Knitting without tears

Elizabeth Zimmerman has written the ultimate knitter's companion. Originally published by Zimmerman in 1971, Knitting Without Tears continues to sell decades later. I had heard much about this book, but never read it. I am so glad I did.

It's true this book is for knitting geeks, but it is also for beginning knitters who are frustrated by traditional texts with step by step directions. Zimmerman presents a simple approach to knitting using percentages. She shows how to knit a sweater with as few seams as possible, some without seams. The book contains some basic sweater patterns that are timeless and easily made.

The charm of the book is Elizabeth Zimmerman's wit and humor. I honestly laughed out loud in some parts. For example, after cutting (yes, intentionally cutting) your sweater, she suggests lying down in a dark room to recover. Once I do this, I am sure I will have to do just that. She inspired me to let loose and experiment with knitting.

There is a new edition available now, but it has not been updated in any way. The book has a new cover but the interior is almost like a photocopy of the original. It would have been nice if the book had been updated with new pictures. The text, thankfully, the publishers left alone.

Book Rating: 5 stars, but for knitters

The Biggest Loser Family Cookbook

I love cookbooks and checkout anything new as soon as it comes into the library. Biggest Loser Family Cookbook is inspired by the television show, The Biggest Loser. I have only seen snippets of the show on tv, so I don't really understand all the hype.

The cookbook contains recipes, motivational quotes, and nutrition information. As a family cookbook, I think it fails pretty miserably. No one eats the way they suggest. Not only that, but many of the recipes are for one serving. One. On average, last I checked, families usually have more than one. Another pet peeve is that not all of the recipes have pictures. There really is no excuse to not have a picture with every recipe these days. (This is one reason I will never buy a Good Eats recipe book which has no pictures of the recipes, even though I like the show).

Some of the recipes are lame, like tuna fish celery sticks. Really? Though a few recipes sounded interesting, particularly the breakfast recipes. I may adapt the recipes for my own use. But overall, the book is not worth $21.95. Skim the chapters on nutrition info and then adapt the ideas to your own cooking (and to be honest most of this information is available for free elsewhere).

Book Rating: Don't bother

The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide

Douglas Adams wrote several humorous science fiction stories starting with The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Yes, there was a movie that came out a few years ago. My original motivation in reading the first story is to compare the novel and the movie. The movie has some connection to the original story, but it really is a different story. Then I had to read the rest of the stories to see if the screenwriters adapted various scenes from the rest of the novels for the movie. They borrowed some elements, but not very much. So if you have seen the movie, you will not be bored by the books.

Arthur Dent is a regular guy that lives a rather ordinary and boring life. That is until he discovers that his house is about to be destroyed for an interstate exchange. And then, because of his friend Ford Prefect, learns that the earth is about to be destroyed by the Vogons for an interstellar exchange. Arthur's adventures start from there and never really stop, though there are some dull bits where he just about goes crazy. Arthur meets Trillian, Zaphod Beeblebrox, and Marvin, the depressed robot.

The story of each of the characters varies in focus with each novel, with some characters fading in and out. Douglas Adams does each justice, sort of concluding their individual stories towards the end of the series. For example, we get to know Trillian in the first book, The Hitchhiker's Guide, but she fades to the background until the last novel, Mostly Harmless.

The humor of the books is akin to Monty Python, Dr. Who, or Red Dwarf. Just when you think you finally understand what is going on, the story takes a completely unexpected turn. It's very difficult to predict what will happen next and you will get little explanation. You are forced to except the silliness or unbelievability to continue with the story.

It would be a mistake to assume you could read the novels individually or out of order. You really can't. Adams masterfully interweaves the stories so that by the last novel, things mostly tie in together. Things that you read about in one novel show up later, making me think Adams had a master plan, though he claims the opposite. Even though it took a great deal of time, I am glad I persevered through to the last novel.

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
The Restaurant at the end of the Universe
Life, The Universe and Everything
So Long, and Thanks for all the Fish
Young Zaphod plays it safe
Mostly Harmless

Book Ratings: 4 stars

Oh, and yes the answer to the Ultimate question of life, the universe and everything is 42.