Marsha
Jul 14th, 2009

Life update

Watching: Bride and Prejudice. Aside from the woefully miscast (as in: he can’t act to save his life, at least not in this role) actor who played Darcy, this was a fun film. Austen meets Bollywood! (With a bit of postcolonial social commentary, even!) What’s not to like? And wow, Sayid can dance!

Reading:The Inheritance of Loss, by Kiran Desai. It won the Man Booker Prize in 2006, and I was originally motivated to read it by the prospect to joining a local Meetup group that’s working its way through the Booker Prizer winners in reverse chronological order. (Scheduling issues will likely prevent me from participating in this group, but I may continue with the reading list on my own.) This is clearly a great book, in its scope, language, themes. It’s very well written, and it had no trouble keeping my interest–I wanted to know what would happen next. But I’m not sure if I like this book. I had a hard time relating to any of the main characters–not because of differences in our life experiences but because I didn’t find any of them likeable.

Traveling: To New York last weekend, to see my brother (who lives in the West Village). We spent most of the day at the very awesome American Museum of Natural History, and I have to admit that some of my favorite parts were the old-school exhibits (even though the scholar and anthropologist in me cringes a bit to see them). Truly, no other museum’s dinosaurs can hold a candle to those at the AMNH (no, not even yours, Smithsonian).

Eating: Cream puffs at Beard Papa’s. (Yes, they are worth the hype.)

Knitting: A shawl. Yes, me–the person who is allergic to lace knitting. I am knitting this one with sportweight yarn, though, and the pattern is simple enough that I haven’t yet cried or tried to claw out my eyes in frustration. So that’s all good.

Laughing my head off: At this blog. Cute Overload has some good moments, but this blog is pure gold nearly every time.

8 Responses to “Life update”

  1. # Maggie Mayon 14 Jul 2009 at 3:48 am

    i read most of IOL and had the same reaction. it didn’t GET to me.

  2. # knittymamaon 14 Jul 2009 at 9:03 am

    I think sportweight is the way to go for lace allergies.

  3. # Amyon 14 Jul 2009 at 9:57 am

    I’d forgotten Sayid was in that–but he’s much too fully clothed, methinks. :-)

    I just finished reading Pride adn Prejudice and Zombies. Apparently we’re both on a Austen-variant kick right now.

  4. # Chrison 14 Jul 2009 at 10:02 am

    You have been busy!!

  5. # Deborahon 14 Jul 2009 at 11:33 am

    The American Museum of Natural History is my favorite!!!! The dino’s are awesome. What shawl pattern are you knitting?

  6. # Marshaon 14 Jul 2009 at 9:13 pm

    @Maggie May: I’m glad I’m not alone in this. I think it was indeed a great book, but I wish its greatness had included letting my connect emotionally with the characters.
    .
    @knittymama: I think you are absolutely right. :)
    .
    @Amy: What did you think of that book? It’s on my to-read list–more for the zombies than the Austen, to tell the truth. Heh.
    .
    @Chris: This has all been spread out over a couple of weeks, so it’s not that impressive…
    .
    @Deborah: I am knitting the Kimono Shawl from Folk Shawls (http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/kimono-shawl). Since it’s rectangular, I just cast on enough stitches (aside from 8 sts on each side, it’s a 10+1 pattern) to make it as wide as I wanted, and then I’ll knit it until I like the length. :)

  7. # Shannahon 15 Jul 2009 at 11:47 am

    It is so difficult reading a book with characters you don’t like. I admire you for plowing through, because usually I don’t. (Reason #1 why I never finished The Sun Also Rises.)

    And I can’t wait to see pictures of that blanket-for-the-shoulders. (See how cleverly I made it into not-lace-knitting?)

  8. # Pixieon 15 Jul 2009 at 10:59 pm

    oh…I’ve totally bookmarked that blog! :)