Next week, February 29th, The Slaves will be discussing Margaret Laurence's The Stone Angel. There's still time to get the book and join in if you're interested! I wasn't aware until recently that the book has 
been made into a film. It is due to be released in Canada on May 9, though there is no release date yet for it here in the US. The screenplay was written by Kari Skogland, who also directed the film. Kari has very kindly agreed to join in the discussion once things get going. I thought this would add an interesting dimension to the conversation to have someone so intimately involved in the novel take part in the discussion. Hagar Shipley is certainly a formidable character. I'm really enjoying the book and looking forward to hearing everyone else's thoughts on it. Click here to read more about the film.
It's been too cold to walk to the bookstore (this morning it was -6 when I walked to the bus stop, and a 
mere -25 with the wind), and I've been itching to browse new books. I was surprised when I received a couple of boxes from Amazon in the mail last week, however. Today's my birthday (though I won't be celebrating with my family until the weekend), and a friend sent me a few wishes from my Amazon wishlist. No one ever sends me anything from my wishlist, so I was confused at first (did I forget I ordered something?). Needless to say I was very happy, and didn't wait until today to open the boxes. She makes jewelry and mosaics and is a fellow crafter, so she always sends me the
most amazing gifts.
I've been eying a few collage books ever since I checked them out from the library. She sent Jill Hagland's Rubber Stamping Artist Trading Cards, and Bernie Berlin's 
Artist Trading Card's Workshop, both of which are excellent books. They offer step by step and fully illustrated tutorials in various techniques. I've seen both and am happy to now have them for my own. She also sent 1,000 Artist Trading Cards by Patricia Bolton. The book is more examples of ATCs and less about how to make them, but there is some instructional information as well. This book also shows lots of mixed-media designs particularly those using fabric. These have been sitting by my bed, and I'm enjoying just looking at them. They should be great for inspiration when I'm working. They make me want to pull out my papers and pens and paints now and start creating!
One other reading note. I'm again reading on the sly (whenever this happens you should know the culprit is a library book). I've read very good things about Rosalind Belben's Our Horses in Egypt. Things that tempted me enough to request the book via ILL (it's only out in the UK). I've started reading, but I've yet to orient myself in the story. Right from the start she plops you down in the middle of a situation, conversation really, and it's taking a little time to get my bearings. I think I've figured out most of the characters and their relationships to each other, but not quite. Hopefully once I get accustomed to her style I will enjoy the book, must keep persevering though. UK bloggers are getting me into trouble--I keep finding books not yet out here in the US, and it's a dilemma whether to order them or borrow them. Heaven forbid I wait until they're published over here.