Still Life

Still Life by Louise Penny

Read July 2021 

Re-Read May 2022 - Zoom Reading Circle

This was an extremely well written mystery and I loved it!  I will definitely read the entire Chief Inspector Gamache series.  I can see why so many have raved about Louise Penny (I am admittedly quite late to the game).  Reading this book made me want to travel to Canada - although not to Three Pines!  :)  Chief Inspector Armand Gamache is a perfect character - trustworthy, smart, charming, 'human'... I would read any book with him as the main character!  And the residents of the town of Three Pines are fascinating... you can just imagine slipping into Gabri and Olivier's cozy bistro for dinner and a glass of wine... visiting Myrna in her bookstore... running into sweet Clara walking the dog on the village green.  But beware, because someone in Three Pines is a murderer.  I did not care for the character of Agent Yvette Nichol and wondered why she was in the story?  I have since learned that she is a recurring character with a story arc... so there you go.  But she is truly infuriating.  I look forward to reading all the books in this series and plan to watch the television version on Amazon Prime. 

I re-read the book about a year later with my Reading Circle book club.  It was just as enjoyable the second time through.  

Quote from the book...

There are four things that lead to wisdom.  I don't know.  I need help.  I'm sorry.  I was wrong.

The world of mystery author Louise Penny - CBS Sunday morning

The TV trailer for the new Three Pines series airing on Amazon Prime  

(But I encourage you to read the books first!!) 

Puzzle #35 - Springbok - Vineyard Retreat - 500 pieces

 Puzzle #35 - Springbok - Vineyard Retreat - 500 pieces

Nice puzzle - good sturdy pieces with good color and definition.  This image was harder even though it was a 500 piece.  Would have been extremely tough at 1000 pieces.  I think because it is darker overall - plus all those plants and flowers and grasses.  

Finished May 26, 2022

Puzzle #35 - Springbok - Vineyard Retreat - 500 pieces

Puzzle #34 - Springbok - Palace in Paris - 1000 pieces

Puzzle #34 - Springbok - Palace in Paris - 1000 pieces 

After enjoying Eiffel Magic so much, I ordered a bunch of Springbok puzzles!!  This is such a great picture!  It could have been awful to put together with so much going on - but the larger pieces made it not horrible, but interesting.  The most challenging part by far was the top ceiling of gray, the stripes and the round things into the chandelier on the right.  That took the most grit to finish.  But this was a really fun puzzle.  Can't wait to do another from Springbok!  Again, just wish they had a poster.  But the box size is pretty good.  LOVE the oversize.

Finished on May 22, 2022

Puzzle #34 - Springbok - Palace in Paris - 1000 pieces 

Puzzle #33 - MasterPieces - Greetings from the National Parks - 500 pieces

Puzzle #33 - MasterPieces - Greetings from the National Parks - 550 pieces

Puzzle #33 - MasterPieces Greetings from the National Parks 500 pieces.  Good puzzle.  Not as interesting as the Eiffel Magic one, but still a nice puzzle.  Interesting with the different cars.  Back to smaller pieces and size overall.  But still a nice puzzle.  I DO love the poster.

Finished on May 19, 2022

Puzzle #33 - MasterPieces - Greetings from the National Parks - 550 pieces - Joe Holodook

Puzzle #32 - Springbok - Eiffel Magic - 1000 pieces

Puzzle #32 - Springbok - Eiffel Magic - 1000 pieces 

The puzzle that brought back the love of puzzles for me!!

This was a gift from Maverick and his parents for Mother's Day and it turned out to be one of my favorite puzzles I have ever put together!  I had actually taken down my puzzle caddy and put it away after the last puzzle May 1.  I just hadn't had enjoyment with a puzzle for most of April and felt my puzzling had run its course.  Then Mav gave me this beautiful puzzle and I knew I wanted to put it together right away.  What a wonderful gift in so many ways!!

I LOVE the large size pieces that are thick and colored well.  Distinct.  It was such a pretty picture and great fun to put together.  Felt so good to really enjoy a 1000 piece puzzle again.  I know the larger pieces really made a difference in my enjoyment level.  It does have the crazy shaped pieces - which means even figuring out edges isn't totally simple.  But unlike Bits & Pieces puzzles, the crazy shapes aren't annoying.  For the most part they don't put pieces at a funny angle that is hard to look at and place.  They are just cut uniquely, but still in a way that makes sense (to my brain, anyway).   

There was certainly challenge (streets, brown/gray buildings) but there were lovely fun places to work with first (car, blue building, purple awning, even the Eiffel tower).  SO enjoyable!  I am sold on Springbok!  And to think I had studiously avoided them up till now!  Taught me a thing or two! The only downside is no poster included, but the box photo is decently sized.

Finished on May 17, 2021

Puzzle #32 - Springbok - Eiffel Magic - 1000 pieces

So glad to be back to enjoying puzzling!

Puzzle #31 - MasterPieces - Travel Diary Italy - 550 pieces

Puzzle #31 - MasterPieces - Travel Diary Italian Afternoon - 550 pieces

THIS will be my #31 that I actually complete!!  (after TWO 'did not complete' puzzles... wow)  Comforting to be working on a puzzle that is not horribly difficult.  However, it is a bit on the easy side.  Isn't there something in between????  sigh...

This may be the last one for a bit... I seem to have lost my puzzle mo-jo.  :). I enjoyed this one though.  A good one to take a break on.  Nice pieces that fit together well, image is clear, pieces are large, and the picture is pleasant to look at.  Good puzzle.  I have genuinely enjoyed every one of the MasterPieces Travel Diary puzzles that I have put together.  

Finished May 1, 2022

Puzzle #31 - MasterPieces - Travel Diary Italian Afternoon - 550 pieces - David MacLean