Miranda July’s The First Bad Man is strange, but in a good way. It’s a love story, a parody of typical erotica, a work of legitimate erotica, a coming-of-age narrative, and Fight Club reimagined for women (which is not to say that the original Fight Club is not also for women). I am halfway through with it, and while I admire it very much, I don’t ache to keep reading when it’s time to put it down. I’ll finish it this week and review it soon.

I’ve finished the green and white sweaters I’ve been working on; all that remains is to piece them. I’ve also started a scarf (in the photo) in a yarn I’ve never tried before. It’s metallic-looking but very soft, and I think I’m going to enjoy working with it.

I didn’t set it up this way intentionally, but I am pleased with the optical illusion in my photo. The book and the knitting are on a wooden handrail 2-3 feet off the ground, but because the rail itself is not visible it looks as if the book and the yarn are huge, totally dwarfing the planter in the background. Don’t worry, friends: it’s just a camera trick. Postcards from Purgatory is not engaged in any genetic engineering projects at this time, and we certainly are not creating a master race of enormous books bent on taking over the world with the help of their oversized yarn companions.

At least not yet.

Yarn Along is hosted by Ginny on her blog, Small Things.