biting the heads off of kittens since 2010

In almost every movie about the theater that has ever been made, there's a scene where the cast stays up on opening night to get the morning papers so that they can check the overnight review. If the review's a good one, the show lives. If it isn't, well, they just keep drinking while they pack*

In publishing, that iconic scene is also played out, only with Publisher's Weekly and significantly less ballyhoo. If you get a good review there, everyone breathes a little bit easier. If not, well, there's a reason you always have a bottle of gin nearby.**

The PW review for Sweater Quest is in:

A writer, professor, and mother with a penchant for “obsessively knitting,” Martini has spent plenty of time putting needles to yarn. In fact, she explains, knitting was central to her emergence from the postpartum depression she chronicled in 2006's Hillbilly Gothic: A Memoir of Madness and Motherhood. Several years and a second child later, she's looking for a new level of knitting challenge, not to mention fodder for this second memoir. Her trademark humor and honesty make for an engaging read (for example, she writes, “Both kids and craft have taught me how to deal with frustration so acute that I'd want to bite the head off a kitten”). Despite that, her grand knitting/writing project for 2008 was an Alice Starmore Fair Isle sweater, for its complexity of pattern, colors, and knitting technique. Martini casts on and explores the history of knitting, details visits and calls to fellow knitters near and far, and describes Starmore's determination to protect her brand and copyright. It's a lively, interesting blend of personal quest, knitting history and Starmore biography certain to appeal to knitters—and to readers who enjoy taking on (or reading about) a worthy personal challenge. (Mar.)

Hereafter, I would prefer to be referred to as "she who bites heads off of kittens." Update your address books.

And, lo, we are all breathing a little bit easier.

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* It doesn't really work like this anymore. Not sure that it ever did. Still, makes for a nice dramatic moment.

** For bad reviews and wicked gnarly papercuts.

Comments

[Trish]

she who bites heads off of kittens is kind of long. Mind if we just shorten that to kitten decapitator?

On the upside, I think it works well with Featureless Saint.

[The Featureless Saint]

SWBHOOK?

[anj]

CONGRATS! That is wonderful news.

[Anna]

I was worried when I read this, "not to mention fodder for this second memoir" which sounded like they were going to go in a more negative direction. But it's quite good, isn't it? Yay, you! Don't forget I'll put 20 folding chairs in my living room for you to come talk about it.

I gave away my copy of Starmore's book. I wonder if a person could make a memoir out of that...

[Sil]

Good on you!

[candlepick]

congrats

[Ann]

Right ON! Congratulations!!!!!!!!

[Adrienne]

Thanks, y'all.

[Lee]

If Anna has folding chairs, I'll arrange to be sitting in one!

[Adrienne]

Perhaps the next book should be called "Twenty Folding Chairs and a Dream."

Anna and I are chit-chatting...

[Sarah]

Congrats. I'm looking forward to the read. Hope to see you in Boston in April.

[Jodi]

Just finished the book. What a wonderful read. I didn't want to finish the book,because then the journey would be over. I want to learn to knit now. I will have to go and visit my gram and learn. Thanks for such a great book. The sweater and you look wonderful.

[Jean Kelliher]

Am in the middle of Sweater Quest and throughly enchanted. I don't want to put it down. I shall have to live to the next millenium to use my SABLE. But coming to your blog and seeing the finished sweater, it's a real piece of art. Well done!