Casting Off by Nicole R. Dickson (English) Paperback Book

Description: Casting Off by Nicole R. Dickson Rebecca Moray visits a small island off the coast of Ireland to research a book on Irish knitting. With her daughter, Rowan, accompanying her, she hopes to lose herself in the history of the island and forget her own painful past. FORMAT Paperback LANGUAGE English CONDITION Brand New Publisher Description 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 fishermens 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, accompanying her, she hopes to lose herself in the history of the island and forget her own painful past. Soon, the townsfolks warm embrace wraps Rebecca and Rowan in a world of friendship, laughter, and love.And it is here that young Rowan befriends Sean Morahan, a cantankerous old fisherman, despite his attempts to scare her off. As Rebecca watches her daughter interact with Morahan, she recognizes in his eyes a look that speaks of a dark knowledge not unlike her own. And when current storms threaten to resurrect old ones, Morahan and Rebecca find themselves on a collision course-with Rowan caught between them-each buffeted by waves of regret and recrimination. Only by walking headfirst into the winds will they find the faith to forgive without forgetting...and reach the shore. Author Biography Nicole R. Dicksonlives in North Carolina with her daughter. She is the author ofCasting Off and Here and Again. Excerpt from Book CHAPTER 1 Casting On Casting On . 1. Tying a specific number of stitches onto a needle as the first row of a knitted work. The first stitch is a slipknot and then one of the three following methods may be employed for binding on the balance of the stitches: the English method, the Continental method, or Mrs. Blakes method. The first two require the use of two needles; the third requires one needle and a free hand. 2. A beginning. -R. Dirane, A Binding Love Rebecca stood with her six-year-old daughter at the end of the pier, watching the crowd of tourists who had crossed with them on the ferry from Doolin make their way into town. With backpacks, strollers, and children on the shoulders or in the hand, the tourists laughed excitedly and called out to one another in various languages as they shuffled up the road. One- and two-storied buildings lined the street where the crowd meandered up to the bend. Upon reaching the curve, they disappeared with the road. It was then, after the crowd vanished, that Rebecca glanced up to the churchs spire, which peeped over the rooftops before her. Its shiny cross winked at her brightly, reflecting the last of the days sun. She breathed in the sea-salt air, holding on to this moment-her arrival on the island. Sixteen years ago Rebecca had first met her best friend, Sharon. From the day they started UC-Berkeley together, Sharon had told her tales and histories of her island home and Rebecca had listened and dreamed of Ireland and of this tiny island off the west coast. There were fishing stories and tales of ancient forts, of families pulling sea-weed from the ocean to make soil. Then, from the great slabs of stone of which the island was made, smaller rocks were hewn and stacked one atop another as walls to keep the hard-won dirt from blowing back into the sea when the southern gales howled across the island. In that precious, salty soil grew crops to feed the people and grasses to feed the sheep that provided the wool from which they spun yarn. And it was from that yarn that the famous fisherman sweaters were knitted. Rebecca was an archaeologist. Sharons stories of the island sweaters had inspired her to specialize in textiles. When they finished their undergraduate degrees, Sharon left for home and Rebecca headed south to Los Angeles for five more years of school as she worked on her masters and then her doctorate. After achieving both, she began to teach, but always the island called to her; the beautiful sweaters and all the legends about them beckoned her. She wanted to record in pictures and in words the living history of the fisherfolk and their sweaters. As Rebecca saw it, the result would be more than an academic paper: it would be a book with photos and biographies of the women from the island. Three years of developing her proposal finally paid off. After receiving her small grant, Rebecca took the summer off to do the project, and now she stood on Sharons island. Lavender light sifted gently through the soft mist. Rebecca sighed, glancing once more up the street with hope. She and her daughter had begun this day in California, flying through connections in New York to Shannon, then on a bus to Doolin, and finally across Galway Bay on a ferry to the island. Having been in transit for twenty-two hours, they were unspeakably tired. Here they finally were, with mounds of luggage but no one to greet them. "Where is that car?" Rebecca muttered. "I have to go to the bathroom, Mama," Rowan said, sitting on the big black duffel bag and kicking her feet absently. "Im not sure where a bathroom is, sweetie. Can you hold it?" Rebecca replied, dialing Sharon on her cell phone. Sharon had arranged for Rebecca to spend the summer in a cottage that belonged to the parents of one of her best childhood friends. Near the end of a difficult pregnancy, Sharon had had to stay home in Dublin rather than come to the island herself to greet Rebecca. She had, however, promised to send someone to pick Rebecca and Rowan up. A voice answered on the crackling line. "Hello?" "Sharon? Sharon, can you hear me?" "Becky? Is that you?" "Sharon, weve arrived and theres no car." "No car?" "No, no car." "Huh. Wonder what happened to him. Why dont you go down to the pub-" "Go to the pub? Sharon, Im going to start crying. Ive been in transit for twenty-two hours. Im standing on an empty pier, with a six-year-old child who has to go potty. Ive got a large duffel, five suitcases, two backpacks, a laptop, and a tripod. How am I supposed to go to the pub?" "Now, lets not have one of your moments, Becky." "Im not having a moment. I-" "Mama, I gotta go." "Just a minute, Rowan." "Go to the pub, Becky." "What do I do with all my baggage?" "Mama!" "Leave it there," Sharon said. "What?" Rebecca yelled. "Its an island, Becky." "I know its an island, Sharon. What if someone takes my stuff? Then where will I be?" "No ones gonna take your stuff. Where would they go? Its an island," Sharon repeated. Rebecca froze, gritting her teeth as air hissed through them. "Go to the pub and ask Tom for the keys to the house. Hell probably have the car, too." "Whos Tom?" Rebecca asked in exasperation. "Tom, Tom. You know Tom. Hes the one I told you about who owns the pub." "Right." "Becky?" "What?" "Itll all be fine-" "Okay, okay. I know. Thanks," Rebecca said and hung up. Though it was a dream for Rebecca to come to the island and study the textile art of its people, she still faced the coming months with trepidation. She knew this summer would lead to a book that would bolster her professional r Details ISBN0451226992 Short Title CASTING OFF Language English ISBN-10 0451226992 ISBN-13 9780451226990 Media Book Format Paperback DEWEY FIC Audience Age 18 UK Release Date 2010-09-03 Audience General Author Nicole R. Dickson Pages 400 Publisher Penguin Putnam Inc Year 2009 Publication Date 2009-07-28 Imprint Berkley Publishing Corporation,U.S. Country of Publication United States US Release Date 2009-07-28 NZ Release Date 2009-07-27 AU Release Date 2009-07-27 We've got this At The Nile, if you're looking for it, we've got it. With fast shipping, low prices, friendly service and well over a million items - you're bound to find what you want, at a price you'll love! TheNile_Item_ID:160314263;

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