Ravelry Knitters discussion

Here we'll discuss Grounded by Heather Ordover. If you're having trouble finding it, (There are LOTS of books called Grounded) try these links:
Looks like some folks can't get the links to work... this may be useful:

Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Grounded-The-Se...

or they can have it delivered to B&N:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/groun...

or to Books a Million
http://www.booksamillion.com/p/Ground...

Here's the ISBN for Grounded by Heather Ordover
ISBN-13: 9780989896900

Has anyone else started this? I have, and despite the fact that it's on my ipad, which i never read on, when I do pick it up, it's a real page turner - I kind of like the short, fast moving chapters. It feels like an easy read, but not rushed.

I like the main character so far, but she is much more tolerant of her parents than I am. To tell her NOTHING? Drove me crazy! I'd never do that to my kids. I might not give every single detail, but to leave your kid with a vague - 'you're different, go away, you're not safe, that's all!' - these are not my favorite parents ever.

I've tried all three links. They all lead to the website but tell me the page is lost.

Laura, at this point, just go into Amazon and search the Author's name. That always works for me.

Laura wrote: "I've tried all three links. They all lead to the website but tell me the page is lost."
Wow! They're really oddly cut off.
Here's Amazon, B&N, and Books-a-Million. Sorry about that!
Then there's the official book website with info about the inspired-by sock patterns and invitation to share your own shawl patterns.

Just wanted to share that Heather will be the guest on the next episode of Fiber Hooligan with Benjamin Levisay, Monday, November 18th, at 11am CDT. This is the link: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/fiberhoo...
You'll be able to listen live to the podcast or to the archived episode after it's finished. See you there!

Zoe. I agree with you on the parents. They are frustrating. I like Rose though. She feels real and accessible to me. I also feel there is more to the sister and their relationship than we are seeing.

Lise, good point about her sister. Jealousy, maybe? I have a sister and we get along great, so when I see siblings with issues like that...well, it's hard to fathom.
Still haven't gotten far in the book since it's on my Kindle, but justin is the new target of my ire, and I still fell as though I don't 'get' a lot of this stuff. I'm a very 'but how does that work' person and the vagueness with which the 'powers' and grounding, blocking, and centering are described is frustrating- more because I worry that. Rose will be just as confused as I am.
Still, love some of the characters, and there's more knitting detail in this book than there are some books that are supposedly about knitting.

I finished it really quickly - loads of work was put on hold in the process - which is a good sign for me.

I will hold off on spoilers; I shared some other readers' frustrations that Rosie can be a bit passive sometimes. It seemed at odds with how passionate she can be, but then I thought back to being a teenager myself and how conflicts with authority played out in my life and I think perhaps the disjunct we feel is because (as far as I can tell) we're all adult readers here.

I'm only about halfway done with this book, but I can say one thing. The adults in this book are generally unlikeable. Even the owner of that knitting shop made me want to throw the book (I didn't because it's an ebook and I don't want my Kindle busted. LOL). Reminds me of those movies where they make all the adults bad so that the kid's can be heroes.

I didn't feel that way at all. I think I liked all the adults. I was unsure of the yarn shop owner, but in the end realized why she reacted the way she did.

The adults are realistic. Doesn't mean I like them. They remind me a lot of my own parents and it is not a surprise that we had a bad relationship for many years. This kid is 17. At what point are you going to stop telling her what to do and TEACH her how to make good decisions? They all deliberately keep information from her. Ok, enough of that. I loved that she always used her knitting for calming. I can so appreciate that.

I liked it, but didn't love it. The beginning was a bit slow. It was frustrating keeping Rose, and me the reader, in the dark. I just wanted everyone to tell Rose what's what and get on with the story. The second half was better and faster moving.

(view spoiler)[The 9/11 part was very good, and all the more interesting given it was written by someone who was there. I liked the way the shawl linked in, and hadn't seen it coming. (hide spoiler)]

I'm looking forward to book two.

Phew, finally finished this. Lesson learned do NOT buy a book you really want to finish on the ipad you don't get a lot of quality time with!

I really enjoyed it, but as Rachel said, it took a bit for me to get over the frustration of the adults keeping Rosie in the dark. I never felt things were well enough explained to her (or me) and everyone seemed to think she would just "get it". And her uncle not telling her anything at the end? That was awful. I've written him off, tasty turkey bacon or no.

I did think the end - that part we all lived through, was beautifully and respectfully written. It's kind of like a sore tooth I don't want to touch, and I cannot imagine what it was like for Heather to write it, after living through it. Kind of floored by the emotional work she must have done to be able to get to that place.

And as a writer and reader of romance, I thought she did a great job on the Rosie/Casey relationship. I'll definitely read number two....when she gets it written!

Zoe wrote: "And her uncle not telling her anything at the end? That was awful. I've written him off, tasty turkey bacon or no."

:-)