December 2024 - Dogear Diary

bright chameleon

Artist: unknown
Made by: unknown
Count: 500 pieces
Final size: 20 x 15″
Piece Type/Variety: Ribbon cut, average
Piece quality: Average
Skin irritation: Very mild

This little puzzle was nice, but some things about it bothered me. First off, there’s no manufacturer listed or artist credited, it just says “Made in China”. (Not even a title, so I gave it one that seemed appropriate). Red flag by now. All the pieces had lettering on the backs. They were made from recycled material that looks like cardstock, and felt very plasticky. Lots of reflective glare. I was mildly impressed though, that the pieces had decent thickness, and average piece shape variety. There is a poster included, and it’s actually of good size, large enough that I taped it to the wall for reference. Also, the skin pain was very minor, I was able to completely ignore it most of the time. (Does this hold up my guess that some toxic surface residue has rubbed off after many uses).

So kind of in spite of myself, I found I enjoyed the process of putting this one together. The colors are nice and bright, the design just challenging enough. The piece knobs did have rather shallow shapes, so they didn’t quite lock together, but I don’t care too much about that. What did bother me, was the the picture itself. It’s obviously digital art (which I don’t mind so much per se), and at first I thought it was just badly drawn, but the more I looked at it, the more problems I saw which convinced me this is AI art. Which I strongly object to.

First off, the tail looks bad. It does not taper into a nice spiral, but gets thicker at the end with an odd lumpy club shape. The edges don’t line up properly, and some parts of the pattern bleed into the background. Also, the fringe of spikes on the back suddenly become just lines across the whole tail, which looks weird. In certain cases I might think the spines morphing into rings on the tail would be deliberate and look cool, but in this case I don’t and it doesn’t.

The feet also look strange, are not shaped like chameleon feet, and the toes are doing weird things. Plus the stick or stem the chameleon is on doesn’t look like a plant stem at all, the leaves have this indistinct blending in-and-out in the background that makes no sense, and there are lines that are just drawn really sloppily (especially in the background).

I did think some of the patterning on the chameleon was nice, but overall it just comes across as bizarrely psychedelic. If the artwork had been better, I might have considered keeping it, but as is, this puzzle not staying in my collection.

a thrift store find

Tags: puzzles

traveler’s stacks

My husband and I were away over the holidays. I had my e-reader and one paperback with me- managed to read half of a short book on the kindle, and the first third of Peter and the Starcatchers (and did a little puzzle!) There was a stack of very worn paperbacks on the dresser in our little hotel room- quite a few missing their covers and several pages. Looks like a lot of previous guests did reading on the beach (or poolside) and then left their books behind for others to enjoy.

I cracked a few of them- the first I thought would be fun as it was set on a tropical island, but the humor was not at all to my taste. Ditched it after four pages. Then I attempted a Victor Hugo that’s been on my TBR for ages, Toilers of the Sea, but couldn’t get through more than two pages- this time due to my poor comprehension and focus. Still not there, sigh. But I liked the ambiance of having books around me, even if I couldn’t read them. And then on our last day, I pulled open all the drawers to check for belongings (even though I didn’t remember putting anything in there). Found this! More books!

At the last moment, going out the door, I opened one more drawer- the beside table on my husband’s side- and found another lot of books, old children’s classics. I didn’t get a photo, but there were two Winnie the Pooh books by A.A. Milne, The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum, The Story of Peter and Wendy by J.M. Barrie, and something else I can’t remember now. This was even more delightful. It makes me wonder how many other books are left behind in this place, creating a library between all these rooms. It was a small hotel, only fifteen or twenty rooms, and if there were twenty or thirty books per room . . . at least three hundred books I estimate. I was itching to peek in other rooms and see, but of course that’s not possible.

Muchos Autos

Photographer: Troy Litten
Maker and Year: Galison, 2015
Count: 500 pieces
Final size: 20 x 20″
Piece Type/Variety: Ribbon cut, one shape
Piece quality: Average
Skin irritation: Yes

This was a fun puzzle. I don’t think I’ve done a 500-piece Galison before; the pieces were bigger than in the 1,000. No surprise there. All the pieces two knobs, two indents- but quite a bit of variety within that, so not too hard to do. Lots of colors and details going on in the picture, so that’s what you look for to match up, instead of shape. It was actually rather easy, completed in one day. I did most of the lettering from the backgrounds first, then assembled the cars more or less by color. Most of them are Volkswagon beetles (cute!) but there are some other types of small cars, too. They all seem to be (from what I read on the signage) in Latin American countries- the photo collage is from the artist’s travels. The details are engaging. You can figure out what the restaurants and shops are, what things are prohibited (several cars parked with a No Estacionarse sign right there haha). If you look closely, there’s four cars with flat tires, and one graffiti skull. Sorry, I didn’t take any detail pics.

This one did give me some finger pain, but not bad. I was able to ignore it, or rub my fingers on clothings. Only had to get up to wash my hands twice, between sittings (several throughout the day. It had a poster included that barely deserves the name, being small enough to fit in the box without folding, which means the picture was smaller than the image on the packaging! So that was useless.

a thrift store find

Tags: puzzles

Peter and the Starcatchers

by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson

The first in a series that is all a prequel to Peter Pan. It starts out with Peter and four other orphans being put on a ship- they’re not told much, but seems like they were in forced service, and at the end of the voyage, going to become slaves to a king on a distant island. Too much happened for them to ever reach that island, though. Peter had misgivings from the beginning and tried to sneak off the ship, but no avail. He soon meets a young girl who has passage on the ship, and discovers there’s a secret on board- a dangerously powerful treasure hidden in a chest. And there’s certain people (pirates included) who want to get their hands on that treasure, while this girl and her cohorts are trying to get it to safety (“returning” it somehow, to where it came from). So now there are chases and battles with pirates, wild storms at sea, near-drownings, treachery and loyalty displayed equally, encounters with talking dolphins, flying rats and all manner of astounding things. Because Peter and his friends quickly learn that there is actual magic in the world- magic that changes those who get too close to it in unpredictable, and sometimes irreversible ways.

I thought this book was lots of fun, and happily surprised that I made it all the way through without loosing steam. In fact, I’m eager to read the next one, even though it’s longer in page count! It moves quickly, has engaging characters and plenty of adventure. Helps that I was constantly intrigued by how it tied into the original Peter Pan story- giving backstory and explanations to many things, and kind of apologizing for others (the natives on the island of Never Never Land, for example, are depicted much more fairly here). This story posits that magic came from stars- and when it landed on earth, it affected all kinds of things- little origin stories behind Greek and Roman gods, scientific and artistic geniuses, mythical creatures galore. I kind of liked that the mermaids had a nasty, fearsome aspect behind their beautiful faces. And that Tinkerbell used to be a bright tropical bird. I started to get a little lost near the end when the storyline got more complex- telling what happened to three or four different groups of characters at the same time but in alternating chapters, until they all converge at the end. But I enjoyed it enough that I do want to continue! And now it makes me want to read the original all over again as well- to see how much of this is drawn from what J.M. Barrie actually hinted at- how that pirate lost his hand and became Captain Hook (I do remember that part), why Peter can fly and will always remain young, what’s up with the ticking crocodile, to give just a few examples.

Rating: 3/5

452 pages, 2004

More opinions:
Erin Reads
a Library Mama
Carstairs Considers
JR Lindz
Pages, Plots and Pints
the Literary Amnesiac
Diary of an Autodidact

Tags: 3/5- Good Read, Current Reads, Fantasy / Sci Fi, Juvenile Fic

Jungle Variant

Artist: Mark Gregory
Maker and Year: Cardinal, 2016
Count: 500 pieces
Final size: 14 x 11″
Piece Type/Variety: Ribbon cut, single shape
Piece quality: Average
Skin irritation: None

I traveled for the holidays and took two small, cheap puzzles with me. Managed to complete one, on the little hotel room table. The lighting for photos was terrible, except the few times I was able to get a picture using indirect ambient light in the morning.

It was my least favorite kind of piece cut- all the same shape, very little variation within that. I did enjoy the picture, with the animals and all the varied plant material. This one on a tree branch looks a bit like a croton to me:

The tigers were nice,

and I didn’t even see this spotted cat hiding in the ferns until I was putting it together. So that was a fun little surprise!

This plant looks familiar- might be the same species featured in the jaguar puzzle, not sure

In the end, two pieces missing- not bad for a used puzzle. I left it behind in the hotel room, hope someone else might enjoy doing it (and not mind a few missing pieces). Assembly below. Excuse the bad photoshop job, where I tired to adjust for glare across the picture (with mixed results).

a thrift store find

Tags: puzzles

Gib and the Gray Ghost

by Zilpha Keatley Snyder

Sequel to Gib Rides Home. At the end of the prior book, something happened that suddenly made it possible for Gib to go back to the family that had previously taken him in, as a “farmed-out” orphan. Things are different now, the household is a bit more at ease and friendly, and Gib starts to wonder if his position among them has changed. Will he really be adopted this time? Can this be his forever family (although the book didn’t use that phrase). But once again, he can never manage to ask the question (most of the adults are still rather stern) and so he spends a lot of time fretting about this. For the reader it was a bit tiresome, as the first third of the book seemed to be either rehashing what happened in the last one, or mulling over Gib’s constant worry and questions. More mysteries. Then a strange horse shows up at the barn during a bad snowstorm. Gib takes the horse in, and has to work with it by himself, because the man who usually oversees labor on the farm is bedridden with an illness. The horse is frightened and aggressive, but Gib cleverly finds ways to work around that without putting himself at risk, and slowly the horse starts to trust him and respond to training. Now the family has a new mystery to figure out: where did this horse come from? He’s obviously of good breeding and valuable, and also had obviously been mistreated. Gib works hard to get the horse ridable again, and is relieved to finally (after weeks) find out who he belongs to, but then concerned about the horse’s welfare when it is returned. He’s suspicious of the horse’s owner, because of some past bad history with his host family. But then starts to find out more, especially from the other man’s point of view, and realizes they may have all misjudged him.

Of course, my favorite parts of this story were the ones where Gib was involved with horses. There’s a lot more going on too, though. His relationship with the daughter of the house remained prickly at times (she would often go days without speaking to him) and more friendly in other ways. It was complex, and grew stronger with every trial or secret they navigated together. Gib started attending local school, which meant relearning a lot of things- in particular social nuances and how to deal with bullies (he was pretty good at the actual academics). I liked that a significant part of the story dealt with the adult characters as well, how some of them had to overcome their prejudices or assumptions of each other. Gib remained uncertain about his standing with his host family until the very end, when he finally gets an answer to his question: where does he really belong. It didn’t turn out quite the way I expected either, which was a nice surprise.

Borrowed from the public library.

Rating: 3/5

232 pages, 2000

More opinions: Amy S Brown
anyone else?

Tags: Animals Fiction, Current Reads, Juvenile Fic

TBR 88

Been forever it seems. Have to post this so I don’t loose it, even though I haven’t taken the time to make an image collage yet.

Available at my library:

Hum by Helen Phillips
Deaf Utopia by Nyle DiMarco
Nowhere for Very Long by Brianna Madia
Help Wanted by Adelle Waldman
Never Leave the Dogs Behind by Brianna Madia
A Rat’s Tale by Tor Seidler
We’ll Prescribe You a Cat by Ishida Syou
Leap by Simina Popescu
City of Orphans by Avi
What Do Fish Have to Do with Anything? by Avi
Gib Rides Home by Zilpha Keatley Snyder
Circling the Sun by Paula McLain- Cannonball Reads

Not found at my library:

Laggard by Ronald Stevens
Dog by Rob Perry
The Taming of Genghis by Ronald Stevens
Bonobo the Forgotten Ape by Frans de Waal
Hunt for the Shadow Wolf by Derek Gow
A Fox in My Brain by Lou Lubie – No Flying No Tights
Runt by Marion Dane Bauer- Snips and Snails and Puppy Dog Tales
We’ll Prescribe You a Cat by Syou Ishida
Blue Heron by Avi
The Christmas Rat by Avi

Tags: TBR additions

Art Level 1

Artist: Unknown
Maker and Year: Misu, 2022
Count: 1,000 pieces
Final size: 20 x 27″
Piece Type/Variety: Ribbon cut, average
Piece quality: Good, nice texture, no glare
Skin irritation: None

Black Box puzzles come with no picture guide. So you work the whole thing blind. Apparently they have different themes, and this one was “art”. It was rather difficult, especially the first half, when I had nothing to go by. After finally realizing how some of the piece groups fit into larger chunks, and getting a frame into place (around the 7th sitting), it started to go a little easier, but not much. The last few sittings, I spent a lot of time doing trial-and-error fitting. In the end, while I enjoyed the feel of this puzzle, as it’s very well made, I wasn’t much impressed with the look of the final image. As you can see on the assembly page. (Which I am posting separate, same as I did with Wild Tropics Surprise, in order to not spoil it for anyone who wants to actually work this one blind). Perhaps some of the later ones in the series, which are supposedly more and more challenging, have better pictures. Not sure if I will ever find out. (I’d borrow another puzzle in this series again, but if they have the same kind of pictures, I don’t really want to spend money on or own one).

borrowed from my sister

Tags: puzzles

Fiesta in Ecuador

Artist: David McCoun
Maker and year: E.E. Fairchild, circa 1940
Count: 700 pieces
Final size: approx. 28 x 20″
Piece Type/Variety: Standard ribbon cut, irregular at edges
Piece quality: Very good
Skin irritation: None

This antique puzzle I found on the bottom shelf in a thrift store was most likely made between 1930 and 1950. It has a shaped border with odd-shaped pieces, though all the interior ones are standard shapes. I still tried to put the frame together first, and it would have been a lot more challenging if I hadn’t seen how some of them fit together already, because they were chunks of the puzzle pre-assembled in the box from the previous person (which I broke all apart before starting). I wonder how long ago this puzzle was last done. It was in really good condition. While the colors aren’t bright (overall image rather dark), there was nothing missing and the pieces are nice and thick. Very satisfying tactile feel, handling these pieces and pushing each one into place. They interlock rather loosely (the knobs are shallow) but I didn’t mind.

The picture itself is very busy with lots of detail- three teams of horses, dogs in the crowd, kids peeking out around people, worshippers in a religious building in the background on one side, dancers around a band on the other. And in the foreground, this very endearing group of young people- two girls in pretty lace dresses being eyed by two boys holding flowers.

I think they all look rather anxious! I imagine the boys are getting up their courage to speak to the girls, who are feeling just as nervous about it . . . There are fine-looking ladies in fancy skirts with a flounce at the rear (I don’t know the proper terms), and women in peasant skirts with babies on their backs, and rainbow-striped serapes, and all other kinds of little things which I am sure are particular to the culture, I just don’t recognize their significance. This was a very fun puzzle to do.

a thrift store find

Tags: puzzles

Healthy Veggie

Photographer: Unknown
Made by: Clementoni
Count: 1,000 pieces
Final size: 38 x 13″
Piece Type/Variety: Straight ribbon cut, average
Piece quality: Very good
Skin irritation: None

I have several puzzles by this brand in my collection, and wasn’t sure what they’d be like- plenty of boxes claim “Premium!” or something similar, but the quality leaves a lot to be desired. I’m happy to say this one soundly deserves the praise (the box says High Quality Puzzle). The pieces are nice and thick, fit well together (but not tight enough to lift it entire) and have a lovely linen surface texture. In fact, once I had a good amount of the puzzle assembled, I kept running my hands over it just for the feel. You’d think a spread of vegetables, seeds and legumes would be boring, but I actually liked the different visual textures and colors, and the array of circles across the picture, with odd shapes like the avocado and pomegranate here and there. The hardest part was the broccoli head!

It’s definitely a puzzle I’d enjoy doing again, and a brand I will now keep my eye out for. On par with Ravensburger in my opinion.