What I'm reading Wednesday

Sometime around university, my reading for pleasure really trailed off and it's not recovered yet. It's been my yearly goal for the last couple of years to rectify that and so far I've been moderately successful. This year looks to be even better, mainly because every Wednesday I've been answering these three simple questions somewhere where people can see them. I don't consider these to be proper reviews, just my quick thoughts on the books.

And yes, I know it's not Wednesday today, but it's been a rather hectic week and better late than never, right?

What Are You Reading Wednesday?
• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you’ll read next?

What are you currently reading?

I've just started Quiet - The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain.  It seems very readable so far, and I've heard good things about the book. I've also just started The Husband Hunt by Lynsay Sands. The back blurb really intrigued me, but I'm at page 40 now, and I'm still not entirely sure if I like it.

What did you recently finish reading?

Cryoburn by Lois McMaster Bujold. It turned out rather like I thought it would - a very enjoyable read but not quite as loveable as either Captain Vorpatril's Alliance or A Civil Campaign (for me anyway) due to the lack of Lady Alys. (I have rather fallen in love with Lady Alys so that would explain it.) That said I did adore Vorlynkin and would love to read some more about him set after the book. All in all, I did enjoy reading it, and it has cemented the fact I want to read the rest of the books in the series.

Crossed Blades by Kelly McCullough. I utterly loved it. There really are no other words for it. The characters and relationships are explored and developed more thoroughly this book, the worldbuilding is slowly expanding, and I really couldn't put the book down. I adored the plot, and I'm bouncing about and tearing my hair out at the wait for the next book in the series. Whyyyyy can't it be out now????????? July seems like such a long way away at the moment.

The Ugly Duchess by Eloisa James. I adored Theo, and for the first three quarters or so of the book I didn't want to put it down. I even thought it was shaping up nicely enough to put on my to buy list (since it was a library copy). Then the ending happened. It was far too rushed, and I had a real problem with James essentially trapping Theo in the house and sending away most of the house hold. I don't think I would have finished it had I not fallen in love with Theo, and Eloisa James has enough ability that I still wanted to read to the end despite hating it. I am really, really disappointed in how it turned out.

What do you think you’ll read next?

If I'm still on a regency kick, then Unbuttoning Miss Hardwick by Deb Marlowe. Possibly Believing the Lie by Elizabeth George if I finish that.

Edinburgh Yarn Festival

The Saturday before last I spent a fantastic day at the Edinburgh Yarn Festival with my mum. It was a brillant day, with so many lovely stands and vendors, and friendly fellow yarn lovers. In fact, I think the only thing wrong with the whole day was the fact the venue was a little too small for the number of people that turned up! It was the first year running, and the organisers and volunteers seemed rather surprised by the crowd - and it was definitely a crowd - everyone was packed in and at places you couldn't see the stalls themselves for the amount of people crowded round. That certainly didn't stop us from buying anything or enjoying ourselves.

I managed not to spend an absolute fortune (though only just - I could easily have spent a lot more than I did.)

First is this ridiculously cute Owl Ribbon from Avery Homestore:


Then it was to the Yarn Yard stand where I oohed and ahhed for ages before I ended up with:

Both are 4 ply, and a little brighter in reality. The green one is a 75% Wool/ 25% Nylon mix and the pink is Blue Face Leicester wool. Both are delightful to feel but I'm not sure what I'm going to knit with them yet.

I got a ball of JC Rennie 4ply (which is a new to me brand) from Wee County Yarns:

It's a silk mix and I went ooooh as soon as I saw it.

Then there was the Yarn Pony stand (who doesn't sell online at the moment *sob*)

Unfortunately these aren't for me. They are absolutely gorgeous and squishy, and they are going to make a gorgeous Ebbs Shawl for Mum's Christmas. (She picked them out when she was there with me so I can't even pretend they accidentally got lost). There should be enough of the blue left over to knit myself something though.

Last but not least was:

from Natural Born Dyers. It's going to be a Photosynthesis shawl, and it's going to be gorgeous. I can't wait to cast on.

It was only the fact that I was nearly ready to drop that managed to stop me buying anything from Textile Garden which had some absolutely stunning buttons at very reasonable prices.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the yarn festival is going to become a regular event.