tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6454299534973486652.post4911005355484768067..comments2024-03-25T15:10:58.495-04:00Comments on Following The Thread: Literary Sewing Circle: Book Talk!Melwykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04885378201188978664noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6454299534973486652.post-30648571122714791392023-04-15T15:06:52.836-04:002023-04-15T15:06:52.836-04:00You did! I can see it on the linkup page, and on F...You did! I can see it on the linkup page, and on FB when I sign in :) Lovely lavender!Melwykhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04885378201188978664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6454299534973486652.post-36373931228628182922023-04-15T12:51:50.291-04:002023-04-15T12:51:50.291-04:00Thanks, Melanie - I finished my lavender top and p...Thanks, Melanie - I finished my lavender top and posted it on Facebook but I am not confident I did it right - haven't used this kind of linking service before. Please let me know if you can't see it!Dianenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6454299534973486652.post-42731129841138686072023-04-04T15:18:12.006-04:002023-04-04T15:18:12.006-04:00Thanks for a really thoughtful response. I thought...Thanks for a really thoughtful response. I thought that this book was really notable for the writing style - the imagery and atmosphere were really strong. You can tell that Kishkan writes poetry and nature essays, too! <br /><br />Interesting observations about accumulation and stashes! Yes, I can't imagine someone having to deal with mine -- maybe a hint to streamline a bit... but it is definitely more of a fun hobby for us, not a necessity, so it's easy to gather up materials. <br /><br />The photography is such a good angle to think about. I like how you point out the way it gives another perspective to the story/landscape, and that quote resonates with the way visual arts can communicate clearly even if in a slightly different way than literary arts. So much to think about! I'm so glad you enjoyed this book even though it was outside your regular reading habits :)Melwykhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04885378201188978664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6454299534973486652.post-83720829628296161322023-04-04T15:11:17.192-04:002023-04-04T15:11:17.192-04:00Now that you mention it, I can see a bit of Munro ...Now that you mention it, I can see a bit of Munro here. I think I also feel the influence of Kishkan's work as a poet! <br /><br />Glad you are finding this an atmospheric read - I agree that the setting and characters are a stronger element than a fast moving plot in this story. Interesting that you see Nicholas as the most relatable character for you! <br /><br />All the scenery provides such imagery -- maybe a print, or just a nod to it in your colour choices? Good luck deciding!Melwykhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04885378201188978664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6454299534973486652.post-77339460085047808582023-04-04T15:07:57.078-04:002023-04-04T15:07:57.078-04:00'Porous boundaries' is a great way to desc...'Porous boundaries' is a great way to describe the narrative! I'm glad you're finding it a more engaging style for you. Lucky to have your grandmother's stash, too -- I have a few things but mainly notions. Melwykhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04885378201188978664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6454299534973486652.post-48206748268006025972023-04-01T05:26:33.493-04:002023-04-01T05:26:33.493-04:00I feel I have said this each book club event here,...I feel I have said this each book club event here, but … this is definitely not a genre I would normally read. (And this is the beauty and intrigue of book clubs.) The slow pace of the story is not something I usually enjoy, and yet this was interesting the whole time and difficult to put down. Oddly, it is not the 'usual' sort of historical novel, maybe because it felt so real, and maybe because of the way it was written, flowing so easily from past to present. There were moments I had to read a paragraph twice to realise the transition had happened. <br /><br />I have many textiles/wools from both my mother and grandmother, too many to use in my lifetime, and yet I cannot part with them because of the memories. Interestingly, their goods take up a several large tubs. If my textile/wool collection was to be passed down today the recipients would need an entire room and a very large bookcase. We accumulate so much more now. I wonder if it is because in generations past it was so much from necessity, whereas now there are so many more reasons for making and so many opportunities to share ideas, try new patterns and acquire materials.<br /><br />The photography definitely gave another perspective to 'viewing' the landscape and certain events. Much of the story was seen throughout from the eyes of Margaret and Anna. But photography does make one stand back and look from another unique perspective. Photography is very powerful because we can take the time to notice more and reflect. There was a quote in Chapter 5 when Margaret was looking in a shop window at photographs … '.. She didn't know that photographs could do more than provide a picture, but this one seemed to speak a language whose vocabulary she could almost understand.' <br /><br />What did I find compelling? All of it. A beautiful book. Great choice Melanie!<br /><br />.... Sara Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6454299534973486652.post-26011628437563185812023-03-29T19:16:56.469-04:002023-03-29T19:16:56.469-04:00That's so cool that you've used your grand...That's so cool that you've used your grandmother's stash. Garments using materials across the ages really mean so much, don't they?Dianenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6454299534973486652.post-3653082327513254842023-03-29T19:15:55.081-04:002023-03-29T19:15:55.081-04:00I was drawn to this because the setting reminded m...I was drawn to this because the setting reminded me of some of Alice Munro's settings, although different time periods. The narrative moving backward and forward through time also is evocative of her work, although applied differently here.<br /><br />Textiles of course were another draw for me - I became oddly emotional when we were cleaning out my grandmother's house after she died and I found a few packages of piping that she never got around to using. I had to use it of course - made some PJs that I have enjoyed for years.<br /><br />Overall, I find the book very atmospheric, and that's what I like more than the plot. While I like all the female characters I find myself identifying the most with Nicholas as he's from the United States, as I am, and he's learning to love the place and the people just as the reader does.<br /><br />I am definitely doing some project that evokes the feelings of grass or perennial herbs as an inspiration from the book. The grasses and lavender and hay were all such a part of the scenery. The question is, how do I translate that info a garment?<br />Dianenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6454299534973486652.post-65871747689100031322023-03-27T12:22:53.425-04:002023-03-27T12:22:53.425-04:00I am so excited about this round! I love LSC. I a...I am so excited about this round! I love LSC. I am a little ways into the book right now. You had said there is a lot of evocative language in this book and that's for sure! There is so much to draw inspiration from in here! <br /><br />I don't usually like historical fiction, but this one is beautifully written and I am enjoying it quite a bit.<br /><br />I do like the porous boundaries between past and present. Maybe that's something that has turned me off from other novels in the past is the separation of the storylines. 🤔<br /><br />The textiles part of the story reminds me of how I inherited my great Grandma's fabric stash and still use it in my makes. I used some to make my Closet Core Ginger Jeans and everytime I wear them. I think of her and know she would be proud. She was a pretty skilled sewist and though we didn't sew together, she taught my mom and then my Mom taught me. 🥰<br />Alissa Thttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07679941797851304739noreply@blogger.com