05Mar

Books we love

{February 2013}

bookswelovefeb13 

These are the books we've enjoyed most this past month and here's why...

♥ 1, Homespun Vintage:20 timeless knit and crochet projectsJane Crowfoot - This has been the book that I have picked up most this month, sometimes to read others just to flick through the gorgeous images. It is responsible for my renewed desire to learn to knit. Jane's interest in Interior design really comes across and I felt an instant affinity to her after reading that she loved the parts of her home that reflect her family life (trainers by the back door, artwork on the fridge, piles of books/magazines) as much as those special touches we choose to adorn our homes with. 

The projects are all gorgeous and mostly evenly spread between crochet and knit (although the ones I found myself most drawn to were the knitting patterns). Out of the twenty patterns included 15 were for cushions. I love making cushions but if you don't, this may not be the book for you - unless you just like looking at lovely pictures.

2, Gone GirlGillian Flynn - This was one of those books that I flew through and finished exhausted after two days with barely any sleep. A thriller based around the disappearance of Nick's wife, Amy, on their 5th wedding anniversary. The first half of the book switches between present day and Amy's diary entries leading up to her disappearance. I will admit to not liking either of the characters very much at all but that did not hamper my love of the story particularly the twist that I'd heard so much about. If you enjoyed 'Before I Go To Sleep' I think you will like this one.

3 & 4, (Oli & Lulu's) & The Scribble Book both by Herve Tullet - These entries are a bit of a cheat really as they are colouring books. I bought these for Oli and Lulu for Christmas and they've had so much use I really wanted to mention them. I've wrote about my love (and Lulu's) of Herve Tullet's 'The five senses' books before so when I saw the colouring books I knew they'd go down well. 

I am particularly in love with The Scribble Book, which is aimed at toddlers. It's large (bigger than A4) which gives them lots of room but its best feature is that it aims to encourage your toddler's first scribbles and gives them purpose. It does this with a series of suggestions i.e. 'Oh dear! This scribble is very shy can you give him some friends?' or 'so many monsters, scribble over them as hard as you can.' There is even a print of the Mona Lisa with the title 'go on, have a scribble' - Brilliant!

The Colouring book follows on from this for older children with lots of suggestions to spark little imaginations.

5, (Lulu's) In The Night Kitchen Maurice Sendak - This was another book Lulu received for Christmas. Written by the author of 'Where the Wild Things Are', Rob and I have both concluded that this one is a little strange. Lulu obviously adores strange and has been asking for this one nightly since Christmas. The book tells the story of Mickey's bizarre dream journey through the night kitchen (which he does so completely naked!). I don't know what else to say apart from it's weird and whimsical and she loves it!

I've also finally started Caitlin Moran's 'How to be a woman' after being put off for a long time by the mixed reviews. However, I decided I was still intrigued enough to make up my own mind! So far I have found it to be funny and refreshing to read about aspects of womanhood that are not often talked about. It has made me think a lot about my take on feminism, something I have not given much thought since I was at uni. If in doubt as to whether you feel this book is relevant to you I'll leave you with her take on feminism (well one of them):

Because the purpose of feminism isn't to make a particular type of woman. The idea that there are inherently wrong and inherently right 'types' of woman is what's screwed feminism for so long - this belief that we wouldn't except slaggy birds, dim birds, birds that bitch, birds that hire cleaners, birds that stay at home with their kids, birds that have pink mini metros with 'Powered By Fairy Dust' bumper stickers...You know what? Feminism will have all of you.

As always I'm open to all book recommendations if you've read anything good recently please feel free to share. :))

Bye for now. Em xx

 

Posted in Books