Anything Is Possible

 

Anything Is Possible by Elizabeth Strout

Amgash #2

Fiction

2017

Finished on June 22, 2025

Rating: 3/5 (Good)

Publisher's Blurb:

Recalling Olive Kitteridge in its richness, structure, and complexity, Anything Is Possible explores the whole range of human emotion through the intimate dramas of people struggling to understand themselves and others.

Here are two sisters: One trades self-respect for a wealthy husband while the other finds in the pages of a book a kindred spirit who changes her life. The janitor at the local school has his faith tested in an encounter with an isolated man he has come to help; a grown daughter longs for mother love even as she comes to accept her mother's happiness in a foreign country; and the adult Lucy Barton (the heroine of My Name Is Lucy Barton, the author's celebrated New York Times bestseller) returns to visit her siblings after seventeen years of absence.

This is the second collection of short stories I've read this month, and I'm not a big fan of the genre, so I'm not surprised that I didn't love Anything Is Possible. The stories are more interconnected than those of Table for Two (Amor Towles), and some of the characters are familiar from my reading of My Name Is Lucy Barton, but the book is not one of my favorites by Elizabeth Strout. I struggled to keep track of the characters' relationships with one another as they overlap from chapter to chapter. Plus, the central theme to Strout's stories is shame and regret, and many involve mothers who leave their families. Thus, the overall tone is bleak and gloomy. The writing, however, is marvelous, so I was never tempted to stop reading. Anything Is Possible is best read right after My Name Is Lucy Barton, perhaps with a pen & pad in hand.

Tin Man

 

Tin Man by Sarah Winman

Fiction

2017

Finished on June 10, 2025

Rating: 4.5/5 (Very Good!)

Publisher's Blurb:

This is almost a love story. But it's not as simple as that.

Ellis and Michael are twelve-year-old boys when they first become friends, and for a long time it is just the two of them, cycling the streets of Oxford, teaching themselves how to swim, discovering poetry, and dodging the fists of overbearing fathers. And then one day this closest of friendships grows into something more.

Many years later, Ellis is married to Annie, and Michael is nowhere in sight. Which leads to the question: What happened in the years between?

By the internationally bestselling author Sarah Winman, Tin Man is an unforgettable and heartbreaking novel celebrating love in all its forms, and all the little moments and small kindnesses that make up a life.

I finished this beautiful novel a couple of weeks ago, but we've been traveling, and I am just sitting down to compose my review. 

Sarah Winman writes the most gorgeous prose, and while the storyline is a little confusing, I loved Tin Man. It's a tender story about friendship, love, heartache and grief. Much like her most recent work (Still Life), Winman's characters are memorable and well-drawn. This moving novel avoids cliche, and will enchant fans of John Boyne, particularly those who read and enjoyed The Hearts Invisible Furies. Sarah Winman has become a favorite author, and I intend to read more of her books. 

"Plan to read it twice: first for the story, then to savor the beauty of the poetic symbolism threaded throughout the sparsely crafted prose." - Shelf Awareness

Highly recommend.

Umatilla Marina & RV Park

Disclaimer: I am getting back to posting about our 2023 trip to Canada. Many of these photos were shared on Instagram & Facebook, so they may look familiar to you. Sorry for any confusion!

Canada Road Trip (Summer 2023)

July 5, 2023

Fernie, British Columbia to Umatilla, Oregon

Daily Mileage: 214

Umatilla Marina & RV Park

Site: 2

Duration: 1 night

Cost: $40

Weather: Sunny and hot (95!)

Cell Coverage: 4 bars Verizon & TMobile

Meh. It was a long, boring (and windy!) drive from Athol, Idaho to this spot along the Columbia River. The RV "park" served its purpose for an overnight, but it's not a destination spot. There was some road noise, but it wasn't terrible. There are plenty of trees and grass, and our site looked out over the marina and river. Pretty sunset.

Ravenwood RV Resort

Disclaimer: I am getting back to posting about our 2023 trip to Canada. Many of these photos were shared on Instagram & Facebook, so they may look familiar to you. Sorry for any confusion!

Canada Road Trip (Summer 2023)

July 4, 2023

Fernie, British Columbia to Athol, Idaho

Daily Mileage: 205

Ravenwood RV Resort

Site: 100

Duration: 1 night

Cost: $64.80

Weather: Sunny and hot (82)

I didn't take any photos of this RV park, so I'm including a few from their website. It's a nice park right off of Highway 95, 30 minutes north of Coeur d'Alene. It was the Fourth of July and every site was occupied with lots of families enjoying the day.

We didn't have any trouble crossing the border at Eastport. Had a delicious lunch at Farmhouse Kitchen in Ponderay, Idaho.

Photo Credit: Ravenwood RV Resort 

Photo Credit: Ravenwood RV Resort 

Photo Credit: Ravenwood RV Resort 

Only one day back in the United States and we were already missing Canada. 

Fernie RV Resort - Mountains

Disclaimer: I am getting back to posting about our 2023 trip to Canada. Many of these photos were shared on Instagram & Facebook, so they may look familiar to you. Sorry for any confusion!

Canada Road Trip (Summer 2023)

June 30-July 3, 2023

Radium Hot Springs to Fernie, British Columbia

Daily Mileage: 142

Fernie RV Resort

Site: F6

Duration: 4 nights

Cost: $123! Canadian/night (forgot to convert; plus holiday rates)

Weather: Sunny and hot (80s) and windy

Cell Coverage: 1-2 bars Verizon & 1 bar TMobile

The mountains are calling, and I must go. ~John Muir

Fernie RV Resort - Duck Pond & Trails

Disclaimer: I am getting back to posting about our 2023 trip to Canada. Many of these photos were shared on Instagram & Facebook, so they may look familiar to you. Sorry for any confusion!

Canada Road Trip (Summer 2023)

June 30-July 3, 2023

Radium Hot Springs to Fernie, British Columbia

Daily Mileage: 142

Fernie RV Resort

Site: F6

Duration: 4 nights

Cost: $123! Canadian/night (forgot to convert; plus holiday rates)

Weather: Sunny and hot (80s) and windy

Cell Coverage: 1-2 bars Verizon & 1 bar TMobile

One of the things I liked so much about the Fernie RV Resort was the path/bike trail that campers could take into town. Townie bikes are available at no cost to guests of the campground. 

Fernie RV Resort - Day Four

Disclaimer: I am getting back to posting about our 2023 trip to Canada. Many of these photos were shared on Instagram & Facebook, so they may look familiar to you. Sorry for any confusion!

Canada Road Trip (Summer 2023)

June 30-July 3, 2023

Radium Hot Springs to Fernie, British Columbia

Daily Mileage: 142

Fernie RV Resort

Site: F6

Duration: 4 nights

Cost: $123! Canadian/night (forgot to convert; plus holiday rates)

Weather: Sunny and hot (80s) and windy

Cell Coverage: 1-2 bars Verizon & 1 bar TMobile

Day Four

We had a relaxing/lazy morning before deciding to go into town for lunch. We went back to Blue Toque and both ordered the potstickers. They were delicious!

We spent the rest of the afternoon prepping for our departure. We chatted with the folks from Edmonton in the site next to ours, and gave them our eggs and limes, in preparation for crossing the border back into the United States.

Drinks around the campfire with Lou & Shannon, but my hay fever was terrible and I eventually had to return to the RV.

Gorgeous moonrise over the mountain.

We really enjoyed this spot. The views of the mountains, and the path along the river, as well as the proximity to the town of Fernie made it a lovely stay. I hope we get a chance to go back!

Fernie RV Resort - Day Three

Disclaimer: I am getting back to posting about our 2023 trip to Canada. Many of these photos were shared on Instagram & Facebook, so they may look familiar to you. Sorry for any confusion!

Canada Road Trip (Summer 2023)

June 30-July 3, 2023

Radium Hot Springs to Fernie, British Columbia

Daily Mileage: 142

Fernie RV Resort

Site: F6

Duration: 4 nights

Cost: $123! Canadian/night (forgot to convert; plus holiday rates)

Weather: Sunny and hot (80s) and windy

Cell Coverage: 1-2 bars Verizon & 1 bar TMobile

Day Three

We kicked the morning off in Fernie with coffee and delicious pastries at Rooftop Coffee Roasters. It was another hot & humid day, but I enjoyed wandering around the farmer's market while Rod did some book-related work in the RV. After dropping off some frozen pot pies, I walked around town a bit more, admiring the mural art and banners, as well as the beautiful scenery and architecture. We decided to get lunch at Blue Toque ("Tooook"), which had great potstickers and crab melts. Have I mentioned how much we loved Fernie? (Yes, I have.)

Downtown Fernie

Yum!

City Hall

Artwork in Blue Toque

Sadly, Blue Toque has closed permanently. :(