The Lost Apothecary: A Novel | 
pickGreat cover. Great subject matter to play with. Quick read. Butβ¦ there were definitely some character issues. At points there were actions that just didn‘t make sense and had me shaking my head.
I‘ll still give it a pick though. It just could have been so much more.
Did a questionnaire for a book box from the library, they put it together and this is what I got. I‘ve been wanting to read The Lost Apothecary for a while now. Not sure if I‘ll read the rest (not enough time!) π
pick4βοΈ I really liked the book. I found the story very compelling and liked how that both the modern day story and historical narrative mirror each other well. #2023 #fiction #bookreview #bookstagram #historicalfiction #bookclub
Time for February! Gonna try to tackle a few of my backlist #BOTM and #Bookshelftville. #BookSpinBingo #BookSpin #DoubleSpin @TheAromaofBooks
pickAn easy read :) a nice story that weaves in historical fiction.
pickβHeartache is shared by all, and favors no rank.β
Omg. What a story. I absolutely loved this one. It kept me engaged the whole time. I love the characters. Well all but one, James. I didnt liked him one bit. But i dont understand the hate for Caroline. I was rooting for her and so happy with her life decisions. I would recomend others to read this book.
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panHad the entire novel been the historical storyline, and only the historical storyline, it would have been fine. Still not "Pick" worthy, but fine.
However, the modern storyline was dreadful. I couldn't stand Caroline or her husband. I don't think I have ever rolled my eyes so many times! My reaction to the present day chapters were always ?? and ??ββοΈ.
Sorry, Sarah Penner. This one is a βοΈβοΈ from me.
I bought the audiobook on sale after Christmas, and just began listening today during my commute. I'm only four chapters in but I CANNOT STAND Caroline's bit so far (the modern storyline). The narrator is distracting, and the storyline/character is very annoying and cliche! π€ππ¬ Honestly not sure I'll be able to make it through!
Does it get better???
We went to IKEA and couldn't resist buying another cart for books when I saw they now have a smaller version of their utility cart.
Please ignore Peri's overflowing toy basket.
November was another really good reading month, so I have three for #12BooksOf2022 ! The tagged book and Beheld were both 5 star reads for me, both historical fiction that were so engaging. I also cannot pass up the opportunity to highlight the first book in the book series upon which the TV show Midsomer Murders is based - such a fun listen!
Does anyone else think that the husband is the stupidest man on earth? This modern story is proving to me for the 1 millionth time why I hate modern story lines in historic novels.
I cast on a new knitting project- a red, white, and blue cowl for my mother in law. I‘m about a third done with this novel. I like it, but it also violates my big annoyance which is a dual timeline for historic fiction. I can almost always live without the modern story. In this case I do care for Caroline, but stillβ¦ #knittersoflitsy #craftersoflitsy #knitting #audiobook
pickHistorical fiction with a bit of a mystery, and not to mention poison??? I loved this! Life has been extremely complicated as of late, and I needed a book I could easily escape into, and following the path of apothecary Nella in 1791 and Caroline in the present day was the perfect anecdote. Compelling and page turning. There are recipes in the back (not poisonous). Penner is a great storyteller, and I‘ll definitely read her next book!
so-soThis was a bit of a disappointment considering is was a top 5 of BOTM last year. The concept was great but seemed to fail in execution (kind of ironic considering the subject matter). Dual time lines and the historic stories were farm more interesting. I didn‘t really care for the present day main character or really any of her choices and it wrapped up a little too neatly considering the events of the book. The cover however is gorgeous!
pickI really enjoyed this interconnected story about an apothecary who sold poisons to women and a modern woman who is determined to uncover her story. Loved the back and forth between timelines and the historical mystery of it all. This was my bookclub choice for the month so I'm excited to discuss it with everyone. #Scarathlon2022 #TeamMonsterMash @StayCurious #31by31 @Catsandbooks #Spookoween2022 @TheSpineView #Pointsathon @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES
pickWhat an intriguing concept. This book was so good I finished it in 1 day! I consumed every last bit of this book. I loved the concept of an Apothecary that women would go to to commit murder. This was another story filled with twists and turns, ending in a surprising and unexpected way. It is definitely worth the read, especially for #spookyseason
I mean, druggists were kind of like witches, right?
Because books bring us together and book clubs are the best! #bookclub #booklovers #longtimefriends
pickI really enjoyed this one. I read it for my book club (which happens today) and am eager to hear from everyone. π€ #bookclubbook
pickOur library book club discussed this one last night and opinions were split. Top criticisms were flat characters and plot points that were too obvious/forced. Others liked the exposure of a lesser known part of history. What do you think?
pickA suspenseful tale woven from the lives of three women dedicated to helping one another, even beyond the bridge of two hundred years. Beautifully develops two different timelines in a way that feels seamless.
pickI‘m late to reading this compared with most Littens, but I‘m happy I finally got to it. I loved the apothecary‘s story, & the present-day was good, too. Only thing I hated was at the end when she throws the vial backβit‘s a pet peeve that probably started with Titanic when a character does that. Enjoyed the characters & unique story. 4/5 π
pickππ» book dump 2/5
Two stories from past and present are linked. The story that takes place in the present got on my nerves towards the end but overall I enjoyed it.
A few days late posting my June #BookspinBingo. I‘ve already finished a couple books and have started my #DoubleSpin book The People We Keep. I don‘t think I‘ll be as successful this month as I was in May, but fingers crossed π€πΌ that I will finish this month‘s #BookSpin and maybe catch up on some lingering options from previous months.
Appointment this morning and forgot my kindle at home π¬ Luckily, they let you wait in your car, so I'm audiobooking instead π πππ
Really enjoying this one. Multi-POV across timeliness and I really feel for all the protagonists.
so-soMeh. I thought this was okay but too predictable.
She would come at daybreak, the woman whose letter I held in my hands, the woman whose name I did not yet know.
#firstlinefridays
pickDifferent from other books I've read. But a page turner for sure!!
pickThe historical characters were more interesting than the modern ones.
pickI really enjoyed reading this book about a modern woman at a crossroads in her life and an apothecary who specializes in poison.
pickI would have liked to know more about the characters in this book but still enjoyed this dual timeline about an apothecary who provides poison to her customers and the woman who discovers her secrets. Would definitely read another by this author. βοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈ
pickY‘all this book was so good, I adored every minute of it and am left with still more questions yet unanswered despite the fact that the story feels finished. Truly the mark of a wonderful book. I highly recommend it πππ
pickLoved all three points of view and the past and present timelines. I think the author did an excellent job of leaving you wanting to read just one more chapter.
panDisappointing read. The synopsis sounded captivating yet I found the novel slow, dull, and somewhat predictable.
One of my favorite book covers.i paired it with bookish candles. All from #bookofthemonthclub
pickFinished this last night, just in time for the end of the month! I enjoyed the dual timelines and finding the parallels between the modern story and the historical ones. I certainly could relate to the relationship issues that Caroline was experiencing, although my ex was not quite so manipulative. Love the artwork of the cover too!
#bookspin March 2022 @TheAromaofBooks
βIn a city so grand, even a poor girl can transform into whatever she desires to be.β - referring to London.
Just getting started with this one, but when I came across the paragraph at the bottom of the picture, the scene from A Knight‘s Tale where William‘s father tells him he could change his stars immediately flashed through my brain! π
so-soIn the past, an apothecary makes poisons for women to use on the men that have abused them. In the now, a woman finds an empty bottle & a mystery.
It felt like Penner wanted to write 2 different stories, a historical thriller & a modern treasure hunt, & ended up splicing them together. I didn‘t really care about any of the characters, & I actively disliked Caroline. And Caroline‘s search & solve of the mystery were just too damn easy. πππππ
pickExcellent! I loved the dual timeline. In the present, a woman recovering from a painful life shock stumbles upon an unexpected history mystery. In the past, a woman dealing in poisons to help women lives out said history mystery. Definitely not my usual kind of book, but I‘m glad I read it. Content warnings for infidelity, poisoning, miscarriage, sexual assault, suicide, and death. #Fiction #Poison #HistoricalFiction #Feminist
so-soPoints for Beautiful Cover. Points for inspiring a rather scathing but entertaining 1βοΈ review on gr that I happened to mostly agree with and points for making me want to finish and not DNF. But otherwise: eye-rolly melodrama. Would this be a Pan or a So-So? I am dreading my #bookclub β‘οΈ hoping somebody else will share my feelings. If everyone else loves it, I might need to find a new club.
#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks
