Happy Saturday! We had rain for days on end, steady and solid without breaks. It was no fun trying to get Loki out to do his business. Thankfully we have a break for now and the skies are blue. Here is a photo of a little shopping area 2 miles from our house. They have a lovely tree decorated in the middle of the square and there are so many restaurants here, all decorated for the holiday. 🌞
While I was inside a few days I finished a dog themed puzzle which was fun.
Earlier this week I posted my 2025 Nonfiction Reading Challenge wrap up.
Books read / Memorial Days by Geraldine Brooks
What an emotionally charged memoir. So raw, so honest about how she experienced the pain, loss and how she kept it inside while dealing with the many aspects of an unexpected death of a loved one. Keeping it together for her children, figuring things out on her own without allowing herself to mourn was heart wrenching to read. Finally she gave herself time to think about everything and get away from everyone on Flinders Island where she could grieve and be alone. Highly recommended memoir that packs a punch. 5 stars
A Family Matter by Claire Lynch
We start this story with Heron (real name Henry) receiving the awful news he has cancer. He has a 44 year old daughter named Maggie and is trying to decide how and when to tell her about his health situation. He has brought Maggie up on his own and she never knew what became of her mother Dawn. So many unanswered questions.
Maggie's thoughts on hearing her father has cancer:
She cannot say, you cannot die, not now, because I will sometimes want to call you, to tell you a joke I read in the paper, or that I saw a famous person on the platform at London Bridge. You cannot die, because you will be missing from the photographs of all the days that haven’t happened yet—
The story is set in Ireland, switching back and forth between two timelines - 1982 and 2022. Maggie is obviously devoted to her father as all they had were each other.
The sad thing is why Dawn wasn't part of Maggie's life growing up. You learn about archaic practices/laws in place in 1982 which tore a family apart. This short book of 240 pages intensifies near the end when Maggie, now a 44 year old mother, discovers why her mother was absent in her life all those years.
Currently reading / The Second Chance Convenience Store by Kim Ho-Yeon. Translated by Janet Hong.
Coming up is the 2026 Nonfiction Reading Challenge hosted by Shelleyrae at Book'd Out and more book chat. Wishing you a happy and healthy week.
Linking up with:
Readerbuzz for Sunday Salon
Joy for British Isles Friday
Yay for sunshine. It was out here yesterday, but reflecting off the snow, LOL! Today, no sun, just more snow.
ReplyDeleteCindy, after so many days of rain I am loving the sun. But we are supposed to get freezing temps tonight so back to long sleeves and coats!
DeleteI love the dog puzzle, I'll look for it. Florida's rainy season is way too long, it's 6 months out of the year which is way too long.
ReplyDeleteVicki, I liked the theme of the puzzle and it wasn't hard to put together. I agree about the rainy season..ugh
DeleteYour photo is how I picture December in Florida. I'm glad that the rain stopped so you can experience that in reality.
ReplyDeleteA Family Matter sounds good. The excerpt is definitely touching.
Joy, it was a good book. Short and engaging. We have blue skies again but freezing temps tonight so I will be covering the plants I can't bring inside.
DeleteNice picture up top. Wow reminds me a bit of California. Blue skies look good. Also love the dog puzzle / funny but true sayings -- essential for any dog person. Good reviews of Memorial Days and A Family Matter -- I agree with both. Raw & potent books. Keep it going.
ReplyDeleteSusan, When it's blue skies it's always so pretty but that's not the majority of the year here. At least not in north Florida. We enjoy it when we can :-)
DeleteThanks, about the reviews....those were good books and Memorial Days...wow.
Psst your link says "Coming up is the 2016 Nonfiction Reading Challenge". Please change it to 2026. I don't want to relive the year 2016.
ReplyDeleteLove your little shopping area all decorated!
Cute dog puzzle.
Nobody is happier that the rain went away than Loki!!!
Jinjer, thank you for noticing that error in the year! Godness, I don't want to go back ten years for sure! The shopping area is nice as cars can come through but slowly, mstly foot traffic. And pretty!
DeleteI really liked Memorial Days. I learned about the author's husband's death the day my book club was discussing the book she was working on when he died. I wondered how the book ever got finished. Now I know.
ReplyDeleteAnne, I thought Memorial Days was amazing. Can't imagine going through all that and the cruelty of the hospital.
DeleteWe had several weeks of rain too. Really glad to see the sun. Wow! Those two books sound very tough. The dog puzzle is adorable.
ReplyDeleteOlivia, I enjoyed both books, despite the subject matter. Raw and intense. the dog puzzle was a blast!
DeleteHope you have a great week!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteHello sunshine is right! Like you, we had A LOT of rain, but yesterday was dry and gorgeous! Now it's back to being damp and gray, but at least I got outside yesterday for a long walk.
ReplyDeleteThat shopping area looks nice. I do miss little spots like that around here. Most of the stores are for the tourists with lots of ticky-tacky junk. We have to drive 90 minutes to get to the spots that have Trader Joe's, Costco, Barnes & Noble, nice clothing stores, etc.
That looks like a fun puzzle! I wish I could get back into the groove of working on them. Maybe after the holidays...
Glad you enjoyed Memorial Days. I'm pretty sure I'll read it again in a few years. I need to order a copy of Horse to read in 2026. A Family Matter is also one I'd like to read. I guess it's the author's debut novel.
Hope you continue to have nice weather! Cheers!
Les, it was nice the day I took this and while we still have blue skies, it went down to 30 degrees last nnight. Had to cover the plants. The weather here is up and down.
DeleteFor puzzles I just set up my card table and take my time sorting pieces here and there. Then when I get to it, I may spend an hour or maybe only 10 minutes. Never in a hurry.
Memorial Days was amazing. You did a fine review of that book. It's a keeper.
We are so dry here---it's not normal. Send along any extra you are receiving, please.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you enjoyed participating in the Nonfiction November event! It's one of my favorites.
I picked up Memorial Days because I so enjoyed Brooks' husband's writing; Tony Horwitz was a funny and adventurous writing. I ended up wanting to read more of Brooks.
Deb, I would love to send you a days worth of rain!
DeleteI do like the nonfiction and while I only participated in one week for the Novemeber event, I read it year round. Just found out there is also a memior challenge, yea!
Beautiful sunshine photo, especially after all that rain! We got about 5" of snow last night/today, which is a VERY BIG DEAL here, but just another day in central NY. It looks like a winter wonderland, so pretty! That's a great dog puzzle, and I'm looking forward to Memorial Days in 2026. Looks like you are in the path of the Arctic blast this week - stay warm and have a good week!
ReplyDeleteJoAnn, that's quite a bit of snow all at once. I take it that's an unusual amount for that part of CT. We are indeed in the path of the artic wind. North Florida is so odd.....we had 11 MPH winds yesterday and woke up to 30 degrees with a windchill of 27. Bundled up and walked Loki. Now enjoying more coffee and looking at my book plans for 2026.
DeleteYou stay warm as you can and I hope you are feeling better!
Hurrah for some sunshine! Very grey and rainy here, but I like it for staying indoors to read cosily, haha. Hope you had a good weekend!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Nicky!
DeleteAh that sunshine looks so nice!! And the Second Chance Convenience Store sounds really good!
ReplyDeleteErin, we enjoyed it while the sun lasted! When I lived in south Florida it was usually sunny but its different up here, closer to Georgia. Will let you know about the book and if it's a good one.
DeleteYay for beautiful weather! It's been so cold here but I think it's supposed to warm up soon. I'm not made for below freezing temps! I love the dog puzzle and your books look good.
ReplyDelete