THANKFUL THURSDAY

I'm thankful for puzzles. What's one thing that you're thankful for?

BOOKS I FINISHED - NOVEMBER 2025

Beyond the Bright Sea, written by Lauren Wolk and narrated by Jorjeana Marie with author's note narrated by Lauren Wolk

A newborn girl set out to sea. A loner of a man living on an island who finds her. A feisty woman who lives nearby. Their three lives are deeply intertwined, sharing the ordinary parts of life, pursuit of the girl's history, safety amidst criminal activity, and interactions with others. This story is about family - both the ones we come from and the ones we find - and identity, prejudice and acceptance, greed and kindness. Recommended by a friend, I loved everything about this middle grade novel. I enjoyed Wolf Hollow, another book by the same author, back in 2016, so I think I'm going to check out all her other books.

1:14, "You start looking back now and you might not see where you're going."

5:15, "People don't want much until they have plenty, and then they want more and more."

Crow Talk, written by Eileen Garvin

Set in nearby Hood River, this novel centers on two women in the midst of personal struggles. One is single, facing betrayal in her academic life that impacts her professional life, mourning the recent death of her dad, hurt by a strained relationship with her mom, and feeling unmoored both personally and professionally as she tries to discern what options she has for moving forward in life. The other is married, grieving the death of her best friend, missing her family on another continent, and heartbroken by her inability to connect with her young son who stopped speaking. Their lives intersect while they're each staying at their respective family's lake homes, surrounded by trees, water, and birds. I finished this book with a smile and contented sigh. 

p. 196, She couldn't remember the last time she'd cried and realized how very tiring it was, going around not crying all the time, holding everything in, pretending you were fine. 

p. 310, Frankie understood friendship now. There was nothing complicated about it at all. You listened, you talked. You remembered the other's important stories, private joys and wounds, and shared yours. You tended these small things.

My Abandonment, written by Peter Rock and narrated by Tai Sammons

This novel, which is written by a local author and set primarily in Portland, is about a girl who's kidnapped by her dad. They live hidden in Forest Park, coming into the city occasionally, until law enforcement finds them. What follows is a series of forced changes and personal choices around issues of freedom, mental illness, homelessness, family relationships, and identity, all narrated from the girl's perspective. Based on a real story, it's a novel that highlights the tension between what we know and what we wonder, where we came from and where we're going, who we were and who we want to be. I first read this book back in July 2009, but a friend recently suggested it when I was looking for audiobook recommendations. I enjoyed it in both formats.

Son of Man, written by Charles Martin and narrated by Jonathan K. Riggs

An unexpected non-fiction discovery on Libby from someone whose novels I've enjoyed (and sometimes cried over, which is not my norm), this is a compilation of short stories about Jesus, drawn from two of the author's other non-fiction books. I had no idea he wrote non-fiction, enjoy his writing, and love Jesus, so this book was a win for me. Not contradicting the Bible, but adding details to familiar stories in order to make them more relatable and engaging, I appreciate that this short book packs in so much about Jesus' life, forgiveness, love, and guidance. I think readers who enjoy the way Max Lucado's storytelling brings the Bible to life will also like this book. 

Trust, written by Hernan Diaz and narrated by Edoardo Ballerini, Jonathan Davis, Mozhan Marno, and Orlagh Cassidy

I heard about this novel twice in one week, once on What Should I Read Next?, epsisode 488 - Reading goals that are just lofty enough, and again at Coffee Talk, a bi-monthly book event at the library. It's not one I'd naturally gravitate to, but I decided to give it a try. It's historical fiction spread over several decades, but set primarily during and around the 1929 Wall Street crash, and the format is interesting. It's written as four books in one, all intertwined - first a novel, then a man's outline for an autobiography, then a memoir by the woman helping to write the autobiography, then diary entries from the man's wife. It's a story about wealth, power, class, family, marriage, and the steps people will take to get what they want. 

2:27, And what is choice but a branch of the future grafting itself onto the stem of the present?

3:06, Some people under certain circumstances hide their true emotions under exaggeration and hyperbole, not realizing their amplified caricature reveals the exact measure of the feelings it was meant to conceal.

4:14, Whatever the past may have handed on to us, it is up to each one of us to chisel our present out of the shapeless block of the future. 

9:49, For I've come to think one is truly married only when one is committed more to one's vows than the person they refer to.

When the Cranes Fly South, written by Lisa Ridzen, translated from Swedish by Alice Menzies, and narrated by Ifan Huw Dafydd

This is a tender novel about an elderly man in his last days. The story moves from the present anger and embarrassment that come with losing control of one's own life to navigating current relationships to memories both sweet and difficult from the past. With the exception of intermittent entries from his caregivers at the end of their shifts, the book is written from the perspective of the protagonist writing to his wife of about sixty years, a woman now living in a dementia care facility, as he reminisces about his life. It's about kids and parents, marriage and friendship, the care of hospice workers, and the companionship of a dog. I learned about this book from the 8/22/25 edition of Shelf Awareness and I really enjoyed it.

Where the River Ends, written by Charles Martin

Alternating between the past and the present, this novel is about a woman born into South Carolina's high society, a man on the bottom rungs of the social hierarchy, the course of their relationship from meeting through marriage, and their attempt to complete a list of things she wants to do before her pending death. Barring some distracting editing issues (who's instead of whose, for instance), I enjoyed this story of family drama, outdoor adventure, art, medical battles, and love. I've read several of Martin's books now and his novels almost always make me cry, so I've decided to work my way through all of them.

p. 123, "People are always telling me I'm beautiful. Okay, so what. I've spent most of my life in front of cameras. People use my image to sell a product. That's all. At the end of the day, they've used me - my face or figured, which by the way I had nothing do with - to tell everyone else how they are not like me. Hence, you're not beautiful. Or, you're not pretty. Or, you don't measure up." Her eyes were glassy. She waved her hand across my studio. "If you want to make great art, something that can reach beyond time and space, find someone who isn't and show them that they are. Paint the broken, the unlovely ... and make them believe."

p. 146, Painting portraits has taught me something about people. All my clients have two faces. The one they live with and the one they want me to paint. 

p. 218, But loving her and knowing what was best for her, or what she wanted, were entirely different things. 

p. 287, Love might leave, but the memory of it's touch and the hope of its return doesn't. Ever.

p. 366, "When you wake up and discover the hurt places, don't run. Sink your paddle in and ride the river."

PUZZLES I FINISHED - NOVEMBER 2025

 

Midnight at the Library - Artist: Ingrid - Ravensburger - 1,000 pieces

I love bookish puzzles! The characters from classic stories were fun in this one, but I was especially amused by two titles on the table where Goldilocks is reading to the three bears - Unlawful Entry and Guide to Better Home Security.

Seattle - Artist: Eric Dowdle - Dowdle Puzzles - 1,000 pieces

So many windows in this one! I love that the trivia page for this thrift store puzzle was still in the box. 

THANKFUL THURSDAY

I'm thankful for my Spotify album of hymns. What's one thing that you're thankful for?

THANKFUL THURSDAY

I'm thankful for socks. What's one thing that you're thankful for?

THANKFUL THURSDAY

I'm thankful for the beautiful autumn colors on the tree outside my kitchen window. What's one thing that you're thankful for?

THANKFUL THURSDAY

I'm thankful for adequate sleep. What's one thing that you're thankful for?