Arrowood

Arrowood by Laura McHugh
Read May 2023 - Zoom Reading Circle

 

Of course I was interested in this book due to the author graduating from Truman State University and her books taking place in the midwest.  But I have to say I am really impressed with her writing.  This book is really good.  Listening, instead of reading, means that I can’t underline certain segments but there have been several wonderful descriptive sentences of the old house and the town of Keokuk and the Mississippi River.  and the storyline is keeping my attention - a growing tension wondering what happened and what will happen. 

I truly had to laugh, and even take note of, the mention of the "Justification for Higher Education" poster.  I had that same poster for many years - framed and hung on my wall!  ha!  (and oh my...)

Note - I spent an inordinate amount of time reading (listening) to this book screaming DON’T!!!!  Or don’t turn your back!!!  sigh... 

WOW!  Just finished this book and I did not see that ending coming!  I had thought from the beginning I knew who the killer would be...  This is a book that will stay with me - that I have a feeling I will be thinking about for awhile.  It also makes me want to read some more books by Laura McHugh.  She is quite a writer, indeed. 

Rated 4.55 by Zoom Reading Circle.

One quote stood out...

...nostalgia was once thought to be a mental illness or a physical affliction; for me, it was both. 

Here are some links I found to go along with the reading of this novel. 

Book Trail - Arrowood/Keokuk, IA

https://www.thebooktrail.com/book-trails/arrowood/

Here is a review that includes photos of Keokuk houses - interesting!

https://billkupersmith.blog/2016/09/23/review-of-arrowood-by-laura-mchugh/

Turns out the authors grandparents lived in Keokuk!

https://www.mississippivalleypublishing.com/daily_gate/news/area-native-blends-keokuk-history-with-unsolved-crimes/article_181f2bf5-2da6-5c1c-a9d2-eef42fff492c.html

Article in Columbia, MO newspaper about author Laura McHugh.

https://comomag.com/2014/01/31/the-novelist/

A note in the Truman Review about the author.

https://trumanreview.truman.edu/article/layoff-leads-to-literary-success/

The Secret Keeper

The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton

Read May 2023 - Zoom Reading Circle

Wow, I have been listening to this one on Audible and I have truly enjoyed that version.  This story has captured my imagination from the beginning.  The only thing I don’t like about listening is that I am unable to underline great lines when I hear them.  There have been many in this book so far.  Kate Morton writes in a way that really grabs you and draws you in.  I am totally immersed in the mystery of who Dorothy was/is and what happened in her past.  And I am finding myself increasingly tense about the answers... only in my listening today (about Chapter 16 and on) am I realizing she may be insane!  Wow. A weird sense of dread at what Laurel (and we the readers) are going to find out about Dorothy/Dolly. A character I at first identified with and then grew to really dislike as her character was illuminated bit by masterful bit. 

What a story!  I figured out one part by Part 3 but the ending was satisfying nevertheless. 

This book really did delve into the secrets we keep and the cost we pay for those.  Also, the juxtaposition of Dorothy who was basically a narcissist and always the victim versus Vivian who felt that everything that happened in her life was her fault - including the deaths of her family and the later travails in her marriage. That could have been too difficult to read about and enjoy, but Kate Morton made it powerful, not overwhelming.  

Warning - spoiler alert below... do not read on if you haven't yet read the book...

I loved the character of Laurel throughout.  And realized that Dorothy had to be Vivian when it occurred to me that one can change, but one can’t truly change your character.  The basic character of Dorothy was so flawed and had been from the start.... stealing the dress, telling Jimmy he could take photos and then blackmail people, the discovery that she was basically stalking Vivian, the uncomfortable death of the old lady... so many things.  It just didn’t feel right.  And even though Vivian was shadowed, especially early in the book, as a cold uncaring person, she was so clearly caring with Jimmy and the kids at the hospital.  You just knew her character was far better and stronger than Dorothy’s.  

I do love Kate Morton’s writing.  Her book The Forgotten Garden is still a favorite of mine.  This will bring me back to read more of her works.  

Rated 4.35 by Zoom Reading Circle

I found a neat website that creates Booktrails. Basically, you can follow a trail of literary locations.  Fun to look at and would be especially fun if you happened to travel to some of the areas.  Here is a Booktrail for The Secret Keeper. 

https://www.thebooktrail.com/book-trails/the-secret-keeper/

I also looked up a few of the quotes from this book that I had so loved...

Children don't require of their parents a past and they find something faintly unbelievable, almost embarrassing, in parental claims to a prior existence. 

...people who'd led dull and blameless lives did not give thanks for second chances. 

the young are quick to presume themselves the exclusive possessors of all strong feelings.

My mother was a survivor; she's a survivor still.  If I've inherited half her courage, I can count myself a very lucky woman. 

Never discount the possibility of turning up an answer none of the current theories predicts. 

The landscape of one's childhood was more vibrant than any other. It didn't matter where it was or what it looked like, the sights and sounds imprinted differently from those encountered later. 

Puzzle #33 - Lang - Garden Cheers - 500 pieces

Puzzle #33 of 2023

Finished May 29, 2023

Lang - Garden Cheers - 500 pieces

Okay, this is my first ever puzzle by Lang and I am already VERY impressed!  First, there is a thick, nice poster.  Lovely!  But look!  They include a ziploc bag to rebag the puzzle in once completed!  I have a bag of ziplocs that 'lives' on my puzzle table for just this purpose - and this is the first company I have ever seen include one with their puzzle.  Nice touch!  Got my attention!  Looking forward to completing this puzzle and already thinking I want more Lang puzzles.  :)  In addition - basically no puzzle dust!

A poster AND a storage bag! 

The ziptop bag they included for storing the puzzle after putting it together.

very nice puzzle so far.  I think I have now completed the easy parts.  :D

Of course I had to pair this puzzle image with a glass of white wine.  :)  So I paired it with an Italian Cortese - 2021 Enrico Serafino Gavi.  SO good!

Finished - very nice puzzle.  One thing of note - every piece is the same shape.  however, I didn't have trouble with mis-fits.  But I do prefer having more than one puzzle piece shape.  I think Some Galison and Cavallini & Co puzzles are also like this.  I looked through Lang puzzles and wish I liked more of the images available!  This was a very pleasant puzzle to work and I am impressed with Lang puzzles as a whole.

I will also say that this was, hands down, the most difficult puzzle to disassemble that I have ever run across.  I would say these pieces definitely 'snap' together and hold well!  No doubt you could pick this puzzle up off the table and even give it a good shake!  :) 

Puzzle #33 of 2023

Finished May 29, 2023

Lang - Garden Cheers - 500 pieces

Puzzle #32 - MasterPieces - Greetings from Paris, France - 550 pieces

Puzzle #32 of 2023

Finished May 26, 2023

MasterPieces - Greetings from Paris, France - 550 pieces

Starting this one from MasterPieces - love the image!  Again, why do I love Paris puzzles so much when I really didn't enjoy visiting Paris as much as other locations in Europe?  Funny.  LOVE that huge poster!!!  Brings me back to MasterPieces!

Quite enjoyable and colorful and fun. I enjoyed putting this one together a lot. I like the size of the puzzle pieces with masterpieces - not too small but not overly big.  Just nice to hold in your hand.  I know they don't necessarily 'snap' together perfectly, but they go together well enough.  And you don't have a lot of mis-fits.  Also not too much puzzle dust.

I probably should have paired this puzzle with a French wine, but even so, it sure went nicely with this Italian Pinot Grigio!  :)  Truly a delicious pairing!  :D 

Puzzle #32 of 2023

Finished May 26, 2023

MasterPieces - Greetings from Paris, France - 550 pieces

Puzzle #31 - Gibsons - Beads and Buttons - 1000 pieces

Puzzle #31 of 2023

Finished May 21, 2023

Gibsons - Beads and Buttons - 1000 pieces

I order many of my Gibsons puzzles directly from them (in England) but you can find several Gibsons puzzles at Amazon, as well.  

I selected this one because I loved The Dressmaker's Daughter so much.  This one is much more difficult!  I didn't really look carefully at it first, but boy - all those beads and buttons indeed!  :)  

I am slowly working through it.  It is not frustrating and is quite a challenge.  I have already done any of the 'easy' parts.  :)  Will keep plugging away as I have time.  

I really do love Gibsons puzzles but am thinking my next puzzle may have more random shaped pieces.  My last few have been very similarly shaped pieces and I am ready for a change.  Image by Tony Ryan.

Definitely a more challenging puzzle with all the little bits and bobs.  But pleasant enough so far.  Just find myself working on it a bit and then being done for the day.  So it isn't sucking me in to great loads of time without stopping - like some puzzles have.  Kind of like a book.  this is a good and pleasant book - but I am able to put it down and go to sleep of a night.  :D

This turned out to be an engaging puzzle.  Not one that could be worked on in areas... rather you pick up a piece, look at it, and figure out where it goes.  The pieces felt more loose to me than I remember other Gibsons puzzles feeling.  But it wasn't bad.  I think I want a different kind of puzzle next - but this was a pleasant one.  Definitely love all the dresses.  And Gibsons remains one of my favorite brands. 

Puzzle #31 of 2023

Finished May 21, 2023

Gibsons - Beads and Buttons - 1000 pieces

Puzzle #30 - Galison - Cuba by Michael Storrings - 1000 pieces

Puzzle #30 of 2023

Finished May 12, 2023

Galison - Cuba by Michael Storrings - 1000 pieces

I started this puzzle last night.  Colorful and fun looking.  I did sort by color (at least somewhat) while looking for border pieces.  It was too easy not to.  :)  Image by Michael Storrings.

love the poster!

This was a fun puzzle but more difficult than I imagined it would be.  That is not a bad thing.  :)  Hoping I have time this week to work on this.  Very enjoyable overall.  Thinner pieces - but that is okay.  I am also realizing that one reason it is so difficult is because all the pieces are the same exact shape.  

This was definitely more challenging than I expected.  Not hard necessarily but more complex.  I could pick up a piece and figure out where it went, but I couldn't just get a flow going in one area like I do in many other puzzles.  The pieces are okay but definitely prone to bending and splitting...  not very thick and can get caught together.  But again, a fun and enjoyable puzzle. The colors were SO fun to work with.

Puzzle #30 of 2023

Finished May 12, 2023

Galison - Cuba by Michael Storrings - 1000 pieces