Book Review: Sense and Sensibility

Although I started this book close to the beginning of the year, I only recently finished reading Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility.  Mostly because I got really really distracted by lots of other things.  I love reading Jane Austen, and though I didn't enjoy this story quite as much as Pride and Prejudice, I did have a lot of fun reading this novel.

Sense and Sensibility was Austen's first full novel.  It tells the story of the Dashwood girls (Elinor and Marianne) as they search for love and companionship.  This book provides an interesting look at how two sisters deal very differently with similar situations of lost love and betrayal.  At times I found I very much identified with the more logical and cool headed Elinor, as I am definitely one to think through situations and I try not to let my emotions run wild, especially in a crowded room.  At other time, though, I found I could much more identify with the wildly passionate Marianne, who could barely control or hide her true feelings and emotions.  In the end both girls come to better understand one another, as they discover the secrets each other has been hiding throughout the course of the novel.

I have to say that while I did very much enjoy reading this book, I didn't enjoy it as much as I have enjoyed the other works of Austen that I have read so far.  While there were moments that I could fully identify with the two main heroines, I found that most of the characters in this story were, on the whole, rather annoying.  Now, I usually appreciate Austen's ability to write a wide range of characters - but here I felt that anyone who wasn't Elinor or Colonel Brandon was either too dramatic, too silly, or too annoying to feel like an actual person.  Everyone almost felt like a caricature of some undesirable trait rather than a character made of varied emotions and feelings.  In her later works I feel that Austen has a better balance of the ridiculous and the tragic, and it works much better to create a believable world.

I also have to say that I am not entirely sure how I felt about the ending.  While I have no qualms about the male-female pairings at the end of this story, I am not entirely sure I really bought the long drawn-out explanation that Willoughby forces Elinor to hear.  It seemed unnecessary and also somewhat unbelievable.  I suppose that, in the end, it had little bearing on the outcome of the story, but that serves to make the exchange all the more unnecessary.  The ending of this story feels a bit muddled - as though Austen had intended to completely villainize Willoughby, but changed her mind as the story progressed.  While I suppose the not-quite-happy endings her characters receive in this story are a bit more realistic than many of the fairy-tale-ish endings in her other novels, the resolutions for these characters felt a bit forced and unexpected, whereas the endings in her other stories feel a bit more earned.

I am not one who often promotes the cinematic version over the book, but I feel that the movie version of Sense and Sensibility featuring Emma Thompson and Kate Winslet is perhaps one of the best adaptations of an Austen novel to the screen.  Yes, the movie does somewhat deviate from the published story, but I feel that the film actually tightens up some of the weaker segments, makes some of the story's less credible connections more believable, and the excellent work by all of the actors make the characters feel more complex and nuanced than many of them seem in the book.  I absolutely love the movie version of this novel, though I did not love the novel itself quite as much as I expected I would.

In the end, I still really liked this book.  I find the works of Jane Austen to be superb, and I really do enjoy reading her stories.  While I can nitpick and find flaws in Sense and Sensibility, I still enjoyed it immensely.  It might not be my favorite Austen novel, but I am glad I found the time to read such a wonderful piece of classic literature.  Hopefully I can find the time to read more of her works in the future (I think my next selection will be Northanger Abbey).  In the meantime I highly recommend this book, and any of her other works, to anyone who enjoys reading classics or well written literature.

Book Review: The Last Hot Time

It is a well known fact that Robert Jordan is one of my favorite fantasy authors of all time.  So, when he listed some of his favorite authors I sat up and took notice.  At books signings he often credited John M. Ford as being his favorite contemporary author, and I have been on the search for Ford's writings ever since.  My mother frequents used bookstores more than I do, and has had quite a bit of luck in finding some of his out of print books for me.  Unfortunately I keep getting distracted by other things, but on the trip home from nationals I was finally able to read my first John M. Ford book, The Last Hot Time.

This book is a contemporary fantasy set in the outskirts of Chicago.  Danny, a young country boy, finds himself a witness to a road accident on his way to the big city.  His training as a paramedic allows him to gain favor with Mr. Patrise, one of the town's most prominent patrons.  Ford introduces us to a large and varied cast of characters, including Cloudhunter, one of the Elves who has returned (along with the presence of magic) to this world.

Danny finds himself given a new identity (Doc Hallownight, or more commonly just Doc), and new responsibilities.  He (along with the reader) learns about the very different world that he now inhabits.  He enjoys the glamourous parties and outings sponsored by his new patron, but he also must deal with some less-than-glamorous experiences in the gang-controlled sections of town.  Danny eventually settles into his role as Doc as finds his way and his place in this new and magical world.

This is really a coming of age story, but it is handled with great subtlety and depth.  The writing assumes an audience smart enough to pick up on the subtle hints and clues left by the characters.  So much of the richness in this story comes from being able to read between the lines, and picking up on what the characters don't say, as much as what they do.  I think this is rather fantastic because, very often, this is how people actually seem to communicate.  Despite being thrown into a world of elves, odd crimes, and strange magic, there is not much exposition to slow down the story.  In fact this story seems to start at a quick pace, and only speeds up as the story moves along.  I think one of the great things is that as much as you learn about this world, you still want to know more.  And even as details get filled in, it leaves you with yet more unanswered questions.  There is a depth and richness to the world and the characters, and despite the elves and other magical properties, they all seem to have oddities and personality quirks that make them very realistic.

My only real complaint about this story is that there doesn't seem to be enough of it.  I want to spend more time with these characters, and I want to know more about this world.  I mean, as a whole this book is fairly satisfying - we see Danny grow as a person both personally and professionally as he accepts his new role in life as Doc Hallownight - but there is a depth to this world that I feel I really didn't get to explore.

In the end I would recommend this book to fans of the fantasy genre, but especially those who really enjoy nuanced, detailed, and subtle writing.  Also, who can say boo to elves in leather jackets sporting machine guns?  I mean, really, it makes Legolas look like a total pansy.  I definitely think I would enjoy this book even more with a re-read, and I look forward to enjoying more of Ford's works in the future.  This was a fun and fantastic read, and I highly recommend it to others.

Newsflash: October Burda Full Preview Announced

The Russian website has put up the full preview of the October issue.  Looks like Mara Jade made the cover, at least for the Russian edition.  Like I said, Star Wars chic is always in fashion.  Anyway, this is the last of this year's fall issues (November is usually a transitional issue, but tends to be more geared towards winter sewing), which so far haven't been too inspiring.  I was hoping October could save it, but sadly, no.  I do think that this is a better issue than September, though that wouldn't take much.  There are more decent patterns in this issue, but there are also an awful lot of head scratchers.  Let's take a look...

First, I will admit there is some good stuff in this issue:

Love this dress!  I really like the color blocking on the sleeves.

Looks like there are some nice details in the line drawing.

I also find myself liking this dress.
Though I might just be in awe of the lovely fabric.

The line drawing is not as impressive as the dress...

...and as a top I feel like it looks sloppy.
Hmmm... this might be a pattern that requires a print to look good.

I really love this coat!
Though I am not such a fan of the fabric combo that Burda used.

The line drawing is fantastic though.
Wouldn't this be a perfect raincoat?

I liked this jacket from the preview...

But I like it even more now that I have seen the line drawing!
Sadly, it is for petites, which means extra work for me.

Another coat pattern.
I think I would like it better shorter.

The top is the same as the short jacket.
This is also for petites.  

I LOVE this skirt!  The drape looks so elegant.

The proportions look great on the model.

These are the crazy patch jeans Burda made...

... but maybe these look a bit less crazy in a nice solid?

I am a fan of the line drawing - these are going on my list.

Another good pants pattern.

I like that both of these pants patterns have nice basic pockets
and variations on the leg style.

There are a few more patterns that I am somewhat ambivalent about:

I could see this cape being a good rain poncho.

Though, honestly, I really just want to use it to make Star Wars costumes.

This jacket might not be my personal taste,
but I can see it being a good style for outdoor activities.

This skirt is sort of boring, but fine.

I sort of like this swirly hippie-ish print blocked skirt.
Maybe with a different fabric combo?
And shorter?

And if you pull your patterns from the plus section you are in luck!  The Burda Plus patterns are fantastic this month:

This soft jacket is so pretty!

Simple, elegant, classy.

This peplum style top is another good style.

Burda did it in two color variations -
it looks so chic in black and white.

Another basic with interesting details.

The garment photo of this top isn't so inspiring...

But it looks so comfy on the model!
And her pants (also a pattern) look great too.

Of course, we couldn't have only good patterns in this issue.  And this month Burda through in some real contenders for the worst pattern of the year:

Downton Abbey reject dress.
Sad, because the lace is actually kind of pretty.

Sack dress in Pepto Bismal pink.

Burda informs me this is a dress.
It looks more like a nightshirt one would use
to sneak into the kitchen for a midnight snack.

Speaking of Star Wars chic...
I might like Chewbacca, but I don't want to dress like him!

Because we all want to look like we are wearing a fungus.

Ok, the shirt isn't bad...
But the fabric choice is a bit frightening.

Sequins or no, cheerleader skirts should stay in high school.

Check out the fringe on this poncho!

And that's what I got.  There are other patterns in this issue, but most of them are not exciting enough to mention.  Which means it is time to pick the top and bottom patterns for the month.  It was a difficult choice, but in the end I decided that Best of BS for October goes to:

Pleated skirt dress!

I was debating between this and some of the coat patterns (and that draped skirt), but in the end I felt that this dress was the biggest "wow" of the issue.  It looks pretty simple in the photo, and I will admit that it is well styled which may have swayed me a bit, but really it was the line drawing that pushed it over the top for me.  It looks like there are plenty of seams to adjust the fit, and I love the way the color blocking was used on the shoulders.

As far as the worst pattern of the month goes, that was a similarly difficult choice because there was so much bad.  But, in the end I had to give it to:

Fringed Poncho of DOOM.

Ok, while you might argue with me that this is not, strictly speaking, the most hideous pattern in the magazine (though the color blocking and fringe combo is rather frightening), you cannot argue that this is the least functional pattern of the month.  I mean, look at it - there isn't any way to move your arms!  It is like a straight jacket version of a poncho.  Only in garish colors with thick leather fringe.  But just imagine if you tripped and fell down - how impossible would it be to get up?  How could you drive a car in this?  How could you eat?  The utter lack of functionality combined with the hideousness of the design make it the worst pattern this month - by far.

So, what do you all think?  What are your favorite and least favorite patterns for the month?  Is there anything here that gets you really excited for this issue?  Or are we all going to keep our fingers crossed for a good November?  And doesn't it feel weird to already be looking at the Burda for October - like the year is moving too fast?  Feel free to discuss in the comments!

Book Review: Neuromancer

I am finally getting around to posting reviews I read in more recent months!  I actually read this book while I was at the Roller Skating National Championships, so I finished it at the beginning of August.  It was a book my sister had been bugging me to read for months, so I decided it to bring it on the trip just to stop the nagging.  In the end I felt like reading William Gibson's Neuromancer was time well spent, but I have to admit that the process of getting there was a bit of a brain-bender.

Neuromancer is a novel set in a futuristic Matrix-like world where humans can jack into the vast systems of computer networks to access hidden information.  This book follows the story of Case, once one of the best criminals in the system, who's career was ended when a former employer destroyed his nervous system.  He is found by Molly, a warrior with enhanced capabilities, who puts him in contact with her employer, and restores his lost abilities with a very experimental surgical procedure.  The remainder of the story follows their adventures as they work to uncover the secrets hidden by the target of their operation: the Tessier-Ashpool business group.

I have to say that, while I enjoyed segments of this book, and while I appreciated the detailed and other-worldly descriptive passages, there were (a lot of) times when I was pondering exactly what was happening.  Sometimes I questioned if I was reading something that was absolute brilliance or total gibberish.  At times I even questioned if I was smart enough to understand what was really happening in this book.  But I continued on to the ending, and I must admit that in the end I was able to find some enjoyment in the book.  There are still sections that I don't know if I fully understand, and some portions that would make my brain hurt to re-read, but I did think that the end result was worth it.

I don't know if this story is for everyone - the techno-babble and and convoluted plot could be a turn-off for a lot of readers - but I do think fans of the science fiction genre will enjoy this book.  The descriptive passages allow the reader to imagine some rather unique and stunning visuals, but a lot of this writing is wedged between long segments describing the almost indecipherable descriptions of the world's technology.  I did like this gritty, non-utopian view of the future, and I can appreciate that this writing style forces the reader to be fully immersed in this world.  On the other hand, I don't know if the characters or plot are as complex or well-rounded as I would like them to be.  I can't deny that this novel has an important place in the genre, but I don't think I would consider this one of my favorite science fiction novels, though it was definitely a very interesting read.  I am glad I spent the time to read it myself, but unless you are a real science fiction buff I don't know that I would recommend it to others.

Fabric Store Adventures: Yes, They Have Scissors

I was recently at a Joann Fabric store, picking up a few of the latest Burda patterns on sale.

I need more long sleeves shirts to wear during practice when it
starts to get cold in the mornings, and this one is perfect.
And when it comes to Burda I am weak.
Also: got it for $2.49.  How could anyone pass that up?
Also, also: Thanks for not posting the sales signs Joann's Employees!
Makes it so much easier for me to get all the patterns I want.
Especially when you only stock one at a time *grumblemuttergrumble*

As I was at the checkout counter, a lady comes up behind me carrying a few bolts of fabric.  It was a pretty quiet day, so I figured she was going to ask for help at the cut counter when I was done, as there weren't a lot of employees floating about.  Instead, what I hear is this:

LADY: Hi, ummm, do you have anything smaller than this?

EMPLOYEE: Smaller... You mean like a smaller print?  Or width?

LADY: No, I mean smaller, like less fabric.

EMPLOYEE: Less than what?  We cut it to whatever size you need...

LADY: WAIT!  You can cut it?!?!?!

I left the store at that point sort of giggling and shaking my head.  Yeah, I know we all have to do things for the first time sometimes, but somehow I figured that people just sort of knew that fabric was cut to order?  I mean, maybe you don't know that it is sold by the yard (or meter depending on local), or that you can buy fractions of yards, but really?  You didn't know they could cut it?  I think it was the way she said it too - almost as though the idea of taking scissors to a fabric had never crossed her mind.  Anyway, I try not to be snobby towards the sewing newbies (yes, we were all there once, and yes, it is a steep learning curve), but this exchange was just too amusing not to share.

Pattern Review: BS-05-2013-101

Yet another quick and easy piece of my cram-it-in-end-of-summer-sewing series.  I don't usually go for the boxy tunics or dresses from Burda, but there are just some days in summer when it is just so hot and miserable that the thought of wearing tightly fitted clothing is too much to bear.  I made this last week, and ended up wearing it the next day because it was just so miserable outside.

BS-05-2013-101

The fabric was a remnant piece I bought from the Michael Levine Loft in LA - honestly I would be surprised if the fabric even cost me a dollar - it was a really small, very lightweight piece.  There wasn't going to be enough to do anything more complicated than a basic tank top, and I thought this would be the perfect pattern.  I was barely able to squeeze it in - my fabric had a lot of holes, flaws, and weird end of bolt stitches running through it.  Honestly, I was tempted to not get it, because it was pretty ratty, but it is so soft, and I love the colors.  So I am sort of more proud of this than I should be - it wasn't a great effort - but I essentially took a rag and made it into something wearable.  I even dressed it up a bit with sequins on the straps!

My new striped tank top!

Back of the top.  The wavy stripe is actually a flaw in the fabric.
But for $0.50 I don't really mind.

The sequin straps are my favorite part!

Here is my official pattern review:

Pattern Description: Tank top with gathered neckline and front slit.

Pattern Sizing:  Burda sizes 36-44.  I made size 38 around the front shoulders, size 36 on the back neck, and size 40 everywhere else.  These are my usual Burda sizes.

Were the instructions easy to follow?  This is a really basic tank top, so yes.  I didn't really read them too in-depth, but even Burda couldn't muddle these up too bad.

Did it look like the photo/drawing when you were done with it?  Yes, for the most part it did.  I made a few changes (see below) but it had the same overall shape and gathered neck effect.

What did you particularly like/dislike about this pattern?  I like it because it is super easy!  Seriously, made it in just over an hour, and most of that was fiddling with the neck binding and lining the trim I used to make the straps.  I also like the neck gathers and that the pattern has you use a trim as the straps.  Dislikes: The way Burda has you do the front/back neck bindings is fiddly.  Next time I will add more allowance, then attach the strips with the serger and flip under to sew like I did on the armholes.  Also, I think the cut might be just a bit too boxy on me.  Granted, I made this because I wanted something with a slightly different shape than tops I already had, but I think I might take it in on the sides a bit if I made it again in the future.

Fabric Used:  Striped jersey that I picked up in the Michael Levine Loft.  This was a rather ratty scrap piece, but I loved the stripes, so I got it anyway.  I am lucky I had enough fabric to quasi-match the stripes on the front and back.  I actually had to cut the back a bit lower to avoid the holes and flaws in the fabric piece I had.  But, well, it probably only cost me about $0.50 (if that much), so I guess I can't complain too much.  I also used some black sequin trim (1.5" wide) for the straps.

Pattern alterations or design changes you made:  I left off the slit in the front - I figured the top would be low enough as is, I didn't need a hole down to my bellybutton (ok, it really wouldn't have been that long, but the top has a super open neck as is, so I figured I was already going to be showing enough skin).  I had to make the back neck lower than the pattern because of flaws in my fabric.  I also cut a few extra strips of fabric to line the trim I used for the straps because I thought it could use the extra support and because the bottom was a bit scratchy when it was unlined.  I also added about an inch of extra length to the bottom of the hem, but I usually need to have extra torso length on my tops.

Would you sew this again?  Would you recommend it to others?  I could see myself sewing another one of these in the future - maybe next summer.  It was quick to make and I expect it will be pretty useful while the temperatures are warm.  I would recommend this if you want a really basic, easy tank top that doesn't require too much fitting.  I will caution that is is very boxy and the neckline is quite open, but I think that is a selling point for extra hot summer days.

Conclusion:  I really like my top!  It was quick and easy to make, great to wear on hot days.  I think the sequin straps are a fun detail - I might use that again on another top in the near future.  I usually like to wear more fitted clothes, but this is the perfect thing for days when it is hot and humid.  I expect it will get a lot of use in my wardrobe.

One top down!  I have a few more easy knit tops coming up, so expect a few more reviews over the next few days.  After that things might slow down a bit - I am finally feeling up to a more challenging project, so I will be working on some dresses and jackets as we start to head into fall.  Though I am itching to make a nice fall skirt, so maybe I will knock out a few more quick and easy things before I get into muslin territory.  Decisions, decisions.  Hmmmm.....