I was outed on Twitter as someone who inhales books (thanks to Jen), and although I wish I could read in my sleep sometimes, I do believe that the best part of reading and enjoying a good book is having to give it your undivided attention. You allow yourself to be immersed in another world, see life through someone else’s eyes, learn new things and give your soul a re-charge.

I love nothing more than reading a great book, and then being able to recommend it to someone. So as requested by Tots 100, my favourite book of last year is Alone in Berlin, by Hans Fallada. I’m not sure how I initially heard about this book, it seemed to suddenly appear from nowhere but last August I devoured it on holiday in one day.

Maybe it was because I read it in a day, or maybe because it was based on a true story, I know I will not forget this book for a long time.

Much World War II  literature is written from the view point of the English during the blitz, the French heading up the Resistence or the Nazi’s wreaking evil. I think there is only Alone in Berlin and The Book Thief that I have read, which has given an insight into the dire situation that the ordinary Germans lived through to survive the War.

The loss of their son fighting for Hitler, sets Otto & Anna on a path that once started upon, they cannot stop. It may seem a very trivial or weak way to fight out against the Fuhrer, by leaving postcards with anti-Nazi propoganda written upon them all around Berlin. It is however, an act or mission which they will pay for with their lives if caught.

The other characters who play out alongside Otto & Anna are all brilliantly drawn. Defined by their bravery, evilness, cunning or fecklesness. None of them are superfluous to the story, even old Judge Fromm makes his final appearance worthy of his strange actions at the beginning.

Other factors which made this book amazing for me alongside the fact that it was closely based on a true story, is that it was written in only twenty four days and was first released in 1947. It reads like a modern day thriller and the detail only serves to heighten the suspense and fear you have for the characters. A hefty volume, but definitely worth the investment of your time.

I’d like to recommend it to Helen from Casa Costello. We both share a love a books and have attended book groups for many years. We mostly have the same opinion of a book, but now and then there is one that splits us in our difference of opinion (e.g.Time Travellers Wife). I’d love to hear what she thinks of my recommendation.

I’d love to hear what you think too. Have you read Alone in Berlin, or have I tempted you to give it a go? Find out about the other books, which are being recommended by other bloggers in the Tots100 Book Club.

It’s been a couple of months since I joined in with Ginny and Yarn Along “~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? …

I’m thoroughly enjoying Rohinton Mistry’s A Fine Balance, this month’s read for Love A Book Reading Group. Anyone I mention it to, who has already read it tells me it is a fond favourite and it is a beautifully written epic.

I’m also nearly finished with the Zebra from Knits to Give by Debbie Bliss, just got to make it’s ears, sort it’s face and mane out, stuff it and sew it up. It will be a Christmas gift for my toddler, I’m sure he will love it. The yarn is gorgeous, really lovely to work with.

Anyone who is a Cath Kidston and crafting fan will know how great the previous books in this series have been - Sew, Make and Stitch!

It’s with great delight that I was able to review the latest addition Patch! It is as well designed and structured as the others. It comes with everything you need to complete the cover project of a patchwork flower, that can either be made into a tote bag or cushion using all the materials included in the cover pocket.

It is due out in November 2011, making an ideal Christmas gift for you to add to your wish list or to make a fellow crafter very happy.

It has a range of 30 projects which cater for beginners and more advanced needle crafters. Each has a skill level of either 1, 2 or 3 to indicate how difficult each project is. The projects are also an ideal way of using up any scraps of fabrics you have left over from other projects.

The project pack includes 7 different designs of fabrics, calico fabric for either tote bag or cushion, length of cotton tape for either bag handles or cushion ties and a fabric Cath Kidston sew on label.

The front of the book has great descriptions and diagrams taking you through all the techniques used in the book. Ideal for a beginner, but just as useful as a reminder for more experienced patchworkers.

Each project has very thorough instructions and how to illustrations.

It inspired me to get the machine out of hibernation.

The book RRP is £16.00, but is currently on pre-order with Amazon at £8.29

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of the book for review, but all opinions are my own

A late entry for Tara’s The Gallery, which this week is Guilty Pleasures.

Well this is my holiday reading pile from August. Yes I read them all. Guilty? – a little bit.

I reviewed most of them over at Love A Book if you are interested.

You can also join in with October’s reading group by getting your hands on one of 10 copies of Black Sea Twilight up for grabs.

In last week’s Finished It Friday I promised these would be my next project to complete from the new Knits to Give book out this week from Debbie Bliss.

They were a really easy project to complete, and would be a good pattern for somebody who is wanting to put a cable technique into practice. The pattern stated that it needed 2 hanks of Rialto Chunky, but I struggled to get one hand warmer out of one ball of wool by quite a few rows and I had knitted on a size 6mm needle when the pattern required a 6.5mm as I have quite small hands. I found the nearly finished hand warmer was quite big, so I went down to a pair of 5mm needles and quite comfortably (with enough length left to use for sewing up) got the hand warmer out of the yarn required. So unless you are an incredibly tight knitter I’d suggest going down a needle size (or size & a half as I did).

I chose a cheery red for Autumn and I’m really pleased with them. I have a feeling I’ll get quite a lot of wear out of them – mostly on the computer, rather than in the garden.

There is still time to leave me a comment on the Giveaway post from last week to win a copy of the book that this pattern is taken. Closes tonight at 8pm though, so hurry.

So what have you finished in the last week or so? A book, some knitting/crochet, a cake, or the crossword?

Edit: Giveaway now closed. Thanks for all the entries and tweets. The Lucky winner was Not Such A Yummy Mummy

Welcome back to Finished It Friday after the summer break. I’ve got a lovely book to tell you about. I’m a bit (a lot) of a fan of Debbie Bliss’ knitting pattern books and yarns. Many of my previous Finished It Friday’s have been from DB’s patterns, so it is with great delight that I had a review copy of her latest book to pore over and try out.

It’s called Knits to Give and is 30 projects designed for different recipients in mind. Ideal if you are planning your Christmas gift list it has lots of smart designs broken into sections such as For her, him, baby, children and the home.

I can judge the appeal of a book by how quickly it makes me want to buy some yarn and cast on.

I immediately wanted to get going on this little tea cosy

The yarn is beautiful and the pattern stated it only need one ball which is very cost effective for a gift.

The yarn was perfect to show off the cabling detail.

I also bought the new Rialto chunky in a very cheery cherry red to make the hand warmers. I’m loving these, look out for next weeks Finished it Friday as these will be featured.

I also have a 2 year old who is going to love this Zebra to within in inch of it’s life come Christmas

If you’re not a knitter yourself, but have a friend or family member who is, the book itself would make a great gift. It is a chunky hardback, with beautiful lifestyle photography depicting every project.

Knits to Give is out on Monday 19th September and is available for pre-order from Amazon for £14.24 – RRP £18.99

So who wants a copy?

Tell me who you would knit a gift for in the comments and tweet: Win a copy of the new Debbie Bliss – ‘Knits to Give’ book courtesy of @quadrillecraft http://bit.ly/olieA9 @carafreckles

Draw takes place next Friday the 23rd September

UK only sorry (due to weight of the book).

N.B. When a new knitting book hits the shelves there are sometimes some pattern errors that can slip through in the edit or transcript for publication. It is always worth while checking a designer’s Errata page for any corrections. There were some minor transcript errors relating to the Tea Pot cosy and these will be corrected in any reprints of the book. They will also appear on Debbie Bliss’ Pattern Revision page.

If you are looking for some inspirational newly released craft books then Quadrille Craft has a Facebook page with lots of news about upcoming books

So what have you finished in the last week or so? Leave me a link below or let me know in the comments.

Joining in with Ginny and Yarn Along “~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? …

I’ve been addicted to the Mollie Makes crochet squares I started last week. They are instantly gratifying in that you can finish one quite quickly, and each one can be unique. They are the greatest project to have on the go during the school holidays, as they are easy to put down and pick up again in between the demands for drinks, food & jigsaw interventions with the children.

I’m nearly finished with Tea Obreht’s  The Tiger’s Wife, I’m loving the three different strands of the book, each being a different time in history of a girl and her grandfather. I’ll give a more indepth review when I’ve finished it. I need to move on quickly to Rose Tremain’s Trespass after that before the reading group I attend review it next Wednesday.  I have had a sneaky start on it and I’m looking forward to getting stuck in.

Joining in with Ginny and Yarn Along “~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? …

Reading The Tiger’s Wife by Tea Obreht, this year’s Orange Prize winner. I’m about 100 pages in so far and I’m intrigued. I’m not sure where the story is leading, it is set in Eastern Europe during World War 2, during the Balkan War and in present day  in the Balkan village of Galina. The story is centred around Natalia in present day and her beloved grandfather in the past. She is trying to unravel the mystery of his death and why he may have been on a quest to find ‘the deathless man’, a tramp who appears to be immortal. Her grandfather’s treasured possession is a tatty copy of The Jungle book and since the escape of a Tiger in WW2 from the local zoo, he is enthralled by the magic of the Tiger. This leads to the story of The Tiger’s Wife. It’s beautifully written and I’m hooked. I’m desperate to find out the story behind ‘the deathless man’ and why Natalia’s grandfather, who is reportedly a man of science and a Doctor, would believe the existence of such an enigma.

On the knitting front I’m still plodding on with the Ben tank top for Hugo. Need to get this finished now before it will be to small for him to wear. If you don’t see it produced as a finished article soon, can you start throwing cushions at me?

Sometimes It Happens… by Pauline Barclay

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the first book I’ve read in electronic format, I’m not anti e-readers, I just never thought I could give up real books. It was a perfect introduction to Kindle format books and is a novel ideally suited to new technology.  Larger than life characters, short chapters and a storyline that hooks you in and goes off at a pace.

On a par with all the recent news coverage about the Euro millions winners, Sometimes it Happens bursts into life with the introduction of Doreen Wilkinson, a lottery winner who has in her own words been a scrubber from the East End, now catapulted onto the millionaire’s set. Doreen is a character who you instantly warm to. The dialogue is in her own cockney twang, and no amount of money is likely to transform her into an Eliza Dolittle that Professor Higgins could pass off as a Duchess.

She sticks out like a sore thumb in the millionaire playground of Villas Bonitas. She is on holiday with her 17 year old daughter, contemplating her new found fortune, when all kinds of past history start to creep up on her. An old flame appears from nowhere, is he now hunting her down for her new found wealth?

There are many other colourful characters surrounding Doreen in the sunshine paradise. Just as interesting as the other residents in the villas are the staff who keep Villas Bonitas running smoothly. Many secrets start to unravel and the intrigue continues up until the final chapter.

Sometimes it Happens is an ideal summer holiday read, pure escapism, and you can almost feel the heat of the sun as you read it.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I can count on one hand the number of books I’ve read more than once. I just don’t do it. I’ve got a TBR pile the height of the house, and so little time to get through them all, so why would I want to re-read something?

Well, I’ve had my eyes wiped with this one. I re-read it as one of the real life reading groups I go to, had it as their choice for June. I loved it the first time I read it, and wanted to participate fully in the discussion, to do it justice.

I didn’t race through it the second time I read it, as I suppose my hunger to find out what happened to all the amazing characters wasn’t there as in the first read. However, I was really surprised at how much I had forgotten and how enjoyable it was to read it all again, and soak up the beautiful story and detail for a second time.

I think it is a very clever book, which when you first hear is narrated by death, could be a bit off putting. It is remarkable to see the Second World War through the eyes of a young girl, who has had her life torn apart with the loss of her family. She finds much comfort immersing herself in books and with the support of her foster family, who have nothing, she has an amazing outlook on life. The tragedy that pans out in the Book Thief, claws at you, yet it is beautiful, heartfelt and makes you question which side of the fence you would be on if you were put in a similar situation.

I also believe that books, reading and writing could save your sanity if left in confinement, as many of the hidden exiled Jews were.

I’ve often pondered what book I would have as my Desert Island choice, I think this could be contender, as in all honesty I think I could even read it a third time!

View all my reviews