Sign in with Facebook
Loading...
21st out of 104 books
—
153 voters
Casting Off
by
Nicole R. Dickson (Goodreads Author)
Casting Off:
1. Ending a knitted work.
2. Releasing lines holding a boat to its mooring.
3. Letting go...
On a tiny island off the west coast of Ireland, the fishermen's handmade sweaters tell a story. Each is unique-feelings stitched into rows, memories into patterns.
It is here that Rebecca Moray comes to research a book on Irish knitting. With her daughter, Rowan, accom...more
1. Ending a knitted work.
2. Releasing lines holding a boat to its mooring.
3. Letting go...
On a tiny island off the west coast of Ireland, the fishermen's handmade sweaters tell a story. Each is unique-feelings stitched into rows, memories into patterns.
It is here that Rebecca Moray comes to research a book on Irish knitting. With her daughter, Rowan, accom...more
Paperback, 400 pages
Published
July 28th 2009
by NAL Trade
(first published 2009)
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
1,771)
I started reading this book as a piece of fiction and ended up feeling as though it was a life lesson for everyone. Casting off is a book detailing not only a lovely little love story, it's a fabulous resource for anyone who wants to knit a gansey in the age-old patterns. Each chapter starts with a description of a pattern, including the meaning behind it. Rebecca Moray has a deep secret that she's been running from for years. She's come to Ireland to document the patterns of the islanders for h...more
I knit, so I thought I'd try some books with knitting as a theme or part of the story. I'm not sure why I thought that would make for a good book.
I liked the setting of this book, and even though the island is a creation of the author, an amalgam of real places, it seemed real.
Which is more than I can say for most of the characters. Rebecca, the main character, had some dimension to her, but everyone else in the story seemed to exist for the sole purpose of helping Rebecca overcome trauma from h...more
I liked the setting of this book, and even though the island is a creation of the author, an amalgam of real places, it seemed real.
Which is more than I can say for most of the characters. Rebecca, the main character, had some dimension to her, but everyone else in the story seemed to exist for the sole purpose of helping Rebecca overcome trauma from h...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
I enjoyed this book! It was a little confusing at first because the main character Rebecca comes to the island off of Ireland and meets a whole bunch of people at once, but as the story moves along and the characters interact with her, it becomes clearer who is who and how they are related. I especially enjoyed the way each chapter began with a definiton of a knitting stitch and explained what it looked like and how it was made. This was related to the sweaters that the families made. Then there...more
Jun 11, 2009
Bridget
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Knitters and spinners, those who are interested in Ireland
Shelves:
2009-reads
I read an Advance Reader's Copy of this book, and though I was somewhat skeptical prior to reading it, I decided that it was well done by the time I was finished.
The main character is Rebecca Moray, who is traveling to an island (based on the Aran Islands, according to the author's notes) off the west coast of Ireland, to do research on a book she is writing about ganseys. As a textile archaelogist, she has been interested in the history of the sweaters and those who knit them ever since her co...more
The main character is Rebecca Moray, who is traveling to an island (based on the Aran Islands, according to the author's notes) off the west coast of Ireland, to do research on a book she is writing about ganseys. As a textile archaelogist, she has been interested in the history of the sweaters and those who knit them ever since her co...more
This is about as close to literary fiction as I usually tread. I picked this one up on summer vacation in Michigan and didn't end up reading it until the next year. The title's clever tie in of the two main themes the life of an aging fishermen and a widow researching traditional knitting patterns on an isolated Irish island is what got me to purchase the book. (The book store is Forever Books on 312 State St. in St. Joseph, MI, by the way - a lovely book store, that would not be out of place as...more
I finished this book on Saturday morning and was delighted to leave it behind. Despite the charming setting, it was a shallow, sappy romance with a sort of a knitting theme. The "folklore" surrounding the history of Aran knitting was mostly false or speculative and I found that very annoying.
The chapter headings included a quote from a fictitious book written in the future by one of the characters in the novel and took the form of definitions of specific Aran stitch patterns, but also included...more
The chapter headings included a quote from a fictitious book written in the future by one of the characters in the novel and took the form of definitions of specific Aran stitch patterns, but also included...more
I liked it, with some nits to pick. Nit #1: Dickson has gone out of her way to make her protagonist an "outsider" in the story, making her rather irritatingly (i.e., unbelievably) prickly about things that don't make a whole lot of sense. It's like she's stressing how much the main character is a stranger in a strange land because she doesn't think we'll get it if she's more subtle. Nit #2: Her writing style annoys me from time to time, for she is fond of using the word "for" as a conjunction. I...more
If I hadn't found this in the book proof section of Strand, I doubt I'd have given it a chance -- it's not the sort of book I read, despite my fibre addiction. It deserves that chance and Dickson does a nice job in balancing the expected with a developed plot that moves it along. I found this to be a quick fun read (about two hours or so on another rainy Friday night). I found the research into the technical process of knitting and spinning fairly accurate. I am not knowledgeable enough to fact-...more
At long last Becky receives a grant and is able to fulfill her dream of traveling to Ireland to do research for a book that she would like to write. Her college friend, Sharon is from an island off the coast of Ireland and helps to prepare things for her friend's visit. The people of the island already know much about Becky because they have heard many many "Becky" stories from Sharon. Becky becomes involved with the people in town and realizes that she is becoming a part of the community. Along...more
I found this book very slow at the start...or maybe I was turned off of the book at the beginning, since the domestic violence that the major characters suffered in their past was not described on the back of the book. I wanted to learn about Aran sweaters/stitches and their meanings. I seriously thought before reading the book that they were ugly and did not know they had special significance. (Not necessarily ugly, but I just didn't understand why cables and bobbles and what not were all over...more
I must admit I didn't get the whole part about knitting. Perhaps visuals of the ganseys would have helped.
The book tells the story of two individuals, Rebecca and Sean, who experienced domestic violence in their pasts. One as the victim and one as the perpetrator.
After 40 years, Sean supposedly feels guilt or remorse at how he treated his family, but I'm not sure most perpetrators of domestic violence feel that way. I believe most go to their graves continuing to blame others for their actions...more
The book tells the story of two individuals, Rebecca and Sean, who experienced domestic violence in their pasts. One as the victim and one as the perpetrator.
After 40 years, Sean supposedly feels guilt or remorse at how he treated his family, but I'm not sure most perpetrators of domestic violence feel that way. I believe most go to their graves continuing to blame others for their actions...more
I did not finish this book. There was too much going back in time with many of the people with the same names. The story line was too contrived. People showing up at the right time to take someone someplace. Too many sub plots. Main character acted like a Victorian character, "What would people think? Maybe they don't like me because of my past"
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
I loved the concept of this book: a woman travels to Ireland to learn the history of the knitted sweaters, and the significance of the patterns of stitches in each.
What I didn't like (among other things) was the main character herself, Rebecca Moray. From the very start of the book she is whiny and self-centered. Her spirit has been broken by "That Thanksgiving night six years ago..."
What happened that fateful night?
By page 295 I was sick of trying to piece it together. I do like a bit of myster...more
What I didn't like (among other things) was the main character herself, Rebecca Moray. From the very start of the book she is whiny and self-centered. Her spirit has been broken by "That Thanksgiving night six years ago..."
What happened that fateful night?
By page 295 I was sick of trying to piece it together. I do like a bit of myster...more
There have been a lot of novels written lately with a knitting theme, testimony to the popularity of knitting in current society - a good thing in my opinion. The reviews on them have been mixed, some are good, others are basically little more than Harlequin-type romances with a few knitting scenes thrown in. I was a little skeptical about Nicole R. Dickson's Casting Off but it proved to be quite charming.
It is essentially a romance, too, and there are no surprises to be had but there are some...more
It is essentially a romance, too, and there are no surprises to be had but there are some...more
Casting Off-
1. Ending a knitted work.
2. Releasing lines holding a boat to its mooring.
3. Letting go...
A storybook isle off of Ireland. In Casting Off I got to experience a slice of life in a small tight-knitted Irish community.
From the moment Rebecca and her daughter, Rowan, step onto the island, life will never be the same. The reader is introduced to a whole community all at once. It was a little overwhelming, but then shouldn't it be when you go somewhere that is so different than anything...more
1. Ending a knitted work.
2. Releasing lines holding a boat to its mooring.
3. Letting go...
A storybook isle off of Ireland. In Casting Off I got to experience a slice of life in a small tight-knitted Irish community.
From the moment Rebecca and her daughter, Rowan, step onto the island, life will never be the same. The reader is introduced to a whole community all at once. It was a little overwhelming, but then shouldn't it be when you go somewhere that is so different than anything...more
This book is thebest I have read about the relationship between partners, families and friends. True, it is a novel but filled with insights and worth to teach and educate about domestic violence and how to find redemption.
That is not the reason I bought the book. The book also is a study of women in a socoety who create and nurture traditions, family values and knitting patterns. The knitted ganseys tell a story of their own both figuratively and literally in this book.
This is a fabulous book o...more
That is not the reason I bought the book. The book also is a study of women in a socoety who create and nurture traditions, family values and knitting patterns. The knitted ganseys tell a story of their own both figuratively and literally in this book.
This is a fabulous book o...more
So Good! I just finished reading this, and I'm still thinking about this beautiful story. It's a story of love and forgiveness based on two characters Sean & Rebecca. Sean is older and has lived 40 years with a haunting past that has left him trapped in guilt, and Rebecca is a young mother of a 6 year old girl who also has a past that she can't let go of. The two end up helping one another let go and live life as it should be lived. I admit that the first half of this book was a little slow,...more
I enjoyed reading this book. It was a good bedside read, one chapter before bed every night. I was initially a little caught up in the Irish inaccuracies - could be that I am misinformed, but some of the phonetic pronunciations of Irish words seemed to not match what I have learned. I also question the use of WWII veterans and the loss of life during that war, since I've always been told that the Irish were not as involved int hat war since they had just been at war with Britain for their indepe...more
Rebecca Moray is a textile archaeologist and single mother of a six year old daughter. After years of research, she receives a grant to spend the summer on a small island off the coast of Ireland writing a book about the legends of the handcrafted knitted sweaters. The island is the home of her best friend from college.
She also realizes she needs to face her demons and stop running from her past. The story is told from two people's view, Rebecca's and Sean Morahan, an elderly man on the island w...more
She also realizes she needs to face her demons and stop running from her past. The story is told from two people's view, Rebecca's and Sean Morahan, an elderly man on the island w...more
The beginning is promising, with a ferry arriving at an unnamed Aran island. (I later discovered that the author has combined aspects of several Aran islands.) Having spent days on Inishmore several years ago I was thrilled to be reliving this time. But, the story doesn't keep up the bargain. There are far too many characters thrown into the mix at the beginning. This settles down to a manageable number as the book progresses. The story also becomes a ho-hum romance, with contrived tie-ins to kn...more
This book began with some promise and a wonderful, gentle-voiced narrator who does a wonderful lilting brogue. But I kept waiting for something to happen. There was just too much "furniture moving." Instead of heading out the door to go to town, she had to wash the dishes, dry the dishes, put away the dishes, comb her hair, put on her coat, open the door., go out the door, turn around and close...
Well, you get the idea. There's a mildly engaging mystery about what happened to her daughter's fath...more
Well, you get the idea. There's a mildly engaging mystery about what happened to her daughter's fath...more
I would have given it a higher rating if the dialogue between Rebecca and her daughter Rowen would have been more believable. She spoke to her as you would a 2 yr old and it was annoying as well.... hell. Liked the plot about damaged goods and all but again Rebecca irritated me and needed to kick herself in the butt. MAybe I don't understand the psychology of abused women. Her victimization and all. I am not diminishing her pain, I just don't understand it and her inability to let go and just b...more
This is one of the best "almost good" books I've read. I loved the Irish setting and the knitting and spinning allusions even though I'm not a knitter. The writing - sometimes good, sometimes ouch! I wonder whether her editor read her first draft and told her that the character of Rebecca/Becky needed more work - more evidence of her torment, etc. and the author added evidence throughout - resulting in some very awkward writing that sticks out like a sore tham and makes Becky a less than sympath...more
Man, I read this book in two days! I was so hooked! I SO want to go to Ireland now! I even bookmarked this website dedicated to Irish baby names just so I could look up names to know how they were pronounced.
I am a knitter; damn proud to be one too. I found the topic of ganseys so fascinating. I had heard about fisherman ohanas creating their own designs so if one were to drown identification could be done. It is so amazing how families have their own designs and it was so cool to learn about th...more
I am a knitter; damn proud to be one too. I found the topic of ganseys so fascinating. I had heard about fisherman ohanas creating their own designs so if one were to drown identification could be done. It is so amazing how families have their own designs and it was so cool to learn about th...more
I found this little gem of a book on my library's sale cart and for .50 cents how could I go wrong? The cover alone made me stop and take notice. After reading the back and finding out that the setting was Ireland, I was sold! There wasn't one part of this book that I didn't like. The characters are all there and so are their personalities. I swear every book that I read where the people go to the pub, knit, and are fisherman have me chomping at the bit to get my passport and board this next fli...more
this is a beautifully written story set on a small Irish island. I enjoyed the knitting aspect of the book and learning about the history of Irish sweaters. This is the story of a single mother of a 6 year old daughter, Rowan. She comes to Ireland to study the history of Irish sweaters and visit the childhood home of her college roommate and best friend. Rebecca comes in the hopes of working and in the process starts to find a home and a place to feel safe as she is still trying to put a bad rel...more
This was a delightful read. And I'm not sure why. The characters, the setting and the writing I found to be really well done. I was left a little perplexed at the climax, and some of the critical points in the plot left me a bit underwhelmed. At times I thought the dramatic moments a bit indulgent.
However, the knitting theme and the whole idea of culture, family and friends came together quite nicely. I was several times caught with a knot in my throat and a flutter in my heart. A good read if...more
However, the knitting theme and the whole idea of culture, family and friends came together quite nicely. I was several times caught with a knot in my throat and a flutter in my heart. A good read if...more
My knitting friends gave me this book. I enjoyed it very much. And it was set in Ireland and talked about the sweaters (ganseys) the fisherman wore to keep them warm while out on the seas. Was interested to learn that certain patterns mean certain things and that it was common for men to knit them. The story was a good one and I would recommend it. The woman is an anthropologist and is trying to write a book while spending a summer there, but gets caught up in the lives of the villagers. Very en...more
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
Nicole Dickson currently resides in North Carolina with her daughter, a dog, a cat, and a forest. When not attending to her other responsibilities, she can be found buried in history or in a heated discussion with the lighten bugs in her back yard regarding the manners of trees. She loves listening to the narratives of the lives of others. She appreciates silence, solitude, the morning chorus, fam...more
More about Nicole R. Dickson...
Share This Book
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
02 fév. 15:59