Book Review: My Effin' Life by Geddy Lee (memoir)

Geddy Lee is an inviting, engaging and generous author. In My Effin' Life, he writes openly and honestly about his life and his music. I highly recommend this book to fledgling musicians and Rush fans.

My Effin' Life

Geddy Lee

co-authored by Daniel Richler

Harper

an imprint of Harper Collins Publishers

2023

(memoir)

507 pages

As a teenager, I didn't listen to metal music. I was scared of the sound, the musicians, the fans. They seemed consumed by an uncontrollable rage. I ran away, hid away, afraid to be near them, fearful that rage would be directed at me. 

However...

One day, my boyfriend (now husband) told me to "Listen to this."

The music was strange, unnerving...Metal

"I don't like--."

"Just keep listening."

I did and... And... "I like that song." and that one... and that one.

I sang along. I attended concerts. I became a Rush fan.

One day, my husband came into the living room carrying a book. "Leanne, you need to read this."

I can count my husband's book recommendations on the fingers of one hand. 

He gave me the book. It weighed a ton. "I don't read thick books. 200 to 300 that's about my range--ideally closer to 200. Thick books don't maintain my interest. And lately, I've been on a bit of a reading jag. I've started one book after another but haven't finished any. I'm afraid I won't do this book just--." I looked up. Byron was gone. He'd left the room.

I had a decision to make, I could leave the book on the end table, unread or hunt Byron down and give the book back or...

I opened the book and began to read... Correction, I didn't so much read this book as was led through it by foreshadowing such as...

'as I will show you in time" (p. 16) 

My Effin' Life is full of humour. I laughed out loud so many times. One of those times, my husband overheard me. "What's so funny?" I told him and he laughed too.

Geddy listed his early musical influences and many--who am I kidding--most of the names sailed right past me, but then he mentioned Paul Simon and Jonie Mitchell and, and... 

"there are certain words I sing in Rush in a very Bjork-like manner." (p. 100)

Bjork? That warmed this Icelandic-Canadian's heart.

Geddy lists his literary influences: John Wyndham and Ayn Rand

"The more influences one has that are then filtered through one's own personality, the more one ends up with a style and a sound that one can legitimately call one's own." (p. 212)

My Effin' Life is infused with wisdom...

"I used to advise my kids or pals whenever they were at a crossroads to just keep moving forward with positive energy, either you will find the answer or it will find you." (p. 503)

There's a lot in this book. Why not take it off the shelf and see what you find.

Did you know...

Dyslexic author

Dav Pikey

And this...

Friday, March 29 at 4:36 pm

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 April and May on this blog...

Book Review: We Spread by Iain Reid

What is it like to grow old? What struggles do senior citizens face? Why, how do they (we) keep on living? 

We do not all blend together. We are not ruined, helpless, a burden. We are not the elderly. We are not old people. Now, still, we're unique. Distinct. Regardless of what we've produced or what happens to our bodies. We each have our own memories and experiences, even if they've been lost and forgotten.' (p. 281-282)

 

We Spread

Iain Reid

Scribner

an imprint of Simon & Schuster UK

finalist for the Governor General's Literary award

2023

286 pages

(thriller, suspense, science fiction, psychological fiction)

Senior citizen Penny lives alone as age robs her of all she has ever known, all she has loved, all she has thrived to achieve. She tells us about losing her attention span, her cognitive decline, her fading memories, her lost days, and her uncertain present. When she was younger she enjoyed cooking for herself and others. Now she exists on meagre meals.  She worked as a bank teller in the same bank for over twenty-five years. Now she has difficulty focusing long enough to read a novel. She was in a long-term committed relationship with a famous artist until death robbed her of his companionship. She regrets not investing more time pursuing her passion--painting. Now it is too late. Now all she can do is live in fear of the end. 

The end comes, one day, when she climbs a chair to change a light bulb. She falls and that brings an end to her old life. She has no choice but to begin a new in Six Cedars--a long-term-care facility. In Six Cedars, Penny finds community and friendship; she develops a new appreciation for ageing; she learns that it is not too late to share her art with others. 

At times I found We Spread a difficult book to read. I'm 61 years old and some scenes made me apprehensive about my future. But I'm glad I did finish reading this book. The ending is truly heart-warming.

Did you know...

Dyslexic author

John Irving

Next Sunday...

Interviews with Knitwear Designers by Leanne Dyck

What is it like to be a knitwear designer? What are the challenges? What are the rewards? How did they begin their career? Who taught them to knit?

photo by ldyck

From 2010 to 2012, for this blog, I interviewed a community of knitwear designers--for this blog. These interviews offer a unique insight into the career of knitwear design. 

Interviews with Knitwear Designers

My advise to knitters is to enjoy the process. You should allow yourself to experience the pleasure of all that yarn running through your fingers, how you feel about your accomplishments, learning new things, and seeing what transpires as you manipulate your yarn and needles. In the end, if you had to knit the same ball of yarn over and over, it could still be a pleasure (well, for a while). We get too focused on the price of the materials we are using and how long it takes and we forget how much we get out of it. Not only do we create things, we entertain ourselves, sooth ourselves, and it helps us get through things we’d just rather not (kid’s sports, waiting rooms, family visits, you name it!)

JillWolcott

Knitwear Designer, Author

Jill Wolcott Knits

Who taught you to knit?

I was taught to knit by my mother when I was five years old. I remember carrying my knitting around the neighbourhood that summer while I was working on my first project—a baby pink scarf. I don’t honestly remember if I ever finished it but I do remember that several of the rows were a dirty grey because I must have been knitting with grubby hands. I also remember counting my stitches at the end of every row and then running home to have my mum fix my dropped stitches.

Holli Yeoh

Knitwear Designer, Author

Where is your favourite place to knit?

Two places: Sitting on the sofa in our basement, the dog snuggled between me and my hubby, watching something good on TV, with a cup of tea at hand. My second favourite place to knit is the streetcar: I have a long commute to one of my regular teaching gigs, and I enjoy very much getting a window seat, listening to music on my headphones, knitting away and enjoying the view as the city goes by. The first is comfier, but the second location has better light!

Kate Atherley

Knitwear Designer, Author

When did you become a knitwear designer?

I’m not sure, I think I always have been. I’ve worked professionally in this business for two years (this interview was conducted in 2012) but I am just now getting to the point where I feel okay to call myself a “Knitwear Designer”. I honestly think people throw the term ‘designer’ around way too much. Designers are those who work tirelessly for their art. It’s like a home baker calling themselves a Chef. There is a big difference!

How did you become a knitwear designer?

WORK!! Lots of work! I average about 100 hours a week. I wake at seven and work until bedtime. That's the only way to make it in this business. You have to be willing to put in the time.

Rohn Strong

Knitwear Designer, Author

Crafting a Handmade Home

How did you become a knitwear designer?

Like many people, I started altering patterns, then I morphed into designing my own patterns just for myself, then decided to start developing patterns for public consumption.

Stephanie Tallent

Knitwear Designer, Author

SunsetCat Designs

I've always created. I majored in crafts (jewellery, ceramics and textiles) in art college and received my degree in Fine Arts. I was working as a jeweller, both teaching and designing, and was feeling uninspired. We wanted to have a baby and I felt that the toxins I was exposed to at the jewellery studio were just too risky. Knitting was my passion though and it was consuming all of my free time. I decided that it was time to apply my design skills to knitting.

It didn't occur to me that I had no instruction or experience in knitwear design. My art college education gave me a good grounding in design in a general sense and I applied that and my common sense to figuring out how to design knitting patterns. There were few resources at the time although now there are many books on designing your own knits.

Holli Yeoh

Knitwear Designer, Author

Tell me about your first pattern. Where was it first published?

About ten years ago (2010), I was shopping at the Boulder Handweavers’ Guild annual sale and I saw a marvelous felted bag that I wanted to buy. It was $75, and quite outside of my budget at the time. I was with my mom at the sale and we decided we would try to figure out how to make the bag ourselves, so we went to the local yarn shop, bought some wool yarn and a book with some information on felting, and I went home and started to play. I ended up with one of my favorite bags of all time—I still use it today—and it also became my published knitting design.

My first published design was in Family Circle Easy Knitting. I always loved that magazine and was sad to see it go away!

Donna Druchunas

Knitwear Designer, Author

Sheep to Shawl

What is the most rewarding aspect about being a knitwear designer? What’s the most challenging?

Creating something that people love to knit is a fabulous feeling! I think self doubt is the most challenging. Every time a design goes out, it’s a part of me, and I’m hoping that I wasn’t fooling myself into thinking it looks good!

Rosemary Hill

Knitwear Designer, Author

Designs by Romi

What is the most rewarding aspect of being a knitwear designer? 

It's exciting to see knitters' reactions to my designs to see if they understand what I'm trying to communicate with them. Being able to spend my days immersed in the knitting—both the physical knitting and the planning and making it work part—are immensely rewarding.

Challenging?

Marketing and paperwork are definitely challenging for me. I would love to be able to just create and have someone else swoop in and spread the word for me and do my books.

Holli Yeoh

Knitwear Designer, Author

Did you know...

Famous Dyslexic Authors...

Jeff Kinney

Next Sunday...

When Gwen Knits-a journey to fame and fortune by Leanne Dyck (The End)

"spring" photo by ldyck

Chapter Eighteen (The End)

 “I kept designing, knitting and sharing my work.” I took a sip of tea. “Now my sweaters are sold in boutiques in North America and Europe. Now yarn shops around the world sell my hand knitting patterns. Now knitters line up to attend my workshops on the Norwegian purl. And it’s all because I dared to dream and continued to work to fulfill that dream. It’s all because of Auntie Ollie, Marta and Jaron.” Tale complete, I took my knitting out of the basket beside my chair.

“What are you knitting?” Kyla asked.

“I’m just playing.” Shorthand. This time it meant designing sweaters for Pall’s first grand-baby—due in a couple of months. Pall was the last of his brothers to work the family farm back in Manitoba. Soon he would retire and pass the farm down to the next generation.

“Time for lunch, ladies,” Jaron called up the stairs. “Or should I say gals or women or...” Giving himself time to think, he called, “Come eat, knitters.”

This is me 

Photo by Glenda

Thank you for reading 

When Gwen Knits

I enjoyed sharing this story with you.

The End...

of this story but there is always more.

Re-reading? 

When Gwen Knits

Chapter one 

Next Sunday...

When Gwen Knits-a journey to fame and fortune by Leanne Dyck (Chapter 17)

Chapter Sixteen: To celebrate their first Christmas as a couple, Gwen designs and knits a sweater for Jaron. 

photo by ldyck

Chapter Seventeen

One evening, Jaron dropped by Urban Knits to help me close—our friend Wen, the sous-chef at The Starving Artist, was starring in Merrily We Roll Along, a play presented by the United Players of Vancouver and staged in the Jericho Arts Centre. The Centre was a couple of blocks from the yarn shop.

To be more accurate, I was closing and Jaron was trying not to get in the way. He spun the revolving stand displaying knitting magazines. Around and around the stand spun, but then... “Have you sent your pattern for the..." He grinned. "My sweater to a publisher yet?” He knew the answer; he really didn't need to ask. “No, eh? Well, you should. You should send it to Needles and Yarn.” He pulled the magazine off the stand. The cover announced a contest for wanna-be knitwear designers.

“But what if I don't win?”

“But what if you do? Either way, it's just one step. You can't play it safe all the time. Sometimes you have to take a risk. I believe in you. Believe in yourself.”

With his support, I took the step.

Months later, I was sitting on the sofa, working on a new design when I heard our apartment door open.

“This came for you.” Jaron handed me what appeared to be an ordinary white business-size envelope. The top line of the return address read Needles and Yarn.

“It's from them,” I told him.

“Wait. Wait.” He poured us both a glass of wine.

The envelope held the key to my future. The months of waiting had painted it vividly: fame, fortune, and a sheep farm where I'd learn to spin and dye. I took a sip of wine to steady my nerves. I unfolded the letter knowing it alone could validate my existence.

“Read it out loud,” Jaron instructed.

“Thank you for submitting to Needles and Yarn, but...” my voice wavered, “unfortunately, we cannot accept your design for publication.”

I heard them screaming at me: “Loser! Your design sucks. You suck. You're not a designer. You're a loser!” I tilted my head and drained the glass. All I wanted was to drink. I poured myself another glass. But... I saw my dad in his coffin. I pushed the wine bottle away.

Jaron held me in his strong arms, and let me cry. Not all men can deal with emotion but Jaron could, can.

“Just one step,” he reminded me. “They said no. That's their loss. Remember how well your patterns sell at Urban Knits. Remember how many complaints we received for your sweater. Let that success empower you, and fuel you. Send your design to another magazine and another and another. Being an artist is hard work and you've got to be brave. You've got to believe in yourself. And if you do, I promise you. You will succeed.”

“What about you?”

“Huh?”

“Why don’t you send your manuscript to a publisher? I know it’s good. You know it’s good. A publisher will know it’s good too. All you have to do is find them.”

“All, huh?” He said, but he also said, “Okay, it’s a deal you send your pattern to a magazine and I’ll send my manuscript to a publisher.”

When I was ready, when we were ready, we sent our work out—again and again and again.

Read the final chapter of 

When Gwen Knits

photo by Eleanor

This is me.

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