Book Cover Versions

A good friend of mine wondered if she should read Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go (coming later this year to a multiplex near you). I warned her that I found the book unbearably bland, despite its good premise. "If there were cover versions of books, could this one benefit from being retooled by another artist?" My friend then asked. I don't know about you, but I love the idea of book cover versions.

Going back to Never Let Me Go, I would have liked to have read Iain Banks' version of it. Not only does Banks understand genre - but crucially he knows how to combine so-called literary fiction and genre fiction. His books are full of messy human emotions, empathy, dehumanisation and raw anger. Banks would write a Never Let Me Go which I would happily read and re-read.

On the same topic: David Mitchell's version of Tom McCarthy's C would probably be closer to the "experimental mind-bender" the novel is being marketed as than the actual book is..

Any book cover versions you'd like to read?

A few random links for your perusal: + The Future is Now - according to William Gibson + Is social media being monitored? Time to rethink all that time you spend trolling the acrylic vs natural wool threads. + How to Slice A Bagel Into Two Linked Halves - mathematically correct breakfast, y'all. + British artist Banksy's take on the Simpson's intro. + Necropolis. A webcomic set in an alternate reality Glasgow. What is it about my hometown and alternate realities? + Most Unnecessarily Over-dramatic quote Found in the NYT. Ever.

Finished Objects &c

If you are in the UK, you can do much worse than watch Rosie Boycott, John Mullan, Germaine Greer and China Mieville thrash it out over the Booker Shortlist on The Review Show. I chortled. Loudly. Several times. But, you are probably not here to hear my own thoughts on literary novels. You are probably here because I have a few finished objects to show off.

First up, Idunn. I knitted it out of some lovingly hoarded Rowan Scottish Tweed in "Apple". I used the February Beret I have used before and used the same moderation I had also used before: instead of an i-cord cast-on, I cast on 98 stitches, knitted k1p1 rib for a few inches and then followed pattern from there. It looks neat, fits my head and is less fiddly. I am a big fan of 'less fiddly'.

When blocked, Idunn grew. I am still pondering whether to rip back and do the decreases more sharply, but right now I'm too lazy. The beret is just a bit slouchier than I would have liked, but it still looks nice.

And it has certainly earned its keep over the last few weeks. The autumn weather has really kicked in and my head/ears appreciate being warm.

Secondly, a small project I just started/finished yesterday. I have a lot of work-related projects on the go at the moment, and I feel a tiny bit burned out. So, it was nice to sneak in an absolutely frivolous project which has to please nobody but me.

I have a thing about knitted and crocheted jewellery. I really like it, but find it difficult to find something unusual. My A Little Ruffle necklace is pretty unusual and I love wearing it.

The original pattern makes it more of a statement in substantial cotton - but I thought it'd be interesting to work it up in some tweed and toy with the contrast between "traditional" tweed and something quite fashiony. I whipped it up in just over an hour and I can see myself making a couple more necklaces in various textures, fibres and colours.

Specifications: 1/3rd of a ball of Rowan Felted Tweed (colour: "Bilberry"). Size 5mm (H) crochet hook. An old necklace I tore apart to get the chains.

I will probably not be wearing it with a black tee again, though - it dulls the necklace just a tiny bit.

Other necklaces I like: The Statement Necklace and the Crochet Braid necklace.

I've also looked at brooch patterns and hairband patterns, but I'm slightly underwhelmed. Any suggestions for slightly unusual jewellery projects (or even unusual scarves)? I feel the need to churn out accessories.

Sufjan Is Just Like You & Me

After his experiences of recent years, I’m almost afraid to ask what’s next. Well, bizarrely, and quite endearingly, [Sufjan] Stevens likes to spend his downtime knitting.“Yes, I still knit,” he says, laughing. “I’m part of a knitting group of mostly women, but there are a couple of guys who crochet. It’s pretty casual, but I like to do hats and scarves. Occasionally I’ll try something harder, like a sweater.”

Sufjan Stevens talks about his new album and, yes, knitting with The Irish Times' Sinéad Gleeson.

Old Skool Sufjan video below.

Geeky Thursday

I could not resist. In case you cannot read what it says on the cover: A New Zealand sheep farm .. espionage .. and death.

It does not get better than that - except it does: one of the main (human) protagonists is called .. wait for it .. Flossie.

I know I said I was going to read David Mitchell's latest next, but that was before I came across this gem. I actually do not think it will as bad as it looks. Ngaio Marsh was an acclaimed female crime writer of the same ilk as Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers. Just don't ask me how to pronounce her first name as I had been reliably informed by a New Zealand friend it was "Nyree" but the internet claims it is "Nie-oh". Huh.

The Nobel Prize in Literature is due to be announced today. Nobody really knows what to expect and I am so far out of the literary buzz loop these days that I won't even offer an opinion. I'm just mildly amused by the number of journalist clinging to whichever name they actually recognise out of the many names bandied about.

In other news, this week I made it to the top of the Glasgow Necropolis for the first time in three years. This is a personal triumph for a number of reasons - but realistically I think I could have done it ages ago. The climb through Mugdock Park was steeper and longer and I managed that without problems. I do not know what held me back from 'scaling' the Necropolis because the ascent is really just a gentle slope. Some things just linger in my head as "insurmountable challenges". Silly, silly Karie.

Finally, if you want to feel stupid, have a go at BBC's Only Connect quiz. It is a Monday night staple here at Casa Bookish and thankfully(?) there is an online version so you can try the 'connecting wall' yourself.

The idea is simple: you get a wall of sixteen clues which you need to sort into four distinct groups. The execution is far less simple because you need to think in all sorts of directions at the same time; clues which may look as though they belong together are simply red herrings. The actual TV quiz is entertaining too and often attracts people quite well-known in their fields. This week saw Geoff Ryman appear (to my Other Half's geeky delight) with Doctor Who writer Paul Cornell (to Stuart's geeky delight).

Enjoy the quiz and do not blame me if you suddenly feel significantly less smart.

Wool Week

Did you know that next week is Wool Week? Well, actually Wool Week kicks off this Saturday with tonnes of events throughout the UK lined up for the rest of the week. Wool Week is part of The Campaign for Wool which seeks to promote the benefits of using wool - here in the UK the focus is primarily on locally produced wool and the campaign is backed by the Prince of Wales and The Wool Marketing Board. As a knitter I am mainly concerned with hand-knitting wool, but the campaign actually focuses on how diverse and sustainable a product wool really is. I also remember the huge buzz surrounding British wool when I was at the Knit Camp marketplace in August and next week I will be part of a Wool Week event - these are exciting times to be a knitter.

Everybody's already seen this one, but I thought it wonderfully apt..

(Meanwhile I appear to be dying of the common cold. Send me good vibes. I hate being ill.)

Books 2010: McCarthy/Dahl

I'm a footnote in an MA dissertation on Glaswegian author Alasdair Gray. I have arrived, dear readers, I have finally arrived! I finished reading Tom McCarthy's C the other week. It is quite a conventional book despite the breathless reviews comparing it to Finnegans Wake and French anti-novels - but despite its surprisingly orthodox qualities, I really enjoyed the read. It was a novel of ideas steeped in Modernist tropes and preoccupations: Egyptian fertility rites mingled with London soothsayers, merchants from Smyrna and Eastern European sanatoria populated by melancholic rich kids.

If I had been its editor, I would probably have edited out maybe thirty pages from the middle but overall I thought it a thoroughly entertaining read. I am not going to tell you that You Must Read This Book because it is definitely one of those books which will be an acquired taste.

Then I read Roald Dahl's James & the Giant Peach in one go because I was sitting in the autumn sun waiting for some friends.

Next: David Mitchell's The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet. I'm yet to read a Mitchell book I haven't liked - although I am also yet to get beyond the first chapter of Number9dream.

Photo from St. Mungo's Cathedral which I visited yesterday post-Dahl reading.