Home is Where the Wine Is: Making the Most of What You've Got One Stitch (and Cocktail) at a Time by Laurie PerryCopyright 2009
HCI Books - Memoir/Humorous
200 pages, incl. knitting patterns
Ah. Here's the one thing the Sock People forget to mention when they convert you to their religion. You'll love knitting up a sock; you'll love how portable and fast and addictive they can be. You'll be amazed at your own skills and dexterity for picking up stitches where none have ever existed. What they don't tell you is that the second sock is a lonely, desolate outpost of obligation. That second sock is just the stepchild of the first sock's exuberance. Oh, the second sock! It takes forever and a day to finish it. By the time I cast off the last stitch and weaved in all my little yarn ends, I had lost the first sock. It turned up weeks later at the bottom of my laptop bag.
In Home is Where the Wine Is, Perry's personal narrative continues a few years after her first memoir left off. I was dashing between Oklahoma and Mississippi when I read her first book, but you can read my thoughts at this link ---> Drunk, Divorced and Covered in Cat Hair (Hint: Page down a bit to get to my comments on the book and then be sure to peek at the photos of Miss Spooky, who was a well-traveled cat for a short period of her life).
Home is Where the Wine Is tells about the author's new resolutions as she considers the fact that she's only a few years away from 40. To improve her fitness level, she tries out a couple of fitness clubs. She works on her love life by jumping into dating online. She takes two Extremely Nice Vacations (Rome and Hawaii) by herself. Perry even decides to try gardening, although her decision to grow square watermelons is a little unusual. Whether attempting to get around Rome on her own whilst fearing pint-sized pickpockets or sitting on the floor with a friend cutting out magazine pictures and gluing, she tells about her life with zany wit and humor.
Oh, how I love Laurie Perry (aka "Crazy Aunt Purl"). Her blog is a hoot, her second book is equally fun and inspiring and, most important of all, she loves cats. Home is Where the Wine Is includes a section with knit and crochet projects.
5/5 - Light, entertaining and upbeat reading fun with the queen of knitting humor.
Thanks to TLC Tours and HCI Books for the review copy.
I agree with that sock quote. That second sock is a burden, especially when it comes out a different size!
ReplyDeleteChristina,
ReplyDeleteDifferent size? Yikes! I don't knit, but I still thought her knitting stories were great. I think Laurie Perry could make breathing in and out interesting.
The book sounds so good and I love the titles the author comes up with!
ReplyDeleteKathy,
ReplyDeleteShe's a title queen. :) The book is great. I'm sure you'd enjoy it.
I'm the final stop on the tour, and I think I have about 10 pages left. I'm not sure I love this one as much as Drunk, Divorced and Covered in Cat Hair, but she is still a hoot and a lot of fun. The square watermelons made me giggle--as did her awful gardener.
ReplyDeleteAndi,
ReplyDeleteI wonder if it's just that I couldn't relate to her angst as well in the first book. I thought it was more sad than funny. I think Home is Where the Wine Is was a lot more upbeat and it did make me laugh out loud a few times. The square watermelons and the gardener were hilarious.
Laurie is a riot! I don't have all that much in common with her (on the surface anyway) but it doesn't make her books any less enjoyable.
ReplyDelete--Anna
Diary of an Eccentric
Definitely more upbeat! I just polished it off during my office hours after lunch, and I laughed out loud at her tanning/bikini waxing episodes. Too funny.
ReplyDeleteAnna,
ReplyDeleteI think the only thing Laurie Perry and I have in common is cats! But, as you said, it doesn't make much difference. Even though I had a little trouble relating to the heartbreak of divorce in her first book, I still enjoyed it. I liked this second book better because it was more upbeat but both are terrific.
Andi,
ReplyDeleteI think I had successfully mentally blocked that bit. It was hilarious but . . . yikes. I would never do that.
OMG. When I read this post, I immediately did some research. I know a Laurie Perry who is a lover of all things feline! Sadly, it's just a coincidence and my Laurie is not this author. But will def read this one. Love anything by fellow cat fanatics! Plus, it sounds hilarious
ReplyDeleteRosemary,
ReplyDeleteThat would have been great if she'd been "your" Laurie! Oh, well. You should definitely read this book. It's a hoot. I love the author.