Brave New Knits by Julie Turjoman

I like to collect patterns about as much as I like to collect pretty yarns, pretty beads, pretty paper, well pretty anything really, so I couldn't believe my luck when Rodale Books offered the digital version of Brave New Knits through NetGalley for reviewers. I'm thinking "teehee, it's sooo good to do reviews! Yum, yum, another good treat." More on that later.

The Brave part of the title is that it has a short bio on several of http://www.ravelry.com's pioneers and then an original pattern from each designer. They were ahead of their time in that they had the foresight to use modern technology of the web with the ancient fiberart. Very smart ladies, I'd say. This part of Brave New Knits was a very enjoyable read. So now, I wanted to go back through and take a gander at the actual patterns that were offered........

But little did I realize that the ebook version that I was sent would be laid out the way it is. It's basically a draft of the book, uncorrected in soooo many ways. NetGalley goofed in sending out a draft, it's not easy to present a book review when the copy given to you is not a review copy (a finished copy of a book) and it doesn't properly serve the purpose of having a book reviewed in order to entice folks to buy it either. In fact I've not been able to actually review any of the patterns. There are no photos of any of the items near the area of it's pattern, so if you want to see what the item looks like, you have to write down what page you're reading, hunt through the back of the book, where the pictures are, then flip back to where the pattern is. Remember, I'm just reading a draft, not trying to follow an actual pattern. When you do get to the pictures they were blurred!  I'm positive that the finished product will have the pics with it's corresponding pattern and that they'll be great in detail but my copy is definitely not finished.

My only disappointment with the actual book is the sizes offered within the patterns.....only some of the patterns have sizing for large folks. I wish that all patterns would be presented for any wearer. Now, I have heartburn...I really don't like doing a non-positive review. This review is of the draft copy that NetGalley sent to me, not the book that will end up in the stores.

Pearl In The Sand by Tessa Afshar

http://www.amazon.com/Pearl-Sand-Tessa-Afshar/dp/0802458815/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1282409650&sr=1-1

OMGoodness! My new favorite book! I loved this fictional historical bio on Rahab. What's left to say? Well, a lot. It has all the elements of a good story in my mind-great depth, heat, and God(not necessarily in that order mind you). Tessa, if you see this little blog of mine, I just can't say enough about how you brought a Bible character to life for me. We all well know the story of how 'Joshua Fi't the Battle at Jericho' and Rahab's part in the story but the rest is up to our imaginations. We usually don't spend enough time on the 'little characters' that are in such a big story but by writing this book, you've expounded on the 'not so little' choices she had to make and her part in the big picture. You made her real. Rahab is my new hero. I needed a hero this week too.
It starts out with the probable situation in which Rahab finds herself--needing to help support the family--and a possible theory on how she became a prostitute. A young Rahab is forced into prostitution by necessity-she didn't know God at this point. She faces so many choices along the way and her strength is what strikes me most. This book makes me view the choices I have today in a different light. Am I taking the 'road less travelled' or the seemingly easier one? Her very real fears are put on paper for me to see that God can handle it all. This is the best inspirational book I've read in a long time!!
'Rahab learned to cling to God in the midst of her sorrows: to believe in the Lord more than she feared pain. For me, that is one of the most crucial components of faith. Like Rahab, I want to be a person who gives God full access to every part of my soul, even if that access sometimes hurts because it involves the demolition of my walls.' This quote from Tessa Afshar's blog says it all for me.

I certainly hope Tessa Afshar has intentions of writing more books and I can't wait!!
This book will be published September 1, 2010 by the ISBN: 9780802458810. by Moody Publishers
See http://www.tessaafshar.com/ for more.