Author: Trish

Into reading, decluttering, budgeting, and doing jigsaw puzzles!
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Completing the Puzzle – September 2024

I recently saw a review of the subscription company Completing the Puzzle on one of the YouTube channels I follow, The Casual Puzzler. For a monthly fee, you can borrow puzzles to do and then return. Their standard subscription is for one puzzle at a time, and the next puzzle is sent once you return the first one (like the original Netflix model). The review I saw also mentioned an option to get four puzzles at a time once a month, and I decided to go with that to minimize trips to the post office.

When you create your account, you set your preferences for puzzle size and puzzle type. You can also add puzzles from their catalog to your wish list, and then they will prioritize sending you puzzles from your wish list if they are available.

I got my first shipment earlier this month and have since completed all of the puzzles. Each puzzle is in a zippered pouch and there are laminated pictures of the puzzle images. They are packaged in a zippered container that can be shipped as is. They included a return label that could be slipped in the clear pouch on the outside of the box.

The first puzzle I did was Wonder & Bloom from Galison. It is a 500-piece puzzle, and the artist is Victoria Ball. It was still in really good shape, although it was missing one piece. I emailed the company and they had me send them a photo of the puzzle and said they would remove it from rotation once I sent it back.

The second puzzle I did was Amish Country from Dowdle. For some reason, I thought it was going to be a larger piece count, but it was actually 300. That was okay since I have been doing more 300 piece puzzles recently. This one was less enjoyable because the puzzle had definitely been done many times. Some of the pieces had a very narrow area on them, and several were close to breaking and one was actually broken into two smaller pieces. It was still a nice image though.

The third puzzle I did was Tale of Two from Art & Fable. It was 500 pieces, and the artist was Maria Brzozowska. I have seen this puzzle online before and been intrigued by the image – it is quite whimsical and unique. I don’t really know what the title refers to; I wonder if it might be the two people in the lower right corner. The puzzle was well-loved – the pieces felt kind of soft from much use, but the fit was good and it was enjoyable to do.

The fourth, and last, puzzle I completed was Summer at the Amusement Park from Galison. It was a 500-piece puzzle, and the artist was Michael Storrings. I have done several of his puzzles and enjoy his style. I liked the fun details in this image.

I feel that this subscription was a good value based on my experience this first month. I am looking forward to what puzzles I get next month. There were several in their catalog that had been on my Amazon wish list, as well as some that I hadn’t seen before and liked. They have even added a few larger count puzzles recently (1500 and 2000 pieces).

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The Husbands by Holly Gramazio

I did a thing – I started a Bookstagram. My handle for that account is jumbledbookshelf, and I just have one post so far. I’m not sure what all I am going to post on there, but I thought it would be nice to have an outlet to share the books I am reading.

I used Canva (the free version) to create the graphic. Here’s what I came up with:

And here’s my review:

This debut novel by Holly Gramazio is the captivating story of Lauren, a single woman who returns home from a night out with friends to find that her reality has shifted and she has a husband, Michael. As she is trying to figure out what is going on, Michael goes to the attic to replace a lightbulb and disappears, only to be replaced by a different husband and a slightly different reality. Realizing that her attic is creating an infinite supply of husbands, Lauren confronts the question: If swapping lives is as easy as changing a lightbulb, how do you know you’ve taken the right path? When do you stop trying to do better and start actually living?

I was drawn in from the beginning and was fascinated by how Lauren’s thinking changes and grows throughout the course of the book. I have read several reviews where people lamented the slower pace of the middle of the story, but I didn’t mind that – I simply enjoyed the journey she was on.

This book spoke to the part of me that regularly wants to reinvent my life or get a do-over when I make a mistake. As Lauren moves through husband after husband, changing her reality each time, she finds a lot of freedom because she can do what she wants and avoid the repercussions by just sending the current husband up to the attic. As this continued, I started to wonder what the point was and where it was headed, but I don’t see this as a flaw in the story, I see it as reflective of the emotional journey Lauren is on herself.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Looking forward to more from this author!

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Cat in a Bird’s Nest

Cat in a Bird’s Nest is a 1000-piece puzzle from Cross & Glory. This is my third puzzle from them, and it was a lot of fun. It looked like it would be hard because of all the blue and white pieces, but it was actually pretty easy. Most of the pieces had a pattern which made it easy to see where they went.

I’m still a bit ambivalent about the fact that they use AI to generate their images. I usually search to see if I can find similar artwork on a traditional brand before buying one of theirs.

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Novel Avenue

Novel Avenue is a 2000-piece puzzle from Ravensburger, and the artist is Demelsa Haughton. This was my first puzzle larger than 1000 pieces. It was intimidating due to the larger piece count, but once I got into it, it was definitely doable.

The first night I sorted the pieces and worked on a couple of small sections. The following day my friend Suzanne came over and we worked on it for a few hours. She worked on the border (that’s her favorite part!) and I worked on some more of the books.

I worked on it two more days after that and then it was done! I am so proud of myself for finishing it. It is a lovely image and was a true joy to put together.

I like it so much I have decided to frame it and hang it above my couch in my living room. Michael and I just have to figure out how to flip it over so I can tape the back.

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Farm Life

Farm Life is a 300-piece puzzle from Ceaco, and the artist is Olivia Gibbs. I have done several of hers now and I really enjoy them. The art is so charming, and the puzzles are a lot of fun.

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Jane Austen’s Book Club

Jane Austen’s Book Club is a 1000-piece puzzle from eeboo. I got it from Ollie’s (a local bargain store) for only $4.99! They had a pretty good selection of puzzles and even had two that I had already purchased. Too bad I hadn’t gone there first as they would have been cheaper.

This was a bit harder of a puzzle due to the amount of detail in it. I didn’t find it frustrating at all; I was able to keep working through it section by section. I like the distinct qualities of eeboo puzzles, with the glossy pieces that are small but not too small and the square shape of the finished puzzle.

I would have loved to be a part of this book club, as it appears to include Jane herself as a member. It would have been fascinating to talk about books with her!

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Sea Town Harbor

Sea Town Harbor is a 300-piece puzzle from Ceaco, and the artist is Olivia Gibbs. I really enjoy her artwork; I find it so charming, and this one was no exception. The puzzle was very easy to solve, given the large piece sizes.

I especially liked the houses and the boats; those are some of my favorite elements to put together. And the flowers, water, and sky were no problem because there are so few pieces.

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What I’m Reading – September 2024

What I’m Reading Now

The Husbands by Holly Gramazio – This is Holly’s debut novel, and I am thoroughly enjoying it. The main character, Lauren, returns home one night to find that reality has somehow shifted and she is married. As she tries to figure out what is going on, her husband goes to the attic to change a light bulb and disappears and a different husband comes down the ladder. So fun!

What I Recently Finished

Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation by Kristin Kobes DuMez – This was a fascinating account of the development and evolution of white evangelicalism in America written by a historian. I found it very easy to read and extremely educational.

Pack Up the Moon by Kristan Higgins – This novel is about a man whose wife wrote him letters before she died and had them delivered to him every month for the first year after she passed. It was reminiscent of P.S. I Love You by Cecelia Ahern – in a good way!

The Library of Borrowed Hearts by Lucy Gilmore – I love books about books, and this novel features a librarian who discovers a 60-year old love story written in the margins of books. It was a charming book!

Earth’s the Right Place for Love by Elizabeth Berg – This is a another great installment from a writer I have admired for many years. It is a coming of age story which provides the backstory for the Arthur Moses, the main character in The Story of Arthur Truluv.

Once Upon a Time, There Was You by Elizabeth Berg – This is the story of John and Irene, who are divorced but are still connected by their 18-year old daughter Sadie. It is beautifully written, as are all of her books.

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare – This is Book 1 of the Infernal Devices series, which is the prequel to the Mortal Instruments series. Both of these series are part of the Shadowhunter Chronicles. It was a recommendation from my friend Kim, who is a big fan of young adult romance and fantasy books. I don’t always love her selections, but I really enjoyed this one and am going to continue reading the series.

What I’ve Added to my TBR List

I added quite a few books to my list this month:

  • The Bookstore Sisters by Alice Hoffman (short story)
  • The Bookstore Wedding by Alice Hoffman (short story)
  • The Bookstore Keepers by Alice Hoffman (short story)
  • Fatal Intrusion by Jeffery Deaver
  • Natural Selection by Erin Hilderbrand (short story)
  • Heartstopper: Volume One by Alice Oseman
  • The Lonely Hearts Book Club by Lucy Gilmore
  • Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell
  • Close Knit by Jenny Colgan
  • The Summer Pact by Emily Giffin
  • The Book Swap by Tessa Bickers
  • The Life Impossible by Matt Haig
  • Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout
  • The Banned Books Club by Brenda Novak
  • The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams
  • Found in a Bookshop by Stephanie Butland
  • The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods
  • The Door-to-Door Bookstore by Carsten Henn
  • Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa
  • Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-reum
  • What You Are Looking For Is In The Library by Michiko Aoyama
  • Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors
  • Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare
  • Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare
  • The Exvangelicals: Loving, Living, and Leaving the White Evangelical Church by Sarah McCammon

If you’re on Goodreads, feel free to add me as a friend. I’m always looking for new recommendations!

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Northern Lights

Northern Lights is a 500-piece puzzle from Ravensburger, and the artist is Nancy Wernersbach. It is one of their larger format puzzles, so the pieces and the finished size are both quite large.

I really enjoyed this puzzle. It was relaxing to put together. The sky is so beautiful with the Northern Lights, and the cabin deck scene looks so cozy.

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The Brunette

The Brunette is a 1000-piece puzzle from Magnolia, and the artist is Romi Lerda. This is another new brand for me. I have heard a lot of good things about Magnolia, and I was very pleased with the quality of this puzzle.

The image is captivating and I truly enjoyed putting it together. I loved all the different blocks of difference colors/textures. The dark blue was the hardest, which reminded me of Rainy Day Blessings, but it wasn’t as hard as that one because the area was smaller and there was more of a pattern.

The box was really nice. It didn’t come with a poster, but it did have a small packet of glue powder, which you could mix with water to make puzzle glue. Such a clever idea!