I've written about Larissa Brown before. If you like great novels that completely sweep you to another place and manage to keep you there until you turn the last page even if it makes you late for work, you need to read the jaw-dropping Viking romance Beautiful Wreck (see my review).
Not only is she a stunning writer, she's a seriously talented knitwear designer, and she has a new collection, also Viking based.
Shieldmaiden Knits
From the book:
Shieldmaiden Knits features designs in Malabrigo Yarn, inpsired by the epic Viking style.
Vikings were poets and artists. Their woodwork, carvings, bracelets and intricate needle cases and combs all suggest a great passion for design. Their words and sagas suggest a love of dramatic gestures.
The pieces in this collection take the gorgeous colors and textures of Malabrigo yarns, and use simple shapes and easy lace to bring about dramatic results. These are not historically accurate designs, but instead are modern pieces inspired by my research into Viking Age life.
I adore this piece, Gull Warmers:
and these delicate gauntlets just GET me:
I'm giving away a copy of the book to one lucky commenter — let's play my favorite game and leave a comment about the best book you've recently read. I'll draw a winner on November 11.
Nanowrimo writers: don't forget to leave a comment in the previous post about Chris Baty's book, No Plot No Problem – will be drawing that winner tomorrow!
I’m still holding Ami Polonsky’s GRACEFULLY GRAYSON in my heart. Middle grade novel about a transgender child — unexpected and amazing.
This is going to sound really dorky, but it just so happens that I’m currently reading, and loving, Beautiful Wreck. I’m really excited about it, even more so because I’ve been on a long reading drought where nothing I couldn’t seem to connect with anything I started. And now I’m grabbing my Ipad to read Beautiful Wreck at odd moments when I should be doing other things…
OK books I have enjoyed lately.
Gail Carriger’s Parasol Protectorate series. I just finished Blameless.
Lev Grossman’s Magician’s Land
Ernest Cline’s Ready Player One
Arin Andrews’ Some Assembly Required
I finished Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo a few days ago and I love it! Reading book 2 of that series now.
Best book I’ve recently read is Sue Monk Kidd’s “The Invention of Wings” a historical novel about the abolitionist and women’s movements.
How could I choose just one? I am partially into The Rosie Effect and loving it, just finished The Casual Vacancy and am still haunted by the characters and the ending. I have Pack Away the Moon tucked in my memory and need to reread it to catch more of the nuances as I devoured it the first time through. I love books!
Reading Sock Architecture by Lara Neel (it was reviewed on the Knitmore Girls podcast). Lots of ideas for socks … so now I can avoid work, and sleep, by either reading, or knitting…
The Priniples of Uncertainty by Maira Kallman. I love her view of the world. I return to it for visual stimulation a lot.
The book I have read recently is the Chicken Soup For the Soul how to Reboot your life.
Good morning, Rachael!
I’ve been going through about 5 books a week lately. The best book I’ve read in quite a while was “How The Light Gets In,” by Louise Penny. It’s part of a series of “Inspector Gamache” mysteries. Her stories are good, characters are full-bodied and colorful, but it’s her way with words that grabs me.
I would also recommend “War Brides” and “The Sisterhood” by Helen Bryan.
Naturally, these should be read when you don’t have any unread Rachael Herron books!
PLEASE DON’T ENTER ME FOR THE PATTERN BOOK. I have more patterns than I’ll ever use!
ATTACHMENTS, by Rainbow Rowell. It’s a hilarious, sad, offbeat, wonderful epistolary romance for the 21st century.
Sharon Oard Warner’s Sophie’s House of Cards was terrific. I’ll be buying the patterns myself, but I couldn’t resist sharing a good title!
I recently finished Louise Penny’s Still Life. It’s fabulous!
My go to book this fall is Katherine Rundell’s book Rooftoppers. It is a mid-grade book buy so beautifully written. Sweet and quirky with musical elements throughout. May have to look up the Viking Romance seeing as I am half Viking (or rather Icelandic).
Sounds silly, but I REALLY loved Larissa’s “Beautiful Wreck.” I read it about a month and a half ago, and it’s really stuck with me. I rarely re-read books, but this one I think I will very soon. I’m also almost finished reading “Heart of Obsidian” by Nalini Singh, and it calls to me whenever I put it down!
Wait for Signs by Craig Johnson
Liam Campbell series by Dana Stabenow
Spinners Book of Fleece
Currently reading Katherine Dunn’s “Geek Love”, which has been out for awhile but was recommended by my boss, the English Professor who made it three rounds on Jeopardy last week. Most recently, I read Joshua Ferris’ new one “To Rise Again at a Decent Hour” and “The Memory Palace” by Mira Bartok. I love weird, off-the-wall stories set in reality (speculative fiction, magical realism) and memoirs, and all three fit the bill.
I’d love to win the patterns. Those gauntlets would look great on me!
Giiiiiirl! The Suffragette Scandal! So good!
Sarah Addison Allen’s Garden Spells. Waiting with bated breath for First Frost!
I really enjoyed Ilona Andrews’ BURN FOR ME. Fun urban fantasy with a snarky narrator and great supporting characters, set in Houston, and a hint of romance to top it off. Nevada’s grandma is a total hoot!
“The Farm” by Tom Rob Smith. It was both fascinating and thrilling! I spent a lot of the book wondering what I would do in the same situation.
Cari Luna’s The Revolution of Every Day. Love every last page of it.
Currently doing an L M Montogery re-read/read. The entire Anne of Green Gables series is a sentimental favourite of mine.
I adore Sarah Rees Brennan’s writing. I’m 2/3 of the way through her Lynburn Legacy trilogy. It’s her signature urban fantasy, and it’s heartbreaking, hilarious, innovative…it’s got characters who are straight, gay, neither, characters of color, female and male strong and weak characters, and the plot is gripping.
This series is actually a twist on the Victorian Gothic novel, with the hero as the fainting heroine. It’s amazing and you should read it if you have a chance đŸ™‚
I recently finished “The Big Tiny, A Built it Myself Memoir” by Dee Williams about building and living in a tiny house.
I am currently reading another memoir called, “The Dog Will Live (and so will I),by Teresa Rhyne.
And for fiction, I read a book that came out several years ago called, “Barefoot” by Elin Hilderbrand.
Liked all these books!
I am loving the book I am reading right now: The Mockingbird Next Door: Life with Harper Lee by Marja Mills
I just read a series by Donita Paul…two diferent series but they all tie together. I just could not put them down. I was surprised by that. My all-time favorites have to be The Secret Garden and Jane Austen.
I enjoyed The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison. I got caught up in the story in a way that I don’t do very often.
I really liked ‘the secret life of bees’
I *loved* Beautiful Wreck, and keep hoping she’ll write another novel. The latest great book I’ve read is We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler. I didn’t read anything about the book before reading it, so the “twist” caught me completely by surprise. The book was in turns hilarious, thought provoking and heart breaking. Have you read it?
I’m currently reading Tales of Johan by David Harris Wilson. Fascinating concept, great story telling and the juxtaposition of history and small village life. Great
I’m a big fan of that other wizard named Harry, Harry Dresden,a series of books by Jim Butcher and I just finished his collection of Harry Dresden short stories, Side Jobs.
I’m in the middle of Cryptonomicon, by Neal Stephenson, which is a bit outside of my normal genre (it’s huge and full of cryptography, math, and WWII historical fiction), but I’m loving it nonetheless.
More typical books I’ve really enjoyed:
The Dream Thieves, by Maggie Stiefvater
Prodigal Summer, by Barbara Kingsolver
Everyday, by David Levithan
ps. I’ve read your blog for a while, but this is the first time I’ve commented, and I have to say that I love your positive attitude, honesty and all your stories. Your nanowrimo video might even get me to start nanowrimo (or at least start writing something again after years of not). Thanks!
I just finished Ann-Marie MacDonald’s new book, Adult Onset. Families, kids, lesbians, mothers, siblings, authors, writing, childhood, and MY neighbourhood! What can be better than that? (There is Scrabble in the book, but no knitting. Shame.)
Before I even read your blog post, I immediately thought of A Beautiful Wreck. I ordered it on my kindle as soon as I found it and it was wonderful. I can’t recommend it highly enough.
gussek on Ravelry
Rosie revere engineer. But good kids books are hard to find
I adored Beautiful Wreck; far and away the best book I’ve read this year. I am currently enjoying the final book in Deborah Harkness’ All Souls Trilogy.
Te most recent book I’ve completed that I’ve absolutely adored has to go to: Living Buddha, Living Christ by Thich Nhat Hanh. The title took sent my mind for a loop but it was recommended to me by a friend so I promised myself to read the first three chapters (out of ten). The book isn’t a novel per say but more of a reminder and more informative to living in peace and harmony. If anyone is looking to see the world differently, I definitely recommend this book to you! If you iffy about it, so as I did and read at least the first three chapters. The chapters are split up into sections and it’s very easy to get captured into.
Well besides all your wonderful books?!?! đŸ˜‰
The most resent book that I have really enjoyed recently is Outlander.
Just started “Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore” by Robin Sloan, and I’m really liking it. Also just read Katherine Howe’s “The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane,” and her book “Conversion.” I liked the historical witch stuff in Howe’s books.
I adored Beautiful Wreck, I was lucky enough to get to read it before it was published thanks to you, such beautiful writing, I hope she writes many more!
I have to admit I’ve been reading easy chewing gum for the mind books of late to balance out my heavy research reading. I’m catching up with Stella in the Bad Day books at the moment, I have so many books I want to read, I’ve got over 70 waiting on my Kindle so it’s becoming a little silly!
Just finished Fiona’s Flame. I had a hat I wanted to finish knitting but I couldn’t put the book down so I had to barter time with myself. Really loved it and am hopung we get to hear more of Daisy’s story in the future.
Wow, cool! I just read Sarah Water’s The Little Stranger and I loved it. It was one of those books that I had to read more slowly because it was so dense and fascinating.
Isn’t that cover shot gorgeous? I’ve been reading biographies of some comedians. I read Carol Burnett’s latest book and Tim Conway’s. Martin Short’s book is on the way.
I just finished Life After Life by Kate Atkinson. Lots to think about… if just one thing changed in your, how would it affect everything for you and everyone else?
Thank you so much to all of you who mentioned my book as a favorite. It means more than you can imagine. And yes, to those of you who wondered in your comments, I am writing a next book! I go on about the adventure of writing it on the Beautiful Wreck facebook page.
I’m getting so many great suggestions from these comments. And to the person reading Cryptonomicon, I love that book! It is one of my all time favorites.
I recently reread Hunger Games and think I enjoyed it more than the first time.
I just finished Charles de Lint’s story collection, Muse and Reverie. So, so wonderful.
I recently read “The Savvy Musician” by Cutler, a great read for aspiring musical entrepreneurs. đŸ™‚
The best book I’ve read recently is, The 100 Year Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared, by Jonas Jonasson. It is written with a dry sense of humor and is quite engaging and mentally stimulating.
I read “The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating” by Elisabeth Tova Bailey last week and went through it in one sitting. Written by a woman who was bedridden and whose friend gave her a snail that she kept in a tank hear her bedside for a while, the book is mostly her fascinating observations of the snail’s everyday life and partly about her recovery.
I just read “The Fault in Our Stars.” It started out quite angsty, and stayed that way but it also incredibly heartwarming. I normally hate books like that, but I was sobbing like a small child by the end!
I’d love to knit those lacy openwork mitts! By great good luck, I just finished reading J.K. Rowling’s novel for grownups, “The Casual Vacancy,” and thought it was wonderful. The lady has range!
I absolutely adored Stephen King’s Joyland. It was the most engaging novel I’ve read in ages. I just read it a couple of months ago. Was the perfect end of summer read.
I loved The Painter by Peter Heller. Fascinating yet deeply flawed main character, great plot, wonderful descriptions of the New Mexico/Colorado setting, and an interesting peak inside the Santa Fe art scene.
I just finished Unmade by Sarah Rees Brennan. A good end of a trilogy!
I really enjoyed The Rosie Project recently. And now I am reading the graphic novel version of an all-time classic, Fahrenheit 451. People are doing amazing things with graphic novels lately. You should team up with an illustrator, Rachael!
The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith
I recently found Laurie Notaro–how did I not know about her books?–and am on my third book by her. Funny and a nice escape!
I am currently re-reading Beautiful Wreck for the THIRD time. It is such a wonderful book and I am so glad you recommended it!
I am 7/8 through Scott Lynch’s “The Lies of Locke Lamora,” an excellent fantasy novel set in a gritty, Venice-like city. It came out a few years back, which is good, because I have sequels I can read, too!
Next up is a reread of Jeannette Winterson’s “The Passion,” which I first read for a college course and love dearly. After that, I need to reread a couple of Joanne Harris novels, because I have “Peaches for Father Francis” waiting.
Just finished 20th Century Ghosts by Joe Hill. It was a perfect October read.
Oh those legwarmers are absolutely MAGICAL! I’m sure they would be great for writers in drafty attics writing the next great novel…I am thoroughly enjoying all of the suggestions in the comments! Currently reading Adventures in Yarn Farming by Barbara Parry. xox
Hmmm…Viking— less pillage more hearth and home knitting?? I’d love the book. I’m in..I’m reading “Bach Music in The Castle of Heaven”. Its a plod at times but I do want to know the person, this composer of the music I love. I’m captivated.
The Guernsey Potato Pie and Literary Society by Mary Anne Shaffer and Annie Barrows. No knitting in the book, unfortunately, but it is a delicious read (pun intended). Post-war London, a strong female writer protagonist, and a host of interesting characters!
I just finished PRINCE LESTAT by Anne Rice and really liked it. I like ALL of her books!
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I just finished All the Light We Cannot See, by Anthony Doerr, which was beautiful and heartbreaking. This year I’ve also read the entire Inspector Gamache series by Louise Penny, which I highly recommend for mystery lovers, but they’re also really good literary fiction.
Ahhhh! The best book I’ve recently read was Neil Gaiman’s Ocean at the End of the Lane.
It was beautifully written, and the story left me feeling as if, when I finished the book, I had lost a most wonderful friend (that is not a plot spoiler, that is literally me feeling like ending the book ended a relationship u_u).
Hope someone I know won so I can borrow it.
Regardless just put in a request with my local library to either buy it or do an interlibrary loan.
Each drawing is remarkable-each one is a pencil mark on the door frame to your art studio (real or imagined). Look at where you started and what a short time ago it was! #sketchagogo đŸ˜‰
PS pianos can be refinished or repainted (ooooo…chalk or milk paint)