Reading: books and book notes

Books make room for another kind of pause beside the knitting basket. Choose a novel, a family memoir or reported nonfiction, then use the publisher resources and library links to explore it. The five notes below introduce each book's subject and offer questions to keep beside your bookmark.

Books with notes

• The Map of Time by Félix J. Palma: a Victorian historical fantasy with H. G. Wells in its fictional world. The note introduces the premise, opening sample and series order.
• The Secret History of Costaguana by Juan Gabriel Vásquez: a narrator's dispute with Joseph Conrad is the starting point. The note looks at the opening voice and the fictional link to Nostromo.
• The Dressmaker of Khair Khana by Gayle Tzemach Lemmon: reported nonfiction about Kamila Sidiqi's sewing enterprise in Kabul. The note includes an author-hosted excerpt and questions about skilled work.
• Gated Grief by Leila Levinson: a memoir about a father's wartime experience and family silence. The introduction draws on a catalogue description and an author interview.
• Dominance by Will Lavender: a literature class and a murder puzzle. The note covers the premise and opening without revealing the solution.

Each note links its sources and explains what it covers. Use an edition's ISBN when you want to request that particular version from a library.

More books to look up

These title-and-author links lead to library catalogue searches or publisher records. Check the edition and the library's availability before requesting a copy.

• Flavors, Emily Sue Harvey. Library catalogue.
• International Children's Bible: Big Red, published by Thomas Nelson. Library catalogue.
• Small Acts of Amazing Courage, Gloria Whelan. Library catalogue.
• The Black, D. J. MacHale. Library catalogue.
• Jumpstart the World, Catherine Ryan Hyde. Library catalogue.
• The White Devil, Justin Evans. Library catalogue.
• A Heart Most Worthy, Siri Mitchell. Library catalogue.
• The Tender Mercy of Roses, Anna Michaels. Library catalogue.
• Sometimes It Happens, Lauren Barnholdt. Publisher record.
• Dreams of the Dead, Perri O'Shaughnessy. Library catalogue.
• Killed at the Whim of a Hat, Colin Cotterill. Library catalogue.
• Pompeii: City on Fire, T. L. Higley. Library catalogue.
• The Upright Piano Player, David Abbott. Library catalogue.
• María Juana's Gift, T. Lloyd Winetsky. Library catalogue.
• A Grown-up Kind of Pretty, Joshilyn Jackson. Library catalogue.
• Raised Right, Alisa Harris. Library catalogue.
• A Case of Doubtful Death, Linda Stratmann. Library catalogue.
• The Signature of All Things, Elizabeth Gilbert. Publisher record.
• Cinder, Marissa Meyer. Library catalogue.
• The Devlin Diary, Christi Phillips. Library catalogue.
• Catherine the Great, Robert K. Massie. Library catalogue.
• The Very Thought of You, Rosie Alison. Library catalogue.
• The Lantern, Deborah Lawrenson. Library catalogue.
• More Like Her, Liza Palmer. Library catalogue.
• Count on Me: Tales of Sisterhoods and Fierce Friendships, Las Comadres Para Las Americas, edited by Adriana V. López. Publisher record.
• The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Alan Moore and Kevin O'Neill. Library catalogue.

Read-a-thons and reading challenges

A read-a-thon sets aside time for reading. A reading challenge gives that reading a goal, such as exploring an author or choosing books on a theme. Dewey's Read-a-Thon FAQ describes its 24-hour format, with readers sharing updates and taking part in optional activities.

For your own session, choose a book and a manageable reading period. Mark a chapter break as a stopping point, keep water nearby and leave room for pauses. A challenge can be as simple as picking one title from this list and discussing it with a friend; set the goal before you begin so you know what counts as finishing.

Pair a long read with a knitting project by alternating chapters and rows. Keep the book's bookmark separate from the pattern's row note. If you use an audiobook, pause it when a stitch or shaping instruction needs your full attention. Choose a pace that leaves both activities enjoyable.

A reading break beside your knitting

For a project to work on between chapters, our triangle scarf section covers yarn and shaping choices. The beginner needle selections help you compare tools, while the yarn-weight and needle-size chart explains the sizing reference. Browse the knitting guides when you are ready to choose your next piece.