cult classics

So, every year I read one Heinlein that I haven't read before.

I've been doing this since I was 16, when I found out that he was dead and that there were a limited number of his books that I could read.

When For Us the Living came out, I read that one as an extra, because it was an extra.

And yes, I've read To Sail Beyond the Sunset, Time Enough for Love, Stranger in a Strange Land, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, I Will Fear No Evil, etc. I'm looking for a suggestion that's outside the canon. So far, the only Heinleins I haven't really liked have been Glory Road and Job.

So - any suggestions of lesser-known Heinleins?

Also, some of you may have noticed that Mercedes Lackey's Diana Tregarde books are being released in new trade editions. Whee!

hurricane charity knitting

I am broke, but desire to contribute something to the relief effort for hurricane survivors anyhow. So I want to knit or crochet something.

It seems that there are two main things that can be done. One is that there are several small charities that are collecting baby stuff for region survivors. The other is the Crafters United charity, which sells handmade items and gives the proceeds to charity.

I think I may do both. I have a bunch of soft washable yarn (read: acrylic) that I can make baby hats with. And, I have yarn for a project that I was interested in making but realized I didn't need to own afterwards. So here I go!

For more information, take a look here.

For folks in the Boston area, there's also a blanket being put together to be sold at auction for The Network/La Red. They're looking for seven-inch squares in solid blue or solid purple. More info on opn's page: http://www.livejournal.com/users/opn/5370.html

books in progress

I had to return The Nursing Mother's Companion before I was done with it. I had just finished the chapter on multiples, which was interesting. The book overall is great. I did take issue with one factoid, where Huggins wrote that you can breastfeed just as well if you've had an elective cesarean. My research has shown that the process of labor, whether it results in delivery or not, releases hormones that tell the body it's time to start giving milk. But still, I put it on hold again, and am looking forward to getting the chance to finish it.

I also have to return The Beauty Myth without being done with it, and wait for it to come back to me again. I'm currently in the midst of the chapter on Religion, which I'm finding fascinating. I'm curious to know about Wolf's take on pagan religion, if she has one. Of course, we're not exactly mainstream.

Anyway, they're both very good and I look forward to getting them back so I can finish them up. I've been wanting to read nonfiction this summer, but I still usually read it slowly.