I couldn't resist Wild Violet's primitive "tarot" trio: The Stitcher, The Ripper, and The Snipper.
They are stitched on 18-count aida; I hate aida, and I'm trying to use up my stash. In keeping with the primitive vibe of the design, I died the fabric myself with tea and a little baking soda (to set the color).
They remind me of the Three Fates, which might be intentional.
I don't know when or why I got this set of stories, but I'm so glad I did. Inspired by the tediousness of air travel, LeGuin posits the ability to take that tedium, and the accompanying stress and misery, to change planes (get it?) and visit another world.
The stories that follow are thought exercises on different aspects of humanity, each reflected in the culture and history of alien races. They are by turns satirical, melancholy, threatening, and wistful, and the last one is a mind-bender that left me feeling destabilized -- not something I often feel when reading.
They remind me greatly of Jorge Luis Borges's stories, in that they are driven by philosophical concepts rather than plots; no surprise, though, given that LeGuin has cited Borges as an influence. This is not the book for someone looking for a traditional story, or even well-rounded characters. But if you want something that will make you think about what it means to be human, this is perfect.
Having impulsively purchased a bunch of fall-hued Czech glass leaves, I realized they would make a great pair of earrings, especially if I allowed them to dangle from lengths of chain:
But the resulting pair was way too heavy to wear for more than a few minutes. I thought about replacing a few of the glass leaves with acrylic ones, but that might also be too heavy. Instead I reconnected the two lengths of chain and added a bit more, to make a bracelet:
Shady Hollow by Juneau Black: The delightful first novel in a cozy mystery series set amongst woodland critters. It reminded me quite a bit of Emmett Otter's Jug Band Christmas.
The Simplicity of Cider by Amy E. Reichert: This was basically a Hallmark movie in book form. Some aspects I liked, such as the protagonist's synesthesia, and other parts I didn't (therapy generally works better than the love of a good man).
The City Baker's Guide to Country Living by Louise Miller: This was a reread for me. It's also a Hallmark movie in book form, but with sex, alcohol, and messy relationships, which makes the inevitable happy ending more satisfying.
An Inquiry into Love and Death by Simone St. James: This was the perfect ghost story -- atmospheric, spooky, romantic, not too violent, and neither over- nor underexplained. I will be reading more of her books.
Still Life by Louise Penny: Another smart, melancholy Three Pines mystery? I've been reading this series backwards, starting with The Cruelest Month. But where do I go now? For real, I'll probably read no. 4 and maybe one or two others, but from what I've read the series has diminishing returns.
A Night in the Lonesome October by Roger Zelazny: Zelazy's last novel (and supposedly his favorite) is a fun mash-up of various literary monsters who gather together to bring about, or maybe prevent, the end of the world. It's narrated by a talking dog, too!
