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Jigsaw: A Puzzle in Ninety-Three Pieces
Celebrated humorist and short-story writer M.A.C. Farrant’s new non-fiction work comprises ninety-three puzzle pieces that mimic the actual practice of assembling a jigsaw puzzle. By turns whimsical, insightful, meditative, funny, and factual, the “pieces” of Jigsaw touch on themes readers of the celebrated humorist and fiction writer M.A C. Farrant have encountered existence, love, joy, science, history, aging, roads, and Buddhism – and our seemingly universal love of jigsaw puzzles Once again, the author of the bestselling memoir One Good Thing and of the literary miniatures The World Afloat , The Days , and The Great Happiness writes against the prevailing zeitgeist of doom, accessing its flip side via humour and curiosity. Jigsaw is a much-needed mental respite that offers playful, rejuvenating potential answers to the dreaded question, How in the world are we going to get through these fearful times?
184 pages, Paperback
Published October 17, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 15, 2023
M.A.C. Farrant
Jigsaw
Talon Books
The jigsaw puzzle of a café scene in Paris that I am working on is coming together: I’m enjoying the process. The frame is complete, and I’m eyeing the sky and fountain and making small piles of like colours and textures. What serendipity that my purchase of MAC Farrant’s new book, Jigsaw, arrived here on Galiano two days after I started my own puzzle.
I am not a seasoned puzzler, but like many others, I gave puzzling a whirl during COVID, and I sporadically return to it, as I am now. I admit I’m a 500 pieces person, which suits me fine. Farrant’s book is subtitled, “A puzzle in Ninety-Three Pieces.” Well! I thought. I can handle that. But what’s that puzzling image on the cover? A cow! Is this going to end up being a picture of a cow?
Leafing randomly through the pieces, aka chapters, segments, that comprise Jigsaw I’ve been on quite the circuitous path, puzzling, puzzled, I select the ones to read randomly, erratically, the way I would pick up a puzzle piece from the box. As I read I learn all kinds of things: for example, that jigsaw puzzle pieces have different names according to their shape--there are Little Chaps, and Perec the Patriarch (aka the Double-Cross), and many others including Alpha, Beta, and so on. How about a Biscuit Puzzle complete with a variety of biscuits in a digestive tract? Maybe not.
I’ve learned the jigsaw puzzle was invented in 1766 England as a geography lesson aid, and how it was first called a “desiccated puzzle.” And I’ve enjoyed some pretty farfetched but nevertheless delightful morsels of narrative forays into things that are both curious and confounding as I wander with Farrant in her remarkable mind and touch down all over the map/non-map of this book.
Working on my own puzzle, I search for a puzzle piece with a nubbly that is blue, or has two prongs, or is the one of many hanging flowerpots. Finding it and feeling the satisfaction that comes with affirmation. YES, I am going to be able to do this. I’m one who starts with the frame, though others start with splashes of like colour, or central images like a gazebo or hedge. And when it’s finished, the final piece placed in its spot, I will admire it for a day, then crumble it all up and take it back to the thrift store, where I buy my jigsaw puzzles.
Do I mind, as Farrant does, about puzzles missing a piece? No. When I dump out a puzzle box on which someone has written, missing two pieces, I am not annoyed, I am grateful for the heads up and curious to see which two pieces are missing. Really, how is missing a puzzle piece or two different from being a few bricks short of a load, a card or short of a deck, or missing a screw or two? Fine with me, and familiar! I’m not going to keep the finished puzzle, I’m not going to hang it on the wall.
Back to Farrant. How on earth will all these ninety-three pieces go together to form a picture, even of a cow? Well, it turns out to be udderly impossible, at least for me. But what a fun and thought-provoking ride. Ever heard of Chainsaw Yoga? Now’s your chance. How about the Puzzles of Faith, Mother, or Fame? How about a sojourn in Palm Springs, where the Obamas are about to visit? Thoughtful and frivolous, funny and moving, this book covers a lot of outer and inner ground.
At the thrift store this week I bought another new to me 500 piece puzzle, of picture of an Italian waterway for 2$. No pieces missing, maybe! I’ve dumped the pieces out and turned them all face up. Now to start sorting the frame edges. But first I have to work on this review. Walking by the table I pause and next thing you know I’m leaning over getting a different perspective on the pieces, and there’s one, and maybe there’s one. And then how much time has lapsed and when did I sit down?
Big picture small picture, out there/in there, plausible/implausible, real/ imagined, these clever writings are sometimes directly related to jigsaw puzzlers, but also to readers who, like Farrant, puzzle over many other things as well. Pick up this volume. You’ll definitely experience surprises, have a good time, and learn something, too.
Jigsaw
Talon Books
The jigsaw puzzle of a café scene in Paris that I am working on is coming together: I’m enjoying the process. The frame is complete, and I’m eyeing the sky and fountain and making small piles of like colours and textures. What serendipity that my purchase of MAC Farrant’s new book, Jigsaw, arrived here on Galiano two days after I started my own puzzle.
I am not a seasoned puzzler, but like many others, I gave puzzling a whirl during COVID, and I sporadically return to it, as I am now. I admit I’m a 500 pieces person, which suits me fine. Farrant’s book is subtitled, “A puzzle in Ninety-Three Pieces.” Well! I thought. I can handle that. But what’s that puzzling image on the cover? A cow! Is this going to end up being a picture of a cow?
Leafing randomly through the pieces, aka chapters, segments, that comprise Jigsaw I’ve been on quite the circuitous path, puzzling, puzzled, I select the ones to read randomly, erratically, the way I would pick up a puzzle piece from the box. As I read I learn all kinds of things: for example, that jigsaw puzzle pieces have different names according to their shape--there are Little Chaps, and Perec the Patriarch (aka the Double-Cross), and many others including Alpha, Beta, and so on. How about a Biscuit Puzzle complete with a variety of biscuits in a digestive tract? Maybe not.
I’ve learned the jigsaw puzzle was invented in 1766 England as a geography lesson aid, and how it was first called a “desiccated puzzle.” And I’ve enjoyed some pretty farfetched but nevertheless delightful morsels of narrative forays into things that are both curious and confounding as I wander with Farrant in her remarkable mind and touch down all over the map/non-map of this book.
Working on my own puzzle, I search for a puzzle piece with a nubbly that is blue, or has two prongs, or is the one of many hanging flowerpots. Finding it and feeling the satisfaction that comes with affirmation. YES, I am going to be able to do this. I’m one who starts with the frame, though others start with splashes of like colour, or central images like a gazebo or hedge. And when it’s finished, the final piece placed in its spot, I will admire it for a day, then crumble it all up and take it back to the thrift store, where I buy my jigsaw puzzles.
Do I mind, as Farrant does, about puzzles missing a piece? No. When I dump out a puzzle box on which someone has written, missing two pieces, I am not annoyed, I am grateful for the heads up and curious to see which two pieces are missing. Really, how is missing a puzzle piece or two different from being a few bricks short of a load, a card or short of a deck, or missing a screw or two? Fine with me, and familiar! I’m not going to keep the finished puzzle, I’m not going to hang it on the wall.
Back to Farrant. How on earth will all these ninety-three pieces go together to form a picture, even of a cow? Well, it turns out to be udderly impossible, at least for me. But what a fun and thought-provoking ride. Ever heard of Chainsaw Yoga? Now’s your chance. How about the Puzzles of Faith, Mother, or Fame? How about a sojourn in Palm Springs, where the Obamas are about to visit? Thoughtful and frivolous, funny and moving, this book covers a lot of outer and inner ground.
At the thrift store this week I bought another new to me 500 piece puzzle, of picture of an Italian waterway for 2$. No pieces missing, maybe! I’ve dumped the pieces out and turned them all face up. Now to start sorting the frame edges. But first I have to work on this review. Walking by the table I pause and next thing you know I’m leaning over getting a different perspective on the pieces, and there’s one, and maybe there’s one. And then how much time has lapsed and when did I sit down?
Big picture small picture, out there/in there, plausible/implausible, real/ imagined, these clever writings are sometimes directly related to jigsaw puzzlers, but also to readers who, like Farrant, puzzle over many other things as well. Pick up this volume. You’ll definitely experience surprises, have a good time, and learn something, too.
April 5, 2025
(2.75⭐️)
November 21, 2025
This book is a collection of reflections of the authour, roughly tied together by either being related to jigsaw puzzles or being about topics she finds puzzling.
It's a fun concept for a book and lends to a whimsical read, but it relies on the authour and reader being intrigued by the same things, which was not always the case for me. It is truly a feat to make observations that a wide variety of people find new and exciting, and I applaud the effort.
I picked this up at the library from the local authour shelf. Lovely to read the works of some people living on the island.
It's a fun concept for a book and lends to a whimsical read, but it relies on the authour and reader being intrigued by the same things, which was not always the case for me. It is truly a feat to make observations that a wide variety of people find new and exciting, and I applaud the effort.
I picked this up at the library from the local authour shelf. Lovely to read the works of some people living on the island.
February 20, 2025
This is so much fun, I wish I would have thought to write it. These are short ‘bits’ - sometimes u laugh or sometimes it’s ‘just right’. With a theme of puzzles, she’s not afraid to not only write ‘whimsey’ but she entitles them so. And some reflections on cows….
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews