The rain came with a vengeance. The days have already started to melt together, but I think it rained on New Years Eve and New Years Day. There was a brief respite on Monday and then showers for Tuesday and Wednesday with heavy rain overnight into Thursday. It felt like a relief to see some bits of blue sky and have the sun finally make some brief appearances between all the clouds . I really wanted to sit outside for awhile and bathe in the sunlight, but everything was too wet to sit outside and it's too cold. But even just seeing the sun and a rainbow were a treat.
The gears have started and it's back to a semblance of normalcy after the the holidays. I was glad to get back to writing and am working on actually finishing a proposal that has been rolling around my mind for awhile.
I don't know if I ever gave details about it, but it involves someone who crochets toys. I am going to be crocheting some toys while I work on it. Though they are relatively small projects, it is different than working on an afghan. Toys are more intricate and getting the expression right a real challenge. It is different than the repetitiveness of a blanket and there is a lot of finishing like sewing on limbs and such. I expect it to be a challenge.
For the first time in a while I read an actual paper book. I have to admit it really is a more pleasurable experience. I think reading on a screen is more tiring on the eyes. The book was Where the Crawdads Sing. It definitely kept me turning the pages, but I was really disappointed with the ending. It made me realize how important the ending is for a book. And also understanding about some emails I've gotten from readers who were unhappy with some endings of my books.
I wouldn't go so far as to email the Delia Owens and tell her what I thought, but I did post something on Facebook asking if anyone else was unhappy with the ending. Of course, I didn't describe the ending or give details why I didn't like it not going to be a spoiler for anyone who hasn't read it. I got some responses and it seemed others felt as I did. But the book is hugely successful so I'm guessing lots of people liked it. We all bring our own perception to everything we read. I'm often surprised when readers see things in my characters I didn't notice.
I know that I read differently in that I am always looking at how someone tells a story, noting what I particularly like so I can learn from it.
I'm always trying to do better.
12 comments:
Good morning -- Seems like all of California is wet -- actually, soaked!! My daughter lives near Antioch and she is sloshing in her yard.
My son does an online cartoon character called Twisto -- half man, half rat. He asked me to crochet a Twisto character -- I enlarged a picture and used that as my guide. It certainly is different than crocheting an afghan!! I embroidered the facial features and actually got rave reviews from my efforts. I don't think I'll be doing another -- baby blankets are definitely my thing. Biggest blanket I ever made was a king size for our priest -- I'd told him I had a lot of yarn and thought maybe there were people at the church who might need a blanket. I had no idea he'd need a king size but couldn't say no once he asked. Actually I'm very glad I made it for him as he was transferred to another parish a short time later and said the blanket reminded hm of the friendship he had with my family.
I've looked at several of your old posts -- just randomly selected a date and it's almost eerie how each one has been relevant to something I've done -- misunderstanding instructions for CeeCee's blankets and another about a shrug you made. Yours decreased in size as you'd skipped stitches -- mind was the correct size and shape but not at all what I was expecting it to look like -- took a bit of time to figure out how to put the thing on!!
I just made a great discovery -- the Red Heart ombre yarn is a favorite -- beautiful colors. I've been ordering it online and with the shipping charges it's a little pricey. I found it online at a certain mart for $2.50 less each skein plus there's free shipping on orders of $35.00 or more. This isn't an endorsement for that store but it is a good place to shop for a retired person such as I am, on a moderate income.
I enjoyed "Where the Crawdads Sing." The ending didn't bother me but I found it rather unbelievable that such a young girl could survive by herself -- she was very, very young when left alone.
I'm looking forward to your next crochet mystery. Do you have a tentative publication date? One thing you'd mentioned in an older post was a crochet group at Joann's -- do you still do that?
I just re-subscribed to "Crochet World" magazine -- I got it way back in the early 1980s. There was an article about a woman who made granny square blankets of one big square-- for some reason, it had never occurred to me to do that but wow, I went to town!! I've made one afghan with the traditional little squares -- never again. When I make a blanket, I want it to be done with the last stitch -- not a lot of pieces to put together.
Enjoy your weekend -- happy crocheting -- keep dry,
I am glad you got to read CRAWDADS. I was shocked at the ending in a way, but I guess with the type of life the child had to live, she simply decided to take care of a problem as best she could.
I gave my daughters copies for Christmas, and they are finishing up the Orphan Train books, and ready to hit the swamp. I have had a very down few months, Casey helped some, but l need a Molly fix soon.
I have another serious pair of books about a woman who rode to back woods places during the depression, taking library books, She was BLUE in color, apparently there was a large number of those people living in Mountain towns at that time. There was horrible prejudice, often worse than the blacks were treated. I have had a very serious winter !
You mentioned you'll be crocheting toys. I was looking at the blog site for Crochet World magazine and they have a kit for an amigurumi creature. They also show covers and contents from early magazines -- starting way back in the late 1970s. I remember the July-August 1981 issue -- cover shows a man crocheting a ripple afghan. I don't recall how many years I subscribed, but my magazines are long gone.
It's 9 p.m. here in Phoenix -- my bedtime.
TTFN
Patty,
I love making the giant granny square blankets. It's fun to mix up the colors. I'm actually working on my first little bear. Right now, I'm just focusing on the basics of how to make the body and limbs. It's interesting, but intense. I can't talk and work on it.
Anonymous,
I like the way you explained the ending, but I guess I was expecting her to be more than that.
I'm sorry about your down months and glad if anything I wrote helped. There will be a Molly book this summer. it cheers me up working on the books.
I remember hearing about the blue people. Sounds like heavy reading.
Hi again. I don't know how I came on as Anonymous above, but the Molly clue may have let you know it was me. Do you have another blog or newsletter I am not getting? I used to have you on Facebook, but you disappeared ! Awaiting Molly !!
I was unhappy with the ending as well. Made me decide not to see the movie. At this point of life I am happier with the type of books you write. Interesting, intriguing, fun and thus far I love the endings. Thanks for sharing your talents.
Linda, this is my only blog and I am on Facebook both as Betty Jacobson Hechtman and Betty Hechtmaan Author, but I have heard that Facebook doesn't always show posts. I have been talking about doing a newsletter forever. I'm still hoping I can get it together.
I am really sorry you've had the down months and can completely sympathize. I have been fighting the feeling as well. I hope the new year brings us both more cheer.
Sally, I thought the ending made it seem that she was what the towns people thought she was. I started to watch the movie, just to see what the area looked like. I was curious about the cabin and the fire tower. I only watched it for a few minutes. They barely showed the cabin, but did show the fire tower and it was a lot different than I'd imagined.Then shut it off and watched an episode of Emily in Paris. I think one of the things about cozies is that they have satisfying endings. Thanks for the compliment.
I love looking at your blog archives -- tonight I happened across one with pictures and a description of your wedding and reception. Lovely story. My husband and I were married when he was in the Navy and I was a senior in high school. California had a three day waiting period for a marriage license, he only had a week's furlough so we went to Reno to get married. I was 17 so my mother went with us as I had to have her consent. My brother, age 16, was also with us. He and I were too young to go to a casino after the wedding so we all went to the bus depot to play slot machines. We were married almost 45 years when he unexpectedly had a massive heart attack and died -- that was 23 years ago. We'd had a wonderful marriage.
Patty, thanks for sharing your story. I'm sorry you lost your husband.
I'll be blogging about that rain, Betty. And I love the idea of crocheting toys--and reading about someone who does! My reading preference is still print copies, even though I know that's old-fashioned.
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