Saturday, August 2, 2025

Sylvia's Simple Shots

 

The Weight of Water by Anita Shreve

In March 1873, two Norwegian-born women who lived on the desolate Smuttynose Island, one of the Isles of Shoals off the coast of Maine and New Hampshire, were brutally murdered. Maren Hontvedt, a sister of one of the victims, survived by hiding in a sea cave until dawn. The murdered women were her older sister Karen Christensen and Anethe Christensen, their sister-in-law. A man named Louis Wagner was tried and hanged for their murders, mostly on circumstantial evidence. His conviction has been argued about, as some people think he could not have done it.

More than a century later, Jean Janes, a magazine photographer working on a photo essay about the murders, returns to the Isles with her husband Thomas and five-year-old daughter. Thomas is an award-winning poet who has been struggling with alcoholism and not writing much. Hoping to have a small vacation, they travel on a boat skippered by Thomas' brother Rich, who has brought along his girlfriend Adaline.

Jean becomes immersed in the details of the 19th-century murders after discovering a purported memoir of Maren in the library. Gradually, tensions increase among the group on the sloop, with unspoken emotions surfacing. Jean begins to suspect an affair between Thomas and Adaline.

The novel is split into two parts: the present day, told from Jean's point of view and in the present tense; and 1873, told in first person from Maren's point of view, her "memoir".

My aunt and I attended the reception for this show at the Red Brick Common Art Gallery. 

The art was created by a variety of artists whom were in attendance.

Jani Galarneau is always a joy to talk to and view her art. Marcel Thibodeau as well was very interesting to talk with as a fellow up cycler.







Miss Potter movie with Renee Zellweger and Ewan McGregor.

I am a fan of the Beatrix Potter books and characters.

Watching this movie was a delightful time and distraction from settling into a new place.





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