Reading: I'm a little over halfway done with Emily Giffin's latest book, "First Comes Love," which is told in alternate chapters narrated by adults sisters who have a pretty tenuous relationship. They could hardly be more different: one is a type-A lawyer and mother in an unhappy marriage and the other is a fun-loving, free-spirited first-grade teacher who dreams of having a baby but is missing the husband component. Both have a lot going on in their lives, and -- completely unbeknownst to each other -- both envy parts of their sister's. Meanwhile, the fifteenth anniversary of a terrible tragedy that drastically changed their family is looming -- and Meredith and Josie seem to be rapidly barreling toward the make or break point in their sisterhood.
I don't read a ton of women's fiction anymore, but Emily Giffin has stuck with me as I've put some other chick-lit authors by the wayside. She just has a knack for writing addicting, heartfelt stories and imperfect, flawed, lovable characters.
Knitting: We have arm holes! I split off the sleeve stitches on my Earnest Cardigan yesterday, which is major progress considering I was re-starting the whole thing just over a week ago. Jarrod has been working some insane hours, so I've had a lot of extra free time to work on it.
I decided I needed a show to watch while knitting and after browsing Amazon Prime I started "Lark Rise to Candleford," an older BBC/PBS period drama set in the 1800s. It's a bit twee and quaint, but it's great to watch while knitting because it doesn't require my full attention. And the main character works at the town's little post office, which I love as I've got a bit of an obsession with mail. (P.S. I often checked in and out DVDs of the show when I worked at the library in Ohio and was always a bit confused by the title, but FYI, Lark Rise and Candleford are two villages in the English countryside separated by a few miles. The protagonist has grown up in rural Lark Rise, but her parents send her to bustling -- by comparison -- Candleford to work with her aunt at the post office. Also, it's based on a trilogy of semi-autobiographical novels by Flora Thompson!)
Enjoying: A Starbucks salted caramel mocha and a yummy guava-cream cheese pastry thingy. They were having a promotion for $1 pastries and I was powerless to resist. I'm glad the fall drinks are back -- I love salted caramel mochas, I like pumpkin spice lattes, and I'm intrigued by the new chile mochas.
Your sweater is coming along! Great reads too. For once I read them before you did. Can't wait to see what you think. Going to hit Starbucks soon for a fall drink of my own.
ReplyDeleteYes! I really enjoyed this book and I know "All the Light" will be a favorite. :)
DeleteHow does this compare to Giffin's last book? I skipped that one because I heard such bad things about it, but I really liked all her others.
ReplyDeleteI was also confused with library patrons asking for Lark Rise to Candleford. "Are you sure that's the title?" It sounds grammatically wrong :) I think I'd like it though. Have you ever watched Doc Martin or Monarch of the Glen?
I thought her last book was decent, though not as good as all her previous ones. The relationship was a little more... controversial... and I thought readers who didn't like football might get bored. But "First Comes Love" was really good! I thought she was back on her game with this one.
DeleteRight?! I guess I was always reading "rise" as a verb! I tried "Monarch of the Glen" a few years ago but couldn't get into it. "Doc Martin" is on the maybe-to-watch list, along with a million other British shows! ;)
Your cardigan is beautiful!! And you have given me another show to watch. It sounds right up my alley!!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I had a horrific disaster today when I discovered some mis-crossed cables many, many rows back, but I think I've found a fix that'll do. I'm enjoying "Lark Rise" more than I expected! The more I watch, the more I fall in love with the characters.
DeleteOh, your growing cardi looks amazing!!
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