Unravelled and What are you reading - the one with all the books

I am generally a monogamous reader, who has at most - one audio-book and one text book at a time. This week though  I've got three books, all in different categories - and of course a knitting project too.  

1) Non-fiction - Last week I wrote about meditating. Like many people I started with the Headspace App, and now I use Insight Timer to support my practice. I have also done a couple of mindfulness courses through Coursera. So I was happy to receive a free review copy  of Sitting Comfortably by Swami Saradananda from NetGalley, as the premise of the book is that being physically uncomfortable can prevent people from meditating, and this book attempts to address that issue. I have mixed feelings about this book - it is very clear and well set out. It runs through how one should sit, and how one can prepare for this. It has clear illustrations. My main issue is I'm not sure who this book is for. The author worries that being physically uncomfortable is a barrier for sitting, but for me it would be strict standards about having to sit completely upright, or in a completely quiet place, including blocking out the sound of traffic in my house. trust me, if I can sleep through it, and live in that noise, I should be able to meditate in it. It also irritated me how concerned she was about falling asleep, down to the idea that we shouldn't support our backs while meditating because we might fall asleep. I can barely fall asleep lying down, in the dark with my eyes closed. I don't have an issue with accidentally falling asleep. Ever. So the little things bothered me,  but this book might be a good next step for a casual meditator who wants to take their practice up a notch.  I'm not sure that's me. 

2) Eye-read - I'm FINALLY reading All Our Shimmering Stars by Trent Dalton. Leon read it and loved it, and I tried to start it when we were in Queensland in January. I was, at the time, having trouble settling in to any book. I picked it back up this week, and while it is a challenging read, it is definitely rewarding. 

3) Audio-book - I saw on Will Weaton's blog that an audio book he narrated had just been released, Vicarious by Rhett C Bruno so I bought it. The premise is a bit like the Truman Show, but set in the future. I haven't got very far through it, but I am enjoying the dual narrative, Will's voice and the plot definitely has my interest.

And look at those covers. Three very pretty winners.

I am still knitting Winter's Beach. I've got the left front  and the sleeves to go. And the pockets, those all important pockets! I am still enjoying it, it's a very soothing knit, even if I do keep loosing my place, despite using marker tape on the chart. 

And that's what I've been up to this week. I'm joining in with Kat from As Kat Knits for Unravelled Wednesday and Kat from the Bookdate for It's Monday, What Are You Reading.  Thanks Kat and Kat for hosting these linkups.