I've got the knitting mystery on my "hmmmmm, maybe from the library." list. I bought the other novel, Knitting, outright and hated it, so I'm a little gunshy about paying money here. There's a series of tea mysteries that I thought might be interesting but they proved to be pretty much good for nothing but throwing against the wall and making scuffs on the paint.

I do like a good mystery and I love it when they incorporate themes that I'm interested in, but please to emphasize *GOOD* mystery. :-)

Hey Alison, there's "cliff notes" on MSNBC for Harry Potter. I've never read any of the previous books, however, I did buy the entire collection for my daughter who lost interest in them once she owned the books. But with all of the talk of the new book, I decided to pick it up and give it a try... well not yet, I'm still playing catch up by watching the two movies. :)

I find those "theme" mystery series kind of nice. Perfect brain candy.

my secret pal gave me that book, and i did enjoy it. however, the ending was abrupt, and stilted. where's agatha christie's panache in parsing out the details? ah well, not everyone can be that great lady. i am looking forward to the series, though.

I just started the HP book and am quite lost. I only have it for two weeks (library) so I don't have much time to re-read book five (which I don't have either). I'm about a third into the book and hoping things start to click for me soon. Heh.

thanks for the book reviews! I'm just reading HP4 for the first time and absolutely loving it! I feel left out of the #6 excitement, but I'll get there.

I bought "Knit 1, Kill 2", but haven't read it yet. Sounds very similar to the Monica Ferris books.

I hadn't bought the last book you talked about and now I think I'll save my money. From your description, I thought maybe you were talking about "Shop on Blossom Street", which I felt EXACTLY the same way about. It was very predictable and poorly written. At least in my opinion.

I was so disappointed w/both books (I didn't even finish reading Knitting). Unlike the Monica
Ferris novels, which are pretty good for needlepointers, I was so disappointed! It's bad enough that we have to wait almost 2 months for a new knitting mag to come out (Simple Knitting and Knitting for the UK are now distributed monthly in the U.S. however).

I'm surprized by the negative reviews. I read the Bartlett book (Knitting) and found it quite entertaining, just the kind of light reading I needed on vacation.

I got Knit One Kill Two from the library a few weeks ago, and read it on vacation. It was okay, but I agree with you that it was nothing fabulous. Unfortunately, I inadvertently dropped it in the bathtub (I wasn't taking a bath, just soaking my feet! lol) and I paid to replace it, so now it's mine for keeps. So, if anyone wants a readable but somewhat wrinkly copy.....

I don't know why I didn't read the HP books before!! I am on book 4. I will buy 5 &6 when I finish 4. And it is perfect reading while doing stocking stitch for the weasley sweaters!!!

I'm reading Knit One Kill Two right now, and DH walked in last night and said "you're reading a book about knitting and you're knitting at the same time." So?
It is nice light reading.
I tried reading the Bartlett book and couldn't get past page six. Yuck.

Knitting (the Bartlett novel) was ok but kind of depressing and pointless (OK maybe it wasn't really ok). Luckily it was a library read so no risk was involved.

I am having similar issues with HP6. I bought it to send to my oldest son (working at camp), and overcame a horrible maternal/ethical struggle to actually send it off without reading it. Now I realize I really HAVE to read HP5 first anyway - I never got through it since it came out just after Evan was born and I was stumbling around in an illiterate fog for about 6 months.

But spoilers are everywhere. Don't read last week's Time magazine, for example. I already know who dies and who snogs whom, etc. Blech.

And since I started spinning, finding the time to read period is getting pretty tricky.

I'm reading #5 HP now, too. Like you said, that is one big book to be carrying around to the playground, so I'm not too far into it either. I won't tell you anything except that there is knitting in it. All good things have knitting in them! Love your blog!

Great book reviews! I did see that book on Amazon and was thinking about it... nevermind, I need to really get caught up on HP! I only ever read one..

I'm with you. After the sheer thrill of acquiring HP6, I realized that I never finished HP5. Hrumpf! Kids get in the way of reading and knitting time. So, yes, I'm back at the beginning of HP5 now too, and praying that no one spills the 'who died at the end of HP6' in the meantime. Happy reading to you.

okay....I didn't read all of your post because I purchased 'knit one, kill two'...I don't have high expectations, but I love knitting and I love mysteries...I'm glad I read yours and others books about 'knitting, a novel'...I almost bought it, but now I won't. I do like the Debbie Macomber books about knitting though. None of them are great literature, per say, but relaxing and escape which is often most needed lately...take care.

Alison, I read Knitting (Barrett) when it first came out, and I just wanted to bang the two main characters' heads together. A mistreated and took advantage of B so dreadfully, and B said nothing. . . no creative writing teacher would have let this loose as is. . .

And the mystery was dumb -- but that store sounded nice.

as for HP 6, I swallowed it whole (almost) the day it came out. If Rowling really means to tie all the loose ends together in book 7, it's going to have to be 1200 pages long. I've written myself a little note with my predictions, and filed it on my computer so I can look it up after I read #7.

Thanks for the tip on the awful book. I've heard that from another source, now I won't even bother requesting it from the library. All though I've heard good things about K1, Kill Two, but I like cozy mysteries, so I think I will like this one fine.

I am on the third HP book, I just got it on audiobook and hope to knit my way through it very quickly.

Knitting. I paid money for that. The characters were very one-dimensional, the plot was not well developed or described. I have this problem, I have a hard time putting a book down when I don't like it. I keep thinking there will be a redeeming quality. How dissappointing that this one had none.

Currently I am listening to the third book in the #1 Ladies Detective Agency series (extremely light reading, or in this case, listening) and I am reading The Way the Crow Flies. My daughter loved this book. 160 pages in and I feel they are still setting it up. But I won't quit......

Smart reader to re-read the HP books - I had to do it, too and I'm so glad I did or I'd have been totally lost in book 6 :-) LOVE the bookmark scarf, by the way!