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#Read2025

I‘m catching up on my April reviews this weekend & I loved this book! A good thing as it was a trifecta of challenge prompts: #AuthorAMonth #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead & one of the books from @JacqMac ‘s #AuldLangSpine list. This is my third Kate Quinn book & maybe my favorite. The audiobook was stellar & I finished & listened to the author notes twice + an interview with the author & narrator who really brought the characters to life. ⬇️

Soubhiville, DieAReader, Librarybelle, monalyisha

DebinHawaii … I learned a lot about the Red Scare, McCarthy & Washington DC in the era. The mystery was good as was the ways the characters were introduced & their layers uncovered. I also enjoyed the sentient Briar House & the communal dinners with recipes & music selection of the times included. It kept me engrossed during lots of airport commutes in April & will likely be a favorite of the year for me. 5d

DieAReader 🎉🥳Awesome!! 5d

JacqMac Kaye Quinn never disappoints. 4d

Librarybelle Yay!! 4d

44 likes4 comments

mcctrish

The Briar Club | Kate Quinn

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I‘m a day late for #literarycrew it started with a murder and a cast of characters I mainly abhorrd. 100 pages in and I wondered if I‘d keep going. Almost immediately I started liking it more and cared who died and what was going to happen to them all. The politics of the day aren‘t too far off today‘s

Librarybelle Yay!! 7d

42 likes1 comment

Zuhkeeyah

The Briar Club | Kate Quinn

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It's been years since I've read Kate Quinn, so I'm very glad #authoramonth had her listed for April. This book had me hooked from the first chapter. I couldn't stop reading. Pixel and I went on extra long dog walks all to give me more time with this audiobook. The ending did not disappoint. Highly recommend to anyone who loves historical fiction.

Texreader On my tbr! I can‘t wait!! 1w

Karisa I read it with #LiteraryCrew and loved it too! I swear the people around me are tired of me trying to get them to read it. 😅 1w

Zuhkeeyah I have also been recommending it to all my reading friends lol @Karisa (edited) 1w

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mcctrish

The Briar Club | Kate Quinn

I‘m dilly dallying with my #literaryclub #buddyread I will join when I can hopefully sooner than later ( I‘m on page 100)

Librarybelle I think a lot of us are still reading, so no worries! 1w

45 likes1 comment

Librarybelle

The Briar Club | Kate Quinn

It‘s time for the #LiteraryCrew monthly book discussion! I have 7 questions posted. You can find them on my feed, the book‘s feed, or by searching the group‘s hashtag. Stop by and answer whenever!

May‘s book is Morgan Is My Name by Sophie Keetch!

mcctrish, DebinHawaii, mjdowens, melissajayne, Jerdencon, tpixie, LapReader, Cuilin, kspenmoll, PurpleyPumpkin, Prairiegirl_reading, BethM, Deblovestoread, Sace, CatLass007, Mollyanna, BookwormAHN, Pogue, dabbe, Sargar114, Karisa, bumpinthenight, Singout, julieclair, AllDebooks, Lkempf

tpixie Thanks! 1w

Karisa Thank you! I loved this book 😊 1w

Librarybelle Of course, @tpixie ! 1w

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Librarybelle So glad you loved this, @Karisa ! 1w

DebinHawaii I got to the party late (I finished the book on time but got too busy to get to the discussion until today) but I wanted to say I really loved this one! 💛💛💛 5d

Librarybelle No worries, @DebinHawaii ! Thanks for joining us! 4d

43 likes6 comments

Librarybelle

The Briar Club | Kate Quinn

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7. Discuss the murder mystery. Were you expecting it to play a larger role in the story? Were you surprised by who the victim and who the perpetrator were? ~from Plainfield Area Public Library #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead

CatLass007 I definitely didn‘t see any of that coming. Quinn‘s characters often go through all kinds of trauma but in the end things generally work out for the best. The ways in which they all work out are often unexpected. 1w

Sace I was very surprised by the ending! It added to the enjoyment. 1w

Karisa I was relieved that none of my favorite characters had died 😅 It kept the book moving forward but wasn‘t really the most important part. I liked seeing the author pull that off. So clever! 1w

mcctrish The ending was surprising @Karisa I was getting a bit stressed about who was killed and who would kill 7d

DebinHawaii I agree, the end somewhat surprised me. I confess I was having a dark couple of days while listening & I asked Google if any of the women died in the book & AI said two died! I was so mad & upset I had to dig deeper & learned they didn‘t die & it was men & Grace‘s spy partner but Sydney‘s husband was a surprise still. I needed a happy ending! 5d

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Librarybelle

The Briar Club | Kate Quinn

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6. Food plays a significant part in the story. Discuss the symbolic meaning of the Briar Club‘s communal meals and how they foster a sense of belonging. ~from Plainfield Area Public Library #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead

Karisa Food does bring people together. Grace was wonderful for realizing it and taking a chance on her housemates. 1w

mcctrish A communal table makes people feel like they belong, eating together nourished their bellies and their souls 7d

DebinHawaii The food was one of my favorite parts. I loved how it brought them together & how it wasn‘t just feeding them, it fed & improved their lives in so many ways. I listened to the audiobook but I‘m going to go back & look up some of the recipes (& I enjoyed the music to eat by for each dish too!) 5d

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Librarybelle

The Briar Club | Kate Quinn

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5. Examine the themes of secrecy, deception, and truth-telling in the novel. How do the characters‘ hidden pasts and double lives affect their relationships? ~from Plainfield Area Public Library Reading Guide #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead

Jerdencon I think they all had their own baggage that they brought which affected how they interacted with each other and their views. 1w

CatLass007 I think the saddest example of secret-keeping was Fliss. She had so much negative self talk. When she was finally able to be honest with her husband it was so uplifting. 1w

mcctrish @CatLass007 her mantra of ‘bad mother‘ broke my heart. The secrets all stem from women having no power in a patriarchal society and coming together in their little Briar Club tribe was so positive 7d

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CatLass007 @mcctrish It broke my heart too. But I think the women in her family who didn‘t work outside the home and had baby after baby also contributed to the way she felt about herself. Granted, they too were victims of a patriarchal society but all they passed on to Fliss was their ugly attitudes. The found family of the Briar Club was a powerful force in the lives of these women. They empowered Fliss to actually communicate her needs to her (cont)⬇️ 7d

CatLass007 husband, who turned out to be so understanding and supportive. Here was a man who was not afraid of a strong, intelligent woman. They are still few and far between. 7d

DebinHawaii Yes, we definitely all have a story & a pile of baggage to go with it & I think Quinn did a good job in revealing it & showing the impact. At the end, I still disliked Arlene but I also felt sorry for her, she became more human. And yes, I was happy to see the positive journey of Fliss—I‘d have been mad if she didn‘t get a “happy” & fufilling ending. 5d

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Librarybelle

The Briar Club | Kate Quinn

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4. Discuss the role Grace March plays in bringing the women together. What does her character represent in terms of female empowerment and community building? ~from Plainfield Area Public Libry Reading Guide

mcctrish I started to wonder about Grace just after the 100 page mark when I committed to reading - I LOVED The Americans and I was curious if there was a connection. That said, her desire for found family and seeing who everyone was and nudging them towards their paths was such a matriarchal role. She was a favourite 7d

DebinHawaii Grace was one of my favorites too @mcctrish I love how she brought everyone together & connected all these dissimilar women & the men too. She mentored & drove positive change for everyone & I liked the air of mystery about her. She cared so much about Pete & Lina too. 5d

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Librarybelle

The Briar Club | Kate Quinn

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3. Briarwood house itself narrates some of the chapters. How does the house‘s perspective shape the reader‘s understanding of the events and characters? Did you enjoy hearing from an inanimate object? ~from Plainfield Area Public Library Reading Guide #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead

Jerdencon Honestly when I first read that the house was talking I was a little put off and found it gimmicky but in the end it didn‘t bother me too much. 1w

CatLass007 I love a good fantasy! This slight fantastical aspect gave insight into all the characters effect on one another and their environment. (edited) 1w

Sace I loved the house‘s pov! 1w

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Karisa @Sace I enjoyed it too. Cranky but loveable place 1w

mcctrish The house kept me reading ❤️❤️ 7d

DebinHawaii I thought the house narrating really helped the story along & tied it together. I loved it. 5d

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