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Unravelling Wednesday - Week 26

Our numbers go down, and our freedoms very gradually go up. We are now allowed to meet with small numbers of people, outside, in public places. Shops, restaurants and all that are still shut, so I've still got a lot of time at home for the knitting and the reading.

And I read a  very good book this week, Why Birds Sing by Nina Berkout.


I got a review copy from NetGalley, but it is unreservedly one of the best books I've read recently. Focussing on an opera singer who is having career problems, it brings together a band of misfits, who help each other see what they need. It reminded me of Bennett Sawyer's The Hard Truth About Sunshine, but was less contrived. Nina Berkout handles her material well, never mawkish or overdone. I don't know a lot about opera, and that didn't detract from the book. And now I knit more than I ever thought I would about domesticated parrots. All in all, a thoughtful, at times sad, sometimes uplifting and overall very satisfying book.

I'm not enjoying  my audiobook that much, Queenie  by Candice Carty-Williams. I am still loving the cover though!

 The main character is a frustrating mess. It's an "own voices" book, which is great, but there is a whole chapter where she basically explains Black Lives Matter to the reader. And there is one jewish character, who is  a rich, spoiled princess. Diversity is good, but seeing my people stereotyped is  just as off putting as seeing stereotypes of other people. Anyway, I'm going to finish it because I kind of want to know if Queenie sorts herself out and I have a whole bunch of boring electronic filing to do for work.

In knitting I am very, very close to finishing Leon's jumper. I think it will be ok, but I won't be knitting large projects in dull colours until we are in a more lively situation here. Bring on the Westknits MKAL!

I tried to take a more artistic photo, but it doesn't really show anything.

As usual on a Wednesday I'm joining in with Kat from As Kat Knits and the rest of the crew for Unravelled Wednesday. I hope your crafting and reading has been treating you well this week.    


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  1. AsKatKnits02 October, 2020

    Okay, I am off to find your book recommendation! And, lovely sweater! Westknits things are just so vibrant! :)

    ReplyDelete

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