I’m probably going to be busy with family a lot more in the coming weeks thanks to the holidays, so my blogging and reading will lessen. But I do have a few books I hope to get to between now and the end of January: some are very long and intimidating, others not so intimidating. I’m looking forward to each of them and since I got my Christmas present early (a beautiful new Canon EOS with video functionality) I thought I’d try my hand at another vlog. (It’s been a long time since I’ve done a vlog.)
Bonus points are you can see my new haircut (I’m very pleased with it) and my Christmas cross stitch project. I had my new camera on the wrong setting the first time, so I had to do it a few times, and that’s why I may sound tired of repeating myself. There’s also an awkward splice because I had a coughing fit and I don’t think you wanted to watch that. I apologize in advance for the weird things — still getting a hang of this technology. I still think some setting is off. I’ll read the user manual before I do another vlog.
See the vlog after the jump.
Love the new haircut! Lots of reading to get done, best of luck with all of it. You are right – African literature is a lifelong love, I’m glad you will be reading more!
Amy, I am glad for the company in reading African Literature. So many wonderful books out there.
What a great haircut Rebecca! 🙂 I loved Tropical Fish AND The Book of Chameleons: I hope you do too. And I hope you share some of your African lit lists. 🙂 I’m also a huge fan of War and Peace and Anthony Trollope, as I’ve said before. hehe The Ancient Greek tour is making me want to read some Sophocles…for awhile, I’d sworn off all commitments, but I really participating in the Circuit so I’ll probably make another go for it.
And your cross-stitch project is Santa, right?
Eva, have you read the Palliser books? I’m finding them rather dull, but I have copies of them on my shelf so I decided to read those before the Barchester chronicles. Ah well, I’m going to keep giving Trollope a chance. And I’m glad we’re tempting you with the Ancient Greek tour! sign up won’t be for a few more weeks, so you can keep thinking about it.
and yes! You get Bonus Rebecca points because it is Santa. I’m glad my amateur attempt is starting to look like something.
I’ve only read one Palliser book, The Eustace Diamonds. I read it out of order as my first Trollope before I realised there was an order! I didn’t find that one dull…I remember a particularly thrilling fox hunt. lol But other than that, I’ve been immersed in the Barsetshire books: they remind me a bit of Jane Austen or Gaskell’s Cranford, in that they’re very focused on the little details of the lives of characters living in the country. For me, they’re pure comfort, so I wouldn’t call them dull so much as cosy.
Eva, that’s the next one after Phineas Finn! I’m just going to take them slow and hope I like them a little more — and then I’ll get to Barsetshire books. (I have a full set of the Palliser so that’s why I’m reading those first.) There was a fox hunt in the first Palliser (Can You Forgive Her?) and I found it totally boring. So maybe these books are just not for me. sigh.
I keep getting error message when I’m trying to watch your video, probably something going on with youtube. I will have to return later to watch it. So this will just be a quick comment to tell you that from the first image this shows, I like your haircut!
Iris, oh no! YouTube is working for me this morning, I hope the error messages go away! Let me know if it’s still a problem. I am not sure about why it wouldn’t work…
It is working now 🙂 I really enjoyed seeing you, it makes a blog so much more personal, somehow! And that cross-stitch of Santa looks really nice. I always wish I had learned something like cross stitching or knitting, but I’m afraid I’ll never be able to do those things..
I had to laugh a little at your African literature now-lifetime project. I’m sure Amy recognises that 🙂 I still have to try some African literature so I’m curious to see if that will be my reaction as well.
I do admire you for reading such long books (both War and Peace and the Trollope book) over a relatively short amount of time!
Iris, I think the long books will work out okay since I’m just not planning on reading much of anything else! I read a lot of really long books over the summer, I can’t believe I did that! This should be okay…
I finally had a chance to sit down and watch! Great vlog. 🙂 I always get excited when I see books I loved, like the Ogawa book and Crossed Wires. 😀 Good luck with War and Peace! That books scares me so much…
Amanda, yes, I am looking forward to CROSSED WIRES thanks to your praise of Rosy Thornton. It will be a welcome break from War and Peace, I’m sure.
Oh! I meant to say that cross stitch looked like the top of Santa’s head wearing a Santa cap, but I watched the video embedded instead of blown up to full screen, so I couldn’t see it too well…
Amanda, my new camera records in HD, but somehow when I added captions, etc., it made it really bad quality. So probably looking at full screen is not any better because it’s all blurry. But yes, it is Santa. I’m proud it’s starting to look like something!
The video kept skipping for me, but I think there might be something wrong with YouTube as my professor was having troubles with it this morning. For what I could see, the cross stitch looks like Santa with his Santa hat. I’m rubbish at doing cross stitch/needlepoint without a pattern so good for you! And I love the new haircut!
Christina, oh I have a pattern! I could never do it without a pattern. And yes, I think even my video was skipping a bit. I’m not sure what happened. Like I said, I will have to read the owner’s manual before I try this again…
Great vlog, Rebecca! I didn’t think you sounded bored or exasperated at all, so I guess all your time as a mother is paying off… 🙂
I always find your reading choices so inspiring! I always feel like you pick so many challenging books that I wouldn’t dare to pick up, and it’s all the more impressive given all that you juggle. I’ll pick up War & Peace one of these days…
Steph, my reading group purposely choose War and Peace because we’re all intimidated by it! So we’re all doing it together.
That’s a hefty amount of reading! I’ve not come across the classics circuit before, I’ll have to read up on it. Rosy Thornton’s latest book is good so if it’s anything to go by Crossed Wires should be too. Love the cross-stitch, will we get to see the completed piece?
Charlie, sure I’ll have to post a picture when I’m all done! I’m making good progress on it!
That ornament is totally the top of Santa’s head!
From what you shared, I’ve only read The Housekeeper and the Professor, which I loved. I keep deciding to read War and Peace and then getting stuck over which translation to read, and then I never get around to actually reading it. Looking forward to seeing what you think of it, whenever you finally make it to the end!
Have a wonderful holiday! This is the first vlog of yours I’ve seen, so it was nice to “meet” you 🙂
Erin, I’m reading the Pevear and Volkhonsky translation. I’ve heard it’s the best!
I like the vlog — you’re motivating me to do one, I guess I’m just nervous. Trollope sounds like a good read for January — looking forward to your thoughts on it.
The haircut looks good!
I love vlogs. Perhaps one day I will be brave enough to do one. 🙂 I love the hair! It looks great. I remember when my own hair was that color….sadly it is back to its usual brown these days.
I haven’t started War and Peace yet, but its sitting on my nightstand (not that its a book I can read before bed). I’m still slightly intimidated by it, but I think I just need to dive in.
I hope you enjoy Poetics. I love the ancient Greeks and I can’t wait for the tour, but I am having a hard time deciding what to read for it. I still have some time, but I am leaning towards Euripedes.
And your cross stitch looks good! I get burned out as well, and then the crocheting basket comes out. 🙂
Allie, I don’t vlog often and sometimes don’t even have time to watch vlogs! but they are fun when the I have the time. I’m sorry to say I haven’t made much progress on the cross stitch lately. 1 week til Christmas…
I’m reading War and Peace in 2011, and A Christmas Carol this December with Mom.
Some great selections, Rebecca. 🙂