment