Sunday 30 April 2017

April Books

I have started this wrap up a bit late, as in a couple of months overdue and so not all books have left an impression on me. Reading back in my journal I have a hard time differentiating between some of these so I think I will just name them and move on. I remember thinking some of these books were a bit of a time-waster.

Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman

This book is not strictly a story it is a rewritten Saga of the Norse gods, and I did like it, I did not love it, I think I would have loved it more if there was just one story and more from the authors mind. But I do understand that that was not what he wanted. So if you read this with that in mind the book is enjoyable but if you read it thinking it would be like the other books of Mr.Gaiman I think you will be disappointed. I haven't read much about the Norse Mythology since I was ten-ish, I remember I loved everything about the vikings and read all I could, and ten year old me would have loved this book. (if I read it in Norwegian, I was 12 when I started reading English books).






Odinsbarn by Siri Pettersen
This book I absolutely loved, it is another book for youths, but I don't really care that much about labels. It was intriguing, a new sort of story and I liked the characters, although at times it shone through that I was older than the intended demographic.

Råta 
Book two was a bit of a let down, as in, what happened was exactly how it should have to drive the book forward and exactly how  I thought it would, but still, the first book was a lot more interesting and seemed more well written and more of a great idea. 








Evna
The book where the ring closes and as a third book in a trilogy it too develops as it should and ends how it should, but it is much less of a page turner than book one.
All in all a good series and one that I think is a good youth read, good story, good characters and good language, perfect for less experienced readers. I liked it.






Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
Husband and I were listening to this together and while listening was fun it was hard finding time to do that together so I borrowed this from the library, I had to read it in Norwegian, but nevertheless, I loved it. I am not that much of a gamer so a few of the references went by me I am sure but the feel of the book was excellent. Ready Player One is a book where you know the outcome in the first chapter and still you want to read on. That is a hard thing to write. Husband to wants to read this. This is the book of the month for me.





Vårt tragiske univers by Scarlett Thomas 
I got this book at the library sale when my friend and I went to a lecture on Roald Dahl, and I mostly bought it because it was cheap and I thought I needed a book for travelling, I don't really like to travel with borrowed books. And I read it on the flight to Paris and it was O-K. To be honest I remember it was a bit boring to read and not really a book for me, but there was nothing really wrong with it.







Apokalypse alt nå? by Alexander N. Wilken
Blod i dans by Gatd Sveen
Den Syvende demonen by Øystein Borge

I borrowed these from the library because it is Easter and in this holiday season crime books are a must. And honestly I find more and more that crime books are not my thing. Which is weird because I still love to watch that genre, and my first adult book I read was all of Agatha Christie, but thinking about it who-did-it books can be many things and these were too generic for me. Maybe I need a different kind of crime or a different kind of writing for me to love it. With Agatha Christie the characters are so well written for the most part and I adore the 20's. Also the tired old drunken cop is not really my cup of tea, I like quirky, like Mr. Poirot and Miss Marple or Sherlock Holmes or the like. I have been watching Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries and I LOVE it, am thinking I might want to read the books...

30/52

Friday 14 April 2017

Easter and such

These past few days we have been busy cleaning and tidying the house, it is amazing how much clutter can accumulate in such a short while, but we were not too busy to bake a cake. (from a bag though) But it was delicious.

*

I still have March books to write about, but we will do those when we come back from our trip. My heart is all aflutter and I am not too sure I will get to sleep at all. Mister M and I have been playing a lot of board games this Easter. I am not a sore loser at all... Although Mister M might not agree. The Easter bunny gave us quite a haul this year, I even got teeny tiny yarn, candy, and some hand lotion. I am sure my bunnies had something to do with that after all they must know the easter bunny?

Someone wants to go too! 
Mister M and I are going on a trip as I said, to see a concert, but our trusty bunny sitter will be here and hopefully give lots of attention and treats to my trolls, Mimle might not think she will get enough treats, but then again she always thinks that...


Also, my knitting adventure continues, I made a baby bib from some leftover yarn from the yarn I used to make the baby blanket baby shower gift, I found the pattern on Vibbedille's blog, (norwegian only) and I gave it a go. It was not too hard, but I still struggled a little since I am new to the whole understanding a pattern in knitting thing....



Happy Easter

I made a egg-cozy bunny for Mister M, he loved it. The bunny light things were a gift and I love them, you can never have too many rabbit things in my opinion.


Friday 7 April 2017

Friday catchup and finishing things

I am still busy making more of these Lisbon-times from drops for a special lady's birthday this summer, I hope I will finish, the yarn is a bit of a hassle to work with, but it is so fluffy and soft. I am sure the shawl will look beautiful whilst being warm but still light.
Still chugging along on my ripples baby-blanket, little miss E is already born, so I better finish quickly!

And then there is the finish. I gave my friends a Easter egg (well to be honest it was a yellow paper bag with while dots on it, but it was Easter-y) and in it between some candy and a small handlotion was a crochet basket and bunny eggwarmers also from drops. And, I am quite proud, done all by myself, i read the pattern, and then just knitted and I did not make a single (big) mistake! I think it is time to level up on my knitting adventure!


I have been going to our new shiny library and borrowing loads of books, and crocheting a little and chatting to the friendly librarian. I have no idea how many books I've borrowed this month, but quite a few.  Yesterday I was so into the book I was reading that I did not quite go to bed... Oops.






I had my friends over for an Easter-lunch and Christmas dinner and workshop. We decorated eggs, sowed some seeds in decorated milk cartons. I love doing seasonal things.


 
E and I went to a lecture-thing about Roald Dahl which was very interesting. I am now on the waiting list for his autobiography. 

Oh, and I bought some yarn, I have been quite good lately and not bought a lot, some for specific projects, but this I bought just because. I love the colours.