It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

After 17 days and 580 pages, I finally finished reading The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne. I wound up loving the book and am so glad I stayed with it! 

Now I've begun reading Need to Know by Karen Cleveland, which has been getting a lot of buzz. I'm only a couple of chapters in, but I'm intrigued and have a feeling it will be a quick read.

I continue to listen to News of the World in preparation for my book club discussion later this week. I read the book in October, so the story is still very fresh in my mind, but I'm enjoying the audio version just as much as the print edition.

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? (#IMWAYR) is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date. It’s a place to meet up and share what you have been, are, and about to be reading over the week. It’s a great post to organize yourself. It’s an opportunity to visit and comment, and er… add to that ever-growing TBR pile! This meme started with J Kaye’s Blog and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at Book Date.

Last Week's Posts: 

Wordless Wednesday - Tulips!

Looking Back - A Map of the World

Olympic Peninsula Trip - Day Nine

Olympic Peninsula Trip - Day Nine

Monday, September 25, 2017
Port Townsend, Washington
Point Hudson Marina & RV Park

Peaceful sunrise.

Watching the ferry arrive from Coupeville.

Great location!

A little close, but we know our neighbors.

Adams Street Park

Click on photos for a larger view.

Looking Back - A Map of the World

Looking Back... In an effort to transfer my book journal entries over to this blog, I'm going to attempt to post (in chronological order) an entry every Friday. I may or may not add extra commentary to what I jotted down in these journals.

A Map of the World by Jane Hamilton
Fiction
1992 Anchor
Finished in July 1997
Rating: 3/5 (Good)

Publisher's Blurb:

From the author of the widely acclaimed The Book of Ruth comes a harrowing, heartbreaking drama about a rural American family and a disastrous event that forever changes their lives.

The Goodwins, Howard, Alice, and their little girls, Emma and Claire, live on a dairy farm in Wisconsin. Although suspiciously regarded by their neighbors as "that hippie couple" because of their well-educated, urban background, Howard and Alice believe they have found a source of emotional strength in the farm, he tending the barn while Alice works as a nurse in the local elementary school. 

But their peaceful life is shattered one day when a neighbor's two-year-old daughter drowns in the Goodwins' pond while under Alice's care. Tormented by the accident, Alice descends even further into darkness when she is accused of sexually abusing of a student at the elementary school. Soon, Alice is arrested, incarcerated, and as good as convicted in the eyes of a suspicious community. As a child, Alice designed her own map of the world to find her bearings. Now, as an adult, she must find her way again, through a maze of lies, doubt and ill will.

A vivid human drama of guilt and betrayal, A Map of the World chronicles the intricate geographies of the human heart and all its mysterious, uncharted terrain. The result is a piercing drama about family bonds and a disappearing rural American life.

My Original Notes (1997):

At first I didn't think I'd like this book. It was too depressing. And it got worse before it got better. However, I became interested in the characters and wanted to know how they all turned out, in spite of all the tragedy around them. As a result, I couldn't put the book down and read at every opportunity. A gripping tale! Emotional themes. Not great, but not bad either.

My Current Thoughts:

I only have a vague recollection of this novel and it's not one I'd want to read again. 

Wordless Wednesday

Click on image for full size version.

For more Wordless Wednesday, click here.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

I'm still reading The Heart's Invisible Furies, although I should be finished in the next day or two. I'm so glad I decided to stick with this book (and was able to renew it a second time). It's really turning out to be a winner!

I've just finished the audio version of Joe Biden's book and need to decide what I want to listen to next. My book club is discussing News of the World (Paulette Jiles' historical novel), which I read this past October, but I also have it on audio so I'll probably listen to that to refresh my memory before the meeting.

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? (#IMWAYR) is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date. It’s a place to meet up and share what you have been, are, and about to be reading over the week. It’s a great post to organize yourself. It’s an opportunity to visit and comment, and er… add to that ever-growing TBR pile! This meme started with J Kaye’s Blog and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at Book Date.

Last Week's Posts: 

Eleanor and Hick by Susan Quinn

Wordless Wednesday (Oregon Coast)

A Month in Summary (January)

Looking Back - The Horse Whisperer

Olympic Peninsula Trip - Day Eight

Olympic Peninsula Trip - Day Eight

Time to catch up on these travel posts!

Sunday, September 24, 2017
Forks, Washington to Port Townsend, Washington
Distance: 118 miles
Campground: Point Hudson Marina & RV Park
Cost per Night: $46
Site #311
Duration: 3 nights
Weather: Partly sunny and 55 degrees

We had such a beautiful drive over to Port Townsend! The fall colors were becoming more prevalent with lots of yellows and reds. We arrived at Lake Crescent, but missed our turn-off to the resort where we had planned to have a picnic lunch, so the only photos I was able to get were from the car as we sat in a construction zone. The lake, which is surrounded entirely by mountains, is breathtaking. There was barely a breeze in the air and the lake shimmered like glass, the towering mountains and trees reflecting on its surface. Unfortunately, all the pull-outs were on the opposite side of the road, so we weren't able to get out and walk around. 

We kept driving but weren't able to find a spot large enough to make a U-turn with the truck and trailer, so we continued on down the road. We took a small detour on East Beach Road and got some great views of the lake from that end, but again, nowhere to safely pull over to eat or walk. So, onward down the Olympic Highway (Hwy. 101) where we eventually found a wide area to pull of and have our lunch in the trailer. 

East Beach

We arrived at Point Hudson Marina & RV and after registering at the main office, headed over to our space (#311), which was nicely located near the water. The sites are all gravel and level, with full hookups, and ours had an unobstructed view of the water from our bedroom window. The sites are fairly close together, with no vegetation for privacy, but ours was situated on an end space and our next-door neighbors on the other side were my dad and stepmom. And of course, the spectacular views make up for any lack of privacy.

We're in Site #311. 

After we got unhitched and situated, I decided to go exploring. There's a nice walking path along the shore and it felt good to stretch my legs after our drive.

View of Whidbey Island

 with the Cascades in the far distance.

The Strait of Juan de Fuca 

lies beyond that furthest point.

Admiralty Inlet

U.S. Customs and 

Washington State Fish & Wildlife Buildings

Watching this guy out on the water

 makes me wish I still had my kayak.

A room with a view!

 View to the south with 

Fort Flagler Historical State Park 

and Indian Island in the distance

(and Mount Rainier in the center)

Port Townsend-Coupeville Ferry

Beautiful little boat!

Click on photos for a larger view.